How to wipe everything from your Xiaomi phone: full instructions

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality and availability, but sooner or later there comes a point when the device needs to be transferred to another owner, it can be a sale in the secondary market, transferring the gadget to relatives or just wanting to start with a clean slate by removing the accumulated digital garbage. Before erasing everything from the Xiaomi phone, it is important to understand that this process is irreversible and requires careful preparation.

Complete data reset will return the hardware and software to the original state that existed immediately after purchase, personal files, photos, contacts and installed applications will be permanently deleted, which is why it is critical to not miss the stage of creating a backup, otherwise it will be impossible to restore important documents even with specialized software.

In this guide, we’ll look at all the memory cleaners available, from standard system settings to the Recovery Engineering Menu, and learn about the nuances of working with a Google account and Mi Account that can lock a device after a reset if you don’t do certain things in advance. Let’s take each step in detail to make sure the procedure is successful.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Before you start radical measures, you need to perform a number of preparatory actions, ignoring this stage can lead to loss of access to accounts or locking the device with security mechanisms. First of all, make sure that the battery is at least 50-60%, as the formatting process can take time and consume energy.

The next critical step is to unbundle accounts, where if you have a Mi Account or Google account activated on your phone, the security system will perceive the reset as an attempted theft and require the previous owner's password on the first activation, a phenomenon known as FRP Lock (Factory Reset Protection).

⚠️ Note: If you simply reset without deleting your accounts first, the new owner will not be able to use the phone without your password!

Also, the memory card must be removed. SD and SIM-Although a reset usually offers an option to clean up internal storage, physical media extraction ensures that you do not accidentally delete important files from the memory card or lose contacts stored on the SIM card.

• 🔋 Charge the device to at least 60% or connect to the charger.
• 🔐 Remove all Google and Mi accounts from the settings menu.
• 💾 Extract. SIM-microSD card and memory card.
• 📱 Unlock the screen so it doesn’t go out during preparation.

Once you've done this, your smartphone is ready for the cleanup procedure. Make sure that all the important data is backed up to the cloud or to your computer. Backup is the only way to save the information after formatting.

Creation of a backup of data

The erasure process doesn't have a "cancel" button, so a copy of the information is your safety cable. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a powerful local backup tool built in, which allows you to save contacts, messages, call history, system settings, and even the location of icons on your desktop.

To create a local copy, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you can choose which data to save. Once the process is complete, the backup file will be stored in internal memory. Remember to copy this file to your computer or to the cloud before resetting, otherwise it will be deleted along with the rest of the data.

An alternative and often more reliable way is to sync with the cloud: Google Photos is great at keeping the library, while Mi Cloud or Google Drive will keep contacts and calendar. Using cloud technology ensures that your data remains secure even if the device physically breaks down during the reset process.

💡

Use the Mi Mover feature to quickly transfer all information to the new Xiaomi smartphone without losing your Wi-Fi settings and passwords.

If you plan to sell a phone, after you create a copy, it makes sense to manually delete the most sensitive files (document photos, map scans) and clear the Downloads folder. This will add an additional level of privacy, although a full reset will already overwrite memory sectors.

Reset via the settings menu (stanart method)

The easiest and safest way to wipe everything off a Xiaomi phone is to use the built-in settings menu, which is available if you can unlock the screen and log in, and is ideal for preparing the device for sale or transfer to another user in normal operation.

To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to About Phone. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item associated with factory settings or reset.

Once you select the "Erase All Data" option, the system will warn you of the consequences, PIN-It's a code or a pattern lock that you need to enter, and it's a protection against accidental or unauthorized dumping by unauthorized persons.

Some firmware versions may have a choice of "Clean all files" or simply "Reset settings." To prepare for the sale, choose the option of complete cleanup. The system may request confirmation through a Google or Mi Account for the last time to make sure the action is performed by the owner.

Once confirmed, the deletion process will begin. The screen may go out and light up, the phone may reboot several times, don't interfere with the system until you see the language selection welcome window, which means that the factory reset has been successfully completed.

Using Recovery Mode for Resetting

The situations are different: the phone may not turn on, freeze on the logo or have a damaged system that does not allow you to enter the settings menu. In such cases, Recovery mode comes to the rescue, which is a low-level environment that allows you to control the device bypassing the main operating system.

To enter recovery mode, turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the key combination: usually the Volume+ button and the Power button. Hold them simultaneously until the Mi logo or Recovery menu appears. Some models may require a USB cable to connect to your computer.

⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, the touch screen is not working! Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

From the Recovery menu, select a language (if available) and find Wipe Data or Wipe Data. Next, select Wipe All Data. The system will ask for confirmation — select Confirm. Once the process is complete, click Back to Main Menu and then Reboot to reboot.

• 📉 The button Volume Up – moving the cursor up.
• 📈 The button Volume Down – moving the cursor (on some models).
• 🔘 Power button – Confirmation of choice (Enter).
• 🔄 Back button (if any) – a step back.

This method is guaranteed to erase all data, including cache and system settings, but it does not delete accounts from memory before reset. Unless you untied Google account in advance, once turned on, the phone will require a password from the previous owner. Use this method only if access to the settings menu is not possible.

Remote data removal via Google and Mi Cloud

If the phone is lost or stolen, physical access is impossible, and in this case, you can delete the data remotely using geolocation services, which not only deletes the information, but can also block the device, making it useless for the finder.

For devices with an active Google account, go to android.com/find from any other device. Sign in to the same account. If the phone is online and on, you'll see the Clean Device option. After the command, the phone will receive a full reset signal when it first connects to the network.

Xiaomi has similar functionality, and i.mi.com allows you to log into your Mi Account and select the device search feature, and it offers remote erasure, but it requires an Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network) to work.

It is important to understand the difference between remote locking and deletion of data. Remote reset via Google often requires confirmation the next time you turn on the device (FRP), which means that the thief will not be able to use the phone, but you will not be able to use the password either if you do not remember the account details. Use this feature only in extreme cases.

💡

Remote reset is only effective if the device is on and has Internet access. If the phone is turned off, the command will be executed automatically the first time it appears on the network.

Possible problems and solutions

The reset process is usually smooth, but sometimes errors can occur. One of the most common problems is a cyclical restart (bootloop), when the phone constantly reboots and does not reach the desktop, which can indicate damage to system files or a failed update.

If you reset your phone and you need a password from an account you've forgotten, you'll have to go through a Google or Xiaomi site to restore access, and you'll never be able to officially unlock your device without it, and that's how theft protection works, and you can't get around it legally.

In rare cases, the erasure process can freeze on a certain percentage, and if it lasts more than 30-40 minutes, one of the memory sectors may be damaged, in which case only flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility will help.

• 🔁 Bootloop – Try logging in to Recovery and reset again.
• 🔒 FRP Lock – requires the entry of account data that was on the phone.
• 📉 Hanging – don’t turn off your phone, wait until 1 hour).
• ❌ Memory error – requires flashing through the PC.

Remember, after selling a device, the new owner may face questions about its origins. A clean phone with no accounts and a welcome screen is more trustworthy and more expensive. Responsible deletion is a sign of good taste in the digital world.