How to Reset Xiaomi Mi 8A to Factory Settings: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Mi 8A is a popular budget smartphone that even years after its release remains in demand due to balanced characteristics. However, over time, any gadget begins to “slow down”: temporary files accumulate, updates conflict, and viruses or unsuccessful firmware experiments can completely disable the device, in such cases, resetting to factory settings is the most radical but effective way to return the smartphone to “second life”.

In this article, you will find three proven reset methods (via settings, Recovery and Fastboot), detailed instructions for preparing, as well as answers to frequent questions - from "how to save data before reset" to "what to do if the phone is getting stuck on the Mi logo." Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of the Mi 8A model, which are not taken into account in universal guides - for example, working with an unlocked bootloader or features of the MIUI interface based on Android 9 Pie.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Factory reset is the complete removal of all data from the smartphone’s internal memory: photos, contacts, messages, installed apps, and even files on the memory card (if it is used as internal storage).

• 📱 Create a backup. Use the built-in Mi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backups or third-party services like Google Drive, especially important to save: SMS and call history (applications) SMS Backup & Restore Photos and Videos (Automatic Sync with Google Photos) List of installed applications (Titanium Backup for rooted devices)
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50%. Interrupting the discharge process due to discharge can lead to a "brick" (inoperability) of the device.
• 📋 Write down the important settings. After the reset, you'll have to reconfigure your Wi-Fi, your accounts, your app permissions, take a picture of the screen with the network settings, or save your passwords in the manager, 1Password).

If you plan to sell or transfer a smartphone, remember to log out of your Mi Account (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out). Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the device due to the link to your profile (Mi Account Lock).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi 8A With the unlocked bootloader, resetting via Recovery can lead to automatic locking of the device (Anti-Rollback Protection).If you have previously changed the firmware, use only the method through Fastboot with official software.

Method 1: Reset via MIUI settings (the easiest)

This method is suitable if the smartphone is turned on and reacts to touch, and also if you remember the pattern lock or PIN-The interface may vary slightly depending on the version. MIUI, But the overall pattern is still:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone → System Update → Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Reset settings.
3. Select Erase All Data (in some versions – Delete All Data and Reset Settings).
4. Enter the password from your Mi Account (if requested) and confirm the action.
5. Wait for the process to be completed (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and the smartphone will reboot and prompt you to set it up as new.

If the Reset option is not in the System Update, try an alternative path:

Settings → Additional settings → Recovery and reset → Resetting

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require computer or special knowledge.
• ✅ Minimum risk of error (process controlled by system).
• ✅ Stores data on a memory card (unless it is used as internal storage).

⚠️ Attention: On Mi 8A s MIUI 10/11 After the reset, the error “This device is locked” may appear. This means that the device is tied to the Mi Account. To unlock, enter the username and password from the previous owner or contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

Recorded password from Mi| Created backup | Battery charge >50%| Left Google account (if I plan to sell) | Checked alternative paths to reset menu-->

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

If the Xiaomi Mi 8A is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touches or is locked with a pattern lock that you forgot, Recovery Mode – Emergency Recovery Mode – will help.

1. Turn off the smartphone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the Power button and the Volume up simultaneously.
3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then let them go.
4. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will open with a touch interface (on the Mi 8A it is in Chinese or English).

On the Recovery menu:

1. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use touch or volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
2. Confirm the action by pressing Confirm.
3. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

The Mi 8A features in Recovery:

• 🔄 On some firmware, the Wipe All Data item may be called Factory Reset.
• 🌐 If the menu is in Chinese, look for the characters "" (clear the data).
• 🔒 If after reset, the phone requires a password from Mi Account, and you do not remember it, you will need an official unlock through the Xiaomi website.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

Fastboot is the most reliable method, but it requires a computer and minimal command line knowledge.

• 🔧 The smartphone is not even included in the Recovery.
• 📦 You need to sew the official firmware over the custom room.
• 🔓 Device blocked due to Anti-Rollback Protection.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows or Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website).
• 📦 Official firmware for Mi 8A (Choose a Global Stable version for your region).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone. Press the Power button + Volume down to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
2. Connect your phone to your PC. Install ADB/Fastboot drivers (if not installed).
3. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Mi8A_firmware\).
4. Open the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the firmware folder.
5. At the bottom of the program, select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. Wait until it's finished (10-15 minutes). The smartphone will reboot automatically.

The following are the key features for the Mi 8A:

• 🔓 If the bootloader is locked, it will need to be unlocked through the official Mi Unlock tool before the firmware is installed, which takes up to 720 hours of waiting (according to Xiaomi rules).
• 📡 Fastboot removes all data without recovery, including the contents of internal memory.
• ⚡ If the process is interrupted, the smartphone can turn into a "brick." Use a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for PCs.

1. Reinstall ADB drivers manually through Device Manager.

2. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. Run the command line on behalf of the administrator and type:

fastboot devices

If the device is not displayed, the problem is in the drivers or cable.-->

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, the reset may not go according to plan. Consider the typical problems on the Xiaomi Mi 8A and how to fix them:

1.The phone is stuck on the Mi logo after being dumped

Reasons:

• 🔄 Firmware conflict (e.g., installed) EU ROM on top of the Global Stable).
• 🛠️ Damaged memory sections (often after unsuccessful experiments with the TWRP).

Decision:

• Repeat the reset via Fastboot with the official firmware.
• If it doesn’t work, run the device in EDL mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account or help from a service center).

2. This device is locked (Mi Account Lock)

This blockage occurs if:

• 🔒 You have completed the reset without leaving your Mi Account.
• 📱 The phone was bought from hands and tied to someone else's account.

Decision:

1. Enter the account details of the previous owner (if you know).
2. If this is your account but you forgot your password, restore it on the Xiaomi website.
3. If the phone is purchased by hand, ask the seller to remove the device from his account (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Devices).
4. In extreme cases, contact Xiaomi with a check to buy.

3.There is no network or Wi-Fi after reset

Reasons:

• 📶 Damaged settings IMEI (often after the firmware TWRP).
• 🔧 Inconsistency of firmware to the region (for example, Chinese firmware on the global model).

Decision:

• Check it out. IMEI If it is not available, use the code *#06#. SN Writer Tool (requires) EDL-regime).
• Sweep the correct version of MIUI for your region through Fastboot.

💡

If the camera or sensor features are missing after the reset, it is likely that the firmware was installed for a non-Mi 8A (for example, for the Mi 8 SE), in which case you need to flash the original firmware through the Fastboot with full formatting (Clean All).

How to recover data after resetting

If you haven't backed up, the chances of getting your deleted data back are minimal, but there are.

1. Recovery of photos and files

If the data was stored on internal memory (not on a microSD card), try:

• 🔍 Recovery Programs: DiskDigger, Recuva, 7-Data Recovery. Connect your smartphone to your PC in mode MTP and scan the memory.
• 🖥️ If the phone is not detected, remove the memory chip and connect it through the card reader (requires disassembly of the device).

Important: Do not write new data to your smartphone before recovery, which reduces your chances of success.

2. Recovery of contacts and messages

If sync with Google or Mi Cloud was enabled before reset:

• 📱 Contacts: Automatically recover when you log in to the same Google account.
• 💬 Messages: Use the app SMS Backup & Restore if you have a backup.

3. Restore applications

The list of installed applications can be restored:

• 📲 Through Google Play: Menu → My apps and games. → Library.
• 🔄 Titanium Backup (Routed Devices Only).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi 8A coded-in (FBE) Recovery after reset is almost impossible without specialized equipment. If files are critical, contact a data recovery lab (for example, Hetzner or Ace Lab).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions