Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sooner or later face the need to return the device to its original state, which can be caused by the sale of a gadget, serious system errors, a forgotten pattern lock, or simply a desire to start from scratch without accumulating “digital garbage.” MIUI operating system and its new version of HyperOS provide reliable tools to perform this task, but the process requires careful attention.
Setting reset removes all user information: contacts, photos, installed apps and logins. If you plan to just speed up your phone, sometimes less radical measures are enough, but a full Hard Reset ensures that all traces of use are removed. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to return to factory settings, including situations where access to the menu is blocked.
Before any manipulations are initiated, it is critical to understand the risks: interrupting the flashing or reset process can cause the phone to turn into a brick and stop turning on. So carefully study the steps, make sure you have a battery charge and prepare a backup to ensure that important files are not lost forever.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
The process of cleaning up memory and settings is irreversible, so the preparation stage cannot be ignored. The first thing you need to do is back up all the important data, you can use the Mi Cloud service built into the shell, or third-party solutions like Google Photos and Google Drive. It is also possible to connect to the computer through USB-folder-coupling.
Make sure the battery level is at least 60-70%. The data partition formatting process can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of information, and a sudden power outage at this point is fatal to the system. If the battery is discharged, connect the device to the original charger.
⚠️ Note: If you have a Mi Account or Google account installed on your phone, be sure to remember your username and password. Once reset, the system will require authorization to confirm the owner's rights (protection against theft), and without this data you will not be able to use the device.
You should also turn off Find Device in your security settings if you plan to transfer your phone to another person, which will remove the activation lock. SIM-maps: it is not necessary to reset via the menu, but you may need to receive an SMS with an account confirmation code.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Reset via the settings menu (standard method)
The safest and easiest way to get Xiaomi back to factory is to use the system's built-in menu, which is fine if you remember the screen unlock password and have access to the desktop. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same.
Open the Settings app and scroll down to About Phone. In some firmware versions, this item may be called Advanced Settings or be in the Additionals menu. This is where the system management tools are hidden. Find Reset or Erase all data.
The system will warn you that all data will be deleted, and you will be asked to select the option “Clear all data” and then click the “Next” button and you will need to enter the screen unlock password or the pattern lock to confirm the operation, which is protection against accidental reset by unauthorized persons.
What to do if the reset button is inactive?
Once confirmed, the deletion process will begin. The phone can reboot several times, and the screen will display the progress bar. Do not touch the device at this point. When completed, you will see a welcome screen, as when you first turn on a new smartphone.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If your smartphone doesn't turn on, you're stuck on your logo, or you've forgotten your unlock password, the standard method isn't going to work, and this is using Recovery Mode, a low-level environment that allows you to manage partitions of your device's memory bypassing the operating system.
To enter this mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears.
This menu is controlled by volume buttons (up/down to move the cursor) and power button (to confirm the selection). You need to find the Wipe Data item. New versions of Recovery may require confirmation of the choice of language (usually English or Chinese), after which submenu will open.
| Item | Function | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe Data | Complete cleaning of the user section | 100% (removes everything) |
| Reboot | System restart | No. |
| Connect with MIAssistant | Connection mode to PC for firmware | Depends on the action. |
| Safe Mode | Launching in safe mode | No. |
Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. The system may request confirmation again, requiring you to press Confirm. Once the cleanup is complete, select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first download will take longer than usual.
⚠️ Note: On some models with updated security, Recovery may require you to unlock through a Mi Account password, even if the phone is turned off.
Reset via Find Device
There is an alternative way to reset remotely if your phone is connected to the Internet but you don't have physical access to it or it's locked, using the Mi Cloud service, which is effective if you've lost your device but want to erase data, or if the touch screen isn't responding.
Go to i.mi.com from any other device (computer or phone), log in to the same Mi Account used on the problem smartphone, and select Find Device from the main menu.
From your device list, select your smartphone. In the control menu that appears, you'll see several options: Sound, Lock, and Clean. Select "Wipe Data" and the system will warn you that action is irreversible.
Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the device. Once the smartphone is online (even if it is asleep, it periodically checks the server), all data will be deleted, and it will return to the factory settings. This method also removes the screen password, but requires knowledge of the password from Mi akka!unt for subsequent activation.
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If the phone is stolen, don't rush to delete the data through the cloud. While the data is in place, the geolocation can be updated to help police find the device. Delete the data only if there is no hope of a return.
Possible problems and solutions
The reset process doesn't always go smoothly. One of the common problems is a cyclic reboot, where the phone is constantly showing the logo and doesn't boot any further, which can happen if the system files were corrupted before the reset or the process was interrupted.
In this situation, re-entering Recovery Mode and selecting Wipe Data again helps, and if this does not help, you will need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and official firmware, which is a more complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader.
Another common problem is the FRP lock requirement, which means that if you reset your phone through Recovery but you don't log out of your Mi beforehand account, you'll need to enter the password from the last synchronized account, and you won't be able to use it without that password.
Users may also encounter a “failed to reset” error during the cleaning process, most often due to lack of space in the system partition for temporary files or damage to the memory sector, in which case only a service center or firmware will help.
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Cyclical reboot after reset is most often solved by re-running Wipe Data in Recovery or completely reflashing through the PC.
Setting up your smartphone after resetting
Once you've completed the procedure, you'll see a welcome screen. Choose a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network. The system will offer to restore data from a backup. If you've created a backup in Mi Cloud or Google, you can restore contacts, messages and app lists automatically.
It's important to check the system updates right away. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS. Installing the latest security patches and bug fixes will ensure the device is running smoothly.After the update, another reboot is recommended.
Now you can re-install the apps you need and customize the look and feel, and the clean system is faster, so you'll notice the performance gains right away, and remember to reconfigure your fingerprint or facial recognition for security.
⚠️ Note: When recovering from a backup, be careful about restoring applications. Some older versions of programs may contain errors that caused problems before reset.