Xiaomi reset to factory settings: what will happen to the phone and how to do it

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical solution that is used when selling a device, critical system failures or after unsuccessful firmware experiments. But what exactly will happen to your Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 11 after this procedure? Many users are afraid of losing important data, facing a lock on Mi Account or turning the phone into a brick. In this article, we will analyze the consequences for different scenarios (including devices with an unlocked bootloader), and explain how to minimize the risks.

It's important to understand that a reset is not always a blank slate. For example, on devices with encrypted storage (relevant to Xiaomi on Android 10+), after a reset, you may need to enter a password from your previous Google account. And owners of phones with MIUI 14 and later will face a mandatory binding to Mi Account on the first inclusion - even if the account was not used before.

What exactly is removed when resetting Xiaomi to factory settings

The reset procedure erases all user data from the phone's internal memory, but does not affect system files and firmware. Here is a complete list of what will be lost:

📱 Installed annexes (including APK, Google Play updates and system updates, except for pre-installed Xiaomi services like Mi Browser or Mi Video.
📷 Media files: photos, videos, music and downloads from the browser (if stored in internal memory, not on the browser) SD-map).
📝 System settings: wallpaper, sound circuits, gesture configuration, display parameters (e.g, DC Dimming or Reading Mode).
🔑 Accounts and passwords: data from Google, social networks, banking applications, saved logins in the browser.
📡 Network settings: saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords to them, configuration VPN, mobile internet settings (APN).
🎮 Game Data: Progress in cloud-free games (e.g. Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings).

This shall not remove:

🔄 Firmware updates (MIUI HyperOS, if officially installed through OTA.
💾 Files on SD-card (unless it has been encrypted as part of the internal storage).
🔒 Data in a secure storage (e.g., certificates or encryption keys if tied to a hardware module) TEE).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5+ And HyperOS resets can activate anti-theft protection. If the phone was tied to Mi Account, you'll need to enter your username/password from that account after the reset, even if you haven't used it in years. Without that data, the phone will become a brick»!

When resetting to factory settings is really necessary

Reset Xiaomi to factory state is advisable in five cases:

Preparing for sale or transfer – so that the new owner does not get access to your data.
Critical system failures: constant reboots, System UI stopped errors, inability to load MIUI.
Viral infection if malware is deeply integrated into the system (e.g., it replaces system applications).
Mistakes after firmware: failed update via Fastboot or Recovery, "eternal" download on the Mi logo.
Reset the lock password (if the pattern lock or PIN is forgotten), but only if the binding to the Mi Account is disabled.

There are situations where the reset will not help:

🔋 Battery problems (blown, fast discharge) - repairs are needed here.
📶 Hardware malfunctions (camera, speaker, module not working) NFC) — parts need to be replaced.
🔓 Blocking Mi Account after buying a used phone – resetting will only make the problem worse.

📊 Why you want to reset Xiaomi to factory settings?

I'm getting ready to sell.

Phone's bugging.

Forgot my password.

I want to clean up the system.

Another option

Step-by-step: how to reset Xiaomi correctly

There are three official ways to reset: through system settings, Recovery mode and Fastboot. One is for a working phone, the second is if the system is not booting, the third is for power users. Let's look at each option.

Make a backup copy of important data|Remember the username/password from Mi Account and Google|Connect the phone to charge (minimum 50%)|Make sure that SIM-The card is removed (if you plan to sell your phone)-->

Algorithm of action:

Open Settings → About Phone → Resetting (the HyperOS path may differ: Settings → Memory → Resetting settings).
Choose Delete all data (or Erase all on new versions).
The system will prompt you to enter a lock screen password (if it is installed).
Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings. The phone will restart and start the cleaning process (it will take 5-15 minutes).

After the reboot, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you buy it.

🔑 If the phone was linked to Mi Account, the system will require you to enter a username / password from it. Without this data, you can not continue the configuration - the phone will be locked!
📱 At the stage of connecting to Wi-Fi, you can skip logging into Google and Xiaomi accounts, but this will limit the functionality (for example, Find Device will not work).

Method 2: Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo, reboots cyclically or does not respond to touch, use Recovery mode:

Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
Press the Power Button + Volume combination up and hold for 10-20 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
With the help of volume buttons, select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset on older versions), confirm the choice with the power button.
Next, select Wipe All Data and confirm the action (a password may be required if previously set).
After the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) Recovery may not have Russian. English menu items: Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.Not to be confused with Wipe Cache - it's just a cache cleanup, not a complete reset!

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for advanced users)

This method is used if:

🔧 You need to reset the phone with an unlocked bootloader.
📱 Recovery is damaged or not started.
🔄 Requires a “clean” firmware installation after resetting.

You will need a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and a USB Type-C cable.

1. Turn off your phone and press the <Power button + Volume down> button to enter Fastboot mode.


2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).




3. Enter a command to check the connection:




fastboot devices




(Serial number of the device must be displayed)




4. Perform the reset:




fastboot erase userdata




fastboot erase cache




5.Reset the phone:




fastboot reboot

This method does not bypass the lock Mi Account! If the phone was tied to the account, after the reboot, you will still need to enter a login / password.

💡

If after reset via Fastboot phone is stuck on the Mi logo, try to flash the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. download official firmware on the site Xiaomi Firmware.

What to do after reset: data recovery and setup

After the reset, you have to reconfigure the phone. Here are the key steps:

1. Log in to accounts

🔑 Mi Account: if the phone was tied, you can not continue setting up without entering the username / password. If you forget the data, restore it through account.xiaomi.com.
📧 Google Account: Not required, but without it, Google Play, Contact Sync and Gmail won’t work.

Data recovery

If you have made a backup copy, use it:

🖥️ Xiaomi Cloud: Restore contacts, notes, photos (if they synced). → Mi Account → Cloud. → Restore.
📱 Local copy: if the reserve was created through Settings → Additionally. → Backup, connect your phone to your PC and copy files back.
🤖 Google Drive: When you first log in to your Google account, the system will offer to restore data from the last copy.

If you don't have a backup, try recovering files with programs like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver, but the odds are slim, because the data is overwritten after the reset.

3. Reinstallation of annexes

To avoid wasting time on manual installation:

📥 Open Google Play → Library → Installed earlier and select Restore all.
🔄 Use Mi Mover (preinstalled on Xiaomi) to transfer apps from another phone over Wi-Fi.

4. System optimization

After discharge, it is recommended:

🚫 Disable unnecessary system applications through Settings → Annexes → Application management (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music).
🔋 Calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions.
📡 Configure Application Permissions (especially location and microphone access) in Settings → Confidentiality.

💡

If after resetting the phone began to work slower than before cleaning, check the animation settings: open Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the MIUI version, then set Windows Animation = 0.5x and Transitions = 0.5x in the developer settings.

Resetting risks: when a phone could turn into a brick

In most cases, the reset is smooth, but there are critical errors that will turn your Xiaomi into a useless device:

Mistake.	Effects of consequences	How to avoid
Reset with a tied Mi Account if the password is forgotten	The phone will require login/password input after rebooting, without them, perpetual locking.	Before resetting, untie your account in Settings → Mi Account → Sign out.
Interrupting the discharge process (out-of-power, withered battery)	Damage to system files, cyclical reboot or black screen.	Reset only at a charge level of >50% and a stable diet.
Reset on a custom firmware phone (unofficial)	Loss of root rights, download errors, inability to return stock firmware.	Before resetting, return the official firmware via Fastboot.
Use of informal reset tools (e.g. SP Flash Tool)	Loader damage, loss of IMEI, broken sensors.	Use only standard methods (Recovery or Fastboot).

Especially careful should be the owners of phones with a lock bootloader (Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 Pro and later).If you previously unlocked the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool, but did not stitch the custom recap (TWRP), reset via Fastboot can block the bootloader again!

What if the phone doesn’t turn on after reset?

If the screen remains black or the Mi logo burns for more than 10 minutes: 1. Try to log into Recovery (power button + volume up) and repeat the reset. 2. If it does not help, run the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All. 3. Phones with a locked bootloader will require authorization in the Mi Account tied to the device. 4. If nothing helps, contact the Xiaomi service center with a purchase check (for proof of ownership).

Reset on different models Xiaomi: features

The reset procedure is universal, but some Xiaomi models have nuances:

📱 Redmi Note 8/9/10 On these phones after the reset can fly» IMEI, If it's been modified by Engineer Mode, you can only restore it through the QCN-file-in-center.

For Xiaomi Pad tablets (such as Pad 6 or Pad 5), the reset procedure is identical, but data recovery takes longer due to the large amount of memory.

Alternatives to a complete reset: when you can do with low blood

If the goal is simply to clean your phone of garbage or eliminate minor glitches, try less radical methods:

🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache. This will delete temporary files without losing data.
🔄 Resetting network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset network settings. Helps with problems with Wi-Fi or mobile Internet.
📱 Removing Unnecessary Applications: C Settings → Sort programs by size and remove those you don’t use.
🛠️ Recovery via Safe Mode: Press the power button, hold the power off until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. This mode disabled all third-party applications - convenient for diagnosis.

If the problem is with the interface freezes, try turning off the animations:

1. Activate the Developer Settings (tap 7 times on the MIUI version in About Phone).


2. Open the Developer Settings and set:




- Scale of window animation: 0.5x




- Transition animation scale: 0.5x




- The duration of the animator: 0.5x

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset

Can I reset Xiaomi without a screen lock password?

Yes, but only if the Mi Account binding is disabled. Use Recovery Mode + Volume up) and select Wipe Data. If the phone is tied to a Xiaomi account, you will need to enter a login / password after the reset - otherwise the device will be blocked.

Will my phone work after I reset if I forget my Mi Account?

No. Starting with MIUI 12 and HyperOS, the reset will activate Anti-Theft protection. Without entering the username/password from the Mi Account attached, the phone will become a brick. The only way out is to recall the data or contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

Will factory settings reset the operator lock (if the phone is tied to MTS / Beeline)?

No, the reset does not remove the operator's binding. SIM-cards (if the phone is purchased on credit or under contract) are saved.To unlock the phone, contact the operator with the purchase documents.

Can I recover photos after Xiaomi reset?

The chances are minimal. Once reset, the data is overwritten, and even programs like DiskDigger are powerless. The only way is if you backed up your photos on Google Photos, Mi Cloud or PC. In the future, set up automatic sync: Settings → Google → Backup.

Why is Xiaomi not turned on after the reset?

Probable causes: Discarded (battery or power cut off); firmware damaged (current for custom ROM phones); conflict with locked bootloader (newer models); Solution: try flashing official firmware through Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode; If it doesn't work, bring it to service.