How to wipe everything from Xiaomi phone: a complete reset to factory settings

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings can be necessary in a variety of situations: before selling a device, after infection with viruses, critical system failures or just to free up space. However, an incorrect reset can lead to loss of important data, locking your Mi Account account or even “bricking” your phone. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of deleting data from the standard menu to hidden functions of Fastboot and EDL, which work even on locked devices.

Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) feature binding to Mi Account and having a secure /data partition that is not always cleared in a standard reset. If you plan to sell a phone, be sure to check if the account is untied - otherwise the new owner will not be able to use the device. For models with a Qualcomm chip (such as Redmi Note 12 Pro +) and Mediatek (POCO M6 Pro), the procedures are different - we will specify the nuances for each case.

1. Standard reset via settings (without loss of account data)

The most secure method that works for most users: It retains its binding to the Mi Account, but deletes all user files, apps and settings. Works on all models, including the new Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 13.

To perform the discharge:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🔄 Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
• 🔒 Enter a pattern lock or PIN-code (if installed).
• ✅ Confirm the action by pressing Erase everything.

It takes 5-15 minutes, and when you restart it, the phone will suggest you set it up as new, and it's important that this method doesn't delete data from the microSD card, it needs to be formatted separately in the storage settings.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has Find Device enabled, you'll need to reset your Mi Account password, and without it, your phone will turn into a brick. → Google → Security → Find My Device.

2. Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Xiaomi’s smartphone is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touches, or is locked with a pattern lock, hardware reset via recovery mode will help, which works even without access to the system, but requires physical access to the buttons.

Instructions for most models:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Keep Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm Power.
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
5. After completion, select Reboot.

On some devices (like POCO F5), the Recovery menu may look different. If there is no Wipe All Data option, look for Factory Reset or Erase Everything.

3. Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

The method for cases when Recovery is unavailable or corrupted requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Fastboot utility, suitable for unlocking the bootloader or recovering from a failed update.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack.
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
4. In the command line (on behalf of the administrator) do:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined, enter:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

On models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13T) before reset, you will need to unlock it through the official Mi Unlock Tool.

4. Full formatting via Mi Flash Tool (for firmware)

This method erases all memory, including system partitions, and installs clean firmware, applies to serious crashes when the phone does not load even in Recovery, Suitable for models on Qualcomm (Redmi K60, Xiaomi 12 Pro, etc.).

Algorithm of action:

• 🖥️ Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version).
• 🔌 Install the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📱 Put your phone in Fastboot mode (Loudness down). + Nutrition).
• 🔧 In Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware file (.tgz) and press Refresh.
• ⚙️ At the bottom, select Clean All (full formatting) and click Flash.

It'll take 10 to 20 minutes, and when it's done, it'll reboot in a factory state. IMEI, DRM-keys and eMMC data if the firmware is not correctly selected. Use only official files from Xiaomi website!

5. Discharge via EDL (for "bricks")

Emergency Download Mode (EDL) is the last chance to bring back a phone that doesn't respond to buttons, doesn't load in a Fastboot, or has a damaged firmware, used by service centers, but also available to home users with a dedicated cable or testpoint.

For EDL entry:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to a PC with a clamped button combination (depending on the model). For example, for Redmi Note 10 - Volume up + downward + Nutrition.
• 🖥️ In Device Manager should appear Qualcomm device HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 🔧 Use the Mi Flash Tool or QFil to firmware the full image (firehose).

Warning: the wrong firmware in EDL can finally kill your phone. If you're not sure, contact the service center. For models on Mediatek (POCO X5, Redmi 10A), instead of EDL, BROM mode is used, which requires SP Flash Tool.

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Before you run through EDL, check the phone model with the fastboot getvar product command in Fastboot mode. A mismatch between the firmware and the model will result in an SLA Auth error (on the new Qualcomm chips).

6. data deletion without reset (selective cleaning)

If the goal is to make room, you don't have to erase everything. Xiaomi has deep cleaning tools built in.

• 🧹 Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning – removes cache, temporary files and debris.
• 📂 Files. → Categories → Large files – shows files size >100MB.
• 🎵 Settings → Annexes → Application Management – Size Sorting to Remove Unnecessary Programs.
• 🔍 Security → Scanning – Finds duplicate photos and videos.

For complete cleaning of the cache of Google services (can free up to 1-3 GB):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Google Play Services and click Storage → Clear cache.
3. Repeat to Google Play Store and Google Play Services.

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Selective cleaning is safer than a complete reset, but it doesn't delete system files and settings. It's not enough to sell a phone -- it requires a factory reset.

7.What to do after resetting: setup and recovery

After a successful reset, Xiaomi's phone will launch as new.

• 🔑 When you first turn on, do not connect to Wi-Fi if you plan to sell your phone - otherwise, the binding to the Mi Account will be activated.
• ☁️ If the reset was for yourself, restore the data from the backup (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).
• 🔒 Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🛡️ Enable Find Device and Google Find My Device for theft protection.

New models (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) After reset, re-activation may be required DRM-camera keys and Widevine L1 (for Netflix HD). For that:

1. Connect to the Internet.
2. Launch the camera and wait for the activation message.
3. Install Google TV and check the resolution in Settings → Apps → Google Play Movies.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone requires the old Mi Account password after reset and you don't remember it, don't enter it at random. After 5 failed attempts, the device will lock for 72 hours. In this case, only official unlocking through the Xiaomi website will help (proof of ownership will be required).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset