How to completely erase Xiaomi phone before selling: securely reset and delete data

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone requires not only external preparation of the device, but also the complete deletion of personal data so that the new owner does not get access to your information. Even if you plan to give the phone to a relative or sell through a bulletin board, it is not enough to simply delete photos and applications - you need to conduct a deep reset, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware.

Many users mistakenly believe that factory reset via the settings menu completely cleanses the device. However, Xiaomi has nuances: a tied Mi Account, data encryption, app cache and even hidden backups can save your data. In this article, we will discuss all the steps of a secure cleanup – from deleting an account to checking the device after a reset, and also tell you what errors lead to locking the phone after sale.

Why conventional dumping is not enough: hidden risks

Factory reset (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset) deletes user files and settings, but does not always erase:

• 🔒 Mi Account – If you don’t untie your account, the new owner won’t be able to activate your phone without your password.
• 📱 Data in a secure storage (for example, Wi-Fi passwords, banking application data).
• 🔄 Residual files after encryption – on some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or other devices). POCO X3) Even after the reset, you can restore some of the data through specialized software.
• ☁️ Cloud backups that are automatically restored when first enabled.

Moreover, if you sell a phone with an unlocked bootloader, the new owner can access system partitions and recover deleted data, which is true for models that previously installed custom firmware (Xiaomi.eu, LineageOS).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5+ With newer versions, when resetting your Mi Account without detachment, the phone can be locked during the activation stage. Unlocking will require entering your username / password or contacting Xiaomi with proof of ownership.

Preparing the phone for resetting: what to do before cleaning

Before erasing all data, follow the mandatory steps:

1. Back up your important data. Use Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup or transfer files to your PC via MTP-Please note: backups MIUI Not compatible with other scaling!
2. Delete all accounts. Go to Settings → Accounts and sync and delete Google, Mi Account, social networks. Especially critically, unplug Mi Account - this will prevent the phone from locking after a reset.
3. Turn off device protection. In Settings → Lock and Protect → Device Protection, turn off Find Device and Lock When Reset (if active).
4. Extract. SIM-A microSD can contain personal files and SIM-Card – account numbers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).

If you have used the device encryption (Settings → Lock & Protection → Encryption), it must be disabled before reset, otherwise the cleaning process will take 2-3 times longer, and some models (for example, Xiaomi 11T) may fail.

Delete your Mi Account account|Create a backup copy|Disable "Find the device"|Extract SIM microSD|Disable encryption (if enabled)-->

Step-by-step: how to erase Xiaomi before selling

There are two ways to clean up completely: through the settings menu and using Recovery mode. The first is suitable for most users, the second is if the phone is not turned on or locked.

Method 1: Reset via settings (recommended)

This method works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 10 and later:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase All Data” (not to be confused with “Reset” – these are different options!).
3. If requested PIN-code or password, enter it.
4. Confirm the action by clicking "Delete All." The process will take 5-15 minutes.
5. Once the phone is restarted, it will suggest you set it up as new. Don't connect to Wi-Fi or enter accounts! - just turn off the device.

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 chip (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50) after a reset, an error may appear: "This device is associated with an existing Mi Account." This means that the account was not untied to reset. The solution is unlocking through Fastboot (see next section).

Method 2: Recovery Mode (for locked phones)

If your phone is not turned on or locked, use the Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage by volume buttons, confirm by power button).
4. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
5. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If you ask for a password in Recovery and you don't remember it, you'll need to unlock it via Fastboot on your PC, and you'll need ADB drivers and the Mi Flash Tool.

How to Check if Your Phone is Completely Clean

After the reset, you need to make sure that your data is not left on the device.

1. Turn on your phone without an internet connection. Skip the Wi-Fi and account setup step.
2. Open Files → Internal Memory – DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp folders should be empty.
3. Make sure your accounts are deleted. Go to Settings → Accounts – your profiles should not be there.
4. Check settings. Go to Settings → About Phone → All specs – the Memory section should show that 100% of the space is available.

For a deep check, use apps like DiskDigger (available on Google Play), which scans memory for deleted files that can be recovered, and if the app finds your photos or documents, the reset is incorrect and the device cannot be sold.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users make mistakes that lead to a phone lock or data breach.

• 🔓 Mi Account is not untied. This is the most common reason for blocking after sale. Solution: before reset, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Get out.
• 📲 Reset via Find Device. Remote cleaning via i.mi.com doesn't always delete all data.
• 🔄 Interrupting the reset process: If you turn off your phone during cleaning (for example, due to low charge), it can lead to a breeze (breaking the firmware.
• 🔐 On custom firmware phones (Xiaomi.eu, PixelExperience), the reset may not work properly, and in this case, you need to return the official reset. MIUI via Fastboot.

Another common problem is the residual cache data. For example, in Redmi Note 9 Pro, after resetting /data/data, there may be messenger files in the folder. To avoid this, after resetting via Recovery, select Wipe Cache Partition.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 and MediaTek chip (e.g. Redmi) 10C, POCO M4 Pro) after reset, the error "This device is locked" may appear (FRP). The solution is to enter the data of the last used Google account.

Yes, the phone required an old account | Yes, but I was able to unlock it myself | No, never | I don't know, never sold Xiaomi-->

Additional Safety Measures: For Paranoids

If you sell a phone with sensitive information (such as a work smartphone or a device with banking application data), a standard reset may not be enough.

• 🔒 Encrypt the data before resetting. Enable encryption in Settings. → Lockdown and protection → Encrypt, then reset. That makes it difficult to recover the data.
• 📱 Check the phone. Set the official phone. MIUI It's going to be clean all over the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔄 Use utilities to permanently delete. Apps like Secure Erase (requires root) fill the memory with zeros, making recovery impossible.
• ☁️ Check cloud services. Uninstall backups to Mi Cloud (i.mi.com) and Google Drive.

For models with an unlocked bootloader (for example, if you installed TWRP), it is recommended to return the stock boot.img and lock the bootloader back. This will prevent the new owner from accessing system partitions.

fastboot flash boot stock_boot.img


fastboot oem lock

Attention: Locking the bootloader erases all data and can lead to a blink if the firmware is unofficial!

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If you are selling Xiaomi with AMOLED-Check for burnout before resetting (for example, Xiaomi 13 or Black Shark 5) with a single-colored white screen (through the Screen Test app) – if you see traces of the interface, let the customer know.

What to do after selling: How to protect yourself

Even after the correct reset, there are still risks associated with fraud, to avoid problems:

1. Save proof of transfer. Take a picture of the serial number (Settings → About Phone → All Specifications) and IMEI (Dial *#06#) with the buyer.
2. Untie the device from your Google account. Go to the Google Device Page and remove the phone from the list.
3. Check the status of your Mi Account. On account.xiaomi.com, the phone should not be displayed in the Devices section.
4. Use the official sites. When selling through Avito, Yula or SberMegaMarket, make a deal with a guarantee - this will protect you from fraud.

If a customer complains that the phone is locked after a purchase, don’t rush to refund the money. ask them to send a screenshot of the lock screen – often this is an activation error that can be fixed through Xiaomi support (if you untie the account correctly).

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The most common reason for blocking after sale is an untied Mi Account. Always check for it to be deleted through Settings → Xiaomi account before resetting!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions