How to Wipe Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Reset Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face the need to clean the device completely sooner or later, a process often referred to as “vaping,” which means returning the gadget to factory settings, which removes all user data, applications, photos and system changes, returning the MIUI or HyperOS operating system to its original state.

The reasons for this can be very different: from the banal sale of the device to a new owner to the need to fix software errors or remove a forgotten pattern lock. It is important to understand that vaping is an irreversible procedure that requires prior preparation. If you just want to speed up the system, you may need a less radical cleaning of the cache, but in this article we will discuss the full formatting.

There are several ways to do this, and the choice of method depends on the current state of your smartphone: you can reset the settings through the standard menu if the phone is turned on, or use special boot modes if the system is not working correctly. Next, we will discuss each of the available options in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Before you start the formatting process, you need to perform a number of critical actions. Ignoring this step can lead to loss of valuable information or lock the device after rebooting. First of all, you need to create a full backup of all data, since it will be impossible to restore it after the vape using standard methods.

Make copies of contacts, photos, videos, and documents, and you can use cloud services like Google Drive or Mi Cloud, or transfer files to your computer via a computer. USB-Pay special attention to messengers: chats in WhatsApp and Telegram are not always saved automatically, so it is better to back them up manually in the application settings.

Also make sure the battery level is at least 50-60%.Stop the reset process due to battery discharge can damage system partitions and turn the smartphone into a "brick."If you plan to transfer the device to another person, be sure to untie your Google and Mi Account before resetting to avoid blocking activation.

Don't forget to remove the memory card. SD and SIM-Although modern versions of Android usually ask if you need to erase data from an external drive, physically extracting the card ensures that your files on it remain intact. This is especially true if you use a memory card to store work documents or personal archives.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu

The easiest and safest method for users whose phone is functioning and unlocked is that you don't need to connect to a computer or know complex key combinations, you just have to go to the system settings section and find the factory reset.

In MIUI, the path is usually as follows: Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. In some versions of the firmware, the menu may be at Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset. The system will offer you two options: Reset (saving files) and Erase Everything (full wipe).

Once you select "Erase Everything," the system will ask you to enter the screen unlock password or the pattern lock to verify the identity of the owner, which is protection against accidental deletion of data by unauthorized persons, and after confirmation, the preparation process will begin, which can take several minutes, and then the phone will restart and begin formatting.

⚠️ Note: If the Find Device feature is enabled on the phone, the system will require you to enter the Mi Account password before resetting. Make sure you remember this information, otherwise the device may be blocked.

The time it takes to complete the operation depends on the amount of internal memory and the number of applications installed. Do not touch the device at this point. Once all processes are complete, the smartphone will turn on in the initial setting mode, as if you just bought it from the store.

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Before resetting via the settings menu, turn off the internet if you’re afraid the phone will try to upgrade to a new firmware version in the process, which can take a long time.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode

If the operating system is not loading, freezes on the logo or the touch screen does not respond, Recovery mode is used. This method allows you to vape at a low level, bypassing the Android interface.

Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then the power button can be released, while continuing to hold the volume. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will open, where the volume buttons are controlled and the power button is selected.

From the menu, select a language (if you have a choice) or go straight to Wipe Data. From the submenu that opens, select Wipe All Data. The system will alert you to the loss of information and ask you to confirm the action by selecting Confirm. Once you have cleaned, select Back to Main Menu, and then Reboot → Reboot to System.

Sometimes, after a Recovery reset, the phone can turn on for a long time (10-15 minutes), which is normal behavior, as the system optimizes applications and creates new system files.

Method 3: Complete Wipe via Fastboot and Mi Flash

This is a method that's designed for advanced users and for cases where you don't just want to reset your data, but you also want to completely reinstall the system partition. ADB/Fastboot The official Mi Flash Tool utility.

First, you need to download the Fastboot ROM image for your particular model from the official website, the archive should be unpacked on your computer, then the phone is converted to Fastboot mode: when the device is turned off, the power and volume buttons are clamped until the image of a rabbit repairing an android appears.

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press the Refresh button so that the program sees the device. At the bottom of the window, select Cleanup mode. clean_all. This option ensures that all partitions with data are completely deleted. Press Flash and wait until the process is completed. 300 before 600 seconds.

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Using the team clean_all In Mi Flash Tool, it is analogous to hard-wipe, but with additional integrity check system files. This is a great way to get rid of deep software errors, viruses or traces of failed system modifications that cannot be removed by a conventional reset.

⚠️ Note: Using Fastboot mode and flashing can void the warranty if you decide to unlock the Unlock Bootloader. make sure you understand the difference between simply resetting and completely flashing.

Problems with Google and Mi accounts after resetting

Modern smartphones have a powerful theft protection system, and once you have a wiping and activation, the device may require you to enter a login and password from a Google account or a Mi Account that was synced to the phone before. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).

If you forget your account information, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to your phone without contacting the service center with purchase checks, which is why you need to not only vape it before selling or transferring the device, but also first log out of all accounts in the settings.

If you buy a used phone and you see an account request, contact the previous owner. Without it, it's almost impossible to unlock the device legally, which protects your personal data in the event of a loss of your phone, but makes it difficult to change ownership.

Sometimes resetting through Recovery helps if the phone doesn’t sync with Google’s servers after turning on, but on newer versions of Android, this method rarely works.

Cleaning partitions through ADB (for advanced)

For those familiar with the command line, it is possible to perform selective or complete cleaning through USB debugging.This method requires the developer mode on and the SDK Platform-Tools package installed on the PC.

Connect the phone to your computer and enter the adb device command to check the connection. If the device is identified, you can go to the shell with the adb shell command. --wipe_data, This process is similar to the Recovery menu.

This is useful if the touch screen is partially broken, but the system responds to commands from the computer, and it also allows you to script the reset process, which is important for service centers that handle a large number of devices.

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The most reliable way to avoid blocking accounts is to remove them from your phone’s settings before you start the reset procedure.

What to do if the phone does not turn on after the wiping

In rare cases, after the reset procedure is completed, the device may go into a cyclic restart (bootloop) or freeze on the logo, most often this indicates damage to system files or interruption of the recording process.

The first thing to try is to re-enter Recovery mode and reset, sometimes the first time isn't enough to properly mark up the file system, and if that doesn't work, you'll need to flash the device through Fastboot and completely erase the partitions.

If flashing doesn't work, it can be hardware, like flash memory, which is a problem, and you can't do without the help of a service center, but 95% of the time, the software is successful.