How to Reverse to Factory Settings on Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to return the device to its original state, which can be caused by the sale of the gadget, critical errors in the system, or the desire to start using the device “from scratch.” The MIUI shell and its modern version of HyperOS provide several tools for this task, each of which has its own characteristics.

The Full Reset procedure, or Hard Reset, removes all user information, including contacts, photos, installed apps and account logins. It is important to understand that this process is irreversible without a pre-created backup. Before starting any manipulations, you need to assess the current state of the device and choose the most suitable method for cleaning the memory.

In this article, we will discuss all the available methods of system rollback in detail, we will look at standard methods through the settings menu, emergency options through Recovery Mode, and how to reset through the developer menu, and we will focus on data security issues and possible problems that arise after the procedure.

Device preparation and data backup

The first and most critical step is to save important information: once activated, it will be almost impossible to recover deleted files without a backup. Xiaomi’s built-in tools allow you to create a full copy of the system, but this requires sufficient free space or a connection to the cloud storage.

It is recommended to use the Google Drive cloud service or your own Mi Cloud to sync contacts, calendar and notes. Photos and videos are best copied to a computer or external drive, as they take up the largest amount of memory. Also be sure to check whether your Mi Account is tied, as after a reset, the system can request a password from it to confirm the rights of the owner.

Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%, the process of formatting memory partitions is energy intensive, and a sudden power outage can damage system files and inability to boot the phone. If the device is unstable, try to leave it on charging while preparing.

Classic reset via the settings menu

The safest and easiest way to do this is if the phone turns on and the screen responds to touch, which allows software to clean all sections of user data while maintaining the integrity of the operating system's system files, and the algorithm may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS.

To start, open the Settings app and scroll to the bottom of the list. Find About or Advanced Settings. Most current firmware versions will select Reset, and the system will offer two options: “Erase all data” or “Reset network settings” (we don’t need the second).

Once you select the "Erase All Data" option, the system will show you a list of what will be deleted.

• 📸 All photos, videos and audio files in internal memory.
• 📱 All installed applications and their data (cache, logins).
• 🔐 Settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular communication.
• 📞 Contact and SMS, If they are not in sync with the cloud.

To confirm the operation, the system will ask you to enter a pattern lock, pin or password to unlock the screen, which is protection against accidental reset by unauthorized persons. After entering the password, click Reset or Erase All Data and wait for the reboot. The process can take from 5 to 15 minutes.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If the smartphone is stuck, not turned on or the touch screen is not responsive, the Hard Reset method is used through the Recovery menu, which works at the low-level software level and does not require access to the Android interface.

To enter Recovery mode on Xiaomi devices, you need to turn off the phone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to keep the volume up until the menu appears.

⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen is not working, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is with the power button. Be careful when choosing options so that you do not damage the system partitions.

In the menu that appears, select a language (if available) or immediately search for Wipe Data. Confirm the choice with the power button. Then the system will prompt you to select Wipe All Data. After confirmation, the formatting process will begin. Once completed, select Reboot -> Reboot to System to restart in normal mode.

There's also a Fastboot mode, which is often confused with Recovery. Fastboot (the volume and power button is pressed) displays a hare in a header. This mode is designed to flash through the computer and doesn't contain a full data reset feature in the conventional sense, so it's not suitable for our purpose.

Reset via developer menu and special codes

For advanced users, it is possible to initiate a reset via a hidden developer menu or engineering menu, a method less common but useful if standard paths are blocked or hidden by the manufacturer in certain regions.

To activate the developer menu, go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. After the notification "You became a developer" return to the main settings menu, go to "Additional" -> "For developers." Find "Reset" or "Factory Reset" (the name may vary).

An alternative but risky way to do this is to use USSD-Entering code ##7780### can cause factory resets (saving system applications), and code ##7378423## opens the service menu, but on modern versions of HyperOS these codes are often blocked by operators or the manufacturer for security reasons.

Mi and Google account issue after reset

One of the most common problems that users face after a factory rollback is activation blocking, a security mechanism designed to make it harder to use stolen devices, and if a Google or Mi Account account is entered on a phone before a reset, the system will require them to enter their password when you first set it up.

If you forget your password, it can take time to restore access. In the case of Mi Account, you need to go to the official mi.com website and use the recovery procedure. Without entering the correct data, the phone will remain locked on the welcome screen, and resetting through Recovery will not help bypass this protection.

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Before selling your phone, be sure to log out of all accounts (Mi, Google, Samsung, etc.) in your device settings. Just resetting data is not enough - the binding remains on the manufacturer's servers.

Also, consider the “Device Search” feature, which, if it was active, can be remotely locked by the owner even after the reset, so when buying a used Xiaomi device, always check the purity of accounts at the time of transferring money.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

The reset process is not always smooth. Users may experience logo getting stuck, a cyclic bootloop, or a formatting error, often due to damage to system files before the procedure begins or a lack of battery power.

If the phone is stuck on the logo after resetting, try to force the reboot by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. If that doesn't work, you'll need to re-enter Recovery Mode and try resetting again. In the worst case, only flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility will help.

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting the phone heats up and discharges quickly in the first 30-60 It indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. Let the device lie on charge when it's off.

If the message "System UI isn't responding" appears immediately after activation, give the phone a time (up to 10-15 minutes). If the persists error may have damaged the cache partition. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Cache (if available in your version of Recovery) without affecting user data, although after a complete reset there is already empty.

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Cyclical reboot after reset is most often solved by a complete flashing through the PC, since the software failure could affect the bootloader of the system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)