How to Reset Android on Xiaomi to Factory Settings: The Complete Guide

Situations that require a full reset of Xiaomi smartphone settings occur quite often, users may start to work slowly, freeze, or you plan to sell the gadget and want to make sure that your personal data does not fall into the wrong hands. Sometimes the problem lies in a failed update or application conflict, and the only right solution is Hard Reset.

Factory Reset removes all user information, including photos, contacts, apps, and files. It is a radical method that returns MIUI or HyperOS software to a "out of the box" state. It is important to understand the difference between simply deleting files and deep formatting the system partition.

Before you start taking action, you need to understand the irreversibility of the process. If you haven't backed up important data in the cloud or on your computer, it won't be possible to recover it after a reset. In this article, we'll take a look at all the reset options available, the nuances of working with your Mi and Google account, and how to handle a forgotten password.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Starting the formatting process without prior preparation is a risk of losing valuable information forever. The first step should always be to back up. Xiaomi smartphones have a handy tool built in to save not only contacts and SMS, but also the folder structure on the desktop.

Be sure to check the battery level. The reset and subsequent initial setup can take 15 to 40 minutes. If the device turns off when the system partitions are formatted, it can lead to software errors or even "bricking" the gadget.

Pay special attention to accounts. If you have a Mi Account or Google Account activated on your phone, the security system after the reset will require you to enter your username and password to verify the owner's rights (FRP — Factory Reset Protection: If you forget this data, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device.

⚠️ Warning: Remove the microSD card before starting the procedure. Although modern versions of Android try not to touch the external drive, the risk of accidentally formatting or damaging the card file system always exists.

Method 1: Classic reset via MIUI settings

The safest and most recommended method for most users is to use a regular settings menu, which is convenient because it does not require remembering button combinations and works even if the screen is partially responsive to touch, and the path to the function may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell.

To start the process, go to the Settings menu. In newer versions of HyperOS and newer MIUIs, select About Phone, scroll to the bottom and find Reset option. In older versions, the menu may be in Advanced Settings → Recover and Reset.

Waiting time depends on the storage capacity and the number of files. Don't panic if the screen goes out or the process is hanging on one percent - in the background there is rubbing of memory sectors. Once completed, the device will turn on as new, welcoming you with a choice of language.

Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is not turned on, stuck on the logo or the touch screen does not respond, it uses Recovery, a low-level environment built into the firmware that allows you to control the system bypassing the main Android interface.

To enter this mode, you need to turn off the device completely. Then press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will appear.

In the Recovery menu, you have volume buttons (up/down) to move around and a power button to confirm your choice, and you have to find the Wipe Data, select it, then Wipe All Data, and Confirm, and the system will warn you to delete the data.

Once you have successfully completed the cleanup, select Back to Main Menu, then Reboot → Reboot to System. The first download after a reset via Recovery usually lasts longer than usual, up to 5-7 minutes.

What to do if the lock password is forgotten

Forgotten pattern lock or PIN-And unfortunately, modern versions of Android are very secure, and you can't just reset your password without losing your data.

If you can’t get into the settings menu because of locking, use the Recovery Mode method described above, but there’s an important caveat: once reset and turned on, the phone will require you to enter a password from a Google account that was synced to the device before locking.

There are ways to bypass this protection through special utilities on PCs (e.g. Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools), but they require certain technical skills and USB debugging enabled, which is often not available when the screen is locked, so knowing your credentials is critical.

⚠️ Warning: Programs that promise to “unlock Xiaomi in 5 minutes without losing data” are 99% viruses or fraud.

Mi and Google account issue after reset

FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is designed to protect the owner’s data in the event of a device being stolen, and if you reset your phone but have not logged out beforehand, the system will consider it a potentially dangerous action and request proof of identity.

For a Google account, just enter your email and password. With a Xiaomi account, the situation is similar: if the “Find Device” function was enabled in the settings, then after the reset, you will need authorization, and without this data, the phone will become a “brick” for the average user.

If you buy a used Xiaomi phone, be sure to ask the seller to reset and log out of all accounts. Ideally, check the device's activation after the reset. Having someone else's account on the device makes it impossible to use it without access to the owner.

💡

The most critical mistake is to reset your phone without first logging out of your Google and Mi accounts, which leads to the device being locked by FRP protection.

Possible mistakes and ways to solve them

Even if all instructions are followed, there can be failures, and users often experience a situation where the phone is bootlooped indefinitely after a reset, which can mean damage to system files or hardware conflict.

In some cases, re-resetting through Recovery helps, but with the choice of Wipe All Data twice. If this does not help, you may need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and official firmware.

Also, there is the "failed to reset" error, which often happens when a device's memory is overwhelmed with critical system errors or the recovery partition is damaged, and in such cases, you can't do without the intervention of a service center or a qualified re-reader.