How to wipe everything from Xiaomi phone: full reset, deletion of files and accounts

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a procedure that can be required in a variety of situations: before selling the device, in case of critical system failures or to free up space. However, simply clicking the Reset button on the menu does not always guarantee complete deletion of all data.Residual files, app cache and even snippets of personal information can remain in the device’s memory, creating privacy risks.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi phones can be cleaned, from standard resets through settings to deep formatting with fastboot and deleting linked accounts. We’ll focus on the nuances of new HyperOS models and older MIUI 12-14 devices, and explain why some methods don’t work on all firmware, and if you’re planning to transfer your phone to another person or just want to start with a clean slate, this guide will help you get it right.

1.Preparation for a complete reset: what to do before cleaning

Before you start deleting data, you need to follow a few critical steps, and neglecting them can lead to loss of important information or problems with activating the phone after the reset.

First, back up all the important data, and even if you plan to erase it permanently, you'll need a backup in case you're wrong or incompletely reset.

• 📱 Local copying to the computer through MTP (Put your phone on like a flash drive).
• ☁️ Cloud services: Mi Cloud, Google Drive or Dropbox for photos, contacts and documents.
• 🔄 Third-party utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root) to save application settings.

Second, unplug all accounts, especially Mi Accounts, and if you don't, the phone may require the previous owner's data to be reset (FRP protection) to avoid being blocked:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click “Exit” and confirm the deletion of the account from the device.
3. Repeat for Google, Facebook and other linked services.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling a phone, do not delete it. SIM-map before reset completion - some Xiaomi models tether IMEI to Mi Account and may block the network if suspicious activity occurs.

2. Standard reset via settings: step-by-step instruction

The easiest way to erase data is to use a built-in reset feature, which is suitable for most users and works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS. However, it does not guarantee complete deletion of files from internal memory (they can be restored by special programs).

To perform the discharge:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Reset (on HyperOS: Settings → Memory → Data Reset).
2. Select “Erase all data” (not to be confused with “Reset Settings!”).
3. Enter a pattern lock or PIN-code if the system requests.
4. Confirm the action by clicking “Delete everything”.

It'll take 5 to 15 minutes, and when you restart, it'll look like new, but:

• 🔄 The operating system will remain the same version.
• 📁 Files in a folder MIUI (Wallpaper, ringtones may be preserved.
• 🔒 Protection FRP It will remain active if you do not delete your Mi Account in advance.

Delete Mi Account and Google Account|Create a backup copy of contacts|Transfer photos to the PC|Remember data for entering the cloud|Get out. SD-card (if any)-->

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS phones (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13) you may need to re-assign your Mi Account after a reset to unlock the bootloader.

3. Hard Recovery Mode Reset: When the Standard Method Fails

If the phone doesn't turn on, it doesn't stick to the logo, or it doesn't respond to touch, you'll have to use Recovery Mode, which is also useful if you've forgotten the pattern lock, but it has limitations:

• ❌ Does not work on phones with a blocked bootloader (bootloader).
• ❌ Does not delete data from SD-cards (if they are installed).
• ✅ Suitable for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO firmware-wise.

Instructions for entering and resetting Recovery:

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

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Once it's done, the phone will restart. If it's stuck in the reset phase (more than 30 minutes), it's an error, and then it's only the fastboot firmware that helps (see the next section).

4.Full formatting via Fastboot: for power users

The fastboot method is the most reliable way to erase everything without any possibility of recovery.

• 🔧 You sell your phone and want to delete your personal data.
• 🐛 Phone infected with virus that survives standard reset.
• 📱 We need to run a new version. MIUI/HyperOS clean-slate.

This will require a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and an unlocked bootloader.Warning: unlocking the bootloader erases all data and resets the phone to factory status!

Step-by-step:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it into a folder.
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. Run commands in turn: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot format userdata
5. For complete cleaning (including system partitions), add: fastboot erase system fastboot flash system (if you plan to stitch again).
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention: The fastboot erase system and fastboot oem unlock commands render the phone inoperable without the ability to turn on, unless you flash the system image again. Use them only if you are confident in your actions!

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If the phone doesn't turn on after fastboot commands, don't panic. Connect it to your PC and run the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. You can download the firmware at en.miui.com (select the version for your model!).

5. Delete data from memory card and internal storage

Resetting through settings or Recovery doesn't always clean up SD-If you're using a removable drive or want to guarantee that you'll erase everything, including hidden files, follow these steps.

For the memory card:

1. Remove the card from your phone and insert it into your computer through a card reader.
2. Format it in FAT32 or exFAT format (via Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on Mac).
3. For reliability, use the SD Card Formatter utility from the SD Association.

For internal memory (if the standard reset didn't help):

• 📌 Use the fastboot commands from the previous section (fastboot erase userdata) + fastboot format userdata).
• 📌 Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool with the “Clean All” option (wipes everything, including partitions).
• 📌 For root-access phones, use the DiskDigger app or SD Maid for deep cleaning.

If you're selling a phone, physical data destruction is the most reliable method.

1. Encrypt internal memory in settings (Settings → Security → Encryption).
2. Reset via Recovery or fastboot.
3. Fill the memory with junk files (like a big video), then reset again.

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Even after formatting, you can recover data with special programs (e.g. EaseUS Data Recovery), and if you sell a phone, the combination of encryption + reset + overwrite gives you maximum protection.

6. Delete Linked Accounts and Unblock FRP

One of the most common problems after a reset is requesting a previous Mi or Google account (Factory Reset Protection, or FRP), which happens if the main accounts were not untied before the reset, and we will learn how to remove the anchors and bypass the lock.

Method 1: Delete your account before resetting

• 📱 For Mi Account: Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account. Press "Exit» → «Delete your account” (a password may be required).

Google account

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select an account and click “Delete”.

Deep Check (for paranoids):

• 🔍 Use the DiskDigger app (requires root) to scan internal memory for residual files.
• 💻 Connect your phone to your PC and scan it with Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.
• 📊 Check the free space in the Settings → Memory – if it matches the factory volume, then the data is deleted.