How to Reset Your Settings on Xiaomi via Fastboot: A Complete Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Resetting your Fastboot on Xiaomi smartphones is a radical but effective way to bring your device back to factory status when standard methods don’t work.Maybe your Redmi or POCO is getting stuck on your logo, doesn’t respond to touch, or you’ve forgotten your pattern lock.

But this method requires caution: wrong actions can turn a phone into a brick. In this article, we will discuss when you really need to reset via Fastboot, how to prepare the device, what commands to use, and what to do if the process is deadlocked, and you will learn how this method differs from reset via Recovery and when to choose alternative methods.

If you've never worked with ADB or Fastboot, don't worry: we'll explain it in plain language, with illustrations and videos. The main thing is to keep an eye on every step and don't miss warnings. Let's start with the most important thing: when a Fastboot dump is justified, and when it's best to look for another way.

When you need to reset via Fastboot on Xiaomi

Fastboot drops are not first aid, but rather heavy artillery.

• 🔄 Xiaomi smartphone does not turn on or hover on the MI logo (bootloop).
• 🔒 You have forgotten your password, pattern lock, or PIN- code, and unlocking through Mi Account is not available.
• 🛠️ After a failed firmware update, the device stopped responding.
• 📱 The screen is not working (broken or not displaying an image), but the phone is determined by the computer.
• 🚫 A standard reset via Recovery does not work or gives an error.

However, there are situations where Fastboot won’t help or even hurt:

• ❌ If the problem is a hardware malfunction (e.g., a motherboard has burned).
• ❌ If the phone is under 30% discharge, the reset may be interrupted.
• ❌ If you are not sure about the model of the device, the wrong firmware will turn the phone into a brick.

⚠️ Warning: Fastboot reset deletes all data on the device, including photos, contacts, and apps. If the phone is turning on at all, try saving important information first through ADB or cloud services.

If your case is on the first list, we'll move on to preparation, and if you don't, maybe you can use a Recovery reset or a service center.

Preparation for resetting: what will be needed

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with Windows 10/11 or macOS/Linux (instructions for all OSes will be below).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better the one that came with the phone).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 50% (ideally 100%).
• 📥 Installed Xiaomi drivers and tools ADB/Fastboot.
• 📂 Firmware for your model (if you need firmware reflashing).

The most important step is to install drivers and tools, and without them, the computer simply won't see the phone in Fastboot mode.

Installation of ADB and Fastboot

For Windows:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools (official package with adb and fastboot).
2. Unpack the archive in the root of the C:\ disk (e.g., C:\platform-tools).
3. Install Xiaomi drivers using the Mi Flash Tool.

For macOS/Linux:

1. Install adb and fastboot via the terminal: brew install android-platform-tools (for macOS) or sudo apt install adb fastboot (for Linux).
2. Check the installation command: adb version

⚠️ Warning: If you're using Windows, turn off driver digital signature verification. To do this, when you boot, hold Shift and select "Reboot Safe Mode with Signature Check disabled."

After installing the tools, check if your computer sees your phone. Connect Xiaomi in Fastboot mode (how to do this in the next section) and type in the command line:

fastboot devices

If you see the serial number of the device in response, everything is ready to be reset.

How to get into Fastboot mode on Xiaomi

You can enter Fastboot mode on Xiaomi in several ways, depending on the state of the device.

Method 1: Using the phone switched off (if the screen is running)

1. Turn off your smartphone (press the power button and select “Switch off”).
2. Press the Power button + Volume down at the same time.
3. Hold for 5-10 seconds until the hare appears in the hat-eared (Fastboot logo).

Method 2: ADB (if the phone is turned on but glitchy)

If your smartphone is turned on but you want to reset it via Fastboot (for example, due to viruses), use ADB:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb reboot bootloader

Method 3: If the phone does not respond (emergency method)

If Xiaomi doesn’t turn on and react to buttons, try the hard login to Fastboot:

1. Connect your phone to charge for 10-15 minutes (even if it shows no signs of life).
2. Press the Power button + Volume down for 20-30 seconds.
3. If it doesn’t work, try the Power Button + Volume Up + Volume Down combination (on some models).

