Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face the need to clean the device completely sooner or later, and the reasons can be different: selling the gadget to a new owner, transferring it to a relative, or wanting to fix critical software failures that could not be fixed by conventional methods.
Understanding what is deleted when Xiaomi is reset is a critical step in preparation. Mistakes at this stage can lead to the permanent loss of family archives, work documents and access to accounts. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the structure of Android memory and the MIUI / HyperOS shell, so you can clearly understand the consequences of your actions.
We won’t use complex technical terms without explanation, but we’ll take a look at file system processes to help you make an informed decision and prepare for the procedure properly, preserving what’s really important and permanently removing digital debris.
Fundamental changes to the file system in Hard Reset
What users call a "reset" process is technically called Hard Reset or Factory Reset. When you initiate this command through the settings menu or recovery mode, the system doesn't just erase shortcuts from the desktop. It's a deep interference with the partition structure of the internal drive.
The main blow is taken by the section /data. This is where all user information is stored: contacts, SMS-Messages, call history, installed apps and most importantly, your personal files.The operating system marks all memory cells in this section as "free to write".
This means that the physical data can remain on the flash memory chip for a while, but for the operating system and the user, it ceases to exist. Access to it through the standard File Manager Explorer becomes impossible. New data written to the phone after reset will gradually replace these "ghost" residues.
⚠️ Note: Once the reset procedure is complete, it is not possible to recover data using standard methods. Specialized recovery software works only in rare cases and requires root rights, which will also be lost after the reset.
The system partition deserves special attention: Android files and MIUI shells are not usually deleted, but only return to the default state, which means that if you installed custom fonts, changed system sounds or modified files through ADB, all these changes will be canceled.
Categories of data to be completely destroyed
To give you a complete picture, let's flesh out the lists of what will disappear from your device. Many users forget about hidden folders and messenger cache, relying only on cloud sync, which may not work in the background.
Multimedia is the first to suffer, the gallery is cleaned up completely, and not only are the photos taken on camera, but also the images taken on WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, if they were stored in the device's shared memory, and the video files, screenshots and screen recordings are also destroyed.
- 📸 Media files: All photos, videos, voice recordings and downloads from the browser that are in internal memory.
- 💬 Communications and Communications: Local History SMS, MMS, and database messengers, if not enabled backup in the cloud.
- 🔐 Authorization and Passwords: Autocomplete data in Chrome or Mi Browser, saved Wi-Fi passwords and application access keys.
Apps are worth paying special attention to. All the programs you downloaded from Google Play or GetApps will be deleted, and their local data will also be deleted, and if you played the game without being linked to your Google Play Games or Mi Account, your progress will be lost forever.
The system's settings also go back to factory values, which include alarm clocks, timers, Bluetooth pairing options, access point configuration, and even the layout of the widgets on the desktop, and the phone will be the same as you saw it the first day after you bought it in the store.
The fate of Google and Mi Accounts
One of the most important issues that users are concerned about before selling a device is account binding. A factory reset breaks the device’s connection to your accounts, but does so in a specific way that depends on the Android version and security settings.
If you just reset through the menu without leaving your accounts first, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) can be activated, a security mechanism that requires you to enter a password from the last Google account you used when you first set up your phone after you reset it, and this is done to protect against theft.
What is FRP and how to get around it?
As for Mi Account, the situation is similar, but adjusted for the Xiaomi ecosystem: If the Find Device feature was activated, the phone will lock and require you to enter a password from the Mi Account. Without this step, the device will turn into a “brick” for the new owner.
It is recommended to log out of all accounts before the procedure, ensuring that the phone is completely clean and ready for further activation without unnecessary security issues.
Below is a table showing what data is stored and what happens to it:
| Type of data | Location. | Post-discharge status |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts and Calendar | Google / Mi Cloud / SIM | Stored in the cloud, only local copies are deleted |
| Photos and videos | Internal memory / SD-map | They are permanently removed (if not in the cloud) |
| Annexes | Section /data/app | Complete removal with cache |
| Wi-Fi settings | System registry | Reset to factory (network list empty) |
Preparation for the procedure: security checklist
Before you click the Clear Everything button, you need to do a series of preparatory steps, and ignoring these steps can lead to unpleasant surprises, such as losing access to banking applications or two-factor authentication.
First, make sure the battery level is at least 50-60% The reset process and subsequent initial setup can take time, and suddenly turning off the phone at this point can damage system files.
☑️ Preparing for Xiaomi's reset
Second, it is critical to check for activation of two-factor authentication (2FA). If you use authentication applications (like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator), make sure you have backup recovery codes or transfer the keys to another device, otherwise you may lose access to your accounts forever.
Also worth checking is Find My Device status. For Xiaomi, this is Settings → Mi Account → Find the device. The switch should be turned off. For Google, Settings → Google → Find the device. Only after disabling these features will the reset go clean, without locking.
Two ways to perform reset: through settings and Recovery
There are two main ways Xiaomi is going back to factory: the first is software, through the settings menu, it's available if the phone turns on and the screen responds to touches; the second is hardware, through Recovery mode, which is used if the system doesn't boot or the phone is locked.
For a standard interface reset, you need to follow the Settings path → About Phone → Reset. In some versions of MIUI, the path may be different: Advanced Settings → Restore and Reset. Here the system will alert you to the consequences and ask you to enter a graphical key or unlock password.
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Before resetting via the settings menu, turn off the internet.This will prevent remote files from accidentally syncing to the cloud in the last seconds before cleaning, if you are not sure of the relevance (backup).
The Recovery (Hard Reset) method requires the phone to be turned off, you need to press the Volume Up + Power button combination and hold them until the Mi logo appears. In the Main Menu, you need to select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
This is a more "rough" way to clean partitions even if the system is stuck, but it doesn't require logging out of menu accounts first, so the risk of blocking FRP is higher if you don't prepare in advance.
Data recovery and initial setup
Once the cleaning process is complete and the phone is restarted, you'll see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on, and language selection and Wi-Fi connectivity are the first steps, and that's where the system will ask for data recovery.
Android will offer to restore apps and settings from Google backup. If you used a standard mechanism (backup), the process will take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the number of apps. Xiaomi will also offer to restore data from Mi Cloud if you are logged in to the same account.
It is important to understand the difference between retrieving settings and media files: Contacts, calendars, and installed app lists are almost always restored, but photos and documents are only restored if they have been uploaded to the cloud or copied to a computer manually.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the recovery process from the cloud.This may cause a sync error and some contacts or notes may not return to the device.
If you plan to use the phone further, it is recommended to check the main functions of the camera, speakers, microphone and sensor immediately after setting up, this will make sure that the reset was successful and did not affect the hardware of the device.
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Resetting to factory settings is a radical but effective measure, which deletes user data (photos, contacts, apps) but leaves the operating system alone, returning it to its original state.