How to completely clean another Xiaomi device: from smartphone to router

When it comes to cleaning Xiaomi devices, most users think only of smartphones. But the brand ecosystem is much broader: Mi Band smartwatches, Smart Band fitness bracelets, Mi Router routers, Mi TVs, Redmi Buds headphones and even Mijia electric scooters. Each of these devices accumulates data, cache, personal information — and sooner or later requires complete cleaning. The reasons can be different from preparation for sale to eliminating system lags.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible cleanup options for Xiaomi’s different categories, from classic resets to factory settings to hidden commands for power users. You’ll learn how to properly erase data from the Mi Band 8 without losing communication with your phone, why resetting the router through a button doesn’t always work, and what to do if the smartwatches stop syncing after cleaning, and unique methods for proprietary firmware devices (such as the Mi Scooter 4 Pro), which are not described in the official documentation.

1. Xiaomi Smartphone Cleanup: From Redmi to POCO

Smartphones are the most common category of Xiaomi devices, and the cleaning options are the most. The main methods depend on the version of MIUI (relevant to MIUI 14/15) and the processor model (Snapdragon, Mediatek, Google Tensor in POCO F6).

The safest way is to reset your user data, but it saves your system files, if your phone is slowing down or you need to remove any extra files before you sell them.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings
• 🔄 Select Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Network Resettings!)
• 🔐 Enter your Mi Account password if requested
• ⏳ Wait for the reboot (usually takes a lot of time) 3-7 minute)

If the smartphone does not respond to touch or is locked, you will need a hard reset via Recovery Mode.

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Volume Up + Nutrition (on some models – Volume Down + Nutrition).
3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (movement – volume buttons, choice – power button).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: On devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), a hard reset can lead to a bootloader lock if previously unlocked OEM Unlock. In this case, you will need to re-unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

2.Reset smartwatches and fitness bracelets Mi Band

Xiaomi smartwatches and bracelets (Mi Band 7/8, Smart Band Pro, Watch 2 Pro) are cleaned differently than smartphones. There is no classic “recovery mode”, but there are hidden combinations and bindings to the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).

To reset the Mi Band 8 through the device itself:

• 🕒 On the main screen of the clock, swipe down to the settings menu.
• 🔧 Select the System → Resetting settings.
• ✅ Confirm the action on the watch screen.

If the watch does not respond to touch, use a hardware reset:

1. Unplug the strap and find the reset button on the back (a small hole next to the sensors).
2. Take a paper clip, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until vibration appears.
3. Connect the watch to charging – it will automatically reboot.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the Mi Watch 2 Pro, you may need to re-assign to your Xiaomi account via QR-If the watch is not connected to the phone, check if Bluetooth 5.0 is on and turn it off. VPN — This is a common cause of synchronization failures.

Untie the watch from your Mi Fitness | Charge the device at least 50% | Backup your workout data | Make sure there are no other devices around with Bluetooth enabled-->

3. Cleaning up Mi Router routers: When button reset doesn't work

Xiaomi routers (Mi Router 4A/4C/AX3000/AX6000) are easier to clean than smartphones, but there are pitfalls here. The main problem is incomplete reset when the device returns to factory settings, but saves old data about connected devices.

Classic method:

• 🔌 Turn the router on.
• 🖱️ Find the Reset button on the back (usually recessed in the case).
• 🕒 Press and hold it. 10-15 seconds (before all indicators flash).

If the router fails to deliver Wi-Fi after reset or if it fails to connect to the Internet, try an alternative method via Telnet:

telnet 192.168.31.1


login: root




Password: (default: admin or empty)




nvram erase




reboot

For models with OpenWRT firmware (such as Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition), the process is different:

1. Connect to the router via SSH.
2. Run the firstboot command.
3. Confirm the reset and wait for the reset.

4. Formatting Mi TV and Mi Box TVs

Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV A2/A Pro/ES 2023) and media set-top boxes (Mi Box S/4K) are cleared through the Android TV menu, but with nuances. For example, on Mi TV P1, resetting through settings does not delete Netflix and Disney+ license data, which can lead to errors when re-authorizing.

Complete cleaning for Mi TV:

• 📺 Go to Settings. → The device → Reset.
• 🔄 Select Erase All Data (not Reset Settings!).
• 🔐 Enter. PIN-code (default 0000 or 1234).
• ⏳ Wait for the reboot (can take up to 10 minutes).

For the Mi Box S (if the device hangs on the logo):

1. Turn the console off the power.
2. Press the OK button on the remote and connect the power.
3. Hold the 10 seconds button until the recovery menu appears.
4. Select Wipe data/factory reset.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall, a reset can lead to loss of access to local channels DTH. To return them after cleaning, go to Settings. → Channels → Autoset and select the region of India.

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If after the Mi reset TV Not connected to Wi-Fi, try manually specifying DNS-Google servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 in network settings.

5. Cleaning up Redmi Buds headphones and sound devices

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones (Redmi Buds 4/5 Pro, FlipBuds Pro) don’t have a classic reset interface, but they can be cleaned of the paired devices and returned to factory settings. This is useful if the headphones aren’t connected to a new phone or one isn’t working.

For the Redmi Buds 5 Pro:

• 🎧 Put both headphones in the case.
• 🔋 Make sure the case is charged (the indicator is white).
• 🔄 Press and hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
• 📱 Open the case cover - headphones are ready for a new pairing.

For Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro (with active noise reduction):

1. Take the headphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 10 seconds.
3. Wait for the beep and the flashing of the red indicator.
4. Return the headphones to the case and close the lid for 5 seconds.

💡

After resetting the Xiaomi headphones, you need to re-couple them with your phone via Bluetooth. On MIUI, open Settings → Bluetooth → Add the device and select the headphones from the list.

6. Hidden cleaning methods for experienced users

If standard methods do not help or you need to delete data without a trace (for example, before selling), you can use advanced methods. They require technical knowledge and can lead to loss of warranty.

For smartphones on Snapdragon:

• 🔧 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires account binding).
• 📥 Install. TWRP Recovery for your model.
• 🗑️ V TWRP Choose the Wipe → Format Data and enter Yes.
• 🔄 Reboot to the system.

For devices on Mediatek (Redmi Note 12, POCO M6 Pro):

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

For routers with Padavan firmware:

mtd erase nvram


reboot

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (new 2026 models), fastboot formatting may block OEM Unlock. In this case, you will need an official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool with authorization in the developer account.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with the proper cleaning of Xiaomi devices, users are facing problems.

• 🚫 Mi Account error: After a reset, the phone requires an old account. The solution is to enter the previous owner's data or wait 72 hours for automatic unlock (does not work on all models).
• 🔄 Cycle reboot: Occurs on POCO F5 Solution - Sweat your device through the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option option option option.
• 📶 Loss of loss IMEI: On some models (Redmi) 9A) after formatting disappears IMEI. Solution - Restore through the Engineering Menu (#3646633##).
• 🔊 No sound after reset: On the Mi TV So, the solution is, go to Settings. → Sound. → Sound mode and select Stereo.

If the device does not turn on after cleaning, check:

1. Charging (connect to another cable/block).
2. Indicators (on Mi Router routers, orange light means firmware error).
3. PC connection (if the phone doesn’t respond but is defined as Qualcomm 9008, firmware will be required via QFil).

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Before cleaning any Xiaomi device, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone (or similar section). If the version is older than 2 years, update the software first - this will reduce the risk of errors when resetting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions