Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their performance and functionality, but sooner or later, every owner faces the question of completely cleaning the device, this may be due to selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or the need to eliminate software errors accumulated over a long period of operation.
It's important to understand that erasing is irreversible, that if you don't back up, restore photos, contacts and correspondence, it's impossible. Modern security systems like MIUI and HyperOS are closely linked to cloud services, so simply restarting it won't help, because you need to format the user's memory partition.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the cleaning options available, from the standard settings menu to the Recovery Engineering menu, and focus on the Mi Account unblocking procedure, without which the phone can become a “brick” for the new owner due to the theft protection system.
Preparing the smartphone for a complete reset
Before starting the mechanism of data destruction, you need to perform a number of preparatory actions. Ignoring this step can lead to locking the device or loss of important information. First of all, make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%. The formatting process is energy intensive, and suddenly turning off the smartphone at a critical moment can damage the system partitions.
The second critical step is to back up. You can use the built-in Security → Mi Cloud or third-party PC tools. Save contacts, SMS, call history and media files to an external medium or to the cloud. Without this step, data recovery will be impossible.
⚠️ Note: If the device is enabled with memory encryption (by default it is active on Android 6.0)+), Once reset, all data will become unreadable even if you try to physically retrieve the memory chips, ensuring that your data does not fall into the wrong hands.
You also need to check the status of your Mi Account, and if you plan to sell your phone, you need to delete your account before you reset, and if you just clean your phone for yourself, make sure you remember the username and password, because after you reboot, the system will require authorization to verify ownership.
☑️ Preparation for discharge
Deletion of accounts and detachment of devices
The most common mistake users make is ignoring account binding before resetting. Google and Xiaomi have FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security, and if you just reset your settings without leaving your account, the next time you activate your phone, you'll need to enter a password from the previous owner, and without that password, it's going to be extremely difficult to unlock the device.
To unbundle correctly, go to Settings → Mi Account. At the bottom of the screen, click the “Exit” button. The system will request a password from your account to confirm the action. Only after successful exit and disappearance of the link can further manipulations be started.
Also remember to unplug the device from Find My Device, which can be done via Google’s web interface or directly in your smartphone settings, and while this feature is active, the phone can remain locked even after full flashing if the servers receive a signal of theft or loss.
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Before selling the device take a picture IMEI-code (on the box or in the menu of *#06#) and save the purchase check, which will help restore access if you forget your account information after resetting.
If you don't delete your accounts before resetting, the new owner will face an activation screen that requires you to enter your data, which will not only cause inconvenience, but can also cause suspicions that the device has been stolen, so cleaning the lists of trusted devices is a must.
Reset via the settings menu (Soft Reset)
The safest and easiest way to erase all data from Xiaomi is to use the operating system’s regular menu, which is suitable for most situations where the phone is turned on, the touch screen is working, and you can get into the settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to About Phone. At the bottom of the list, find Reset (or Factory Settings) and the system will offer two options: Reset (without deleting files) and Erase all content.
After selecting the item “Erase all contents”, the system will ask you to enter a pattern lock, PIN-The unlock code or password is a protection against accidental deletion of data by unauthorized persons, and once confirmed, the preparation process will begin, which can take several minutes, after which the phone will restart and begin to clean up.
| Action. | Description of the process | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Reset via Settings | Standard Procedures through MIUI Interface | Minimum if you do not interrupt the process |
| Reset via Recovery | Use of volume and power buttons | Average, risk of choosing the wrong section |
| Reset via Mi Flash | Complete Firmware Reflash from PC | High, possible loss of warranty |
| Remote discharge | Through Mi Cloud or Google Find | Requires Internet connection |
It is important to note that some firmware versions may have a countdown timer (e.g., 10 seconds) or a requirement to re-enter the Mi Account password after selecting the reset option, which are additional security measures designed to prevent the accidental or malicious reset of someone else’s device.
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Using the settings menu is the safest method, as the system will correctly close all processes before formatting, minimizing the risk of file system errors.
Full reset via Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is not turned on, stuck on the logo or the touch screen does not respond, the only option is to use Recovery mode. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the device’s memory, which allows you to perform low-level operations, including partition formatting.
To get into this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears. Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
Select a language from the menu (usually English and Chinese). Then go to Wipe Data. Inside this section, there will be a Wipe All Data option. The system will alert you to the loss of all data and require confirmation. Once Confirm is selected, the cleanup process will begin, the progress of which will be displayed as a percentage.
⚠️ Note: In Recovery mode, do not select Connect with MIAssistant if your goal is to reset. Also avoid Reboot until you finish cleaning, otherwise the phone will simply reboot as normal.
Once the process is complete ("Data wiped successfully"), go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System. The first download after a Recovery reset can last longer than usual - up to 5-10 minutes.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Use Mi Cloud and Find My Device
When a phone is lost or stolen, physical access is impossible, and you can delete it remotely, using Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi devices) or Google Find My Device (a universal method for Android), which not only clears the data, but also locks the device to outsiders.
To use the Mi Cloud method, go to the official website of the service from any computer or other smartphone. Sign in under the same Mi Account that was on the lost device. From the menu, select Find the device, select the desired gadget from the list and click on the Wipe Data button.
Google's service works the same way: Go to android.com/find, log in and select the device. The "Clean the device" command will be executed as soon as the phone connects to the Internet. If the device is offline, the command will be executed the first time you appear on the network.
Remote reset is especially effective if you are concerned about the privacy of the stolen phone, but it is worth remembering that after such a procedure, the phone will still be blocked by the account, and it will require the owner’s credentials to reuse it (if it comes back to you).
Cleaning the memory card and SIM-map
Many users forget that standard Factory Reset often does not affect the content of the external settings. SD-If you delete data for the purpose of selling your phone, be sure to remove the memory card before starting the procedure or format it separately through the Warehouse menu.
For SIM-The contacts saved on the SIM card are not deleted when the system is reset, but must be manually deleted through the Contacts app (display settings - contacts on the system). SIM-card) or simply replacing the SIM card with a new one if you transfer the phone to another person.
If SD-The card was formatted as an internal storage (Adoptable Storage), and when the phone is reset, the data on it will also become unreadable, since the encryption keys are stored in the system partition, which will be cleared, but for reliability, it is better to remove the card and format it on the computer.
⚠️ Attention: When extracting SD-If the design of the case allows, make sure that the writing process is not currently underway, otherwise the files may get damaged.
Possible problems and solutions
When you erase data, you can have unexpected situations, and one of the most common is that the phone hangs on the Mi or Android logo after it's reset. 90% In some cases, it means that the cleanup process is still underway, and the system is checking the integrity of the files. 10-15 minute.
Another common problem is cyclic reboot, which can happen if the file system is damaged or the update is interrupted when resetting via Recovery, in which case you may need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and official firmware.
If the phone requires an account you don’t remember after a reset, or claims that the device is locked, you’ll have to contact a Xiaomi authorized service center with a check to buy. Without proof of ownership, it’s almost impossible to unlock FRP in legal ways.