How to permanently delete all data from Xiaomi phone: from reset to formatting

Selling, handing over for repair or just wanting to start with a clean slate can be different reasons for completely deleting data from Xiaomi. But few people know that a standard reset through settings does not always guarantee irrevocable erasure of information. Files, passwords and even photos can be restored with special programs if you do not follow the key rules.

In this article, we will discuss three official ways to completely delete data, taking into account the features of MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, and also explain how to avoid common errors. For example, why resetting via Settings → About phone → Resetting does not always work if Mi Account is tied, and how to properly prepare the device to avoid locking after cleaning.

We will focus on the Recovery formatting method, which is the only one that guarantees file system erasure, but requires care, and we will also look at what data remains even after a “full” reset and how to manually delete it.

Preparing the phone for reset: 5 mandatory steps

Before erasing data, you need to perform several critical actions, and skipping at least one of them can lead to locking the device (if the Mi Account is tied) or loss of important files.

For example, if you don’t untie your Xiaomi account before resetting, your phone will require you to enter your username and password after rebooting — even if you’re selling it to another person — and without access to the original account, unlocking the device will be extremely difficult.

• 🔄 Sync your contacts and photos with Google Drive or Mi Cloud, and you can’t recover them after resetting them.
• 📱 Untie all devices from Mi Account in the Settings section → Xiaomi account → Device management.
• 🔐 Remove Linked Bank Cards in Google Pay and Mi Pay – They Will Stay Active Until Manually Delete.
• 📡 Turn off the “Find Device” function in Settings → Google → Security → Find the device.
• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 50% – Recovery mode with a discharged battery can be interrupted.

If you plan to sell a phone, be sure to log out of all accounts (Google, Mi Account, social networks) through settings, otherwise the new owner will be able to access your data through the app cache.

Method 1: Reset via MIUI settings (for beginners)

The simplest method that most users can use is that it doesn't require any special knowledge, but it has limitations: not all data is permanently erased, and a tied Mi Account can lock the phone after a reboot.

The following instructions are valid for MIUI 12-15 and HyperOS:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Settings Reset – it only removes settings, not files!).
3. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if requested.
4. Confirm the action by pressing Erase Everything.

The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process, which will take 5 to 15 minutes, and when you're done, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you've bought it.

💡

If after reset, the phone requires the entry of Mi Account data, and you do not remember them, use the official recovery form on account.xiaomi.com. Specify the IMEI of the device (under the battery or in the box) to confirm ownership.

⚠️ Warning: If you are selling a phone, don’t turn it on after a reset – the new owner should see the welcome screen otherwise the system can re-attach to your Mi Account via automatic synchronization.

Method 2: Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (to completely erase)

This method ensures file system-level formatting of the data partition, making file recovery almost impossible. Suitable for Xiaomi based on Qualcomm and MediaTek, but requires caution - improper actions can lead to the "bricking" of the device.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3/X4: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery Mode

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to confirm your choice.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Confirm

It takes up to 10 minutes. Once you're done, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: If you have a Can't mount error in Recovery Mode /data Or E:unknown command, which means that the data partition is corrupted, and then you need to flash it over Fastboot, and you can call the service center.

Method 3: Delete data via Mi Cloud (remotely)

If your phone is lost or stolen and you want to erase data remotely, use the Mi Cloud Remote Reset feature, which only works if:

• 📶 The phone is connected to the Internet (mobile data or Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 The “Find the Device” function was activated in the settings.
• 🔐 You remember the Mi Account data tied to the device.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the lost device in the list.
3. Click Erase Data and Confirm Action.

Note that after a remote reset, the phone will automatically unplug your account and it will not be possible to restore access to it, and this method does not guarantee 100% data erasure - an attacker can recover some files using specialized software.

What data remains after reset (and how to delete it)

Even after a “full” reset via Settings or Recovery Mode, the phone may still have:

• 📁 File fragments in unused memory space (can be recovered using DiskDigger or Recuva).
• 🔑 Cache apps with logins and passwords (for example, from social networks).
• 📡 Wi-Fi settings and connection history.
• 📱 IMEI Serial number (they are tied to the "iron" and do not erase).

To minimize the risks:

1. Encrypt the data before reset: go to Settings → Security → Encryption and credentials → Encrypt the phone.
2. Fill the memory with junk: After reset, upload large files (such as movies) to your phone, and then reset again.
3. Use specialized utilities like SD Maid to clean the cache before resetting.

💡

Encrypting data before resetting is the only way to guarantee that personal information is protected from recovery, and without encryption, even after formatting, files can be recovered with up to 70% probability.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Resetting the Mi Account without detachment.

If you don't delete your Xiaomi account, the phone will need to enter your username and password after the reboot. This is protection against theft, but it also prevents the sale of the device. Solution: untie your account in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Device Management.

Mistake 2: Interrupting the resetting process.

If you turn off the phone during cleaning (for example, due to battery discharge), this can damage the system files. In this case, you will need firmware through Fastboot. Always charge the device up to 50%+ before resetting.

Error 3: Use of unofficial firmware.

On custom firmware phones (like LineageOS), the standard reset may not work, in which case use Wipe via TWRP Recovery.

Error 4: Selling a phone with Find the Device enabled.

If you don’t turn this feature off in Google and Mi Cloud, the new owner won’t be able to activate the phone without your data. Check settings in Settings → Google → Security and Settings → Xiaomi Account → Find the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions