Xiaomi owners have a variety of reasons for completely cleaning up their internal storage, from the banal sale of the device to critical errors in the operating system. When the gadget starts to work unstable, slow down or issue errors that cannot be corrected by standard methods, a complete reset becomes a radical measure. This procedure is also mandatory before transferring the gadget to a new owner to prevent leakage of personal information. In this guide, we will discuss all available cleaning methods in detail.
The process of deleting information is irreversible, so it is important to understand that after the procedure is completed, you will receive a “clean” device, as if just removed from the box. All your contacts, photos, apps, correspondence and settings will be irretrievably lost. That is why the first and most important step should be careful preparation. We will consider not only the reset technique itself, but also the nuances of working with a Google account and Mi Account, blocking which can turn a smartphone into a “brick”.
There are several ways to achieve this: through the settings menu if the phone is turned on, or through Recovery mode if the system is not booting. Each method has its own characteristics and risks. For example, resetting through the settings requires entering unlock passwords, and recovery mode can require accurate hitting of touch areas, which in this mode often work incorrectly. Let's examine each step in as much detail as possible.
Preparing the device for complete removal of information
Before you start destructive actions, you need to protect yourself from losing valuable data. Even if the goal is to delete everything, users often forget about hidden folders or specific application settings. Back up important files to your computer or to the cloud. For users of the Xiaomi ecosystem, it is convenient to use the built-in Mi Cloud, which allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, voice recordings and photos.
☑️ Checklist before reset
The critical thing is to unbundle your accounts, and if you just reset your accounts without logging out of your Mi Account or Google Account, the theft protection system will work, the new owner won't be able to activate your phone without your password, go to settings, find the account section, and log out of all your profiles, and that will ensure that the device won't be locked after the reboot.
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If you don’t remember your Mi Account password, restore it via i.mi.com before resetting, otherwise the phone may be locked forever.
Don't forget to remove the memory card. SD and SIM-Although when you reset, you usually have the option to clear. SD-The physical extraction ensures that you do not accidentally destroy the data you planned to store. SIM-The card can cause confirmation SMS codes to arrive during the setup process, which can confuse you.
Delete data through the MIUI settings menu
The easiest and safest way to clean a Xiaomi smartphone is to use the built-in reset feature, which is suitable for devices that function, turn on and respond to touch. You will need access to the main settings menu. Find the gear icon and go to the About Phone section (in some versions of MIUI or HyperOS, it may be called Advanced Settings).
Inside the menu, find "Reset" or "Delete all data." The system will warn you of the consequences of this action. You will be asked to choose whether to format the file system. If you want to delete all data from your phone clean, make sure that the box is ticked against "Elecate internal memory." Without this step, some user files in hidden directories may remain.
- 📱 Click “Next” and enter a pattern lock or digital screen unlock code.
- 🔒 The system will require you to enter a password from your Mi-account to confirm the identity of the owner.
- 🗑️ Once confirmed, the removal process will begin, which can take 5 to 15 minutes.
- 🔄 The device will automatically restart and start the initial setup.
What do I do if the reset freezes?
It's important to keep the power up. Even if it looks like the phone is getting stuck, you better wait. Breaking the recording to the disk during formatting can damage the system partitions. Once you're done, you'll see a welcome screen with your choice of language, which means that the procedure was successful.
Reset via Recovery (Hard Reset)
If the system is not loading, locked or operating with critical errors, Recovery mode will help. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the firmware. To log in on a switched-off device, you need to pinch the combination of buttons. On most Xiaomi and Redmi models, this is the simultaneous pressing of the power button and the volume button (“Volume +”).
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, the touch screen may not work or not work correctly. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of point is made with the power button.
After the Mi or Android logo appears, release the power button, but continue to hold Volume + until the menu appears.The interface can be in English or Chinese.If you see Chinese characters, select the item with the globe icon or arrow to switch to English.
From the menu, select Wipe Data. You will then be asked to confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data. The system will again warn you of loss of information. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The formatting process will begin. Data wiped successfully will appear at the end. Press Back to Main Menu, and then Reboot -> Reboot to System.
It is worth noting that newer versions of MIUI (starting at 12.5 and above) may require a Wi-Fi connection and a Mi Account password to perform a reset via Recovery, and this is done to protect against theft. If the phone cannot connect to the network, the reset may not start.
Search for My Device from Google
There is an alternative way to delete all data from your phone if your device is on, connected to the Internet, but you do not have physical access to the screen (for example, you forgot the pattern lock). google.com/android/find from any other device (computer or tablet) under the same account used on the smartphone.
The system will try to locate your device. Select the "Erase Device" option from the control menu, you will need to re-enter the password from your Google account to confirm, and then the phone will be commanded to reset completely, which is effective if the phone is online, but it is less reliable than a local reset, because it depends on the quality of the connection.
| Method | Access to the menu | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI settings | Required. | No. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | Not required | Sometimes (MIUI 12+) | Medium |
| Find My Device | Not required | Yes (required) | Low. |
| ADB Commands | Not required | No. | Tall. |
The advantage of this method is that it allows you to delete data remotely, but if the phone is in flight mode or turned off, the command will only be executed after the first connection to the network, which is worth considering if your goal is to protect data when the device is lost.
Using ADB for Advanced Resetting
For technically trained users, there is a USB debugging (ADB) reset method, which requires a computer, Xiaomi drivers installed, and the SDK Platform-tools platform. The phone must pre-embed USB debugging in the Developer menu. If the menu is hidden, it can be activated by clicking seven times on the build number in the About Phone section.
Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Open the command line in the folder with ADB And you type in the connection check command: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can run a reset command. However, the standard adb reboot recovery command will only reset the phone to recovery mode, rather than delete the data immediately.
adb shell recovery --wipe_dataThis command initiates the cleanup process., on modern versions of Android and MIUI, this method can be blocked for security reasons.The system may require confirmation on the phone screen or not respond to the command at all if the device is not rooted or unlocked the bootloader.
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The ADB method is only effective if USB debugging has been enabled and the computer has already had permission to access the device.
If you're planning to sell a phone, the good thing about this method is that it allows you to make sure that the USB port is working and that the system responds to external commands before handing the device over to the customer, but it's easier for the average user to use the standard menu.
Problem Solving and Frequent Errors
Users often face difficulties in deleting data, and one of the most common is a cyclic bootloop after reset, so if the phone is constantly showing the logo and rebooting, the system partition may have been damaged or crashed during recording, in which case it may be necessary to flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool utility.
⚠️ Note: If after a reset, the phone requires a password from a Google account that you don't remember, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device legally. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
Another problem is the “failed to reset” error, which can be due to a lack of space in the system partition for temporary files or damage to the file system. Try to free up space manually or use Recovery mode, which bypasses the main file system.
Also, users often confuse “Reset” and “Reset all data”: the first option returns the settings to the factory, but can save files in memory. the second option (Wipe All Data) deletes absolutely everything. Always read the description of the item on the menu, so as not to lose extra or, conversely, leave extra.