How to Reset All Data from Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face the need to clean up the device completely sooner or later, whether it’s because they sell it, pass it on to relatives, or simply want to start with a clean slate, get rid of accumulated software debris. The factory-back procedure known as Hard Reset or Wipe Data is a powerful tool, but requires careful attention to detail.

Before you start taking action, you need to realize that the process is irreversible. Once the operation is confirmed, the system will delete all personal photos, contacts, messages and installed applications. It will be impossible to recover information without a pre-created backup even with professional software, which is why training is critical to the successful completion of the procedure.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available memory cleanup methods, from the standard settings menu to the use of Recovery engineering mode. You will learn how to properly bypass Mi Account protection so that the phone does not lock after reboot, and what nuances exist for different versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Clear adherence to the algorithm will avoid typical errors and loss of access to the device.

Preparing the device for complete removal of information

The first and most important step is to back up: Xiaomi ecosystem owners have access to the Mi Cloud cloud service, which automatically synchronizes contacts, notes, voice recorders and photos. You can also use local backup, which stores data to internal memory or SD-card, but if you reset the file completely, it will also be deleted if you do not transfer it to your computer.

Special attention should be paid to accounts, and if you have a Mi Account or Google account activated on your phone, you need to unplug them before resetting them, if you don't know the passwords exactly, otherwise you'll have a theft protection, and the device will require you to enter the data of the previous owner immediately after you turn on, a standard security measure that you can't get around with simple methods.

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Before the procedure begins, remove SIM-microSD card and memory card so that you don’t accidentally format external media or lose contacts stored on the SIM.

Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. The process of formatting system partitions can take from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the storage capacity. Interrupting the operation due to battery discharge can damage the bootloader and require flashing through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.

Reset via the system settings menu

The easiest and safest way to get your phone back to its original state is to use the Android menu, which is suitable for most situations where the device is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you remember the unlock password. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic of actions remains the same.

To start, go to Settings and find About Phone. At the bottom of the screen or in the three-dot menu in the upper right corner (depending on the firmware version), there will be a Reset button. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted, and prompt you to enter a pattern lock or PIN to confirm the identity of the owner.

Once you press the confirmation button, you start the preparation process. The phone can reboot several times. Don't panic if the screen goes out or the Mi logo with the progress bar appears - the userdata partition is formatted. It's important not to interrupt this process and wait for the desktop to load fully.

⚠️ Note: If encryption is enabled on the device, the reset process may take much longer.Do not try to speed it up by restarting it, this will damage the file system.

There's also an alternative way to search for settings, and at the top of the settings menu, there's a search bar, and you type in a reset or a Wipe request, and the system will come up with the menu item you want, which is especially useful if you can't find the usual sections after you update the interface.

Using Recovery Mode for Cleaning

If the phone doesn't turn on normally, is stuck on the logo, or you've forgotten your unlock password, Recovery Mode will help. It's a special diagnostic interface, written into a separate memory partition that allows you to control the system at a low level, and logged in with a combination of physical buttons when the device is off.

To get into the recovery menu, turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume down until the menu appears in English or Chinese, where volume buttons are used to control the device and power buttons are used to select.

In the main menu, select a language (if available), then go to Wipe Data, and you will be offered two options: Wipe All Data (full reset) and Reset Settings (reset only settings). Choose the first option to completely delete the information. The system will require you to confirm the action, often requesting the input of the word "yes" or button combinations.

Once the process is completed, the message “Data wiped successfully” will appear on the screen. Select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first run after such a reset will last longer than usual, as the system recreates the necessary configuration files.

Deletion of Mi Account and Protection against Theft

One of the most common problems after a reset is activation blocking, which is a Find Device security mechanism that links the device to the owner's account, and if you didn't log out when you reset through the settings, or if you didn't delete your credentials when you reset through Recovery, the phone will require you to enter them.

To delete the account correctly through the settings, you need to go to Settings -> Mi Account. At the bottom of the screen will be the exit button. The system will request a password from the account. Only after successful exit and disappearance of the link can you safely reset the data, in which case, after turning on, the phone will not ask for old data.

If the reset is already done and the phone requires a password, there are few options: you need to remember the data or restore access to it through the i.mi.com website from another device. Without a password, it is almost impossible to unlock the device legally, since the binding is stored on the manufacturer's servers.

⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check that you are not tied to someone else's Mi Account right away when you meet. Recovery resets don't remove that peg and you risk getting a brick".

In some cases, with a check and a box, the official service center can unlock it, but it's a long process that requires proof of ownership, so the "exit before sale" rule is the gold standard.

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Signing out of your Mi Account before the data reset is the only guaranteed way to avoid blocking activation after the reboot.

Features of reset on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have their own nuances in the organization of the security menu. In recent versions of firmware, data protection has been strengthened, so a simple reset via Recovery may not delete files irrevocably if encryption is enabled, but for the user the difference is the number of confirmation steps.

HyperOS adds additional checks when trying to reset, and the system may require confirmation via SMS or notification on a trusted device if advanced protection is enabled, so that an attacker who gains access to an unlocked phone cannot quickly erase the traces of the stay.

Also worth mentioning is the difference between Global and China firmware versions: In Chinese versions, Recovery menus often lack language choices and offer a reset immediately, while global versions are more user friendly. In addition, Chinese versions can pre-installed software that is not removed by a conventional reset, requiring a global reflash.

Users of older models, such as the Redmi Note 8 or Mi 9, should consider that the formatting process on them is slower due to the type of memory. Interruption on older devices is more critical, as the recovery of the bootloader takes longer and is more difficult to execute.

Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them

One of the common mistakes is to try to reset when the battery is dead, and if the phone turns off when the system files are being written, it can go into an endless bootloop, which can only help by connecting to the original charger and waiting, or flashing through the PC.

Another problem is ignoring two-factor authentication. Once you reset and attempt to log in to a Google or Mi Account, you may need code from an authenticator app that you lost access to along with your phone. Always turn off two-factor protection or save backup codes before cleaning your device.

Sometimes users confuse network resets with full resets. Network resets (Settings -> Connection and Sharing -> Wi-Fi reset...) remove only passwords from wireless networks and Bluetooth settings, leaving personal files intact. This is a useful feature for Internet problems, without requiring the removal of photos and contacts.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party programs for "hard" reset from the computer can lead to loss of warranty and disruption of communication modules (IMEI). Use only official methods.

If the phone is slow after reset, give it time. In the first 30-60 minutes after switching on, the system indexes files and optimizes applications, during which time the case can be heated and battery consumption is normal.