Resetting Xiaomi’s phone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step. Whether you’re selling a device, transferring it to another person, or just wanting to get rid of the accumulated digital garbage, it’s important to do it right. Regularly removing files through a Explorer is not enough: they remain in memory and can be restored by special programs. In this article, we’ll discuss all the current ways to completely erase data on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including hidden nuances that are not written in the standard instructions.
Xiaomi devices are very well integrated with Mi Account and MIUI, which means that even after resetting through the settings menu, some data can be stored in the cloud or linked accounts, and we will show you how to guarantee that everything is deleted, including:
- 📸 Photos and videos (including hidden folders.thumbnails and DCIM/.hidden)
- 💬 Communications in SMS, Telegram, WhatsApp and other messengers
- 📱 System settings, Wi-Fi passwords, application data
- 🔑 Linked accounts Google, Mi Account, Facebook
- 🛡️ Biometric data (fingerprints, face scans)
Warning: some methods (for example, Fastboot reset) require unlocking the bootloader and can lead to loss of warranty. If you are not sure about your actions, use the official methods from the first two sections.
1. Reset via the settings menu (the safest way)
This method is suitable for 90% of users and requires no special knowledge. It deletes all data from internal memory, but does not affect the microSD card (if installed).
The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and all modern Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T):
- Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Settings Reset – these are different options!).
- The system will be asked to PIN-code or pattern lock for confirmation.
- Wait until the process is complete (usually takes 3-7 minutes).
⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the Mi Account tied to the phone, after reset, you can get a lock "This device is locked". In this case, you will need an official unlock through the Xiaomi service center (cost starting from 1500). ₽).
Untie Mi Account in Settings → Mi Accounts →
Delete Google Account in Settings → Google Accounts →
Save a backup copy of important data (contacts, photos)
Remove the microSD card (if any)
Charge your phone at least 50%
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2. Hard reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on)
If Xiaomi’s smartphone is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touches or is locked with a password, you can use Recovery Mode, which works even without access to the main system, but requires physical access to the phone’s buttons.
Step-by-step:
- Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
- Hold the combination: 🔘 Power button + Loudness up (for most models) 🔘 For POCO F4/F5: Power button + Loudness down
Mi
Recovery
Wipe Data
Wipe All Data
Confirm
Reboot → Reboot to System
⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50) After resetting via Recovery, you may need to re-activate through the Mi Account that was previously linked to the device. If you don't remember your account details, the phone will turn into a brick".
What happens if the Recovery Mode does not open?
3. data deletion via Mi Cloud (remote)
If the phone is lost or stolen but you have access to your Mi Account, you can delete all data remotely via the Mi Cloud web interface.This method does not guarantee 100% cleanup (an attacker can turn off the Internet on the device), but will help protect personal information.
How it works:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Select the Find Device tab (Find the device).
- The map will show the location of the phone (if it is connected to the network).
- Click Erase Device and confirm the action.
⚠️ Note: This method requires an unlocked bootloader, unless you have unlocked it earlier via Xiaomi's official website (en.miui.com/unlock), Fastboot reset is impossible without the risk of “bricking” the phone.
Instructions for Windows:
- Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (or Mi Flash Tool).
- Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press the Power + Volume button down before the rabbit logo appears in the eardress cap.
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
- Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and execute commands in turn: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of your device) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot format:ext4 userdata fastboot format:ext4 cache
- Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot
After this procedure, the phone will be completely cleaned, including internal memory, cache and application data, but the partitions with the firmware (system, boot) will remain intact – they will require a complete flashing through the Mi Flash Tool.
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If the phone doesn’t turn on after reset via Fastboot, try flashing it with the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. You can download the firmware for your model at [en.miui.com/a-234.html](https://en.miui.com/a-234.html) (select the Fastboot ROM version).
5. How to verify that data has actually been deleted
Even after reset, some files may remain in the phone's memory in "snippets." To make sure you clean up completely, follow the following steps:
| Method of verification | What do you do? | Sign of successful removal |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor check | Connect your phone to your PC and open up internal memory. Check DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp folders. | The folders are empty or missing. |
| Search for hidden files | Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings (in Windows: View → Hidden elements). | There are no folders like.thumbnails,.data,.miui. |
| Checking through ADB | Execute the command: adb shell ls /sdcard/ | The output of the command shows only standard Android folders (Android, MIUI, etc.) without user data. |
| Scanning the recovery program | Use DiskDigger or Recuva to scan your phone’s memory. | The program does not find deleted files (or only system files). |
🔹 An additional measure: If you sell a phone, fill up the memory with junk data after the reset, for example, copy a large file (video or archive) to it and then delete it. This will overwrite the free memory sectors, making it impossible to restore old data.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting Xiaomi, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:
- 🔌 Low battery discharge → The phone can turn off during the process and turn into a "brick." Solution: Charge the device to at least 70% or plug it into charging before the reset begins.
- 🔒 Forgot to untie Mi Account → After resetting, the phone will require the username/password of the previous owner.Solution: Before reset, go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.
- 📱 Used the wrong type of discharge → Recovery menu has Wipe Data and Wipe Cache options. One wipes everything, the other just cache. Solution: Always choose Wipe Data (or Wipe All Data).
- 🔄 Disposal interrupted → This can damage system files.Solution: Don't touch the phone until it's fully restarted (even if it's long hanging on the Mi logo).
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi phones with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Recovery resets sometimes don't work properly. If the phone doesn't turn on after the procedure, try re-entering Recovery and selecting Reboot to Bootloader, and then go back to Recovery and reset again.
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If you sell a phone, after reset, be sure to check it for "linking" to the Mi Account. SIM-If the phone requires login, the reset is incorrect, and the buyer will not be able to use it.