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

Xiaomi resetting to factory settings is a procedure that can be required in a variety of situations, from preparing a smartphone for sale to fixing critical system failures. However, an improperly performed reset often leads to the loss of important data, blocking the Mi Account account or even “bricking” the device. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of resetting (through settings, Recovery and Fastboot), explain how to save data before the procedure, and warn against typical errors that even experienced users make.

Xiaomi devices are uniquely tied to a Mi Account and have a secure anti-rollback section that can lock your smartphone after an incorrect reset, so it’s critical to understand before you start the procedure which method is right for your model (for example, the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 algorithms are different) and what consequences it will have. If you’ve never done a reset on Xiaomi before, start with the preparation section, which will save you hours of data recovery.

Preparation for resetting: what to do before the start

Before you reset Xiaomi to factory settings, follow the mandatory steps – this will save you from losing photos, contacts and other critical data. Even if the device is unstable, find a way to connect to your computer or the cloud.

• 📱 Create a backup through Settings → Google → Backup or using Mi Cloud (unless the account is blocked) on new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi) K70) Backup to the cloud can take up to 2-3 hours with a large amount of data.
• 🔌 Charge the battery to at least 50%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can cause software damage to the firmware.
• 🔐 Make sure to remember the data from Mi Account. After the reset, the device may require the username and password to be entered to unlock (Mi Account Lock function).
• 📡 Turn it off. SIM-If you have cards and memory cards installed, this will prevent the external drives from being randomly formatted.

If you reset your device before selling, additionally log out of all accounts (Settings → Accounts and Sync) and remove the associated devices from Mi Cloud via the web version.

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If your Xiaomi doesn’t turn on or is stuck on the logo, skip backup and go straight to reset via Recovery or Fastboot, in which case the data is likely already lost, but the device can still be recovered.

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

This is a method that works if your smartphone is turned on, touch-sensitive, and you have access to the menu, and it's the simplest and doesn't require any additional tools, but it doesn't work on locked devices (if you forget your pattern lock or if you forget your pattern lock). PIN-code).

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone (on some models – Additional → Recovery and Reset).
3. Select Resetting (or Delete all data).
4. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code.
5. Wait until the process is complete (usually 5-15 minutes) and the device will restart automatically.

The new MIUI 14/15 firmware may have a password request from Mi Account before reset, which is normal. If you don't remember the password, restore it in advance through Xiaomi's official website.

Backup checked|Battery charge >50%|I remember the password from the Mi Account.|Removed. SIM and SD-map|Find My Device (if used) is disabled)

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⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) After resetting through the menu, you may still be linked to your Google account (FRP-To avoid this, delete your main Google account in the settings before resetting.

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

If Xiaomi doesn’t load beyond the logo, freeze or lock, use Recovery Mode, which works on 90% of models, including older (Redmi 4X, Mi A1) and newer (Xiaomi 13T, POCO X6 Pro).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the device (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

Wipe Data

Clear Data

Wipe All Data

Reboot

If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons: the bin icon is Wipe Data, the arrow in a circle is Reboot.

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery may result in data loss in the section /data, But it will not affect the custom firmware in /system. If you've installed TWRP, Use it to reset it - it's safer.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

Fastboot resetting is the most radical method used if:

• 🔧 The device does not respond to other resetting methods.
• 🔒 You need to bypass Mi Account Lock (only for unlocked bootloader!).
• 📱 Requires a complete flashing (for example, after a failed update).

For this method, you will need a computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot original USB-All data will be deleted without any possibility of recovery.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Google’s Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Turn off Xiaomi and switch to Fastboot: Volume down + Power Hold until the screensaver with a rabbit in the hat (Fastboot Mode) appears.
3. Connect the device to your PC and open the command line in the folder with fastboot.
4. Enter the command to completely reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot
5. If you need to reflash the device, use the command: fastboot flash all [firmware name].zip (download the firmware only from the official Xiaomi website).

On devices with a locked bootloader, fastboot erase commands will not work – you first need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool (the procedure takes up to 720 hours of waiting on new models).

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems after a reset, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

• 🔄 "The device is stuck on the Mi logo, which means that the reset was incorrect. Solution: repeat the procedure through Fastboot or thread the device with the original firmware.

If the device starts to work slower than before after reset, follow these additional steps:

1. Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings → System Update.
2. Turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers and install Animation = Off).
3. Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

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If Xiaomi requires a password from a previous Google account after reset (FRP), And you don't remember him, the only legal way to unlock it is to go to the service center with proof of purchase. FRP through third-party programs violates the terms of use of Android and can lead to the blocking of the device.

How to recover data after resetting

If you have not made a backup, the chances of returning the data depend on the reset method:

• 📲 Reset via the settings menu: data in the section /data Software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver can only recover fragments (e.g. photos if they are not encrypted).
• 🔧 Reset via Recovery: if the section /data has not been overwritten, you can try to restore files using DiskDigger (root rights required).
• 💻 Fastboot reset: recovery impossible – data erased at low level.

For future cases, set up automatic backup:

1. Enable synchronization with Mi Cloud (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync).
2. Activate Google Backup (Settings → Google → Backup).
3. Install third-party backup apps like Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup.

On the new models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro) data is encrypted hardware (using a key in TEE), so recovery without a backup is almost impossible.

Reset on a locked device (if the password is forgotten)

If you have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-Xiaomi can be reset, but there are nuances:

• 🔓 Recovery: Works on most models, but after reset, you will need to enter data from Mi Account.
• 📧 Find My Device: If your device is linked to a Google account, you can remotely reset your password on your site google.com/android/find.
• 🛠️ Through Fastboot: only for unlocked bootloader. On locked devices, you will need to first unlock the bootloader (which erases all data).

If your device is locked because of too many failed password attempts, wait 24 hours for the system to offer to restore access through your Mi or Google account.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12+ and activated Mi Account Lock password reset via Recovery or Fastboot will not disable the account binding. You still need to enter the username and password after the reboot.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions