How to reset the settings to factory on the Xiaomi phone

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have a complex MIUI operating system or a new HyperOS that can eventually become software junk. Cache accumulation, conflicts after updates or installation of low-quality applications often lead to the fact that the device begins to work unstable, in such situations, a complete reset is the most effective solution to return the gadget to the original speed and responsiveness of the interface.

But the process of reverting to factory settings requires care, as it completely destroys user data. It is almost impossible to recover photos, contacts and correspondence deleted in this way without prior backup. So, before starting any manipulation, you need to clearly understand the algorithm of actions and consequences. This article describes in detail all the methods available, from the standard settings menu to deep cleaning through the Recovery engineering menu.

Not only may the procedure be required to sell the device, but it may also be necessary to correct system errors that cannot be fixed by conventional methods. Understanding the differences between Soft Reset and Hard Reset will help avoid unnecessary actions.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Before you start cleaning, it is critical to do a set of preparatory steps, which can result in the loss of important information or locking the device by Google and Xiaomi, and the first step should always be to back up all relevant data.

Use embedded system tools or third-party cloud services to store information. MIUI The most convenient way is to use Mi Cloud or local copy to your computer through the USB-Also relevant is the use of Google Drive to sync contacts and calendars.

Special attention should be paid to accounts. If your phone has a Mi Account or Google account activated, you need to unplug them before resetting them if you plan to transfer the device to another owner, otherwise there will be protection against theft, and the new owner will not be able to activate the smartphone without your password.

• 🔋 Make sure that the battery is at least 50-60%, so that the device does not turn off at a critical moment.
• 💾 Copy the folders. DCIM, Download and Documents on external media or PC.
• 🔐 Remember or write down passwords from Google and Mi Accounts.
• 📱 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card, if installed so as not to accidentally format them.

Standard reset via the settings menu

The safest and easiest way to get Xiaomi’s phone back to business is to use a standard operating system interface, which is suitable for situations where the smartphone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you have access to the main menu. The algorithm for actions can vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS.

To start, go to Settings. Depending on the firmware version, the item you want may be in the About Phone or Advanced Settings category. You need to find the section responsible for resetting and backup. In newer versions of the shell, the path often looks like Settings → About Phone → Resetting.

Once you log in, the system will offer two options: Reset all settings (without deleting data) and Erase all data. To completely clean up, choose the second option. The system will warn you that all files will be deleted, and request confirmation in the form of a screen unlock password or a pattern lock.

⚠️ Attention: After pressing the confirmation button, the process will start automatically. Interrupting the operation at this stage (for example, removing the battery on older models or rigidly restarting) can lead to damage to the file system and the inability to boot the OS.

The deletion process takes 5 to 15 minutes, after which the phone will restart and start as new, you will need to reset the initial setup, select a language and connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)

If the smartphone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo or the touch screen stops responding, the only way out is to use Recovery mode, a special diagnostic interface sewn into the device's memory that allows you to perform system maintenance without starting the main operating system.

To enter this mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the key combination: usually the Volume Up button and the Power button. Hold them simultaneously until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume key. When the Main Menu menu appears, all the buttons can be released.

Navigation in the Recovery menu is done with volume buttons (up and down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Some versions of Recovery may require additional selection of Wipe All Data and confirmation of action by choosing Confirm.

After the cleaning process is complete, Data wiped successfully will appear at the bottom of the screen, then select Reboot and confirm the reboot to System. The first start after Hard Reset will be long, as the system takes time to create new system files.

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If the Recovery screen doesn’t appear with the standard combination, try connecting the phone off to the charger or computer via a standard combination. USB-This helps with some models with a discharged battery.

Resetting a forgotten password through Mi Account

When a user forgets a pattern lock or unlock password, it is one of the most common reasons for forced resets: If the phone is connected to the Internet and Mi Account is activated on it, it is possible to remotely clean the device.

To do this, use any other device (computer or phone) and go to the official website of the cloud service i.mi.com. Sign in under the same account that is used on the locked smartphone.

Select your device from the list. The available management options will have a Wipe button, and pressing that button will send a command to the phone, and it will automatically reset to the factory settings, removing the forgotten password, which is only effective when you have an active network connection.

⚠️ Warning: After this cleaning and re-activation, the phone will require you to enter the password from the Mi Account from which the cleanup was performed.

If the device doesn't have internet, this method won't work, so you only have the Recovery Mode option described above, but it doesn't remove the account protection, it just deletes the data, and you'll need to check to buy the device or contact an authorized service to remove the account lock.

Using PC and debugging over USB

For advanced users with access to the developer menu, there is a method of resetting via computer using USB Debugging. This method allows you to initiate a reset with the adb command, which can be useful if the sensor is not working properly, but the system is booting.

First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in Advanced Settings → For developers, activate Debugging over USB.

Connect the phone to the computer that has ADB drivers installed. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB tool folder and enter the command to restart in Recovery mode:

adb reboot recovery

Once you switch to Recovery, you can use commands to vape data, but most often this method is used to enter recovery mode if the buttons on the phone body are faulty. There is also a command to immediately reset without logging into the menu, but it requires root rights:

adb shell recovery --wipe_data

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Use of the ADB-commands require pre-installing drivers and activating debugging on the phone itself, so the method is not suitable for fully locked devices.

Possible problems and solutions

Users may encounter a variety of errors during the reset process, and one of the common problems is a cyclical bootloop, where the phone is constantly restarting without reaching the desktop, which may indicate that system files are damaged or an unsuccessful update is made.

If the phone requires a password from a previous Google account (FRP Lock) after a reset, this is normal Android security behavior. This protection can only be circumvented legally by entering correct account data. Bypass attempts often lead to unstable work or re-blocking after an update.

If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons and isn’t included in Recovery, it may be hardware or a deep software failure of the bootloader. Try leaving the device on charge for a few hours and then try to enter recovery mode again. If nothing helps, you will need to flash through Fastboot mode using the Mi Flash Tool utility.

• 🔄 Bootloop: Try resetting through Recovery again. If it doesn't work, you need to flash it again.
• 🔒 FRP Lock: Enter only the Google account data that was synced before resetting.
• 🔋 Discharge: If the phone sat down during reset, charge it for 30 minutes without trying to turn it on, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)