Xiaomi smartphones and tablets are famous for their performance, but over time, even powerful hardware begins to stumble on the accumulated digital garbage. Users often wonder how to remove everything on Xiaomi to return the device to factory speed or prepare it for sale. This process requires care, as the result will be the complete disappearance of personal files if you do not make a backup.
There are several ways to clean up memory, from the standard settings menu to advanced methods through the Recovery Engineering Menu.The choice of a specific method depends on whether your gadget is turned on and whether you have access to your desktop. In this article, we will go through all the options in detail so that you can safely and efficiently clean up your device's internal memory.
Before we take any drastic action, we need to recognize the irreversibility of the process, because deleting all data is not just moving files to the bin, it's physically rewriting memory sectors, so it takes even longer to prepare than the cleaning procedure itself.
Preparing the device for complete data deletion
The first and most critical step is to back up. Without this step, you risk losing contacts, photos and messaging forever. Redmi and Poco offer built-in backup tools that make life much easier.
It is recommended to synchronize important data with the cloud service Mi Cloud or Google Drive. This will take time depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection, but ensures the safety of data even if the device breaks down in the future.
- 📸 Make copies of all important photos and videos in the cloud or on your computer.
- 📞 Export your contacts to your Google account so they can automatically regenerate on your new phone.
- 🔑 Write down passwords from important apps, as after reset, you will need to re-authorize.
- 🔋 Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60% before the beginning of the procedure.
⚠️ Warning: If two-factor authentication is enabled on your device, be sure to untie your phone number from your Google and Mi Account before resetting, otherwise your theft protection may work (FRP).
It's also worth removing the MicroSD card if it's installed, and while the system will offer the choice of erasing data only from the phone or the card, physically removing the media completely eliminates the risk of accidental file loss from the flash drive, which is especially true for models with expandable memory.
Standard reset via the settings menu
The safest and easiest method available to every user is to use the standard interface of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. This method is ideal if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you can get into the menu.
The process starts with moving to the settings section. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all devices in the Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco line.
You need to find the item that's responsible for the general settings of the system, which is usually located at the bottom of the list or in the "About the phone" submenu, and there's a button that triggers the mechanism for complete deletion of data.
The sequence of actions is as follows: go to Settings, select About Phone, then click Reset and select Erase all data. The system will request confirmation and possibly enter a pattern lock or password.
What happens when you reset the menu?
The process takes 5 to 15 minutes. First, the system deletes all user files, then reinstalls the system applications and returns the configuration files to their original state. The screen can go out and light up several times.> After confirmation, a cleanup process will begin that cannot be interrupted. The phone will reboot, and you will see the brand logo, and then the animation of the initial settings. This means that the factory settings have been successfully restored. Deleting data through Recovery Mode Situations are different: the phone freezes, does not respond to touches, or goes into an endless reboot. In such cases, the standard mode comes to the device's recovery mode. For most Xiaomi models, it’s the simultaneous holding of the volume button and the power button. Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to keep the volume. After a few seconds, a menu with a black or gray background will open, where the control is carried out by the volume buttons, and the choice is by the power button. Control button function Moving on the menu Volume Up/Down Navigation Cursor Confirmation of choice Power button Activation Item Select Language Press English/Chinese In the Recovery menu, select English (if available), then go to Wipe Data. then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. After the process is complete, click Back to Main Menu and select Reboot. This method is more “rough” and is guaranteed to delete all data, including possible software errors that interfere with the normal operation of the system. However, it does not require access to the desktop of the smartphone. Cleaning through the Find Device service If the phone is lost, stolen or simply out of reach, but connected to the Internet, you can delete all data remotely. This uses the Google Find My Device service or a similar tool from Xiaomi. This method requires that the device be pre-on and geolocated. You also need to know the login and password from the account associated with the smartphone. Go to the device, or send the corresponding command to the username from the device. Once it's online, all the data will be destroyed, and it's an important security mechanism to protect personal information from prying eyes. ⚠️ Warning: Remote reset via service only works if the device is online. SIM-maps, the command will be executed at the first connection to the network. MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS Shells MIUI The new HyperOS has its own nuances in the reset process, and the latest firmware versions have increased security measures associated with the Mi Account, and now when you try to reset through the settings menu, the system can require a password from the Mi Account. This is done so that an attacker who gained access to an unlocked phone cannot quickly erase the tracks and reflash the device. If you forget the password from the account, the reset procedure can be blocked. In this case, you need to restore access through the manufacturer's website before deleting all data, otherwise the phone will turn into a brick with a request for activation, and the new versions will change the formatting process of internal memory. The system can perform initial configurations longer after reset, creating the necessary partitions and verifying the integrity of files. 🆕 HyperOS improves cache cleaning algorithm for system applications. 🔒 Mandatory check of lock screen password before resetting. ☁️ Automatic suggestion to create a backup to the cloud before starting removal. ⚡ Accelerated reboot process after memory cleanup is complete. Problem solving: phone doesn't reset or freezes Sometimes deletion process can go wrong. Smartphone can hang on the logo, reboot and start resetting again, or just shut down. This can be caused by system files being damaged or memory malfunction. If the phone is getting stuck during the deletion phase, try forcefully restarting it by holding the power button for a period of time. 10-15 If this doesn't work, you'll need to re-enter Recovery mode. In the case of a cyclic bootloop after you try to reset, you may need to flash the device through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. This is a more complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader. (function(d,s){d.getElementById("licnt06C4").src= "https://counter.yadro.ru/hit?t26.5;r"+escape(d.referrer)+ ((typeof(s)=="undefined")?"":";s"+s.width+"*"+s.height+"*"+ (s.colorDepth?s.colorDepth:s.pixelDepth))+";u"+escape(d.URL)+ ";h"+escape(d.title.substring(0,150))+";"+Math.random()})(document,screen)