How to reset Xiaomi smartphone to factory settings: 3 working ways

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

Resetting the Android device to factory settings is a radical but effective way to restore the Xiaomi smartphone to its original performance, which removes all user data, applications and settings, returning the system to the “out of the box” state, most often in three cases:

First, if the device started to slow down for no apparent reason: lags when opening applications, a long boot system or spontaneous reboots. Second, reset helps eliminate critical MIUI errors, such as when the smartphone does not respond to touch, does not connect to the network or gives a message "System is not responding." Third, the procedure is mandatory before selling or transferring the phone to another user - this ensures that your personal data (photos, passwords, messages) does not fall into the wrong hands.

But resets aren’t always a panacea, for example, if the problem is hardware malfunctions (a broken screen, a broken speaker, an overheating processor), then going back to factory settings won’t help, and it’s pointless to drop a phone if it’s locked up with a Mi Account (you need to unlock through Xiaomi’s official channels), in which case you’d better contact a service center.

Before you start, consider: the reset will delete all data, including photos, contacts, messages and installed applications, if they are not synced with the cloud.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Unprepared resets can result in the loss of important data, and to avoid this, follow a few key steps:

• 📱 Sync your data with Mi Cloud. Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud and enable backup for contacts, notes, messages and photos. make sure you have enough space in the cloud (free 5GB is provided).
• 💾 Make a local copy. Connect your phone to your computer and copy the folders. DCIM (Photos/video, Downloads and Documents on your hard drive. MI PC Suite or Xiaomi File Manager.
• 🔐 Remember your account information. After the reset, you need to re-enter your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your email and password, or your phone number. If you forget, restore access before the reset!
• 🔋 Charge the battery. The reset process can take 5 to 30 minutes. The recommended charge level is at least 50% to avoid a sudden shutdown.

Pay special attention to the attached devices. If your Xiaomi is synchronized with the Mi Band, smart lamps or other Xiaomi gadgets, after resetting, they will have to be reconnected. → Bluetooth or Mi Home.

⚠️ Note: If the device protection feature is enabled on the phone (it is activated by default in some Xiaomi models), you may need to enter a password from Mi Account after reset, even if you untied it!

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

This method is suitable if the phone turns on, reacts to touch and you have access to the menu. Instructions are relevant for all modern Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12/13/14, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and others.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Slip on Backup and Reset (in some firmware it may be called Resetting).
4. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
5. The system will be asked to PIN-code or pattern lock (if installed).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset phone (or Delete everything).

After that, the phone will restart and start the cleaning process, which will take 3 to 10 minutes, and when you're done, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you've bought it.

Checked free space in Mi Cloud|Synchronized contacts and notes|Backup of photos on PC made|Battery charge >50%|Password from Mi Account is stored-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) After the reset, the error "This device is linked to another account" may appear, which means that the previous owner did not untie the Mi Account.

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

If your smartphone is stuck on the logo, doesn’t respond to buttons, or doesn’t load beyond the lock screen, you’ll have to use Recovery Mode, which works even on bricks — phones that don’t start normally.

Instructions for entering Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For older devices (e.g. Redmi 4X): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery

In the Recovery menu, the control is carried out by the volume (move) and power (select) buttons.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data)
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the process is complete (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
4. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press the buttons: Volume down + Power The screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo).
2. Connect the phone to the computer.
3. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
4. At the bottom, select Clean All (full clean) or Clean All and Lock (clean + lock bootloader).
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (usually 5-15 minutes).

After successful firmware, the phone will automatically restart. If the process is interrupted, try again or check the drivers (install Mi USB Driver).

💡

If the Mi Flash Tool gives an error "critical partition flashing is not allowed", try Clean All and Lock mode instead of Clean All.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Even when following the instructions, users face problems, and consider the most common errors and their solutions:

• 🚫 "This device is locked" (on the lock screen after reset) "Cause: the phone is tied to Mi Account and the previous owner did not untie it. Solution: contact the seller and ask to delete the device from his account via account.xiaomi.com. If this is not possible, contact Xiaomi with a check for your purchase.
• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the Mi logo after the reset, cause: damaged firmware or failed reset. Solution: repeat the reset via Fastboot (mode 3) or run the phone with official firmware.

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be the hardware (e.g., damaged eMMC memory), in which case, self-repair is not possible – contact the service center.

💡

Before selling your phone, be sure to untie it from Mi Account via Settings → Xiaomi Account → Delete your account. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to use the device!

How to recover data after resetting

If you backed up, it's not difficult to recover the data. Let's look at two main ways:

1.Recovery from Mi Cloud

When you first set up after reset, the system will prompt you to log in to Mi Account.

1. Select Restore from backup.
2. Mark the necessary data (contacts, messages, photos).
3. Confirm recovery.

The process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data and the speed of the internet.

2. Computer recovery

If you have copied files to your PC, just transfer them back:

• Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
• Select file transfer mode (File Manager or MTP).
• Copy saved folders (DCIM, Downloads, etc.) back to your phone’s memory.

Use Google Play to restore apps: After you log in to your Google account, you will see a list of previously installed programs in the My Apps and Games → Library section.

⚠️ Note: If you didn't back up, you can't recover your data after a reset. Programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver can only help in rare cases (for example, if the reset was interrupted); Don't trust promises to "return everything 100%" - that's a scam.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions