Xiaomi reset to factory settings: what is deleted from the phone’s memory

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sooner or later face the need to return the device to its original state, which can be caused by selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or wanting to fix critical software errors that cannot be fixed by standard methods.

The main fear of users before this procedure is the loss of important data. Many fear that personal photos, contacts, correspondence and files will disappear with the system debris. Indeed, resetting is a radical measure that affects the structure of the file system. However, understanding which parts of memory are cleared and which remain intact allows you to prepare in advance and avoid unpleasant surprises.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what exactly is removed from the Xiaomi phone when reset, what data can be saved and how to properly prepare for the procedure. We will examine the differences between a regular reset via the menu and full formatting, and also touch on the topic of accounts and protection against theft.

Factory settings in the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem

Factory settings are the operating system state it was in when it left the assembly line of the manufacturer. In Xiaomi smartphones, this means cleaning the user's memory partition, where all data created or downloaded by the owner during operation is stored. The MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS returns its standard configurations, removing all changes made to the user.

It's important to distinguish between a software reset and a physical memory cleanup. When you initiate a recovery process, the system labels all the memory cells occupied by user data as "free to write." Physically, files can remain on the media until the system writes new information on top of them, but for the operating system and the user, they cease to exist, making their recovery difficult, but in some cases possible with specialized hardware.

⚠️ Note: Once a reset operation is confirmed, data is deleted without the ability to be restored by standard operating system tools. Using cloud services or backups is the only reliable way to store information.

The reset process affects not only personal files, but also system preferences, and any changes made to interface settings, network settings, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi configurations will be replaced with default values, which is useful if the device starts to work incorrectly due to conflicts of software settings.

Complete list of data deleted in Hard Reset

When you execute the "Erase all data" command, you completely strip the user partition, which is the most radical option that you use before selling a device, and you lose all the media content you upload or create yourself in the first place.

The list of things guaranteed to be removed includes:

• 📸 All photos and videos taken on camera or downloaded from the Internet, stored in internal memory.
• 📱 All installed applications, including their cache, account data within games and program settings.
• 📞 Local phone book if not synced to your Google or Mi Account.
• 💬 History SMS-messages MMS, device-stored.
• ⚙️ All changes in system settings: themes, fonts, screen and sound parameters.

The files in the Download folder and documents saved in various office applications deserve special attention. If you used the phone as a working tool and store scans of documents or contracts locally, they will disappear first, and you will also remove saved passwords from the Wi-Fi networks that the phone memorized for automatic connection.

If a phone has installed banking or government services applications, their authorization data will also be erased, and once reset, you will have to re-examine the identification and biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) procedures for each application.

What is saved: data in the cloud and on SIM-map

Despite aggressive internal memory cleanups, there are areas that remain intact in a standard reset, due to the architecture of storage in modern smartphones, primarily information physically located outside the device’s internal flash memory.

Data that is NOT deleted during resetting:

• 📀 Information on SIM-map: contacts and SMS, saved directly on the SIM card chip, remain in place.
• ☁️ Cloud storage data: Photos in Google Photos, files in Google Drive or Mi Cloud will not be affected if sync is enabled.
• 🎵 Content on a microSD card: if the device has a memory card and you do not choose the option of formatting it, the files on it will be saved.

It's important to understand the difference between local storage and cloud storage. When you see your contacts in the phone book, they can be physically stored in your phone's memory or in your Google account. When you reset, the local copy is destroyed, but when you re-authorize in your Google account after you turn on your phone, the contacts will automatically be downloaded from the network.

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Before resetting, force the data sync in the Accounts and Sync menu to make sure the latest version of contacts and calendar is in the cloud.

A special case is that the data of applications that use their own cloud profiles, for example, correspondence in Telegram or Viber (with the backup function to the messenger cloud enabled) will be saved, because it is tied to the phone number and server, not to files on the device, but local databases of messengers will be deleted.

Impact of reset on Mi Accounts and Google

One of the most important security features in Xiaomi devices is account binding. Before resetting, it is critical to understand how the system works with Mi Account and Google Account accounts. It is not just a matter of data loss, but a matter of accessing the device after a reboot.

If you have a Mi or Google account on your phone and you have Find the Device enabled, then after you reset and reboot, the phone will require you to enter the password from that account to activate, which is an anti-theft measure. If you forget the password, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the phone, even if you are the legitimate owner.

Recommended procedure before discharge:

1. Sign out of all accounts in your phone settings.
2. Remove accounts from the list of trusted devices on the Mi Account website.
3. Only then do you reset your settings.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting settings via Recovery Mode (buttons), when the phone is locked account, does not remove the protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: The phone will still request a password from the last synced account when you first start.

Ignoring this step can turn a smartphone into a brick for someone who does not have access to an account, especially when buying a used device: if the seller did not log out, the new owner will face a block on activation.

Resetting methods comparison: through menu or recovery

There are two main ways for users to get Xiaomi phone back to factory status, which are both depth-of-cleaning and situational, and understanding the difference between them will help them choose the right method for your task.

The first way is through the settings menu, which is available if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you can get into the main menu, which is considered softer and safer for the average user, because the system controls the removal process itself.

The second is through Recovery mode, which is a low-level menu that is available even when the interface is not working, and it is used when the phone is getting stuck, not loading, or infected with a virus that blocks the menu, which is more aggressive and requires you to follow the instructions exactly.

Comparative table of discharge methods:

For most users who want to simply clean their phone before selling, the first method is enough, and the second option is an emergency tool to restore the system to work.

Step-by-step instructions: how to correctly perform the reset

If you have decided on the need for a procedure, it is important to perform it technically correctly. Errors in the preparation stage can lead to loss of data or damage to system files. Below is the sequence of actions for a standard reset via the menu.

First, make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can damage the bootloader. Then go to the Settings menu, scroll down to About Phone and select Settings Reset.

In the menu that opens, you'll see the option to erase all data, the system will warn you that it will be deleted, and if you have account protection enabled, you'll need to enter a pattern lock, PIN-A lock screen code or password, and once confirmed, a process that can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes will begin.

Once it's done, the phone will automatically restart, and you'll see the welcome screen, like when you first turn on the new device, and you can start setting up again or recover the data from the backup.

Frequent questions and possible problems after resetting

Even when the procedure is done correctly, users may be faced with nuances, often questions about the speed of the device and the behavior of individual functions, and immediately after a reset, the phone can run slower than usual for 10-20 minutes.

This is because the system is indexing files in the background, checking for app updates, and syncing data, so you don't panic and try to reset your phone, but let the device lie on a charger with Wi-Fi on so that it completes the background processes.

You may also be asking about firmware, because resetting does not roll back the Android or MIUI version to an earlier version, and if you upgrade to the latest version, you'll have the same version after the reset, but in a clean state with no user debris.

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Resetting clears user data and settings, but does not change the operating system version or remove system applications installed by the manufacturer.

If the phone starts to run out or warm up quickly after reset, check the list of installed applications. Sometimes the problem lies in a particular application that conflicts with the system, and removing it solves the problem.