On the POCO F1, Redmi K20 Pro and some others, you may need to first press the Volume up and then press the Power button without letting it go.

Step-by-step: how to reset Xiaomi via Fastboot

Now, to the reset itself, follow the instructions carefully, and an error at any stage can cause the device to fail.

Step 1: Connecting your phone to your PC

1. Enter your phone in Fastboot mode (as described above).
2. Connect it to your computer with the original cable.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and go to the folder with platform-tools: cd C:\platform-tools
4. Check Connection: Fastboot devices If the device is determined (you will see its serial number), you can continue.

Step 2: Unlock the bootloader (if required)

On new Xiaomi models (released after 2020), the bootloader is locked. To reset the settings via Fastboot, it must be unlocked:

1. Go to the Mi Unlock website and download the Mi Unlock Tool.
2. Start the program and log in to your Mi Account (it should be tied to your phone!).
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and follow the program instructions.
4. Once unlocked (it can take up to 72 hours!), reconnect the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader erases all data on the device and resets it to factory settings. If you forget the Mi Account password, restore it before the procedure begins - otherwise the phone will remain locked!

Step 3: Performing the discharge

Now that the phone is connected and the bootloader is unlocked (if required), you can start resetting. Type the following commands in turn:

fastboot flashing unlock


fastboot erase userdata




fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

Transcript of commands:

• Fastboot flashing unlock is the final unlock of the bootloader (if not previously done).
• fastboot erase userdata - delete user data (photos, applications, settings).
• fastboot erase cache – clearing the cache (accelerates the first download after reset).
• Fastboot reboot is a reboot of the phone.

Once the commands are done, the phone will restart and start setting up as new. This process can take 5-15 minutes -- don't interrupt it!

💡

If the phone has been stuck on the logo for more than 10 minutes after reset, try re-entering Fastboot and running the command fastboot continue.This sometimes helps when you freeze during the first boot stage.

What to do if the reset does not help

In some cases, a Fastboot reset doesn't solve the problem, and here are the possible causes and solutions:

If neither option helped, there may be a hardware problem (e.g., damaged memory or processor), in which case it is better to contact the service center.

Flashing through Mi Flash Tool (extreme case)

If the reset didn't work, and the phone still doesn't work, you just have to reflash it completely.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\ROM).
3. Open the Mi Flash Tool, connect your phone in Fastboot mode.
4. Select the firmware folder and click Refresh → Clean all → Flash.

⚠️ Warning: Flashing through the Mi Flash Tool deletes all data without recovery, including IMEI on some models. Use this method only if other methods have failed!

💡

Fastboot resets are not a panacea; if the problem is hardware (for example, a memory chip has burned), no software method will help, and in such cases, diagnostics are required at the service center.

How to recover data after resetting

Unfortunately, a Fastboot reset deletes data permanently, but there are ways to minimize the loss:

If the phone was turned on before the reset

• 📱 Use ADB backup to create a backup (if debugging was enabled).
• ☁️ Restore contacts and photos from Mi Cloud (if synced).
• 💾 Try data recovery software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver (not all models).

If the phone isn't on

So the chances of recovering the data are minimal, but you can try:

• 🔧 Remove the memory chip and connect it to another device (sweetening equipment required).
• 🛠️ Contact a data recovery lab (expensive but sometimes effective).

To avoid data loss in the future, back up regularly through Settings → System & Device → Backup or sync important files with Google Drive or Mi Cloud.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting via Fastboot.

• 🔌 Use of unoriginal cable → phone shuts down during process. Solution: use only Xiaomi's proprietary cable.
• 🔋 Low battery power → reset is interrupted at half. Solution: charge the phone to 100% before starting.
• 📥 Wrong firmware → phone turns into a brick. Solution: Always check the device model in Settings → About Phone → Model.
• 🔒 Forgotten password from Mi Account → phone locked after reset. Solution: Restore access to your account in advance.
• 🖥️ No Administrator Rights → fastboot commands are down. Solution: Run the command prompt on behalf of the administrator.

Another common mistake is interrupting the process. If you start resetting or firmware, don't disconnect your phone from your PC, even if it seems like nothing is happening. Some operations (such as unlocking the bootloader) can take up to 10 minutes.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions