How to completely remove everything on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways to reset to factory settings

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step. Whether you’re selling a device, experiencing software failures, or wanting to “reset” it after experimenting with firmware, it’s important to do it right. It’s not enough to simply delete files manually: data fragments can remain in memory, and an incorrect reset can turn a phone into a “brick.” In this article, all the current ways to completely delete data on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including methods for locked devices and phones with a damaged system.

We're going to look at not only the standard reset, but also the alternatives: using Recovery Mode, Fastboot commands, and deleting through Mi Account. Special attention is paid to data security, how to guarantee that information is erased so that it can't be restored. All instructions are relevant for devices on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS (2026).

Warn in advance: some methods require unlocking the bootloader or connecting to a PC. If you're a beginner, start with the simplest way, through the settings menu. Advanced options using ADB or Mi Flash Tool will come in handy for advanced users.

1. Standard reset via settings (the safest way)

This method is suitable for working devices that have no hardware damage and are logged in. All data will be deleted irrevocably, including photos, messages, installed applications and account settings.

• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 50% (when reset, the battery will discharge faster).
• 📱 Backup important data through Settings → The phone. → Backup or manually copy files to PC.
• 🔑 Make sure to remember the password from your Mi Account – after the reset, you may need to log in.

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone (or About HyperOS Device)
3. Select Resetting → Erase all data.
4. The system will ask you to enter a pattern lock or PIN-code.
5. Confirm the action by clicking Erase all (some models will require you to enter a password from Mi Account).

It takes 5 to 15 minutes. When it's done, the phone will reboot and suggest that you configure it as new. If the device requires you to enter the old password after the reset, it means that Xiaomi's Mi Cloud Lock feature was activated earlier.

2. Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on or freezes)

If Xiaomi’s smartphone doesn’t load beyond the logo, reboots cyclically, or locks with a pattern lock, Recovery Mode will help, which works even without access to the main system, but requires physical access to the phone’s buttons.

Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), Recovery Mode can be blocked if the bootloader is not previously unlocked.

How to log in to Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Hold the combination: 📱 For most models: Power button + Loudness up. 🔧 For older devices (until 2019): Power button + Loudness up + Loudness down.

Mi

Recovery

Next:

1. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
2. Select Wipe Data (or Chinese firmware).
3. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
4. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

This will require a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and a USB-TypeC cable (original to avoid connection issues).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools (or Mi Flash Tool for firmware).
2. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press the power button + volume down for 5-10 seconds.
3. Connect your phone to your PC. In the command line (or Terminal), run: fastboot devices If the device is identified (the serial number appears), continue. If not, install the drivers.
4. Run the full reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot format userdata
5. For complete cleaning (including system partitions), add: fastboot erase system Warning: this will remove the firmware - after that you will need to reinstall it via the Mi Flash Tool.
6. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: If the phone does not turn on after fastboot erase commands or shows error number OS installed, so the firmware has been removed. You can only restore it through the Mi Flash Tool with the official ROM.

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If, after a Fastboot reset, your phone asks for a Mi Account but you don't remember it, try logging in via the web version of Mi Account and removing the device from the attached list. Sometimes this removes the lock.

4. Delete data via Mi Account (if the phone is lost or stolen)

If you don't have physical access to your phone, but it's linked to your Mi Account, you can remotely erase your data via Find Device, which works if:

• 📶 Device connected to the Internet (mobile data or Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Find Device enabled in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).
• 🔒 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Find Device section, select your phone from the list.
3. Press Erase Data (Erase Data).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email (if two-factor authentication is enabled).

Remote reset does not work on all Xiaomi models. If an error occurs after you click Erase Data, then the function is not supported by your device, in which case you only have to wait for the phone to connect to the network, and try to reset it through Fastboot when you physically access it.

Important: after a remote reset, the phone will not be unlocked from the Mi Account account, and the next time you turn on, you will need to enter the same account information that was tied to the reset.

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Remote reset via Mi Account does not delete data from the memory card (microSD). If it was important files, they can be restored.

5. reset from a locked phone (if the password is forgotten)

A forgotten pattern lock, PIN or password is a common problem. If standard login methods (Forgot the password?) don't work, you'll have to reset the device bypassing the lock. Here are 3 working ways:

Method 1: Mi Account (if linked to account)

If you enter the password incorrectly, you will see a button 5 times: Forgot your password?. Click on it and log in to Mi Account, which is the phone's associated with. After successful authorization, the system will prompt you to create a new password.

Method 2: Recovery Mode (unless linked to Mi Account)

If your account is not tied, use the instructions in the Recovery Mode section. After the reset, the phone will turn on without a password, but all data will be deleted.

Method 3: Through Fastboot (if Recovery is blocked)

For devices with blocked Recovery:

1. Transfer your phone to Fastboot (power button + volume down).
2. Connect to your PC and execute: fastboot flashing unlock (this will unlock the bootloader, but will erase all data).
3. Once unlocked, perform a standard reset via Recovery.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (2026), unlocking the bootloader requires linking the Mi Account to the phone in advance (before locking).If this was not done, reset is possible only through an authorized Xiaomi service center.

6. How to guarantee data erasure without recovery

A standard reset via settings or Recovery doesn't always delete data permanently. With special programs (such as DiskDigger or Recuva), you can recover some files. If you sell a phone or transfer it to third parties, use deep cleaning methods:

• 🔐 Encryption + Reset: Before reset, enable encryption in Settings → Security → Phone encryption. Once reset, the data will be unavailable for recovery.
• 💾 Data overwrite: After reset, fill the phone's memory with "junk" files (such as large videos), then reset again.
• 🛠️ Fastboot commands: Use fastboot format userdata instead of erase – this formats the partition, not just clears it.

For maximum certainty, combine these methods.

1. Turn on encryption.
2. Run the reset via Fastboot with the format command.
3. Download the phone, fill the memory with unnecessary files.
4. Do the reset again.

This approach makes data recovery almost impossible even with professional hardware.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you reset Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, contact Xiaomi Service Center. In some cases (for example, if you have hardware memory damage), reset is possible only with the help of special equipment.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions