The Android operating system that underlies MIUI and HyperOS shells accumulates software debris, app cache and system errors over time that can significantly slow down the device. Users often face a situation where they need to completely clean the smartphone before selling, transferring to another person or to eliminate critical software failures. The process of complete cleaning, or so-called “wipe”, requires careful attention, since it irreversibly removes all personal information from the internal storage device.
Before taking drastic action, you need to understand the difference between simply deleting files and deep formatting memory partitions. Resetting to factory settings returns the software to its original state when the device left the assembly line, removing user data but leaving system partitions intact. In more complex cases, such as virus infection or needing to flash, deeper intervention through the engineering menu is required.
It is also important to consider the device’s binding to the Mi Account and Google Account, as ignoring this point can lead to the locking of the smartphone with FRP (Factory Reset Protection). Xiaomi’s modern ecosystem is closely integrated with cloud services, and properly preparing the gadget for data erasure is a critical step that should not be missed. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available cleaning methods, from standard menus to advanced methods through Fastboot.
Preparing the device for complete data deletion
The first and most important step before any erasure operation is to back up important information. Even if you plan to sell your phone, make sure that all contacts, photos, documents and correspondence are stored on external media or in the cloud. The built-in MIUI tools allow you to create a full backup system that can be restored to a new device of the same brand without losing settings.
The next critical step is to unblock accounts, and if you just reset without logging out of your Google or Mi Account, the next time you activate, the device will require a password from the previous owner, which is a security mechanism that can turn the phone into a brick for a new user, and you need to manually delete all accounts from the relevant settings before you start cleaning.
- 📸 Back up photos and videos in Google Photos or on your computer via USB-cable.
- 📱 Export your contacts to.vcf or sync them with your Google account.
- 🔐 Get out of all apps with important data: instant messengers, banking applications, two-factor authentication.
- 💳 Extract. SIM-microSD card and memory card if used to store personal data.
☑️ Checklist before reset
The process of formatting internal memory can take from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data and the speed of the drive, interruption of this process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the file system and the inability to boot the operating system, so connecting to a power source or having a high battery charge is a must.
Standard reset via the MIUI settings menu
The safest and most recommended way to erase Xiaomi is to use the built-in functionality of the operating system. This method does not require special knowledge or connection to the computer and guarantees the correct execution of all system scripts cleaning. The interface of settings in the shells of MIUI and HyperOS is intuitive, but the location of the items may vary slightly depending on the version of Android.
You have to go to the main settings menu and find the general settings section, which in older versions of firmware might have been called Advanced Settings, but in current builds, the most common name is About Phone or More, and this is where the full deletion feature is hidden, which activates the reboot mechanism to restore.
Once you select "Reset" the system will offer several options, you are interested in the option "Erase all data", when you click on it will be warned that all files will be deleted, if the device has a password to unlock the screen, the system will require it to enter to confirm the operation, this is an additional security measure to prevent accidental deletion of data by unauthorized persons.
⚠️ Warning: Once confirmed, the reset will restart and the cleaning process will begin.The screen may go out and light up several times - this is normal behavior, do not try to interrupt the process or remove the battery.
What to do if the menu does not open?
Importantly, when Find Device is enabled, the phone can request a password from the Mi Account even after resetting, unless pre-exit is done. In some cases, the system offers to format the internal memory completely, which takes longer, but ensures that data cannot be recovered by software methods.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If the operating system is not booting, locked or unstable, the only way to erase data is to enter Recovery Mode, which loads independently of the main OS and allows you to perform low-level operations with the file system. To enter this mode on Xiaomi devices, a combination of physical buttons is used when the device is turned off.
The login procedure can vary depending on the model, but the classic scheme for most smartphones involves holding the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi or Android logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume. In some models, especially with a side fingerprint scanner, the algorithm may differ, requiring short-term release and repressing.
- 🔌 Turn off the smartphone completely and turn off the charger.
- 🔊 Press the volume button "Up" and the power button at the same time.
- 📱 Hold the buttons until the logo appears, then release the power while continuing to keep the volume up.
- 🖐️ In the Recovery menu, navigation is carried out by volume buttons, and the choice is by the power button.
Once you successfully log in to the Recovery menu, you'll see a list of options in English or Chinese, and we're interested in Wipe Data. Inside this menu, there's a Wipe All Data option that confirms the user's intent, and the system will ask for confirmation several times to rule out random actions, because it's impossible to restore data after this operation.
| Action. | Control button | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Moving on the menu | Volume Up/down | Selection of the right item |
| Confirmation of choice | Power (Power) | Execution of the team |
| Entrance to the submenu | Power (Power) | Transition to the details of the operation |
| Cancellation | Back up (if you have one) | Back to level one |
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If the Recovery menu cursor is not moving or the sensor is not working, use volume buttons for navigation. In some custom recavators (for example, TWRP), the sensor may be active.
Delete data via Fastboot and ADB
For advanced users and repair professionals, there is a method of erasing data through Fastboot mode and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, which allows you to format memory partitions even when Recovery Mode is damaged or unavailable, but using this method requires a computer, installed drivers and basic knowledge of working with the command line.
First, you need to put your smartphone into Fastboot mode. This is usually done by simultaneously pressing the power button and the volume button on the device that is turned off. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android, indicating a successful transition to bootloader mode, in which the device is ready to receive commands from the PC.
On a computer that has Android SDK platform tools installed, you need to open the command line or terminal. The first thing to do is check the device's connection with the fastboot devices command. If the device serial number appears in the list, you can proceed to formatting. The userdata partition formatting command is used to completely clean user data.
fastboot flash userdata userdata.imgOr an alternative command for quick cleaning:
fastboot erase userdata⚠️ Note: Fastboot commands are executed instantly and without additional warning. An error in syntax or partition selection (for example, erasing boot instead of userdata) can make the device unrecoverable without flashing it.
Use of the ADB In Recovery mode, you can also reset if the standard menu doesn't work. the adb reboot recovery command can reset the phone to Recover mode, and the adb shell recovery command can reset the phone to Recovery mode. --wipe_data This is a method that is often used by automation scripts in mass processing of devices.
Features of resetting with a blocked Mi Account
One of the most common problems when selling or resetting Xiaomi is the activation lock (Mi Account Lock).If the function "Find device" was enabled, Xiaomi servers remember the connection of a particular device to the account. Even after full formatting memory (Hard Reset), when trying to initially set up the phone will require you to enter the username and password from the Mi Account that was used earlier.
This is a mechanism of protection against theft, and it is impossible to circumvent it by legal means without knowing the password. If you forget the data from the account, you need to use the procedure of restoring access through the official website mi.com or id.mi.com. Only after resetting the password and removing the device from the list of trusted on the site, the reset on the phone itself will pass without locking.
In situations where the phone is bought from hand and blocked by the previous owner, the only solution is to contact the seller to remotely remove the device from his account. There are service centers with Xiaomi authorization, which can remove the lock if there are documents confirming ownership (check, boxes with IMEI). Using third-party paid services to unlock carries risks and does not guarantee the result.
Checking the success of the cleanup and data security
After you finish erasing and restarting your device, it is important to make sure that the process is correct.The phone should start in the initial setting mode, offering you to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi and log in.No request for old passwords and empty galleries / contacts indicate a successful operation.
However, if you're worried about data privacy before selling, a simple reset may not be enough to protect against forensic recovery techniques. Current Android encryption standards make data unreadable without a key that is destroyed when reset, but for paranoids, there's an additional method. Once reset, you can fill the phone's vacant space with unnecessary large files (videos, archives) and then reset again. This will overwrite old memory sectors with new data.
- 🔍 Check for personal files in the gallery and file manager.
- 📶 Make sure that there are no stored networks and devices in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.
- 📞 Check the call history and SMS for residual information.
- 🔐 Make sure your phone doesn’t ask for a password from your previous Google or Mi Account.
⚠️ Note: If the phone requires a password from your Google account after resetting (FRP Lock, so you didn't log out before reset, and then you can only enter the right data or a complicated bypass procedure that depends on the Android version.
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Properly preparing and untiing accounts before resetting is the only way to ensure that the device doesn’t turn into a useless brick for the new owner.