How to Remove All Information from Xiaomi Phone Before Selling: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why just removing files is not enough

Selling a Xiaomi smartphone is not just a matter of money, it's also a matter of security for your data. Even if you manually delete photos, correspondence and apps, residual information can remain in the device's memory. Current data recovery techniques allow you to extract deleted files, passwords, authorization tokens and even location history, which is a risk to your privacy and financial security.

Manufacturers like Xiaomi are implementing layered protection, but a full factory reset is just the first step. For example, devices with MIUI 12+ use hardware encryption, but without proper preparation, even it doesn't guarantee 100% cleanup. In this article, proven methods that will eliminate the possibility of recovery of your data by a new owner.

Pay special attention to models with internal memory eMMC (for example, Redmi). 4A, Redmi Note 5: These drives have a feature: with frequent overwriting of data, residual information can be stored longer than on the computer. UFS-drives (as in Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F5).

Preparing the phone for reset: 5 mandatory steps

Before you start deleting data, follow these steps, which will help you avoid problems with your accounts, backups and licenses.

• 🔄 Unplug your Mi Account. Without this, the new owner will not be able to activate the device. → Xiaomi account → Get out.
• 📱 Delete your Google account.This will prevent blocking through Factory Reset Protection (FRP). Path: Settings → Google accounts → Delete the account.
• 💳 Deactivate your bank cards in Google Pay, Mi Pay, and other payment services. Even after a reset, tokens can remain in protected memory areas.
• 🔐 Disable two-factor authentication for apps tied to a phone number (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 📡 Turn off "Find the device." MIUI This is done in the settings → Additionally. → Find the device.

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If you are selling a phone with a physical SIM-Even after reset, some Xiaomi models can store data about the last used card. SIM link-module.

Don't ignore these steps! For example, if you don't unplug your Mi Account, the customer won't be able to log in after the reset -- the phone will require your login and password, which is a common cause of controversy when selling used technology.

Methods of complete data deletion: what to choose

There are three main ways Xiaomi cleans before selling, and their effectiveness depends on the model, MIUI version, and memory type.

For most users, the third method (encryption + reset) is optimal, combining simplicity and reliability. The Fastboot method requires a PC and command knowledge, but guarantees 100% cleanup — suitable for corporate phones or devices with sensitive information.

Step-by-step: reset via settings

It's the easiest way, but it leaves a chance for data recovery, which is fine if there's no critical information on the phone.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Erase All Data (on some models – Delete All Data and Reset Settings).
3. Enter the screen lock password (if installed).
4. Confirm action. The phone will restart and begin the cleaning process.
5. After the reboot, perform the initial setup (do not enter your accounts!).

Important: At this point, many users make the mistake of checking their phone after a reset, connecting to Wi-Fi or entering their account, which cannot be done: new data can overwrite uncleaned memory sectors, making it difficult to recover old files.

Advanced method: encryption + reset

This method is recommended even by Xiaomi in the official documentation for models with MIUI 12 and later, the bottom line is that before resetting, you encrypt the data and then delete the encryption key – this makes recovery impossible.

1. Activate encryption: Settings → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials → Encrypt the phone. ⚠️ Warning: it'll take 30 to 60 minutes. Make sure the phone is charged at 80%+ Do not turn it off during encryption.
2. After the encryption is complete, perform a standard reset via Settings (instruction in the previous section).
3. Now, even with professional equipment, it's not possible to recover data.

This method works on all models with MIUI 12+, including Xiaomi 11T, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and later. On older devices (for example, Redmi 5 with MIUI 10), encryption may not be supported - in this case, use a reset via Recovery Mode.

Recovery Mode Reset: For Power Users

If you don’t trust standard reset or your Xiaomi model doesn’t support encryption, use Recovery Mode.This method overwrites the /data partition more thoroughly.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the buttons Volume up + Power (on some models – Volume down + Power). Hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Recovery logo appears.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
5. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

The advantage of this method is that it bypasses the limitations of MIUI and clears service partitions that may contain system logs or application cache. For example, in Redmi Note 8 Pro, even the Google Services cache, which can store authorization tokens, is deleted via Recovery.

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Resetting via Recovery Mode is the only way to completely clean your phone if you forget your screen lock password (provided that the Find My Device feature is not activated).

Checking your phone after a reset: what should disappear

Before you give the phone to the customer, make sure that all data is deleted.

• 📂 Your phone’s memory should be empty (check through Files) → Internal storage).
• 👤 Accounts: in Settings → Your accounts should not be your Mi or Google accounts.
• 📱 Applications: only standard programs (Camera, Phone, Settings, etc.) should remain in the application menu.).
• 📡 Network: Check that your phone is not connected to your Wi-Fi (check Settings) → Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 Blocking: if you have installed a pattern lock or PIN, It should not be after the discharge.

Also, do the test:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB and check the contents of the internal memory.
2. Install any application (like Files by Google) and check if the root folder has any old files.
3. Try to recover data using DiskDigger (available on Google Play), and if it finds files, the reset is not done correctly.

⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone requires you to enter a password from the previous Mi Account, then you did not untie it before cleaning).

What to do if the dumping did not help: radical measures

In rare cases, even after a complete reset, data can remain on the device, as is the case with phones with corrupted file systems or modified firmware.

Method 1: Fastboot firmware

You will need a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and the official firmware for your model.

fastboot flash all [name file firmware].zip


fastboot erase userdata




fastboot erase cache

This command will completely rewrite all the phone sections, including userdata and cache.

Method 2: Physical destruction of data (for paranoid people)

If you sell a phone with sensitive information (such as a corporate Xiaomi), you can:

• 🔨 Pour epoxy resin into the connector eMMC/UFS (irreversibly!).
• 🔥 Use a demagnetizer to destroy a memory chip (suitable only for eMMCs).
• 🛠️ Replace the memory chip (requires soldering equipment).

Of course, these measures are excessive for most users, but if you sell a phone that was used for cryptocurrency transactions or for storing commercial secret data, they are justified.

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Fastboot firmware is the only way to guarantee that you will delete data from Xiaomi phones that have damaged /data partitions (for example, after a failed rooting).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset before sale