How to Delete All Data from Xiaomi Redmi 7: 3 Verified Ways

Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even it requires periodic cleaning. Whether you sell the device, give it for repair or just want to start with a clean slate, complete deletion of data is a critical process. It is not enough to simply format internal memory: snippets of personal information (photos, messages, passwords) can remain in the system and be restored by attackers.

In this article, we will discuss the three official methods of resetting Redmi 7 to factory settings – through the settings menu, Recovery mode and Fastboot. Each method has its own nuances: for example, resetting through settings does not always delete data from protected partitions, and Fastboot requires connecting to a PC. We will also tell you how to properly prepare for the procedure so as not to lose important files, and what to do if the smartphone is locked or not turned on.

Resetting Preparation: What to Do Before Deleting Data

Before you erase data from Xiaomi Redmi 7, follow a few critical steps: neglecting them can lead to loss of valuable information or even locking the device (for example, if the Find My Device feature is enabled).

First, back up, even if you're planning to sell your phone, save your contacts, photos and documents to an external drive or to the cloud.

• 📁 Use the built-in Backup app (Settings) → System system → Backup).
• ☁️ Upload files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud (up to 5GB free).
• 💾 Connect your phone to your PC and copy the data manually (folders) DCIM, Downloads, Documents).

Second, unplug the accounts, and if you have a Mi Account or Google Account attached on your device, the FRP may go off after the reset, and the new owner will not be able to activate the phone.

• 🔑 Remove Mi Account in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.
• 📧 Unplug Google Account in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Delete the account.
• 🔄 Log out of all social networks (Facebook, VKontakte) and instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

⚠️ Note: If you sell Redmi 7, be sure to turn off the Find Device feature (Settings) → Google → Security → Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to log into their Google account after the reset.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest method)

This is the safest and most recommended way to turn on and react to touch, and is suitable for most users and requires no additional tools, but note that this reset does not always delete data from protected partitions (for example, /data/media/0 folders may remain intact).

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Resetting settings.
3. Select Delete All Data (or Reset to Factory Settings).
4. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if requested.
5. Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.

It takes 3-5 minutes. Once you restart, the phone will go back out of the box. If the device has been stuck on the Mi logo for longer than 10 minutes, try the Recovery method.

Make sure battery charge > 50%|

Backup of important data |

Unlock Mi Account and Google Account|

Remember Wi-Fi passwords (they will reset) |

Get out. SIM-card and memory card (optional)-->

⚠️ Note: If Redmi 7 has custom firmware installed (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), resetting through settings can result in a loss of performance.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Xiaomi Redmi 7 does not respond to the screen, is locked or got stuck while booting, use Recovery mode.This method deletes all data without exception, including system files, but requires care: wrong actions can lead to a device blink.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.

From the Recovery menu (English or Chinese) select:

• 🔧 Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (complete reset).
• ✅ Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
• 🔄 After completion, select Reboot. → Reboot to System.

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

- "" - data reset.

- "" - confirmation.

- "" - reboot.

Method 3: Complete Fastboot reset (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical and reliable method, and it's guaranteed to delete all data, including hidden partitions, but it requires a computer with drivers installed and basic command line knowledge.

• 🔐 Your phone is locked and you don’t remember your password.
• 🛠️ Recovery damaged or unavailable.
• 📱 Delete the data before selling (maximum cleaning).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi 7 to your computer in Fastboot mode: Adb block code: turn off your phone → press <power button> + <volume down button> before the screensaver with a rabbit and the inscription Fastboot appears.
3. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and execute: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device).
4. Run full reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot format userdata fastboot reboot

After these commands, the phone will reboot to a store-like state, but without being tied to old accounts. If you also need to reflash the device, use the Mi Flash Tool with the official firmware for Redmi 7 (codenamed onc).

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If the phone doesn't restart after fastboot commands, try manually holding the power button for 20 seconds. Sometimes the device "falls asleep" in standby mode.

What to do if your phone requires an old Mi Account after a reset

One of the most common problems after a Xiaomi Redmi 7 reset is requesting data from a previous Mi Account.

• 🔗 The account was not untied before the reset.
• 🔒 Find My Device feature included.
• 📱 The device was stolen (protection against theft activated).

Decisions:

1. Enter the old account if you remember your login/password.
2. If your account is yours but you have forgotten your password: Restore access via account.xiaomi.com. Use the linked email or phone number.

• Contact the seller and ask to remove the device from his Mi Account (Devices) → Delete).
• If you cannot contact us, contact Xiaomi with a check to purchase.

⚠️ Warning: Don't buy Xiaomi with your hands if the seller refuses to make a reset with you! there is a great risk of getting a locked device that cannot be activated without the data of the previous owner.

How to verify that data has been deleted

Even after the reset, some files may remain in the device's memory. To make sure the information is permanently erased, follow the following steps:

1. Verification through the file manager:

• 📂 Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager).
• 🔍 Check the folders. DCIM, Downloads, Documents – they should be empty.
• 🗑️ Make sure there are no recovered files in the Recycle Bin.

Verification via PC:

• 💻 Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
• 🖥️ Open your device in Windows Explorer – internal memory should appear empty (except for system folders).

3. Verification through specialized utilities:

• 🛡️ Use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva to scan the memory, and if they can't find deleted files, the data is erased.
• 🔍 For a deep inspection, you can use ADB-commands: adb shell ls /data/data/ (You must return an empty list or an access error).

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If you sell or transfer a phone, make sure to fill up the memory with junk data after the reset (e.g. download and delete a large file), which will eliminate the recovery of old data.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you reset the Xiaomi Redmi 7, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss, device locking, or firmware damage, and here are the most common ones:

Another common problem is incomplete resetting, where some of the data is stored in memory, which happens if:

• 🔄 Used reset via settings instead of Fastboot.
• 📁 The phone has enabled data encryption (in which case, a reset via Recovery may not work).
• 🛠️ The device had root rights or a custom core.

If you suspect that the reset was incorrect, repeat the procedure through Fastboot or perform a full flashing with the Mi Flash Tool.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions