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

Introduction: Why is reset needed and when to apply it

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step, and users resort to it when the smartphone starts to “glut”: brake, overheat, do not respond to touch or are infected with viruses, but not everyone understands what exactly happens to the device after reset and what pitfalls can occur.

The procedure erases all user data, including photos, contacts, messages and installed apps, returning the phone to the state of “out of the box.” MIUI 14+ After reset, you may need to re-assign your Xiaomi account, and on older devices (up to Redmi Note 8) sometimes “fly” settings IMEI. In this article, we will discuss what exactly will happen to your Xiaomi, how to minimize risks and what to do if the phone does not turn on after resetting.

Importantly, resetting is not like hard reset through buttons. These are two different processes with different consequences. If you're looking for a way to just restart a freezer, you need a different instruction.

What exactly will be removed after resetting on Xiaomi

Xiaomi Reset Procedure (Regardless of Model – Be it Redmi 12, POCO X5 Mi 11 Ultra) erases the following data:

• 📱 All apps except those preinstalled (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Video) and even system updates (e.g. Google Play Services) will return to the factory version.
• 📂 Files in internal memory: photos, videos, music, documents. microSD card (if not encrypted) is usually unaffected.
• 📞 Contacts, SMS/MMS, If they are not synced with Google Account or Mi Cloud, it will be impossible to restore them.
• ⚙️ System settings: wallpaper, sound circuits, allowed notifications, screen settings (e.g. Always-on Display).
• 🔒 Accounts (except for the main Mi Account if it was linked before the reset) will have to re-enter logins / passwords for WhatsApp, VK, banking.
• 🎮 Game and application data (progress, save, cache) except for cloud-saving games (e.g., Google Play Games).

Here's what's going to stay:

• 📁 Files on microSD (if not encrypted in Storage settings) → Settings SD-map).
• 🔄 Firmware updates MIUI (The phone won’t roll back to the old version, but the settings will reset).
• 📡 Settings IMEI Serial number (on most models, except for cases of "reset" after incorrect resetting).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5+ and a tied Mi Account after a reset may require proof of ownership through SMS If you forget your Xiaomi account password, your phone will turn into a brick»!

What will happen to Xiaomi account and lock

One of the most painful topics for Xiaomi owners is the binding to the Mi Account, which can be reset by asking you to enter your login/password, even if you have previously disabled it, due to the Find Device feature, which is activated automatically when you first log in.

Here's what you need to know:

• 🔐 If you haven't untie your account before resetting, your phone will require authorization when you first turn on).
• 📱 On models Redmi/POCO s MIUI 13+ Sometimes a Fastboot reset helps (but it’s risky – you can lose it). IMEI).
• 🛠️ Xiaomi service centers can remove the lock on the check purchase (but not always).

If you bought your phone with your hands, check if your account is untied before you reset!

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Security.
2. Check out Find Device – if it’s active, the phone is tied.
3. Ask the seller to untie the device via account.xiaomi.com.

⚠️ Note: Devices purchased in China (local market versions) may be reset with a request to link to a Chinese phone number, due to Xiaomi's policy for Chinese firmware. MIUI.

Step-by-step instructions: how to properly reset

There are three ways to reset Xiaomi to factory settings. Choose depending on the situation:

The safest way is through settings.

Make a backup copy (Settings) → System system → Backup)

Remember/write down the username and password from the Mi Account

Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged.

Turn off the protection with a pattern lock (if any)-->

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Network Settings Reset!).
3. Enter. PIN-Lock screen code/password (if requested).
4. Confirm the action. The phone will restart and start the process (it will take 5-15 minutes).

If your phone doesn’t respond to touch, use Recovery:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Hold the volume.+ + Food before the appearance of the Mi logo.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

💡

If after resetting the phone asks for a password from Mi Account, and you do not remember it, try to restore access through the site account.xiaomi.com. In extreme cases, contact the Xiaomi service center with a check of purchase.

What to do after reset: data recovery and settings

After a successful reset, you have to set up your phone first.

• 🔄 Restore your backup (if you did it through Mi Cloud or Google Drive). → System system → Recovery and discharge → Restore from backup copy.
• 📱 Link Mi Account (if you haven’t done it before) to protect your phone from theft and allow you to use Xiaomi cloud services.
• 🔒 Set up a screen lock (PIN, Without it, many functions (like Google Pay) will not work.
• 📲 Update the firmware to the latest version: Settings → The phone. → System update, which will fix any bugs after reset.

If you haven’t made a backup, try to restore data using specialized programs:

• Dr.Fone (for photos and messages)
• Tenorshare UltData (supports Xiaomi with the MIUI 12+).
• Google Photos (if Automatic Downloading is enabled)

To restore contacts:

1. Open Google Contacts.
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Re-establish contacts.
3. Select the backup date (if any).

⚠️ Attention: If the sound is lost or the sensor is not working after the reset, this may be due to the following drivers. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

Problems after resetting and how to solve them

Even if the reset is successful, sometimes there are problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the phone doesn’t turn on after reset (black screen, no button response), try:

1. Connect to charging for 30 minutes - sometimes the battery will discharge to zero.
2. Hold the volume– + Power for 20 seconds (forced reboot).
3. If it doesn’t work, run your phone through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

For Xiaomi models with an unlocked bootloader (for example, after installing custom firmware), a reset can lead to a bootloop (infinite boot).

• Install the official firmware through TWRP.
• Or return stock Recovery via fastboot flash recovery recovery.img.

💡

If after reset, the phone requires a Xiaomi account, and you do not remember it, DO NOT try to enter random passwords - after 5 unsuccessful attempts, the device will be locked for 24 hours!

Reset on different models Xiaomi: features

The reset procedure on most Xiaomi devices is the same, but there are nuances for specific lines:

• 📱 Redmi Note 10/11/12: After reset, the Widevine setting can “fly off” L1 (drop down L3), Why Netflix and Disney are+ They're going to show low-resolution video.
• 📱 POCO F3/F4/F5: On these models, a reset via Recovery sometimes results in data loss on a microSD, even if it's not encrypted.
• 📱 Mi 11/12/13: On the flagships with MIUI 14 after resetting, it may be necessary to reconfigure the IR port (the remote control will stop working).

For devices with a MediaTek processor (e.g., Redmi) 10A, POCO C40) Resetting via Fastboot can lead to loss IMEI. In this case:

1. Download the utility. MTK Meta Utility.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi) K50) After reset, the color calibration may be lost to return the normal display:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen. → Screen colors.
2. Choose a profile that is standard or saturated.
3. Turn off the automatic color temperature.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make critical mistakes that make resetting a nightmare.

• 🚫 Resetting a phone with a battery that is less than 30% dead can interrupt the process and make the device tick.
• 🚫 Use unofficial resetting utilities (e.g. Xiaomi) ADB/Fastboot Tools without understanding commands. IMEI data.
• 🚫 Interrupting the process (remove the battery, force it to turn off) can damage the partition. /data.
• 🚫 Dropping a custom firmware phone without first returning to the drain, which will lead to a bootloop.
• 🚫 Ignore the backup. Even if you "remember everything," restore it. SMS Notes from Mi Notes without backup is impossible.

A common mistake is to reset through Fastboot without knowing the commands, such as typing in:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache

instead of

fastboot -w

You can accidentally erase critical sections. Always check commands before executing them!

Another problem is losing access to two-step authentication. 2FA In banking applications, once reset, access to them can be blocked:

• Before resetting, disable the binding of the Mi Account to critical services.
• Save backup codes to restore access.
• Use a separate authenticator (like Google Authenticator) for important accounts.

💡

If you sell a phone, DO NOT reset it through settings! better use a Fastboot with full cleaning (fastboot) -w), Delete all data without the possibility of recovery.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions