How to Reset Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Hard Reset Guide

Modern smartphones line Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO squished MIUI or a new HyperOS, which makes them incredibly functional, but sometimes the system can fail. Users often face situations where the device starts to work incorrectly, the pattern lock is forgotten or the device is not working properly. PIN-The code, and the information you've accumulated requires a complete cleanup before you sell it, and in those cases, the only solution is to completely reset the device to factory settings.

The return process, known as Hard Reset, removes all user data, including photos, contacts and installed apps. This is a radical but often necessary measure to resuscitate a locked gadget or fix software errors that cannot be fixed in the usual way. It is important to understand that there are different methods for performing this operation, and the choice of the particular one depends on the current state of your device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to reset your Xiaomi phone through the standard settings menu if you save access to the system, and what to do if the device is locked or not turned on. We will look at the nuances of working with the Recovery menu, the features of resetting through your computer and answer frequent questions related to your Mi Account. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid losing important data.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Before you start taking any radical action, you need to make sure you understand the consequences. The Wipe Data reset operation irrevocably destroys all the information in your internal memory. If you have access to the system, make sure you back up important documents and media files, which can be done through the Mi Cloud cloud service or by copying the data to your computer.

The critical point is battery power. The process of formatting memory partitions can take from 5 to 20 minutes, and interrupting the power supply at this point is fraught with damage to the file system. Make sure that the charge level is at least 50-60%, or better connect the smartphone to the charger for the duration of the procedure.

Another nuance that many users forget is the Google and Mi Account binding, which requires the username and password from the account that was last logged in to the device to be reset, and if you forget that, the phone will turn into a blocked-access brick that is hard to unlock without a check.

⚠️ Note: If you have forgotten your Mi Account password, restore access to it through i.mi.com before you start resetting. Otherwise, unlocking may require you to contact the service center with documents.

Reset via the settings menu (Soft Reset)

The easiest and safest way to get the system back to its original state is right from the operating interface. This method is suitable if the smartphone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you know the unlock password. First, go to the main menu and find the Settings icon.

Then the algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. In most cases, you need to follow the path: About the phone (or Advanced settings) -> Reset settings. The system will suggest choosing the type of cleaning. The most complete option is to erase all data, which will delete absolutely all the contents of the internal memory.

• 📱 Click on the "Erase all data" item in the reset menu.
• 🔐 Enter the screen unlock password or pattern lock to confirm.
• ⏳ Wait for the process of copying and deleting files to be completed.
• 🔄 The device will automatically restart and begin initial setup.

Once confirmed, the phone may reboot several times. Don't be alarmed if the screen goes out and lights up again, the userdata and cache partitions are formatted. SIM-If you're done, you'll see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on a new device out of the box.

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Before resetting via settings, turn off the internet.This sometimes helps to avoid re-activating some locks if you plan to transfer the device to another user without logging in to your account.

Hard Reset via Recovery Mode

Situations where the phone doesn't respond to touch, or the logo is stuck, or the lock password is forgotten require Recovery Recovery, which is built into the device's memory regardless of the state of the main operating system, and you have to turn off the smartphone completely to get into it.

When the screen goes out, press two buttons simultaneously: Volume Up and Power. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume. In a few seconds, the main Recovery menu will open, where the control is carried out by the volume buttons (up / down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

In the menu that opens, select a language (usually only English and Chinese available), move arrows to Wipe Data and confirm the selection. The next screen will display a data loss warning. Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The cleanup process will start, the progress of which will be displayed as a percentage.

After the successful completion of the cleanup (Data wiped successfully status), select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first download after Hard Reset can last longer than usual, up to 5-7 minutes.

Removal of password and pattern lock

One of the most common reasons users are looking for a way to reset a Xiaomi phone is a forgotten lock password.Unfortunately, modern versions of Android and the like. MIUI They don't let you just bypass security without losing data. FRP (Factory Reset Protection – Reassigns the device to the owner’s account.

The only way to remove a forgotten password is to reset it completely through Recovery Mode, described above. Attempting to guess the code will only temporarily lock the device for 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, and so on, up to a full lock for 24 hours. Software to “remove” the password without losing data on new models is usually a scam.

⚠️ Warning: Once you reset your password, your phone will require you to enter a Google account that was synced earlier, which is anti-theft protection.

If you remember the password from your Google account but you forgot the screen pin, the reset procedure will solve the access problem, but if you don't remember the screen password or the Google account data, the situation becomes complicated, which may require you to flash the device through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, which is a more complicated procedure.

Reset via computer and Fastboot

For advanced users or in cases where the Recovery menu is unavailable or damaged, there is a Fastboot mode.This mode is designed for low-level interaction with the device, often used for flashing, but also allows you to clean partitions. To log in to Fastboot, turn off your phone and press Volume Down and Power simultaneously.

In Fastboot mode, the screen usually shows a hare in an eardress cap fixing an android. To control the phone in this mode, you will need a computer and Mi Flash Tool or commands. ADB/Fastboot. Connect the device with a cable to the PC. If the drivers are installed correctly, Android Bootloader Interface will appear in the Device Manager.

Using the Windows command line, you can send a command to clean up the data. Open the command line in the tool folder of the platform and type in:

fastboot erase userdata

Then, to clean the cache:

fastboot erase cache

Finally, for the reboot:

fastboot reboot

This method is effective when a software failure does not allow you to log in to Recovery. However, it requires the presence of ADB drivers installed and minimal command line skills. A command input error can lead to unpredictable consequences, so use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

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Fastboot is a tool for developers and service engineers. It's safer and easier for the average user to use the standard Recovery menu. + Nutrition).

Possible problems and solutions

Even if you follow all the instructions, there can be unforeseen difficulties, and one of the common problems is a cyclic bootloop, where the phone constantly shows the Mi logo and does not load any further, which can happen if the reset process has been interrupted or the system file has been damaged.

In the case of bootloop, try resetting through Recovery again, paying special attention to the Wipe All Data item. If this does not help, you may need to completely flash the device from your computer.

• 🔋 Battery discharge: If the phone is turned off during reset, leave it on charge on 1-2 for an hour, then try to turn it on again.
• 💾 Memory damage: If the reset hangs on a certain percentage (e.g., 48% or 99%) for more than an hour, the memory chip may be physically damaged.
• 🔒 Blocking Mi Cloud: If after resetting the phone asks for a password from the Mi Account, and you do not remember it, you will have to restore access through the site or carry the device to the service with a check.

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the volume or power buttons do not work physically, making it impossible to log into Recovery.In such emergency cases, you can use software methods to log in via ADB if the phone has previously been enabled debugging over USB, but this is a rare scenario for a conventional reset.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to disassemble the phone or disable the battery plume during the reset process, guaranteed to damage the file system and lose warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)