Hard Resets on Xiaomi: 3 Ways to Completely Reset to Factory Settings

Resetting Xiaomi to a factory setting (hard reset) can be necessary in a variety of situations, from banal slowdown of the system to critical failures after a failed update. But the procedure has nuances – the wrong actions can turn a smartphone into a “brick” or lead to the loss of important data. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of hard reset for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including models with a locked screen or damaged firmware.

It's important to understand the difference between soft and hard resets. Soft reset just clears RAM, and hard reset removes all user data, apps and settings, returning the device to the "out of the box" state. The last option is the last resort, but sometimes the only way to bring the smartphone back to life. We'll look at the methods for different scenarios: when the phone turns on, when it freezes on the MI logo, and even when it doesn't respond to buttons.

When you need a hard reset on Xiaomi

Complete reset is not a panacea, but in some cases it is necessary. Here are the typical situations where the procedure is justified:

• 🐢 Smartphone is severely slowing down despite cleaning the cache and optimization through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Critical bugs appeared: constant reboots, system applications crashes.
• 🔒 Forgot your pattern lock or password, and unlocking through Mi Account is impossible (no linked account).
• 📱 The device got stuck on the logo Mi/Redmi (bootloop) after firmware or resetting settings.
• 🦠 Suspicion of a virus infection that is not removed by antivirus (for example, adware in system folders).

However, there are cases where hard reset won’t help or even make the problem worse:

• 🚫 Hardware malfunctions: broken screen, broken battery, problems with motherboard.
• 🚫 The smartphone does not turn on at all (no reaction to charging and buttons) - here you need a diagnosis in the service.
• 🚫 Device with unlocked bootloader (unlocked bootloader), if after resetting it is planned to install custom firmware (more manipulations will be required).

⚠️ Note: On models with Mi Account tied to the device, after a hard reset, you may need to enter a login / password to activate. If you do not remember the account details, the smartphone will turn into a “brick”. Before reset, make sure to remember the associated email and password!

Method 1: Hard Resets via the settings menu (if the phone is turned on)

The easiest and safest method is to reset via MIUI. It is suitable if the smartphone is turned on, reacts to touch, and you remember the unlock password. The instructions are relevant for all modern models: Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/11, POCO F5/X5, etc.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device on newer versions of MIUI).
3. Slip on Backup and Reset (some firmware item is called Resetting).
4. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
5. Enter the screen unlock password (if installed).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset settings (some models will need to enter the pattern lock again).

It takes 5-15 minutes to complete, and when the phone is finished, it will restart and suggest that you configure it as new, and if you have a Can't load Android system error or the device is frozen, then you can go to method 2 or 3.

Battery charge ≥ 50%|Created a backup of important data|Mi Account is disabled (if you plan to sell your phone)|Password from the lock screen is remembered-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ After the reset, you may need to connect to the Internet to check your Xiaomi account. If the smartphone is not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile network, the activation process will stall. SIM-The card is active or there is an access point at hand.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't boot)

If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo, reboots cyclically or does not respond to touch, resetting through Recovery Mode will help. This method works even with damaged firmware, but requires care - wrong actions can lead to loss of IMEI or other problems.

Instructions for all Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models (including older ones like Redmi 4X or Mi A1):

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For older devices (until 2018): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

In the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the item.

Wipe Data

Wipe & Reset

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

Reboot to System

If the phone is stuck on the logo again after the reset, the firmware may be damaged, in which case you will need to flash it through Fastboot (method 3).

Method 3: Hard reset via Fastboot (for power users)

If the first two methods fail, you're left with a Fastboot reset, which requires a computer, USB-Cable and Minimal Knowledge of Working with ADB/Fastboot. He's a good fit for:

• 📱 Devices that don’t even load in Recovery.
• 🔧 Smartphones with damaged firmware (for example, after a failed update).
• 🔓 Models with a blocked Mi Account, if you know the username / password.

Important: this method erases all data without recovery, including files in internal memory. DRM-The keys that will cause Widevine to lose L1 (no HD into Netflix/Disney+).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb).
2. Turn off the phone. Press Volume down + Power before the image of a rabbit in a hat-eared (Fastboot mode) appears.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and execute commands in order: fastboot devices (should show the serial number of the device. If not, check the drivers). fastboot oem edl (some models do not need this command, go to the next step). fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If the phone does not turn on again after the restart, you will need a full flashing through the Mi Flash Tool. To do this, you need to download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.

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If the fastboot oem edl command doesn’t work, try entering fastboot erase frp instead – this will reset FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection and can help bypass the Mi Account lock after a reset.

What to do after a hard reset

After a successful reset, the smartphone will return to the factory settings.

1. Device activation: Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network. Enter Mi Account details if your phone was linked to an account (MIUI 14+) may require scanning QR-account-confirmation code.
2. Data recovery: If you have backups through Settings → About Phone → Backup, restore them. Move photos and files from your computer or cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

Security setting:

• Set a new password or pattern lock.
• Activate Find Device (Settings → Google → Security).

If there are problems after the reset:

• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: Give the battery a 2–3 full charge/discharge cycle for calibration.
• 📶 No Network: Go to Settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks and select the operator manually.
• 🔊 Missing sound: Check if Do Not Disturb mode is activated (Settings) → Sound).

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After the hard reset Xiaomi may need to re-attach fingerprints and faces. IR-With a blaster (such as the Redmi Note 11) you also need to reconfigure the remote control in the Mi Remote app.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

If the phone has turned into a brick after reset (it doesn't turn on, flashes a red light, doesn't detect a PC), don't panic. In 90% of cases, it can be recovered through a computer. EDL-The emergency mode (emergency firmware) will need to be:

• 🖥️ Windows computer.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 📁 Firmware for your model (download only from official sources!).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or QFil (for Qualcomm devices).

Detailed instructions for firmware in EDL We have discussed in a separate article: How to sew Xiaomi through EDL-regime».

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions