How to Reset All Data from Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Xiaomi smartphones today hold a huge amount of sensitive information, from personal photos to passwords from banking applications. Sometimes there is an urgent need to clean the device clean, for example, before selling a gadget or preparing to flash the system. Full reset is a radical, but often the only effective way to return the device to the factory state and erase any trace of your presence.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the existing ways to clean up memory, from the standard tools of the MIUI operating system to deep cleaning through Recovery mode. You will learn how to properly prepare the device for the procedure to avoid losing important files or blocking an account. Deleting data through the Recovery menu can not be canceled or interrupted without losing the warranty on the software part, so each step requires careful attention.

The process of deleting information may vary depending on the firmware version and model of your Redmi or Poco.We will look at universal algorithms that are suitable for most current brand models.If you plan to transfer a smartphone to a new owner, thorough cleaning is a matter of your digital security.

Preparing the device for complete removal of information

Before you start a cleanup, you have to do a number of preparatory steps, and ignoring this step can cause you to lose access to your accounts or important contacts after a reboot, and backup is the first and most important step that you should not miss.

Make sure all your photos, videos and documents are stored on external media or in the cloud. Mi Cloud or Google Photo account holders can check the sync status in the appropriate settings sections. It is also worth downloading your correspondence history from messengers if they are not stored on application servers.

• 🔋 Charge the battery of the smartphone to at least 60% so that the process is not interrupted due to battery discharge.
• ☁️ Check your contacts sync with your Google account to avoid losing them.
• 📱 Extract. SIM-microSD card and memory card before the reset procedure.
• 🔑 Remember or write down the password from your Mi Account and Google account.

⚠️ Attention: If you do not remove SIM-card, when reset, the contacts stored on it can be deleted, which will not be restored.

Pay special attention to protection against activation reset. Modern Android security systems link the device to the owner's account. If you just erase the data but don't log out, the new owner won't be able to activate the phone, so logging out of all profiles is a must.

Check the list of connected devices in your security settings. Delete authorization on your smartphone in important banking applications and services to avoid future account access issues, especially for two-factor authentication applications.

Resetting settings through the MIUI system menu

The safest and easiest way to clean up a smartphone’s memory is to use the built-in operating system features, a method that is suitable for most users who have access to the desktop and settings menu. MIUI or HyperOS provides a handy tool for this task.

To start, go to the main settings menu of your device. Find a section that is usually called About Phone or Advanced Settings. Depending on the firmware version, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi models.

Inside the section, find the option of "Settings Reset" or "Factory Reset" and the system will warn you that all personal data will be deleted, and you can choose the option of cleaning the internal drive, which is critical when selling a device.

Once you click the Reset button, the system will ask you to enter the unlock password or the pattern lock, which is protection against accidental deletion of data by children or unauthorized persons, and confirm the action, and the formatting process will begin.

The smartphone will reboot, and the Mi or Android logo will appear on the screen with a progress indicator, at which time it is strictly forbidden to interrupt the process or remove the battery (if it is not removable), the duration of the procedure depends on the amount of memory filled and can take from 5 to 15 minutes.

Using Recovery Mode for Deep Cleaning

If your smartphone doesn't turn on, you're stuck on the logo, or you've forgotten your unlock password, the standard method through the settings won't work. In this case, Recovery Mode is used. It's a low-level recovery environment built into the device's firmware.

To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then simultaneously press the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume high. A menu with several items in English or Chinese will appear on the screen.

Navigation in the Recovery menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects the item. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Some versions of Recovery require you to select the language (English) first if it is not installed by default.

⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, the touch screen is not working. All actions are performed only with physical volume and on buttons.

Once you select a cleanup point, the system will prompt you to confirm the action, as it will not be possible to recover the data. Choose Wipe All Data or Confirm. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will prompt you to restart (Reboot).

This method is guaranteed to delete all user data, including cache, system logs and files in hidden partitions, and is also useful in combating certain types of viruses that are not deleted by standard antivirus software, but it does not delete accounts unless a pre-exit has been done.

Deleting Google and Mi accounts before selling

One of the most common user errors is to reset data without first logging out of accounts.Factory Reset Protection (FRP) locks the device after a reset, requiring you to enter a password from the last synchronized Google account.

To avoid blocking, manually delete accounts. Go to settings, find Accounts and Sync or Users and Accounts. Select your Google account and click Delete Account. Repeat the procedure for all added profiles.

You need to do the same for Mi Account. Go to your Mi Account settings, scroll down and select "Exit." The system can request a password to confirm exit. This action will also remove the device from the trusted list in the cloud.

• 🔒 Deleting Google Account Removes Protection FRP It allows the new owner to activate the phone.
• 🌐 Exit from Mi-account untie the device from the cloud and the function “Find the device».
• 📲 Don’t forget to check the Devices section in the Telegram and WhatsApp security settings to exit them.

If you forget your account password, restore it through your computer before resetting your phone, otherwise, after cleaning, you will have to go through a complicated procedure to restore access through the Google Support Form, providing checks about the purchase of the device.

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Take a picture. IMEI-The device code (on the box or under the battery) before sale may be used to prove ownership of the device in case of activation problems with the new owner.

Solving problems: Smartphone requires password after reset

When a phone asks for a password from the previous owner, it's called FRP Lock, which is a standard theft protection, but it becomes a problem if you bought a used phone or forgot the login details.

If a phone requires a password you don't remember, standard methods of unlocking it won't work; you'll need Internet access (Wi-Fi) to pass the check; in some cases, setting the date and time accurately if they get lost helps.

Bypassing security often requires specific actions depending on the Android version and security patch, which can include calling emergency numbers, using TalkBack, or connecting to a computer with installed FRP reset software.

⚠️ Note: Use of third-party resetting programs FRP can be regarded as a violation of the terms of use of the service and carries the risks of installing malware.

The best way to avoid this problem is to always log out before resetting. If you buy your phone with your hands, ask the seller to perform a full reset and initial setup with you to make sure there are no locks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main key to a successful reset is a preliminary exit from all accounts and the creation of a backup copy of important data on an external medium.