How to permanently erase data on Xiaomi: from reset to physical destruction

Wiping out data on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when selling a device, transferring it to another person or after being infected with viruses. But simply deleting files through a conductor or even resetting them to factory settings does not guarantee complete cleanup: you can restore photos, messages and passwords with specialized software even after formatting. In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to erase data on Xiaomi, from basic to professional, including methods that use service centers.

Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Mi) have a secure partition with Mi Account data that is not cleared by a standard reset. If you plan to sell your phone, it’s not enough to just return it to factory settings: the new owner can restore your data or even unlock the device through an associated account. We’ll show you how to completely reset your smartphone, including hidden partitions and eMMC/UF data, to eliminate any possibility of recovery.

1. Standard reset to factory settings

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in reset feature, which is good if you want to quickly clear your phone before handing it over to a relative or after minor failures, but it doesn't permanently delete data, and it can be recovered using programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver.

To perform the discharge:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🔄 Select to erase all data (restore factory data).
• 🔐 Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if requested.
• ✅ Confirm the action with the button Erase everything.

It'll take 5-10 minutes, and when you restart, it'll look like new, but:

• ⚠️ The data in the internal memory remains physically and can be recovered.
• ⚠️ Mi Account will remain linked to the device (unless you disable it in advance).
• ⚠️ On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Redmi Note 11, the logs of the system applications.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell a phone, the standard reset is not enough. Use the methods in the following sections to completely destroy the data.

2. Recovery Mode Reset (for power users)

Recovery is more reliable than standard reset because it clears cache and system partitions, but it doesn't affect memory chip-level data (eMMC/UF) so recovery is still possible.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if available).
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

On some models (e.g. POCO F4 or Redmi K50) the path may be different:

Wipe & Reset → Format Data → Enter “yes” → Confirm

After the procedure:

• 🔄 The phone will reboot to "out of the box" state".
• 📁 All user data, including apps and settings, will be deleted.
• 🔒 Mi Accounts can remain linked (unless disabled in advance).

Disable your Mi Account in the settings

Make a backup copy of important data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Make sure you know the username/password from your Mi Account.-->

Full formatting via Mi Flash Tool (for PC)

If you need to erase all data, including system partitions, use the Mi Flash Tool, which is used in service centers and is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool Programming.
• 📦 Fastboot firmware for your model (download from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\fastboot_rom).
2. Open the Mi Flash Tool and press Select, specify the path to the firmware folder.
3. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down.
4. Connect your phone to your PC. The Mi Flash Tool will have a device.
5. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. Wait for the end (10-15 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

Advantages of the method:

• 🧹 Deletes all data, including system partitions and residual information.
• 🔧 Restores firmware to the factory version (useful in case of failures).

⚠️ Note: If the bootloader is locked, the Mi Flash Tool will not work. Use the official Xiaomi tool to unlock (it takes 7-15 days to wait).

4. Encrypting data before reset (for paranoids)

If you want to 100% eliminate data recovery, use encryption. The bottom line is that you encrypt the internal memory before reset, and then format it. Without the encryption key (which is erased when reset), you can't recover it even in the lab.

How it works:

1. Activate encryption: Settings → Lock and protect → Encrypt your phone.
2. Set a strong password (at least 8 characters, with numbers and letters).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to an hour).
4. Reset via Recovery or Mi Flash Tool (as in the sections above).

After discharge:

• 🔐 The encryption key will be removed and the data will become irrecoverable.
• 📵 Even specialized software will not be able to extract information.

Cons of the method:

• ⏳ The encryption process takes a long time.
• 🔋 Requires 100% battery charge.
• 🚫 In some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) may cause failures if performed incorrectly.

💡

If the phone is already encrypted but you have forgotten the password, resetting through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode will delete all data without the possibility of recovery.

5. Physical destruction of data (for extreme cases)

If you sell a phone with sensitive information (like a corporate smartphone) or just want to be 200% sure, you can use physical data destruction, a technique used by the military and government.

Ways:

The most affordable way is to re-write through ADB:

adb shell


su




dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/block/mmcblk0 bs=1M

This command will fill the entire memory with random data, overwriting the old ones, and then you'll notice that once it's done, the phone will become inoperable without flashing it.

⚠️ Attention: Physical methods of data destruction are irreversible, only use them if the phone is not sorry or it contains highly sensitive information.

💡

For most users, a combination of encryption + reset via the Mi Flash Tool is enough. Physical destruction is only necessary in exceptional cases.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your goal:

• 🔄 Selling a phone to a friend/relative → Standard discharge + undocking of the Mi Account.
• 💰 Selling to a stranger → Reset via Recovery + encryption.
• 🛠️ Resolving system failures → Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.
• 🔒 Confidential data → Encryption + rewrite.

If in doubt, use a combination approach:

1. Encrypt the phone.
2. Reset via the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Unplug your Mi Account (if you haven’t done it before).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data erasure on Xiaomi