How to completely clean the Xiaomi smartphone to factory settings: 4 working ways

Why you need to reset Xiaomi to factory settings and when to apply it

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical, but sometimes the only way to get the device back on track, which removes all user data, apps and settings, bringing the smartphone back out of the box.

First, if the device started to slow down, spontaneously reboot or "lay down" even after standard optimization methods; second, before selling or transferring the phone to another user, to prevent personal data leakage; third, if the system crashes critically, when the smartphone does not turn on, it hovers on the Mi logo or emits a No Command error in Recovery mode.

However, resetting does not always solve hardware problems – if the phone overheats due to a damaged battery or does not catch the network due to a faulty module, then cleaning the software part is powerless. A1/A2 With pure Android One, the process may be different from the standard one. MIUI-interface.

Resetting Preparation: What to Do Before Cleaning Your Phone

There are several critical steps to follow before starting a reset, and ignoring preparation can lead to the loss of important data or even locking the device (for example, forgetting to untie your Mi Account).

• 📱 Create a backup: Use the built-in Backup app (Settings) → The phone. → Backups, or third-party services like Google Drive, Mi Cloud, it's especially important to keep your contacts, SMS, photos and notes.
• 🔒 Remove the account binding: untie Mi Account (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete your account, as well as Google and social media, which will prevent blocking after resetting.
• 🔋 Charge the battery: the charge level should be at least 50%. interruption of the process due to discharge can lead to "bricking" of the device.
• 📡 Check the network connection: if the reset is done via Fastboot or Mi Flash, you will need a PC with Xiaomi drivers and the original. USB-cable.

Pay special attention to unlocking the bootloader if you plan to use Fastboot or firmware reset methods. On new models (Xiaomi 12/13/14 series, Redmi Note 11/12), the bootloader is blocked by default, and its unlocking requires official permission from Xiaomi (via en.miui.com/unlock).

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

This is the standard method that is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI. The main advantage is simplicity and minimal risk of errors. The method works even if the phone is locked with a pattern lock, but it turns on and responds to touch.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone (in some versions of MIUI – Additional → Recovery and Reset).
3. Select Resetting (or Delete all data).
4. Click Erase all data and confirm the action by entering a password / pattern lock.
5. Wait for the process to be completed (usually 5-15 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

If, after a reset, the device requires you to enter the Mi Account that was previously tied, and you did not untie it, do not panic. In most cases, it is enough to enter the correct username / password. However, on some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 10T or Redmi K40) anti-theft protection may work, and you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

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

If the smartphone is getting stuck on the Mi logo, rebooting cyclically or not responding to touch, Recovery mode will help.This method works on all Xiaomi devices, but requires care - wrong actions can lead to data loss or even firmware damage.

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the combination of Loudness up + Power and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).

In the Recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data).
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Reboot (or Reboot to System).

On models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), a reset via Recovery may not delete the data completely, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader or firmware via Fastboot.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

The method through Fastboot is suitable for cases where:

• 🔄 The phone doesn’t even load in Recovery.
• 🔐 Password is forgotten and unlocking via Mi Account is impossible.
• 📦 You need to reflash the device from scratch (for example, after a failed update).

For this method, you will need a computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website) and the Mi Flash Tool utility. Also make sure that the bootloader is unlocked on the phone (otherwise the reset will not pass).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press Volume down + Power for 5-10 seconds. The screen will appear a hare in a hat-outer (Fastboot logo).
2. Connect your phone to your PC through the original USB-cable.
3. Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website (choose the Fastboot version).
4. Unclarify the firmware into a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi_Flash).
5. Open the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the firmware folder.
6. Press Refresh, the program must detect the device. If that doesn't happen, check the drivers.
7. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.

Attention! ⚠️ If there is an error during the firmware through Fastboot anti_rollback, This means you are trying to install an older version. MIUI, In this case, you will need to flash only the new version or use special patches (for example, Anti-Rollback Patch from custom firmware developers).

Method 4: Reset via Mi Account (if the password is forgotten)

If you forget your pattern lock or password, but remember the Mi Account, you can reset the lock through the official Xiaomi service, which works only if you meet three conditions:

1. The phone is connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
2. The Mi Account was linked to the device before being blocked.
3. The phone has enabled the Find Device function (Settings → Mi Account → Find the Device).

Instructions for unlocking:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Select the Devices tab and find your locked phone.
3. Click Unlock Screen (or Unlock Screen).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.
5. Wait for the notification to the phone (usually within 5-30 minutes) and then the device unlocks and you can reset through the settings.

If this method does not work, try an alternative method:

• 📞 Call the locked phone from another device.
• 📩 Take the call and in the call menu click Add a new call → Settings → Recovery and discharge.
• 🔄 Reset via the settings menu (as in Method 1).

Attention! ⚠️ On Android 12 and newer models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro) this workaround may not work due to the increased protection, in which case only the firmware through the Fastboot or contacting the service center is left.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

Another common problem is the loss of IMEI after a Fastboot reset, which occurs if the firmware was unofficial or the modem partition is damaged. You can restore IMEI using the engineering menu (#4636##) or specialized utilities like the SN Write Tool (requires root rights).

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If the phone is not catching the network after reset, check the IMEI settings (Settings → Phone → General Information → Status). If zeros or Unknown are displayed instead of the number, you will need to restore through the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Reset