How to Reset Xiaomi Mi 6 to Factory Settings: A Complete Guide with 3 Ways

Xiaomi Mi 6 is the legendary flagship of 2017, which is still used by many users thanks to the powerful hardware and the ability to install custom firmware. However, over time, any smartphone begins to slow down, glitches or simply requires a “clean sheet” before selling, in such cases, helps reset to factory settings – a procedure that returns the device to its original state.

But how to do a hard reset on the Mi 6 to avoid turning your phone into a brick? In this article, we’ll break down three official reset methods (via settings, Recovery and Fastboot), talk about the nuances of Mi Account, and warn against the typical mistakes that even experienced users make, and learn how to save important data before resetting and what to do if the phone doesn’t turn on.

Reset Preparation: What to Do Before Hard Reset

Factory resets are not just a matter of pressing a couple of buttons. If you approach the procedure unprepared, you may lose photos, contacts, or even lock the device. So before you reset the Xiaomi Mi 6, follow the mandatory steps:

• 📱 Back up. Use the settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset or third-party apps like Swift Backup (requires root). Especially important to save: Contacts (synchronize with Google Account) Photos and videos (copy to PC or cloud) Messages (export via Google Account) SMS Backup & Restore)
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50%. If the reset is interrupted due to discharge, the phone may stop turning on.
• 🔑 Make sure to remember the data from Mi Account. After reset, Xiaomi may require you to enter a login/password to unlock (Find Device feature).
• 📡 Disable all accounts (Google, Mi Account, Samsung Account, if any) and speed up the process and avoid synchronization errors.

If you drop your phone before selling, additionally:

• ✅ Log out of all accounts manually (Settings) → Accounts).
• ✅ Delete. SIM-card and memory card (if any).
• ✅ Turn off Find Device in Mi Account settings.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi 6 has custom firmware installed (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), a reset via the standard menu can result in a logo hanging.

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

This is the safest and most recommended way if the phone turns on and you remember the unlock password.The instructions are suitable for the Mi 6 on any version of MIUI (including global and Chinese).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Select Reset (in some versions of MIUI – Reset and Reset → Reset settings).
4. Click Delete all data (or Reset your phone settings).
5. Enter a password/pattern lock if required.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset (or Remove All).

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

Battery Charging (minimum 50%)

Created a backup copy of important data

All accounts (Google, Mi Account) are disabled

Extracted. SIM-card and memory card (if any)

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⚠️ Warning: If the phone requires Mi Account data to be reset and you don't remember it, don't try to guess the password. After 5 failed attempts, the device will lock for 72 hours.

Method 2: Hard reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

If the Mi 6 is stuck on the logo, unresponsive or locked with a pattern lock, resetting through Recovery is the only way out. This method works even without access to the system, but requires care.

Instructions for standard MIUI Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
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 when you see the Recovery menu (black screen with yellow text in English/Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data in Chinese version).
6. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data (or similar).
7. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

If your Mi 6 has custom TWRP Recovery installed, the process is slightly different:

• From the TWRP menu, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
• Check Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage if you need full formatting.
• Swipe to Wipe (Swipe to Wipe)
• After cleaning, go to Reboot → System.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical method, and it requires you to connect your phone to your computer, and it's used if you:

• 🔄 The phone does not turn on or load Recovery.
• 🔧 You need to completely reflash the device (for example, after a failed update).
• 🛠️ You need to bypass the Mi Account lock (only for unlocked bootloader!).

For this method, you will need:

• Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (official site).
• USB Type-C cable (preferably original)
• Fastboot (part of the Android SDK Platform-Tools)
• Firmware file for Mi 6 (download from Xiaomi Firmware Updater).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds to enter Fastboot mode (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, install the drivers.
6. Complete reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache To completely clean the system add: fastboot erase system Attention! After this command, the phone will not boot without flashing.
7. If you want to flash a clean MIUI, use: fastboot flash all [name file firmware.zip]
8. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: If the Mi 6 bootloader is locked (which is typical for official firmware), fastboot erase commands will not work without first unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool. FAILED (remote: 'Flashing is not allowed').

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img


fastboot boot recovery.img

where recovery.img — Stock Recovery File for Your Version MIUI.-->

What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will turn on in initial setup mode, where it is important to properly configure the device to avoid problems in the future:

1. Language and region choice: Please indicate Russia (or your country) to avoid problems with Google Play and system updates. If you plan to use global firmware, choose English (USA).
2. Wi-Fi connection: Use a stable network. If the reset was due to glitches, do not connect to public Wi-Fi (risk of repeated failures).
3. Log in: First sign in to Mi Account (if required), then Google Account. If your phone is locked after a reset, check if Find Device is enabled in Mi Cloud.
4. Data recovery: If you have backed up through MIUI, select Restore from backup. For manual recovery, connect your phone to your PC and copy files.

If there are problems after the discharge:

• 📵 No Network: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks and set up APN manually (options can be taken on the website of your operator).
• 🔄 Phone is constantly rebooting: Maybe the firmware is damaged. Try flashing a clean one. MIUI via Fastboot.
• 🔒 Requires password after reset: This is a Mi Account lock. Enter the details from the account to which the phone was linked.

💡

Once reset, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will automatically upgrade to the latest version of MIUI compatible with your region. If you want to stay on the current version, turn off automatic updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Typical Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that turn the Mi 6 into a brick, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

Mi Account error is especially dangerous. Many users buy Xiaomi Mi 6 hand-held without untiing it from the previous owner. As a result, after reset, the phone requires entering account data to which the new owner does not have access. The only solution in this case is official unlock through the service center (cost ~ 1500-3000 rubles).

Reset vs. Firmware: What’s Best for Xiaomi Mi 6

Many people confuse factory reset and firmware, and while both processes bring the phone back to a clean state, they do different things:

• 🔄 Hard Reset: Deletes user data but leaves the current version MIUI. Does not fix system errors if they are related to firmware. Fast (5-15 minutes) and does not require a PC.
• 📦 Flashing: Completely replaces system files with clean or custom firmware. Corrects errors caused by software corruption. Requires an unlocked bootloader and PC.

When to choose a flashing instead of a reset:

• 🐌 The phone is severely slowed down even after reset (possibly the problem is optimizing the current version). MIUI).
• 🔧 Want to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
• 🛠️ After a failed update, the phone doesn’t turn on or constantly restarts.
• 🔒 You need to bypass the Mi Account lock (only for unlocked bootloader!).

If you're a beginner, start with a reset. If the problem persists, then start flashing. For the Mi 6, we recommend official global MIUI builds or stable custom firmware based on Android 10/11 (like Havoc-OS or ArrowOS).

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Mi 6