How to roll back Xiaomi to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a procedure that every smartphone owner of this brand will face sooner or later, and the reasons can vary from a banal slowdown to preparing a device for sale or eliminating critical errors after a failed upgrade. However, not everyone knows that there are three fundamentally different methods of reset, each of which is suitable for specific situations.

In this article, we’ll look at not only standard resets, but also hard-core methods (Hard Reset via Recovery and Fastboot) that save you when your phone doesn’t turn on or locks. We’ll focus on the hidden nuances of MIUI that make resets on Xiaomi often go wrong than on other Android devices, such as why you might need to re-authorize your Mi Account after a reset, even if you’ve disabled it.

When you need to reset to factory settings

Before you start a procedure, it's important to know if it's really necessary, because resetting is not a panacea, but a last resort, which erases all data from the device, and these are the typical cases where it's justified:

• 🐢 The smartphone began to slow down, applications are constantly “flying out”, and cleaning the cache does not help.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Glitches: sensors do not work, communication or Wi-Fi is lost.
• 📱 You sell or transfer your phone to another person and want to delete all personal information.
• 🔒 Device locked (forgot pattern lock)/PIN), Find My Device is not helpful.
• 🛠️ You need to “clean” sew the phone before installing custom firmware.

However, there are situations where resetting won’t solve the problem, such as if the phone doesn’t turn on because of a damaged battery or a bootloop, you need repairs or flashing through the EDL. It’s also useless to reset if the problem is due to hardware malfunctions: a broken screen, a broken camera or a speaker.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12+ After a reset, you may need to enter data from Mi Account, even if you have previously disabled it (FRP). If you do not remember the username / password, restore them in advance on account.xiaomi.com.

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

If the phone turns on and you remember the unlock password, this is the best option, it requires no additional tools and is minimally risky, the main advantage is that you can save media files (photos, videos) before resetting.

The instructions are relevant for all modern models: Xiaomi 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5, etc. On older devices (for example, Redmi 4X or Mi A1), the path to the menu may be slightly different.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (if it is not already enabled).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Recovery and Reset.
4. Click Reset Settings → Erase all data.
5. When you request, enter PIN-code.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.

It takes 3-10 minutes, and after you reboot, you'll be asked to set up your phone as new, and if you're planning to sell the device, don't restore the data from the backup, which can leave personal information behind.

Backup of important data|Remember the username/password from Mi Account|Connect the charger (battery) > 50%)|Disable Google Account (if you plan to sell)-->

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

If the smartphone is stuck on the MI logo, does not respond to pressing or is blocked, resetting through Recovery Mode will help.This method works even without entering a password, but has an important limitation: on some models (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50 and later), Recovery can be blocked if the Mi Account has not previously been disabled.

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Hold the keyboard: 📱 For most models: Volume up + Nutrition. 📱 For POCO And some Redmi: Volume up + Loudness down + Nutrition.

MI

Recovery

In the Recovery menu, the control is carried out by the volume (move) and power (select) buttons.

1. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
2. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
3. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press Volume Down + Power before the screensaver with a rabbit in a hat-eared.

cmd

ADB

fastboot devices

If the device is determined (its serial number will appear), continue.

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

Once you reboot, your phone will be in factory condition. If you plan to unlock Bootloader, use the command:

fastboot oem unlock

But remember: on newer models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12), unlocking requires a Mi Account attachment to the device and waiting (usually 7 days).

1. whether Xiaomi drivers are installed (you can download on the official website).

2. whether you use the original cable (cheap cables often do not transmit data).

3. Is the debugging mode on USB (If the phone is turned on, activate it in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).-->

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

Once reset, the phone will start as new.

1. Choose a language and region.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi.
3. Sign in to Mi Account (required if previously linked).
4. Restore data from a backup (if it was created).

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

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset