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

Why Xiaomi’s factory reset could be a lifesaver for your smartphone

Your Xiaomi has started to slow down, spontaneously reboot or give out errors when installing applications? Perhaps it is time for radical measures — a complete reset to factory settings. This procedure will return the device to its original state by removing all user data, settings and installed programs. But before you press the cherished button, it is worthwhile to understand the nuances: from saving important files to bypassing the possible lock Mi Account after a reset.

In this article, we will look at all the current reset methods for modern Xiaomi models (2018-2026), including devices with MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS hyperaxis. You will learn how to prepare for the procedure, what methods exist (through menus, buttons or a computer), and what to do if after a reset the phone requires an old account.

Resetting isn't always a universal solution, for example, if the problem is a hardware malfunction (a broken screen, a broken battery), software cleaning won't help, but in 80 percent of freezes, slow work, or viral attacks, it's the most effective way to bring a smartphone back to life without going to a service center.

When you really need to reset to factory settings

Before you start taking drastic measures, make sure your problem does require a complete clean-up.

• 🐢 The smartphone became unbearably slow even after the closure of all applications.
• 🔄 Constant spontaneous reboots or departures to Fastboot.
• 📱 The lock screen does not accept the correct password (unless you have changed it).
• 🦠 Suspicion of a virus or malware that is not removed by an antivirus.
• 🔧 Before selling or transferring the phone to another person (required!).
• 📲 Errors in updating MIUI/HyperOS (for example, code ERROR: 7).

But there are also cases where resetting won't help or even make the problem worse:

• 🔋 Battery discharges in 2-3 hours (probably battery wear).
• 📶 No network or Wi-Fi (may be a problem with the communication module).
• 💥 The phone is not turned on at all (you need a diagnosis in the service).
• 🖥️ Artifacts on the screen (broken pixels or matrix damage).

⚠️ Note: If you are resetting your phone due to Mi Account lock (for example, you bought a used device with a tied someone else’s account), then a standard reset will not help – you will need official unlock through Xiaomi or workaround methods (read about them at the end of the article).

Preparing for discharge: what to do before cleaning

Resetting to factory settings is an irreversible process. All your photos, contacts, messages and installed applications will be deleted. So preparation is the most important step. Here is a checklist of actions to be performed before you press the reset button:

Pay special attention to backup. Xiaomi has two main ways:

1. Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud): Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup. Here you can save contacts, notes, SMS and even some settings for system applications. Minus — only 5 GB is available for free.
2. Local copy: connect your phone to your computer via USB (in file transfer mode) and manually copy the DCIM (photo/video), Downloads (downloads) and WhatsApp/Media (media from instant messengers).

Don’t forget about two-tier authentication apps (like banking or instant messengers) and after resetting, you’ll need access to SMS or backup codes to restore your accounts, and check in advance where those codes are stored (like Google Authenticator or Telegram bot).

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader, you may need to re-unblock through the Mi Unlock Tool after the reset!

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

If your smartphone is switched on and you remember the lock password, then this method is a priority. It requires no additional tools and is minimally risky. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Steps for discharge:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone (in older versions of MIUI - Additional).
3. Select Backup and Reset (or Reset in HyperOS).
4. Slip on Resetting (may be called Delete All Data).
5. The system will prompt you to enter a lock screen password (if it is installed).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset the phone or Delete everything.

It takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on the model, and the phone will reboot and start setting up as new, and at that point you can either restore the data from the backup or configure the device from scratch.

💡

If after a reset, the phone asks you to enter the old Mi Account password and you don't remember it, don't try to guess! After 5 unsuccessful attempts, the device can lock for 72 hours, in which case only official unlocking through the Xiaomi website will help.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), a device verification message may appear after a reset. This is normal — just follow the instructions on the screen, connect to Wi-Fi and wait for the check to be completed.

Method 2: Hard reset through buttons (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If the smartphone doesn’t respond to touch, is stuck on the logo or does not turn on at all, you will have to use hardware reset via a combination of buttons, which works even when the screen is damaged (if the display somehow displays the picture).

Instructions for most Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO models (2018–2026):

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Hold it together: 🔘 Power button + Increased volume (for most models). 🔘 On some older devices (e.g. Redmi) 4X) — Nutrition + Turning down the volume.

Mi

Fastboot

Recovery Mode

Wipe Data

Clear Data

Confirm

Yes

Reboot

If instead of the recovery menu you were in Fastboot (black screen with a rabbit and a sign). FASTBOOT), So the button combination was wrong:

• 🔌 Connect the phone to the computer.
• 🖥️ Download the Mi Flash Tool and run the official firmware.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with a locked bootloader, a hard reset via Fastboot can cause the phone to crash!If you are unsure of the bootloader status, only use the reset via the settings menu.

Method 3: Reset via Mi Account (remote cleanup)

Few people know, but Xiaomi allows you to reset your phone remotely via the Mi Cloud web interface, which is useful if the device is lost or stolen, but you have access to the associated account.

• 📶 The phone is connected to the Internet (mobile network or Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 The device is tied to your Mi Account.
• 📍 Find the device activated in the settings.

Remote discharge instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Devices section, select your smartphone.
3. Press Find the device. → Erase the data.
4. Confirm the action by entering the password from Mi Account.

It can take up to 30 minutes to reset, and after a successful reset, the phone will restart and be ready for initial setup, and note that this method does not work if:

• 🔌 Device turned off or discharged.
• 🌐 No Internet connection.
• 🔒 The phone was untied from the Mi Account manually.

💡

Remote reset via Mi Cloud is the only official way to clean the phone without physically accessing it, but after the procedure, you may need to re-authorize to Mi Account when you first turn on.

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

After a successful reset, your Xiaomi will be like new, but before you start using the device, follow a few important steps:

1. Mi Account Check: If your phone asks you to enter your old account details but you don’t remember them, use the password recovery function on account.xiaomi.com. In extreme cases, you will have to contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.
2. Update: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install the latest version of MIUI/HyperOS. This will fix possible bugs after reset.
3. Data Recovery: If you backed up to Mi Cloud, select Restore from the Cloud during the initial setup. For local backups, connect your phone to your PC and transfer the files back.
4. Account Untied: If you've dropped your phone before selling, make sure all accounts (Google, Mi, social media) are untied. → Accounts.

Pay special attention to the security settings:

• 🔐 Set a new lock password (preferably not the same as before the reset).
• 🛡️ Activate Find the device in Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Turn on Reset Protection (in some firmware) – this will make it harder to steal data when you lose your phone.

If you notice that some features are not working properly after the reset (for example, Wi-Fi or the camera is not turned on), this may be due to:

• 📥 Incomplete firmware (try updating the software again).
• 🔧 Hardware malfunction (diagnosis required).
• 📦 Data recovery conflict (try to set your phone up as new without recovery).

Typical Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a simple procedure like factory reset can be problematic if you make one of these mistakes:

One of the most common problems after a reset is a Mi Account lock, which occurs when the phone was tied to a Xiaomi account and you didn't untie it before cleaning it.

• 📧 Try to restore access to your account via email or phone.
• 📄 If the phone was bought used, ask the seller for the data to unlock.
• 🔓 In extreme cases, contact the Xiaomi service center with a check about the purchase.

⚠️ Note: Do not use "grey" methods to bypass the Mi Account lock (for example, through an engineering menu or third-party firmware).This may lead to loss of warranty or breakage of the communication module (IMEI).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset