How to return to factory settings on Xiaomi phone

Situations where a smartphone starts to malfunction, overflows memory or requires deleting all data before selling are familiar to every Xiaomi owner. Returning to the original state is a radical, but often the only effective way to reanimate the device and get rid of accumulated software errors. During operation, the MIUI or HyperOS operating system becomes overgrown with temporary files, application cache and system debris that cannot be removed by conventional cleaning methods.

The Full Reset procedure, or Hard Reset, removes all user information, returning the gadget to the state it was in immediately after purchase in the store. This action affects contacts, photos, correspondence in messengers and installed programs, which is why before starting any manipulations, you need to clearly understand the consequences and prepare the device for critical changes in the file system.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the available ways to perform a reset, from the regular settings menu to the forced Recovery mode, which helps even if the screen is locked. SIM-map and what to do if the phone has stopped responding to commands, and carefully following the instructions will help avoid loss of important data and potential errors when flashing.

Preparing the smartphone for a complete data reset

Before you start the erasure process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that will protect your personal data and ensure the stability of the procedure. Ignoring this stage can lead to the fact that after a reboot you lose access to accounts or find that important files have been destroyed irrevocably.

Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. The data partition formatting process can take 10 to 30 minutes, and a sudden power outage at this point is fraught with damage to system files. It is also recommended to remove the MicroSD memory card if installed, so that it is not random to format external storage along with internal memory.

Special attention should be paid to the Mi Account and Google Account. In modern versions of Xiaomi and Android firmware, there is a powerful protection system against theft. If you reset your phone without first logging out, the system will require you to enter a password from these accounts on the first activation. If the password is forgotten, it will be extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to unlock the device without contacting the service center with purchase checks.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password, restore it via i.mi.com before resetting. Once formatted, it will be much harder to restore access due to the link to the account. IMEI and the serial number of the device.

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Before reset, check the synchronization of contacts with your Google account. Often users forget that the numbers are stored only in the phone's memory, not in the cloud, and after reset, lose the entire phone book.

Reset via the system settings menu (standard method)

The safest and easiest way to get Xiaomi back to factory settings is to use the built-in operating system functionality. This is suitable for cases where the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you have access to the desktop. The algorithm for actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, but the logic remains the same.

To start, open the main menu and find the Settings app. The top of the screen usually displays a search bar where you can type in a "reset" or "restore" request to find the item you want faster, but we recommend you walk manually to make sure you choose the partition correctly.

Go to About Phone (some versions may call it Advanced Settings or under "More"). You will need to find Reset or Factory Reset. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. At this stage, you may need to enter a pattern lock, PIN-A screen unlock code or password to confirm the identity of the owner.

Once confirmed, the phone will prompt you to select reset options. Often the default check is "Clear all data." Make sure you understand the point of this option. Once you press the confirmation button, the countdown will begin, and in a few seconds the device will restart, starting the cleanup process.

It is important to note that in some regions or global firmware versions, the path may look like Settings → About Phone → Factory Reset → Erase all data. In other localities (e.g. China’s ROM), the path may be via Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset. If you can’t find the item, search by settings.

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Standard reset via the menu is the most gentle method, since the system itself correctly closes all processes before formatting, minimizing the risk of software failures.

Using Recovery Mode for Resetting

If the phone doesn't load to the desktop, freezes on the logo, or you forget the unlock password, the standard method through the settings will not be available. In this case, Recovery Mode comes to the rescue. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the device's memory that allows you to perform low-level operations, including partition formatting.

To enter Recovery mode on most Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, you need to follow the following sequence of steps: Make sure the phone is completely turned off. If it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds to force the restart and wait for the shutdown.

When the screen goes out, press both the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Keep both buttons clamped until the Mi or Redmi logo appears. Once the logo appears, the power button can be released, but the volume button should be held until the Recovery menu appears.

⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button.

Recovery interface can be presented in two forms: text menu (for global versions) or graphic (for Chinese versions and some models).

In the text menu, select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data, and confirm the action by selecting Confirm.

In the graphic menu (Chinese), you often need to select the second item from above, then confirm the reset, and at the end select the reboot item.

Recovery mode resets take longer than settings, because it's a deep partition formatting process. Once completed, "Data wiped successfully" will appear on the screen. Select Reboot to start the system. The first boot after such a reset can last up to 5-10 minutes.

Forced reset (Hard Reset) when getting stuck

There is a scenario where the phone doesn't just boot, it hangs completely: the screen is black or white, the buttons don't respond, and you can't log in to Recovery in the classic way, and in such cases, you use a forced reboot method that sometimes initiates a reset or at least takes the device out of deep sleep.

To perform Hard Reset on a frozen device, press the power button and hold it continuously for 15-20 seconds. Some POCO and new Xiaomi models require you to press the power and volume buttons up simultaneously at the same time. The device must vibrate and forcefully reboot.

If the phone hangs on the logo again after vibration, the procedure can be repeated. However, if the cyclic bootloop continues, this may indicate damage to system files, in which case the only way out is to try to log in to Recovery for reset, as described in the previous section, or flash through the computer.

It's important to distinguish between forced reset and full reset. Hard Reset buttons often just reset the hardware, resetting static errors. Full deletion of data (Factory Reset) still requires confirmation through the menu or Recovery. Don't confuse these concepts, so as not to expect a miracle when the phone just rebooted, but the data remained in place.

Resetting via computer with ADB

For advanced users who don’t have buttons running or access to menus is limited, there is a USB debugging (ADB) reset method that requires that the phone has previously enabled USB debugging and the computer has been authorized as a trusted device. If these conditions are not met, the method will not work.

You'll need to install the Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC, connect your phone to your computer via the original cable, open the command prompt (CMD) in the ADB tool folder, and enter the connection check command:

adb devices

If a device with device status appears on the list, you can start resetting.

adb reboot recovery

Once the command is complete, the phone will go to the Recovery menu, where you can clean the data with volume buttons, and there is a direct command to reset, but it does not work on all firmware for security reasons:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.FACTORY_RESET

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-The wrong commands can lead to unpredictable behavior of the system. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

What to do after resetting settings

After you successfully complete the procedure and download it for the first time, you will see a welcome screen similar to the one you had when you bought a new phone, and you will have to choose a language, connect to your Wi-Fi network and log into your Google account, and this is where you check for locks.

If you didn't delete your Google account before resetting, the system will require you to enter a password from it, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection, without the previous owner's correct credentials, you can't use the phone, and Mi Account can be checked in a similar way.

Then the system will offer to restore data from the backup. If you created a backup in the Google cloud or on the Mi Cloud, you can restore contacts, call history, Wi-Fi settings and a list of installed applications. Recovery from a local backup (backup.zip file) is possible only if you saved it to your computer or cloud storage, since the internal memory of the phone has been completely cleared.

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Don’t install all apps immediately after resetting. Give the system 10-15 minutes to back-end optimization and file indexing to avoid overheating and lag in the first minutes of use.

It is recommended to check for system updates immediately after setting up. Go to Settings → About phone and click on MIUI/HyperOS. Installing the latest security patch can fix bugs that may have prompted you to reset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)