How to completely reset Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Owning a Xiaomi smartphone often involves periodically cleaning up the system from accumulated “garbage” or preparing the device for sale. Sometimes the cause of radical measures are software failures that can not be corrected by simply removing applications or cleaning the cache.

The complete reset procedure deletes all user data, including contacts, photos, messages and installed programs. It is important to understand that this process is irreversible without a pre-created backup. Before starting any manipulations, you need to make sure that important files are safe on an external medium or in the cloud.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for restoring factory settings, learn about the differences between a regular reset via menus and forced formatting via Recovery mode, and discuss security issues related to your Google account and how to bypass locks if you forget your password.

Preparation of the device for the discharge procedure

Before you press the confirmation button, you need to perform a number of critical actions. Ignoring the preparatory stage can lead to loss of access to personal data or lock the device with Android security mechanisms. The first thing to do is to charge the smartphone battery at least until 50-60%.

The process of formatting internal memory is energy-intensive and can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on the storage capacity. If the battery runs out at the time of writing system files, the phone can turn into a brick and stop loading, so connecting to a power source is a must.

The second critical step is to back up, you can use MIUI built-in tools or third-party services to save contacts, SMS and call history, and photos and videos are best copied to your computer or uploaded to the cloud via Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud.

• 🔋 Charge your smartphone battery to at least 60% or plug in the charger.
• 💾 Backup all important data to an external medium or to the cloud.
• 🔑 Remember or write down your password from your Google account and Mi Account.
• 📱 Make sure you know. PIN-unlock SIM-maps, if they are installed.

⚠️ Note: If you have a Google account on your phone, the security system FRP (Factory Reset Protection) after reset will require you to enter the username and password from this account to confirm ownership rights.

Reset via MIUI settings (standard method)

The easiest and safest way to get Xiaomi back to factory is right from the operating system menu, a method that works for most users whose phones are working normally and responsive to touching the screen. The algorithm for actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell.

To start, open the main menu and find the Settings icon, and you'll need to scroll down to the About section, which is where the basic system management tools are hidden. Click on Reset to see the options available.

The system will offer several options: reset your Wi-Fi, mobile Internet and Bluetooth settings or a full reset. Choose the option “Erase all data”. On the screen, a warning will appear that all files will be destroyed. Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or a digital password.

Once confirmed, the cleaning process will begin. The screen may go out and light up, the phone may reboot several times, and do not interfere with the device until the initial setting screen with the choice of language appears.

Hard Reset with Recovery Mode (for locked phones)

If your smartphone is stuck, doesn't respond to touch, or you've forgotten your pattern lock, the standard method of settings won't work. In this case, Recovery Mode is used. It's a low-level environment that allows you to control the system bypassing the main Android interface.

To enter this mode, the phone must be completely turned off. Press and hold the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to hold the volume button. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will appear.

In this mode, the touch screen is not working. You can use volume buttons (up/down) to navigate the menu and power buttons to confirm your choice. You can find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then you can confirm the action by clicking on Wipe All Data.

The system will request final confirmation. Select Confirm and wait until the process is complete. Once completed, the message will appear: "Data wiped successfully." Click Back to Main Menu, then Reboot and Reboot to System.

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In Recovery mode, the touch screen doesn’t work – only use physical buttons to navigate and confirm actions.

Deleting Google Account and Protecting FRP

One of the main problems after a reset is FRP (Factory Reset Protection), a security mechanism implemented in Android that prevents unauthorized users from using a stolen or lost device, and if a Google account has been added to a phone, the system will require that it enter its data after the reboot.

To avoid problems, it is strongly recommended that you delete your Google account from your phone’s settings before resetting. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Select the desired email address and click “Delete Account” or “Sign Out”.

A similar procedure should be done with your Mi Account. If the device was tied to the Xiaomi cloud, Find the Device can lock the phone when activated. Deleting the account from the settings menu removes this binding.

If you don’t remember your account password, restore access to it via your computer or other device before resetting your phone, otherwise unlocking FRP will require complex technical manipulations or contacting a service center with purchase checks.

• 🔒 FRP Blocks your phone, requiring you to enter the last used Google account.
• 🗑️ Delete accounts in the Accounts and Sync menu before formatting.
• 📧 Restore your email in advance if your password is lost.
• 📱 Mi Account also requires you to exit before reset to avoid blocking.

⚠️ Attention: Just extracting SIM-Maps or reset network settings does not disable protection FRP. The account must be deleted from the system settings before the reset.

Resetting via computer with ADB

For advanced users, there is a USB debugging and computer reset method, which requires having the SDK Platform-tools installed on the PC and USB debugging enabled on the developer menu on the phone itself, and if the phone doesn't turn on, it won't work.

Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-Open the command line in the tool folder. ADB. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is identified and displayed in the list, you can proceed to reset.

To start the process of restore factory settings, enter the command: adb reboot recovery. The phone will reboot to Recovery mode, where you can execute Wipe Data buttons, as described above. There is also a command to immediately reset without rebooting in the menu: adb shell recovery --wipe_data.

adb reboot recovery

or



adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.android.settings/.Settings$ConfirmLockPassword

This method is useful if the touch screen is partially broken, but the system responds to commands, but it is less convenient for the average user and carries risks if you enter commands incorrectly.

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Use the original. USB-cable to connect to a computer, as cheap cables often only support charging and do not transmit data.

Possible problems and solutions

Once completely reset, users may encounter a number of typical situations that are not a breakdown, such as the phone may heat up during the first hours of operation, which is normal because MIUI indexes files and optimizes applications in the background.

Another common problem is a long first boot, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, and don't panic or try to turn off the device if you see the Mi or Android logo.

If the phone requires a password you don’t remember after reset, it could be a password from your Mi or Google account, or an old unlock password that the system has memorized in a secure area.

Sometimes, after an update or reset, some system applications may disappear, this is solved by checking system updates or manually installing missing components through the GetApps store.

• 🔥 Heating in the first hours is a normal phenomenon of system optimization.
• ⏳ The first download lasts longer than usual (up to 15 minutes).
• 🔑 Forgotten Mi Account password is restored only through the manufacturer’s website.
• 📉 The battery may hold worse on the first day, then the consumption will normalize.