How to reset Xiaomi settings to factory: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sooner or later face the need to completely return the device to its original state, this can be caused by selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or wanting to eliminate software errors accumulated during active operation.

This procedure requires care, as the result will be the removal of all personal information from internal memory. Photos, contacts, messages and installed applications will be irretrievably lost if you do not back up in advance. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to return the system to the state “out of the box”, including methods for cases when the device is locked or does not boot.

The interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the model of your phone. However, the basic logic of the system menu remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the Chinese manufacturer.

Preparation of the device before complete reset

Before you start cleaning, you need to make sure you have all the important data stored. Unlike simple file deletion, Factory Reset touches system partitions, making it impossible to recover information through standard means. Use Google Photos cloud services or the built-in Mi Cloud to sync media files.

Special attention should be paid to accounts. If the phone is activated account protection, after reset, the device will request a password from the last used Google account or Mi Account, a FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism designed to protect the owner’s data in the event of theft.

• 🔋 Charge the battery to minimum. 60-70%, so that the process is not interrupted by the discharge.
• 💾 Copy important files to your computer or external drive through USB-cable.
• 📱 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card, if installed in a separate slot.
• 🔓 Get your hands on the Google Find My Device and Mi Find Device app.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to sell your phone, be sure to log out of all accounts before resetting.Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the device without your password, which will create serious inconvenience.

It is also recommended to check whether the Find Device feature is enabled in the security settings. For full untethering, it is better to remove the account from the list of trusted devices through the browser on the computer, which ensures that once turned on, the phone does not require authorization from the old owner.

Resetting settings through the smartphone menu

The easiest and safest way to get Xiaomi back to factory settings is to use the built-in system menu, which is suitable for devices that are stable and the screen responds to touch. You don't need any additional tools or a computer.

The algorithm may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the overall path remains similar: Go to the settings section, find the "About Phone" or "Advanced Settings" option. In newer versions of HyperOS, the path may look like Settings → About Phone → Reset.

In older versions MIUI Often used in the "additional" route» → «Restore and reset. Here you will find the "Erase all data" button, which will alert you that all data will be deleted and ask you to enter a pattern lock or PIN-screen unlock code to confirm the operation.

After confirmation, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, which can take from 5 to 15 minutes.The screen can go out and light up, the Android or Mi logo can be displayed. It is absolutely impossible to interrupt this process by pressing the buttons, as this can damage the bootloader.

Using the Recovery Menu to Reset

If the smartphone doesn't boot to the desktop, freezes on the logo or the touch screen doesn't respond, Recovery mode comes to the rescue. It's a special diagnostic mode built into the device's memory that allows you to control the system at a low level, and it is logged in by a combination of physical buttons.

To enter recovery mode on most Xiaomi models, you need to turn off the phone completely. Then press the Volume Up button (Vol+) and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to keep the volume.

In the Recovery menu, you can control volume buttons (up/down) to move around and a power button to select. You need to find Wipe Data. After you select, the system can request confirmation by selecting Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen often doesn't work, all actions are performed with strictly mechanical volume and on buttons. Don't panic if the screen doesn't respond to touch.

Once the cleaning process is complete, the bottom corner of the screen will show the words "Data wiped successfully." Select Back to Main Menu, then Reboot → Reboot to System. The first turn on after such a reset will last longer than usual, since the system needs to format the partitions again.

Remote reset via Google and Mi Account

In situations where your phone is lost or stolen, but it has Internet and geolocation enabled, you can reset remotely, which is an extreme measure to help protect your data from unauthorized persons, using Google Find My Device or Mi Cloud.

To use Google, go to android.com/find from any other device, log in to the same account that was used on the missing phone, and if the device is online, you'll see its location and control panel.

• 🌐 Select the option “Erase Device).
• 🔒 The phone will receive a command to completely reset the next connection to the network.
• 📍 After resetting, location tracking will become impossible.

Similar functionality is available in the Xiaomi cloud. Go to i.mi.com, log in to your Mi Account and select Find Device. Remote Cleanup is also available here. Remember, after this procedure, the phone will be locked by the owner's account, and without a password, you will not be able to use it.

This method is only effective if there is an active Internet connection on the smartphone, and if the device is turned off or in aeronautical mode, the command will be executed automatically as soon as it is released to the network.

Solving problems after resetting settings

Once Hard Reset is successful, the phone starts as a new one, but users may encounter a number of typical situations that are not bugs but features of modern security systems, and the most common problem is requiring you to enter your account password.

If the system asks for a password from a Google account that you don't remember, you'll have to use the Google restore procedure, and without that step, you can't legally unlock the device, and it's anti-theft protection, and you can't get around it with simple methods.

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After reset, don't install all the apps at once. Turn on your phone, connect to Wi-Fi, and give the system 15-20 minutes to background optimization and indexing files. This will prevent heating and lag in the first hours of use.

There may also be increased battery consumption on the first day, which is due to system services and applications performing background synchronization, updates and indexing, and usually after 2-3 days of normal operation, autonomy returns to normal.

In rare cases, there may be errors in the communication modules after reset. If the signal is lost or the Internet is not working, check the APN settings. These must be set automatically, but sometimes you need to manually enter your operator's parameters.

Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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A complete reset is a radical but effective tool for solving software problems, and the main condition for success is that you have a fresh backup of important data before you start the procedure.