How to Remove Everything from Xiaomi: A Complete Cleanup Guide

Situations when you want to completely clear your smartphone of information arise quite often, this can be the sale of the device, transfer the gadget to a relative or the need to fix critical errors in the operation of the MIUI and HyperOS operating system. Complete deletion of data ensures that your personal photos, correspondence and passwords do not fall into the wrong hands.

In the cleaning process, it is important not only to delete files, but also to properly untie accounts to avoid blocking the activation by the new owner. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from standard settings to forced reset via the Recovery menu.

Before we take any drastic action, we need to understand the difference between simply deleting files and completely resetting the system, and we’ll look at the nuances of working with cloud services and explain why ignoring certain steps can lead to problems with accessing the device in the future.

Preparing the device for complete data deletion

Any deletion operation requires prior preparation, otherwise you risk losing access to important contacts or permanently losing valuable images. The first step should always be to create a backup, since once the factory reset process is started, it will be impossible to return data using standard methods.

The owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones are strongly advised to check the status of the Mi Account account. If the account is tied to the device, it must be untethered before reset, otherwise the protection against theft will work, and the new owner will not be able to activate the phone.

Be sure to check for system updates, as newer versions of the shell may have different interfaces to the reset menu, and it is also recommended to charge the battery to at least 60-70% so that the formatting process is not interrupted due to discharge, which can lead to damage to system files.

⚠️ Warning: Removing the microSD card before reset is a must, and if you leave the card inside, the system may suggest formatting it, which will result in loss of external storage.

Standard reset via the Android settings menu

The safest and most common cleaning method is to use the built-in functionality of the operating system, which is suitable for most scenarios when the phone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and the settings menu is available for navigation.

To start, you need to go to Settings. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the path to the reset function may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Usually the desired option is hidden in the "About Phone" or "Advanced Settings" subsection.

Find “Reset” or “Erase all data” and the system will alert you that all files, including music, images and installed apps, will be deleted, and if you are confident in your decision, you will need to enter a screen unlock password or a pattern lock to confirm the operation.

Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the formatting process will begin, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the storage capacity and the speed of your Xiaomi CPU, and when completed, the device will turn on in the out-of-the-box state, suggesting you choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi.

Forced reset via Recovery mode

If the smartphone is stuck, doesn't boot to the desktop, or the touch screen doesn't respond, Recovery mode is used. This low-level menu allows you to reset even when the operating system is not responding.

To get to the menu, press the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, continue to keep the volume. In the menu that opens, the navigation is done with the volume buttons, and the choice is made with the power button.

In the list, select Wipe Data. Then the system can request confirmation by suggesting that you select Wipe All Data. Once you agree, the phone will warn you that action is irreversible. Confirm the selection, and the userdata partition will begin to be cleaned.

Importantly, this method does not require access to the settings menu, but it also does not remove the protection of Google FRP or Mi Cloud Lock.If an account has been entered on the phone, after reset via Recovery, the device will require you to enter a password from the last used Google account.

Delete data through the Mi Cloud service

Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem have the unique ability to delete all data from the device remotely, especially in the case of a phone loss or theft, when physical access to the gadget is impossible, but the device is connected to the Internet.

To do this, you need to go to the official i.mi.com website from any computer or other smartphone. Sign in using the same Mi Account that was active on the device being cleaned. From the menu, select the "Device Search" function.

In the list of available gadgets, select the smartphone you want, and in the control menu that appears, you will have a button called "Clean" or "Erase Data" and then you will have a command sent to the device, and once the phone is online, all data will be permanently deleted.

💡

Remote cleaning only works if the device is connected to the Internet and the "Device Search" function is activated. If the phone is turned off, the command will be executed the first time you connect to the network.

This method also helps bypass the problem of forgotten screen password, since after cleaning and re-activating the phone can only require a password from an account you already know.However, this does not remove the FRP lock if it has been activated.

Cleaning up system debris and undeleteable applications

Sometimes the phrase "remove everything" doesn't mean a complete reset, but a deep cleaning of the system from the accumulated debris and pre-installed software that takes up space. The MIUI shell has built-in tools for this, but they require a competent approach.

To start, use the Security app, and in the Cleanup section, the system will prompt you to delete cache, residual files, and ads, a safe procedure that won't affect your personal photos or documents, but will free up gigabytes of space.

The system applications are more complicated. You can't delete them with standard means, but you can disable them. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find an unnecessary service (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) and click "Disable." The application disappears from the menu and stops consuming resources.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when disabling system components. Do not touch services called the System Framework», «MIUI Service or Google Play Services, otherwise the phone may stop loading or lose connection to the network.

For advanced users, there is a method of removing via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), connecting the phone to the computer in USB debugging mode, you can command to completely delete packets. For example, the command pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer will delete the video player.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

Using this method requires accuracy. An error in the name of a package can lead to unstable system operation. Always check the name of the package on the Internet before deleting.

Frequent questions and problem solving after resetting

After the complete deletion procedure, users often face typical questions: Why does the phone require a password from an old account? What to do if the reset has gone through but the memory is busy? These situations are normal and have solutions.

The password requirement after reset is the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) mechanism, which Google and Xiaomi implement to prevent a stolen phone from being reflashed and sold, and can only be removed by entering the account details that were synchronized before the reset.

💡

FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is a security mechanism that locks a device after a reset unless a password is entered from the last Google or Mi Account account.

If the memory seems busy after the reset, it may be due to system files or hidden folders that have not been deleted due to a formatting error, in which case resetting through Recovery with the formatting of the internal drive helps (if such an option is available in your version of Recovery).

Users are also often asked to delete a Google account before selling, which is a critical step: If you simply reset without leaving your account, your phone will be locked. Always delete your account from the Settings menu first → Accounts and Sync → Google → Delete your account.

In conclusion, the process of deleting all data from Xiaomi is a powerful measure that returns the device to factory speed and purity, the main thing is to act consistently, not ignore the warnings of the system and always have an up-to-date backup of important information.