How to completely clean the Xiaomi smartphone to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step to solve system problems, prepare the device for sale or eliminate the consequences of virus attacks. The procedure deletes all user data, including apps, photos, accounts and settings, returning the smartphone to the “out of the box” state. However, not everyone knows that an improper reset can lead to blocking the Mi Account or loss of access to the device – especially on models with a link to a Xiaomi account.

In this article, we will discuss three official ways to reset: through the settings menu, using Recovery Mode and remotely through Find Device. You will learn how to prepare your phone for the procedure, avoid common errors (for example, hanging on the MIUI logo), and what to do if after reset the device requires you to enter a password from your old account.

When you need to reset to factory settings

Resetting is not a panacea, but in some cases it becomes the only working solution. Here are 5 situations where the procedure is justified:

• 🔄 Slowdown: the phone slows down, apps crash, and cache cleaning doesn't help, often due to memory fragmentation or software conflicts.
• 📱 Preparation for sale / transfer: so that the new owner does not get access to your data (even after deleting files, they can be restored by specialized programs).
• 🔒 Removing viruses or malware that is not removed by antiviruses (for example, banner ads in the status bar).
• 🔧 Failures after the update: if after installing the new version MIUI Critical bugs (camera is not working, network is not working, etc.).
• 📴 Forgotten pattern lock or PIN-code (if unlocking through Mi Account is not effective).

However, resetting will not help if the problem is related to:

• 🔋 Hardware malfunctions (broken screen, broken speaker, battery problems).
• 📡 Breakdown of the communication module (no network, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth catches due to physical damage to the antenna).
• 🔌 Software restrictions imposed by the operator (e.g. blocking) SIM-card-on-contract phone).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with a locked bootloader (most devices purchased officially), a reset via Recovery may lead to a request for a username/password from the Mi Account previously tied to the phone".

Preparation for discharge: what to do before cleaning

The bad surprise after reset is the loss of important data. To avoid this, follow 4 mandatory steps:

1. Back up via Settings → About Phone → Backup. Xiaomi offers to save data to the Mi Cloud (up to 5GB free) or local storage. The alternative is manually copying files to your PC via MTP (USB data transfer mode).
2. Remove the Mi Account attachment if you plan to sell the phone. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out.

Pay special attention to the application data:

• 📸 Photos and videos: copy to Google Photos or external drive.

If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), consider:

• Resetting via the settings menu can return the phone to stock MIUI, but with the risk of losing data to internal storage.
• On some firmware, the Recovery reset option is called Wipe Data/Factory Reset, not Settings Reset.

Create a backup copy|Unblock Mi Account|Charge the phone. >50%|Delete SD-card (if any)|Remember passwords from accounts-->

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the safest)

This method is suitable if the phone turns on and reacts to touch, it is as simple as possible and minimizes the risk of errors, instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14 (including HyperOS on new models).

Step-by-step procedure:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to About Phone (in some versions of MIUI - Additional).
3. Select Reset (or Reset and Reset on older models).
4. Slip on Erase all data (may be called Reset before factory settings).
5. The system will prompt you to enter a password/pattern lock (if installed) for confirmation.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset phone (or similar button).

It takes 3-10 minutes depending on the model, and the phone will reboot, and you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after the purchase.

⚠️ If after resetting the phone requires data entry from Mi Account, which was previously tied, and you do not remember them – you can restore access only through the official Xiaomi website (https://account.xiaomi.com). Otherwise, the device will remain locked.

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If the reset has been stuck in the Clearup phase for longer than 20 minutes, don't force the phone to turn off. Wait for battery discharge or plug it into charging and leave it for 1-2 hours. Often the process ends on its own.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If the smartphone does not respond to touch, hovers on the MIUI logo or is locked with a pattern lock, resetting via Recovery Mode will help.This method works on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark, but requires accuracy.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO X3/X4 and Redmi Note 9/10: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

Wipe Data

Clear Data

Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Reboot

On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi K40) the Recovery menu is touch-sensitive, on others (old Redmi 4/5) – the control is carried out by the volume buttons (select) and power buttons (confirmation).

Important: Devices with unlocked bootloader may be alerted to this device is unlocked after reset via Recovery. This is normal and does not affect performance.

Method 3: Remote reset via Find Device (if phone is lost)

If you lost your phone or it was stolen, but it had Mi Account and Internet access on it, you can reset remotely.

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. In the Find Device (or Find Device) section, select the lost smartphone.
3. Click on Erase Data (or Erase Data).
4. Confirm the action by entering the password from the account.

⚠️ Warning: Remote reset will not work if the phone has disabled Find Device or reset Mi Account settings (for example, via Recovery), in which case you can only restore access to the device through a physical reset.

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery

After a successful reset, the phone will start in initial setup mode.

1. Select the language and region (it is recommended to specify the real region for the correct operation of Google services).
2. Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network (without the Internet you can not log into accounts).
3. Sign in to Mi Account or skip (unless you plan to use Xiaomi services).

If you are selling a phone, don’t restore data – just do the basic setup and hand over the device to the new owner.

To recover data:

• 📱 Local backup: connect your phone to your PC and copy files back.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Sign in to your account and select files to recover under Backups.
• 🤖 Google Account: Contacts, calendars, and some app settings are automatically synced.

Newer models (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12) may require re-activation of some features after reset:

• 🎯 Setting up gestures (in) MIUI 14 and HyperOS Default Management – Swipes).

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After reset, be sure to update your firmware to the latest version via Settings → About Phone → System Update. This closes security vulnerabilities and improves stability.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the correct reset, there can be problems. Let's consider the 5 most common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, it may be the hardware (e.g., damaged eMMC memory) that is the reason why you should contact Xiaomi’s service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset