How to Reset Xiaomi Mi 9 SE to Factory Settings: All Ways (2026)

Why you need to reset the Mi 9 SE and when to do it

Resetting the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step: It brings the smartphone back to the “out of the box” state by removing all user data, apps and settings, most often used in three cases: before selling the device, to fix software failures, or after a failed MIUI update.

The Mi 9 SE (codenamed grus) was released in 2019, but is still popular due to its compact size and performance. However, over the years, even this smartphone can accumulate “digital deposits”: app cache, residual files after deleting programs, conflicting settings, as a result, the phone begins to slow down, overheat or suddenly reboot. Reset helps solve 90% of software problems without resorting to repair.

It's important to understand the difference between soft and hard resets: the first one saves the MIUI version and the core of the system, only deleting user data; the second one, via recovers, allows you to reflash the device completely, which is true in case of serious crashes or if the phone is locked; we'll look at both options, with details for each scenario.

Before you start, answer yourself the question, "Does a reset really need to be done?" Sometimes the problem can be solved less radically - for example, by cleaning the cache manually or rolling back to a stable version of MIUI. If in doubt, flip through the article to the section with alternatives.

Preparing for resetting: what to do before the start

An unprepared reset can result in the loss of important data. Mi 9 SE does not have a memory card slot, so all photos, videos and documents are stored in internal memory.

Backup via Mi Cloud or Google Drive

Copy photos/video on PC (DCIM, Pictures, Downloads)

Export contacts to VCF-file

Record usernames/passwords from accounts (especially Mi Account!)

Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)-->

Pay special attention to your Mi Account. After a reset, your phone may require you to enter your account details that were previously linked, if you forget your password or email, restore access before you start the procedure, otherwise you risk getting a brick.

If you are planning to sell Mi 9 SE, do not be lazy to untie all services:

• 📱 Google Account: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Delete the account
• 🔗 Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Get out.
• 💳 Bank cards on Google Pay/Mi Pay
• 🔐 Fingerprints and Face in Settings → Lock screen → Data to unlock

For reliability, check if the phone is linked to a corporate account (e.g., through Android Enterprise), which, after a reset, may require administrator data. IT-department, if the smartphone was issued by the company.

⚠️ Attention: If Mi 9 SE If you have been bought from hand and tied to someone else's Mi Account, the reset will not help you bypass the lock, in which case you will need to officially unlock through the Xiaomi service center with confirmation of purchase.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (soft)

The easiest and safest method is to reset directly from a working system, and it is suitable if:

• 📱 The phone is turned on and reacts to touch.
• 🔓 You know the pattern lock./PIN-code
• 🔄 You want to keep the current version. MIUI

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Backup and reset.
3. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
4. Enter the screen lock password (if installed).
5. Confirm the action by pressing Erase Everything.

It takes 3-7 minutes to reset the phone and you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after the purchase. If there is an error at this stage (for example, "Can't reset"), try an alternative path:

1. Press the power button and select Reboot in Safe Mode.
2. In safe mode, repeat the reset steps.

Once the reset is complete, the phone may suggest that you restore data from the backup. If the goal is to sell or fix the crashes, refuse to restore to avoid carrying old problems.

💡

If the Mi 9 SE does not connect to Wi-Fi after reset, reset the network settings: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network settings reset.

Method 2: Hard Resetting with Recovery Mode

If the phone is locked, not turning on or "hangs" on the Mi logo, you will need to reset through the recovery mode.This method is also useful if a soft reset did not solve the problem. SE There are two types of Recovery:

• 🔧 Stock Recovery – Xiaomi’s standard menu (Chinese/English support)
• 🛠️ Custom Recovery (TWRP) — If you have previously installed it for the firmware

Instructions for Stock Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons – you will be taken to the recapaveri menu (use Volume for navigation, Nutrition for selection).
4. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm the action.
5. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If you have TWRP installed, the steps will be different:

1. From the TWRP menu, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
2. Check Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage.
3. Swipe your finger across the screen to confirm (Swipe to Wipe).
4. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Reboot → System.

⚠️ Attention: Discharge through TWRP Deletes all internal memory, including files in folders DCIM If you want to save a photo, connect your phone to your PC in mode. MTP before discharge.

If the phone gets stuck on booting after resetting through the receptacle, the firmware may be damaged, in which case you need to reflash the Mi 9 SE via Fastboot - see the instructions in the error section.

Reset of the blocked Mi 9 SE without data loss

Situation: You have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-The code, and the phone requires you to enter the Mi Account, which you don't have access to, and in that case, a standard reset over the recovery will cause you to lose all the data. MIUI.

Method 1: Unlocking through Find Device (official method)

1. Go to i.mi.com from another device.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account that is linked to the Mi 9 SE.
3. Select your phone in the list of devices → Find the device → Unlock.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

This method will work only if the phone is on mobile Internet or it is connected to Wi-Fi.

Method 2: Delete gesture.key via ADB (for advanced)

If USB-debugging was enabled before blocking, you can try to delete the file with the lock key:

1. Connect the Mi 9 SE to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
3. Reset the phone. Once you turn on, type in any pattern lock, and the device unlocks.

⚠️ Note: The gesture.key method only works on MIUI On the new firmware, Xiaomi has changed the lock key storage mechanism, and it is useless. PIN-code or password (for pattern lock only).

If none of these methods work, you'll only have a hard reset with data loss, but before you do that, check if the phone is connected to the corporate phone. MDM-system (mobile device management) In this case, only the administrator can unlock the system.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, the Mi 9 SE may fail to reset, and we have collected typical problems and ways to fix them in a table:

If after the Mi 9 reset SE does not SIM-map, check it out:

• 📶 Is it properly installed? SIM (Supported by nano-SIM in slots 1 and 2)
• 🔄 Network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choice of network → Automatically.
• 📡 Update the modem firmware (sometimes helps flashing through Fastboot with a flag) --baseband)

Critical information: On the Mi 9 SE with MIUI 13+ firmware, activation via the Internet may be required after reset. If the phone does not connect to Wi-Fi, use mobile data (insert SIM with an active tariff).

Firmware through Fastboot: if the reset did not help

If the Mi 9 SE does not turn on after the reset or is unstable, the firmware may be damaged, in which case a full flashing through Fastboot mode will help.

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 📦 Firmware for Mi 9 SE (codename)
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or fastboot from Android SDK

Step-by-step:

1. Download the latest stable firmware for Mi 9 SE official website: 🌐 MIUI Downloads (select the grus model) 📁 Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\mi9se_fastboot)

Fastboot

Press Power + Volume Down for 10 Seconds

On the screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo).

Mi Flash Tool

• Click Select and point the way to the firmware folder.
• Select Clean All (Full Cleaning) mode.
• Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).
• After successful firmware, the phone will restart automatically.

If the Mi Flash Tool is a “flash not done” error, try:

• 🔌 Use the other USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).
• 🔄 Reinstall Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
• 📥 Download the firmware again (possibly the archive is damaged).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot removes all data, including files in internal memory, and resets the bootloader: if it was unlocked, you will need to unlock it again through the Mi Unlock Tool.

💡

Fastboot firmware is the last chance to bring the Mi 9 SE back to life if other methods don’t work. Use only official firmware from Xiaomi’s website to avoid compatibility issues.

Alternatives to resetting: when you can do without it

Factory resets are not always the only solution. In some cases, the problem can be solved less radically. SE:

• 🐢 Phone brakes: Try to clean the cache manually (Settings) → Memory. → Clear the cache) or disable animation in Developer Settings.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: check the consumption in Settings → Battery → Using the battery and disabling voracious apps.
• 📱 Some functions are not working: update MIUI Up to the latest version or back to stable firmware.
• 🚫 One app has hung: clear its data (Settings) → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the data).

If the problem is with storage, try:

1. Transfer the photo/video to the memory card (if you use it) OTG-adapter).
2. Delete unnecessary files through Files → Storage analysis
3. Disable automatic backup in Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.

To fix network problems (mobile Internet, Wi-Fi does not work):

• Reset network settings: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Network reset.
• Update the operator profile: Settings → SIM-map → Settings APN → Reset to factory.
• Check if the In-plane mode or Traffic Saving mode is enabled.

If the Mi 9 SE overheats, before discharge:

• 🔍 Check the background processes in Settings → Annexes → Launched.
• 🎮 Close resource-intensive games (such as Genshin Impact or GAI) PUBG).
• ☀️ Avoid direct sunlight and charging during games.

💡

Before resetting due to “brakes”, check the CPU boot: install the CPU Monitor app from Google Play. If the processor is constantly loaded at 80-100%, the problem may be in the background application or a virus.

Frequent questions about the reset of Xiaomi Mi 9 SE