How to format a Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide to reset and clean

Why do I need to format a Xiaomi smartphone?

Formatting a Xiaomi smartphone is a radical but effective way to get the device back to its previous performance. Over time, every gadget begins to slow down: apps open longer, the system gives out errors, and free disk space melts before your eyes. The reasons can be different from overcrowded cache to viruses downloaded with pirated APKs.

Factory reset (also known as hard reset) solves 90 percent of software problems. It's not a panacea -- if a phone is physically damaged (like a motherboard is broken), formatting won't help. But in cases where Redmi or POCO just "gluts," cleaning the system often works better than flashing it, and the key is to do it right so you don't lose important data and turn the smartphone into a brick.

In this article, we will discuss all formatting methods: from soft reset through settings to hard reboot through Recovery Mode, and also tell you how to prepare for the procedure so as not to lose photos, contacts and other valuable files.

Preparing for Formatting: What to Do Before Resetting

Before you hit the Reset button, make sure you don't lose important data. Formatting removes all the information from the internal memory: photos, videos, messages, app settings, and even accounts.

• 📱 Sync your contacts and calendar with your Google account. Go to Settings → Google accounts → Synchronize and enable the option for Contacts and Calendar".
• 📁 Copy files to your PC or cloud. Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or a physical cable. USB. Pay special attention to the folders DCIM (Photo/video) and Downloads.
• 🔐 Write down the passwords from Wi-Fi and apps, and you'll have to re-enter them after the reset. QR-router code or use password manager.
• 📋 Save a list of installed apps. There's a "Library" section in the Play Store, and it's where every program that's ever been downloaded remains.

If you use Mi Account, check if your smartphone is tied to it. Once reset, you may need to enter your username and password to unlock (Mi Cloud Lock function), without which the phone will become a brick.

⚠️ Note: If you bought a smartphone with your hands and do not know the previous owner’s data from Mi Account, the reset will lock the device.

Method 1: Soft reset via settings (without data loss)

If the phone is running but slow, try a partial reset.This method doesn't delete personal files, but clears the cache and resets the system settings. Suitable for Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and others with MIUI 12-14.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (optional, but useful for further settings).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Reset.
4. Click Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset to factory settings!).
5. Confirm the action with a password or pattern lock.

This method helps in cases of:

• 🐢 Slow interface operation;
• 🔄 Frequent reboots;
• 📱 Incorrect operation of sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer);
• 🔊 Problems with sound or vibration.

⚠️ Warning: If there are problems after a soft reset, you will have to do a full formatting. Partial cleaning does not remove viruses or correct firmware errors.

💡

Before reset, check if the Device Protection feature is included in Settings. → Password and security. If it's active, you'll need to enter it after the reboot. PIN-code SIM-map.

Method 2: Completely reset via the settings menu (Hard Reset)

This is the most reliable way to get your smartphone back to a clean state, and it removes all the data, including:

• 📸 Photographs and videos;
• 📱 Installed annexes;
• 📞 Call log and SMS;
• 🎵 Music and uploaded files;
• 🔧 All system settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (reset to factory).
3. The system will tell you whether to clear your internal memory. If you've done a backup, mark Clear everything.
4. Enter the password from the lock screen (if installed).
5. Confirm the action with the Reset button.

It takes 5-15 minutes, and the phone will restart and start as new.

1. Choose a language and region;
2. Connect to Wi-Fi;
3. Sign in to Mi Account (if tied);
4. Restore the data from the backup (if any).

Sign in to Mi Account (if you were tied in)|Connect to Wi-Fi|Restore Contacts from Google|Install critical applications (bank, instant messengers)|Check the camera and microphone-->

Method 3: Formatting with Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Xiaomi’s smartphone doesn’t load, freezes on the logo or issues a No Command error, resetting through recovery mode will help, which works even on “bricks”, but requires care – wrong actions can exacerbate the problem.

Instructions for most models (Redmi 9/Note 8 Pro/POCO F3, etc.):

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10+ seconds).
2. Hold the combination: 🔧 Loudness up + Food for most models; 🔧 Loudness up + Loudness down + Meals - for the old Redmis 4/5.

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot → Reboot to System

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

• 🧹 — data-cleaning;
• 🔄 — restart.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 NFC, Redmi Note 10S) After resetting via Recovery, you may need to enter data from Mi Account, even if it was not previously tied.

Method 4: Formatting via Fastboot (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 Phone is not loading and Recovery is not available;
• 📱 We need to remove custom firmware;
• 🔒 You need to unlock the loader before the firmware.

The work will require:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux;
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original);
• 🛠 Tools: Mi Flash Tool, ADB/Fastboot;
• 📄 Firmware for your model (download only from the official Xiaomi website).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB/Fastboot and Xiaomi drivers on PC.
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC.
4. Open the command line and type: fastboot devices If the device is determined, continue. If not, check the driver.
5. For complete cleaning, run fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot format userdata fastboot format cache
6. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

Once formatted via Fastboot, the phone will launch with clean firmware, but may require a link to Mi Account even if the account has not been used before.

What to do after formatting: initial setup

After resetting, Xiaomi's smartphone launches as new. Here's what to do first:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi. Without the Internet, you can't download updates and restore the backup.
2. Log in to Mi Account (if you were tied) and this will unlock the device and allow you to recover data from Mi Cloud.
3. Update your firmware. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update your system and install the latest version of MIUI.
4. Recover the data: 📱 Contacts from Google or Mi Cloud; 📸 Photo by Google Photos or Local Backup; 🎮 Applications - from the Play Market (section "Library").
5. Set up security: Install PIN-code or pattern lock; activate Find Device in Settings → Google → Security; Enable application verification in Settings → Password and security → Security check.

Don't rush to install all the apps at once. Start with the critical ones (banks, instant messengers, mail), and add the rest gradually, which will help avoid the system clogging again.

💡

After formatting the first 2-3 days, the phone can run slower than usual, which is normal: the system indexes files and optimizes performance.

Table: Comparison of Xiaomi formatting methods

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Formatting is a simple procedure, but users often make mistakes that lead to data loss or phone lockdown.

• 🔋 Battery discharged. If the phone turns off during reset, it could damage the firmware. Charge the battery to at least 50% before starting.
• 🔒 Forgotten Mi Account. If you don't remember the username/password from your Xiaomi account, the reset will lock your phone. → Xiaomi account.
• 📱 Fastboot firmware is wrong, installing firmware from another model turns your phone into a brick. Always check the file name (e.g., file name, tucana_global_images... For the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
• 🔄 Interrupted reset. Do not take the battery out or turn off power during the procedure (POCO F4, Xiaomi 12T) This can lead to hardware failure.

If after formatting the phone:

• 🔴 Not turning on – try to press the power button to 20+ seconds or connect to the charge for an hour.
• 🔄 Hang on the logo - log in to Recovery and repeat the reset.
• 🔒 The old password requires an FRP-lock (Google) and enter the data from the last synchronized account.

💡

If after resetting the phone asks for a password from Mi Account that you did not set, it means that the device was tied to the previous owner. The only legal way to unlock is to contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of purchase.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions