How to completely reset Android on Xiaomi: all ways in 2026

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical, but sometimes necessary, solution. Maybe your Redmi or POCO started to slow down after the upgrade, got infected with a virus, or you just want to sell the device by deleting all personal data. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of a complete reset — from the standard menu to the Recovery and Fastboot modes, including nuances for different versions of MIUI.

It’s important to understand that “full reset” on Xiaomi means not only cleaning up user data, but also returning the firmware to its original state.

• 📱 All installed applications and their data (including cache)
• 📷 Photos, videos and music (if not saved) SD-map)
• 📞 Contacts, SMS/MMS Call log (if not synced with Google)
• 🔑 System settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and accounts

Before you start, answer two questions: why do you need a reset (solving a specific problem or preparing to sell?) and what method is right for your model. For example, on the new Xiaomi 13/14 with HyperOS, the path in the settings menu is different from the old Redmi Note 8 on MIUI 12.

1.Resetting preparation: what to do necessarily

Regardless of the method chosen, preparation will reduce the risks of losing important data and avoid typical errors.Start with backup – even if you plan to reset due to viruses, some files (such as photos) can be saved.

Use the official tools of Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Local Backup: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backup. Select data to save (contacts, SMS, applications) and start the process. The file will be created in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
• ☁️ Xiaomi Cloud: If You Have a Mi Account, Sync Your Data in Settings → Xiaomi account → Cloud. → Please note: only 5GB is available for free.

For media files (photos, videos), it is better to use Google Photos or physically copy them to your PC.

• 📋 Export messages from instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram – each has a backup function)
• 🎮 Game Save (use Google Play Games or built-in cloud gaming services)
• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (save a list of networks with passwords in a notebook or use Google Password Manager)

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone before selling, be sure to log out of your Mi Account in the Settings menu → Xiaomi account → Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to use the device due to the link to your account (Mi Cloud Lock feature).

Create a backup copy of important data|Charge your phone at least 50 times%|Delete SD-card (if any)|Remember the username/password from Mi Account|Disable protection with a pattern lock/password-->

2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest)

This method is suitable if the phone is turned on, you have access to the menu, and you remember the pattern lock / password. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on HyperOS - About Device).
3. Click Backup and Reset (or Reset on new versions).
4. Select Resetting → Erase all data.
5. Enter the password/pattern lock for confirmation.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Delete Everything.

The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process, which will take 5 to 15 minutes, and when you're done, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you've bought it.

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If the menu does not contain the item "Reset settings", try to enter the "Reset" request in the search box - the system will show a direct link to the desired section.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or POCO F5), the path may be slightly different:

• 🔹 MIUI 13/14: Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset
• 🔹 HyperOS: Settings → About the device → Resetting settings

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

If the smartphone does not load, hangs on the MI logo or is blocked by a password that you forgot, Recovery mode will help.This method works on all Xiaomi devices, but requires caution - wrong actions can lead to a "brick" (breaking the firmware).

How to log in to Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Hold the keyboard: 🔋 For most models: Volume up + Nutrition 🔋 For the old Redmi (Note) 3/4 et al.: Volume up + Loudness down + Nutrition

Mi

In the Recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power buttons for selection. The interface can be in Chinese or English - focus on the icons:

• 🌐 Wipe Data (or ) – Data reset.
• 🔄 Reboot (or ) - Reboot.

Step-by-step action:

1. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or similar).
2. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter a password if it was set).
3. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: If the Recovery menu does not have a Wipe Data option or the phone is giving an error, "Can't mount". /data", This means that the data partition is damaged, and then you'll need to reset it via Fastboot. 3) flash-flash.

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is the most reliable, but it's also the most complex, and it's good if you:

• 🔧 Recovery Mode is not available or working;
• 🔒 Phone blocked by Mi Account after reset;
• 🛠️ Requires a "deep" cleaning before the firmware.

This method will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website);
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original);
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or fastboot from Android SDK.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and enter Fastboot mode, holding Volume Down + Power (on some models – Volume up + Power) and a hare in a hat-eared hat and the words Fastboot will appear on the screen.
2. Connect the phone to the PC.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute commands in order: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of your device) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If after resetting the phone requires the username / password from Mi Account, then the Xiaomi account was not untied to reset.

• 🔓 Enter your account information (if you remember);
• 📧 If you forget your password, restore it to account.xiaomi.com;
• 🛠️ If your account is not yours (phone purchased used) – contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

Through the settings menu | Through Recovery Mode | Through Fastboot | Never reset |Another way-->

5. Features of reset on different Xiaomi models

Despite the general logic, some Xiaomi models have unique nuances when reset. For example, flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) may require additional confirmation through Mi Account, and budget Redmis (such as Redmi A2) lack Fastboot mode.

Let's look at the key differences:

For models with HyperOS (released after October 2023), the new rules apply:

• 🔹 Resetting via the menu now requires confirmation SMS or email if two-factor authentication is enabled.
• 🔹 Recovery Mode Adds Repair System to Recover corrupted files.
• 🔹 After the reset, it is automatically suggested to restore data from Xiaomi Cloud (if a backup was performed).

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On HyperOS devices, the path to reset has changed: now you need to go through Settings → About Device → Reset settings, not through “Advanced” as in MIUI.

6.What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, the phone will start in initial setup mode, as after purchase, and it is important to set the key settings correctly to avoid problems in the future.

Step-by-step:

1. Language and region choice: Specify your region (e.g. Russia or Europe) and the available services of Google and Xiaomi depend on it.
2. Wi-Fi connection: Use the home network. Avoid public hotspots at this stage.
3. Log in to a Google account: ✅ If your phone is yours, log in to your account to restore contacts and apps. ❌ If you are selling a phone, skip this step (click Skip or Skip).

Mi Account

Xiaomi

Don't come in.

Data recovery:

Security setting:

PIN

After the setting is completed:

• 🔄 Update the firmware: go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest security patches.
• 🛡️ Set up protection: Enable Find Device (Settings) → Google → Security → Find My Device and Remote Management in Mi Account.
• 📱 Install the necessary apps. Use Google Play or GetApps (branded Xiaomi store).

⚠️ If after reset the phone began to work slower than before the reset, check: 🔋 Battery status (possibly needing replacement); 🗑️ Free space in memory (minimum 10-15% free); 🔄 Firmware version (obsolete) MIUI may slow down).

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems, and we'll look at the typical errors and how to fix them.

If the sound is lost, the camera is not working or the network is missing, it is likely that incompatible firmware was installed.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
2. Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.
3. After the firmware, reset again through the settings menu.

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If the phone does not see after the reset SIM-map, check if your network settings are wrong. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network settings and select mode 4G/3G/2G (auto).

8.Alternatives to total dumping

Sometimes a complete reset isn't the only solution, but if the goal is to speed up your phone or fix minor errors, try alternative methods:

Cleaning up cache and garbage:

• 🧹 Manual: Settings → Annexes → Select the application → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🤖 Automatically: Use the built-in Security utility → Cleaner (or HyperOS optimization).

Resetting individual settings:

• 📶 Network: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings (helps with Internet problems).
• 🔊 Sound: Settings → Sound and vibration → Resetting the sound settings.
• 📍 Location: Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Resetting permits.

Recruitment:

If the problems started after the MIUI/HyperOS update, you can roll back to the previous version:

1. Download the necessary firmware from Xiaomifirmwareupdater.com.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Log in to Recovery and select Install update.zip.

If the purpose of the reset is to sell the phone, but you don’t want to lose data, consider creating a second user:

1. Go to Settings → System → Multiplayer mode.
2. Create a new user and transfer all personal data there.
3. When selling, simply delete your user by leaving the phone clean.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions