How to Cleanly Delete All Data from Xiaomi Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cleaning a smartphone completely before selling or transferring to another user is a critical step that cannot be ignored. owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often wonder how to ensure that personal information is deleted so it does not fall into the wrong hands.Mere deleting files or even a standard settings reset may not be enough in some cases to ensure complete privacy.

In this article, we will take a look at all available memory cleanup methods, from standard system functions to advanced tools for power users, how to prepare the device for the procedure, what hidden risks exist and how to act if the standard method does not work. The security of your personal data depends on the correctness of each step of the instruction.

The process of completely deleting information requires care, since it will be impossible to return deleted files after the procedure is completed without specialized equipment. Modern phones use encryption, which makes recovering data after a qualitative reset almost impossible for the average user.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting any reset operations, make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account and Google account. Once cleaned, you can only activate the phone by entering the account information to which it was previously associated.

Preparing the device for complete removal of information

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to do a number of preparatory steps that will secure your data and simplify the process, first of all, you need to back up all the important information, because once you've done the instructions, you can't restore contacts, photos and documents in the standard way, and you can back up through the cloud services or locally to your computer.

Be sure to untie your bank cards and disable two-factor authorization for important services if possible. MIUI or HyperOS devices are closely integrated with the manufacturer's ecosystem, so log out of all accounts manually before reset, which will prevent the device from being blocked by security mechanisms after rebooting.

Charge the battery to at least 60-70%. the formatting process of the system partition can take a long time, especially on models with a large amount of internal memory. Interrupting the procedure due to battery discharge can lead to damage to the bootloader or software errors.

• 📱 Create a full backup of data to the cloud or PC.
• 🔐 Log out of your Mi Account and Google account in your system settings.
• 💳 Untie Mi Pay, Google Pay and delete the data of banking applications.
• 🔋 Check the battery level (at least 60%).

Do not forget to remove the microSD card and SIM-Although a menu reset does not usually affect external drives, physical extraction will eliminate any chance of random formatting or damage to the memory card data.

Standard reset via system settings

The most affordable and safe way to clean your phone is to use the built-in factory resetting feature, which is suitable for most users who want to prepare the device for sale or simply fix software failures. MIUI provides easy access to this option through the main settings menu.

To start, go to Settings, then select About Phone. At the bottom of the screen, you'll find Reset or Erase All Data. The system will offer several cleanup options, including saving files in the cloud, but to completely delete information, you need to ignore or disable this item.

Once you select the data erasure option, the system will require confirmation of the action, often with the input of a pattern lock or PIN-This is a security mechanism that prevents unauthorized users from accidentally deleting data, and once confirmed, a cleanup process will begin, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the device model.

Importantly, this method performs logical deletion of data and overwriting of file system tables. On modern smartphones with encryption enabled, this makes data recovery extremely difficult, but for maximum security, it is recommended to use additional overwriting methods, which will be discussed below.

⚠️ Note: If the device has "Find Device" enabled, the system may require you to enter the Mi Account password immediately before resetting.

Cleaning through Recovery Mode

If access to the settings menu is limited or the system is unstable, you can reset through Recovery Mode, a deeper method that allows you to clear the partitions that may remain affected during a standard reset.

Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up. The Recovery menu will appear on the screen, which is controlled by the volume buttons, and the power button will select.

In the options list, select Wipe Data, then confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Once the process is complete, select Back to Main Menu and then Reboot to restart the device.

The sequence of buttons for entering Recovery:


1. Turn off the phone.




2. Clutch Volume Up + Power.




3. Hold until the logo appears.

Using Recovery Mode is especially relevant if you have forgotten the pattern lock or screen unlock password, although on newer versions of Android this may not help bypass Google FRP protection.

Using Fastboot for Deep Cleaning

Fastboot mode is designed for low-level interaction with the device and is often used in flashing or repair. Through this interface, you can format memory partitions, which ensures that all data, including cache and temporary files, that could survive other reset methods, is deleted.

To enter Fastboot mode, turn off your phone, then press the volume down and power button at the same time. The screen will show an image of a hare in a hat-eared, repairing the android, or the inscription FASTBOOT. To work with this mode, you will need a computer and an installed utility Mi Flash Tool or ADB/Fastboot driver.

Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line or PowerShell in the tool folder. Enter the command fastboot devices to check the connection. If the device is identified, you can execute a command to clean user data: fastboot erase userdata. This command permanently deletes the partition with user data.

Using Fastboot requires caution, as incorrect execution of commands can lead to the inability to boot the system. However, if your goal is to ensure that data is destroyed before selling, this method is one of the most reliable.

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Use the original. USB-Cheap cables may not provide a stable connection, which will lead to an error when executing Fastboot commands.

Safe Deletion Method: Data Rewriting

For those who want to be absolutely certain that they can't recover, there's a way to overwrite the data, and the idea is that after the first reset, the phone is filled with useless garbage (big files, videos), and then reset again, and this overwrites the memory sectors with new data.

Modern Xiaomi smartphones use encryption by default, which means that even if an attacker can read data from a memory chip, without the encryption key, they will be a set of meaningless characters. The encryption key is stored in a secure area and destroyed when you reset settings.

However, the algorithm for maximum paranoia is this: do a full reset, then reset the phone without logging in to the accounts, and shoot high-resolution video before filling up the entire memory, then do a second reset, which ensures that the old data is physically overwritten by the new ones.

• 🗑️ Perform a standard reset settings.
• 🎥 Record a few hours of video in 4K memory-fill.
• 🔄 Repeat the resetting procedure again.
• 🛡️ Make sure the phone is clean and ready to transfer.

This is particularly relevant for devices that store information of an extreme nature, and although one high-quality reset with encryption is enough for the average user, double overwriting gives psychological calm.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party apps to "safely remove" from unknown sources. They may contain malicious code themselves. Android built-in tools and the rewrite method are quite enough.

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On modern Xiaomi smartphones with Android 10 and above, one regular reset is enough, since the encryption keys are permanently deleted, making old data unreadable.

Data recovery and typical errors

Once all the data is deleted, the user may encounter an activation screen, a normal situation known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, and the phone will require you to enter a Google account that was synced to the device before the reset, which is anti-theft protection, and you can't get around it legally without a password.

It is a common mistake to try to sell the phone without leaving the Mi Account, in which case the new owner will not be able to fully use the device, since it will be blocked by the link to your account. Be sure to remove the device from the list of trusted in the Mi Account security settings on the manufacturer's website or on the phone itself before reset.

If the phone is acting strangely after reset (heating, quickly discharged), give it time. After a complete cleanup and new installation, the system performs file indexing and application optimization, which can take several hours, during which time normal operation can be disrupted.

The final step is to have the device set up by the new owner, and if you sell the phone, make sure the activation process is successful, which will confirm that the device is not locked and fully ready to work. Properly preparing the device is a sign of respect for the customer and care about your own digital security.