Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have a powerful MIUI or HyperOS shell that can accumulate software errors over time. Users often face situations when the device starts to run slowly, freeze or restart indefinitely, in which case the only right solution is a complete return to the factory state, which eliminates software conflicts.
The data reset process is a radical but effective method of restoring the device to its fullest capacity, completely clearing internal memory of user files, installed applications and changed system settings, and it's important to understand that once the procedure is complete, the phone will look like you just took it out of the box in the store.
Before you take action, you need to realize all the responsibility, all your personal data will be permanently deleted if you do not take care of their preservation in advance, photos, contacts, correspondence in messengers and logins from accounts will disappear with the cleaning of the user memory partition.
There are several ways to do this: through the standard settings menu if the system is available, or through a special engineering menu Recovery if the phone is locked or not booting, the choice of method depends on the current state of your device and whether you have access to the desktop.
In this article, we will discuss in detail each stage of preparation and conducting the reset, we will look at the nuances of working with the Mi Account, how to bypass FRP protection and methods for resuscitating the device in the event of critical errors in the process.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
The first and most important step is to back up all the important information. MIUI They allow you to keep contact logs and SMS cloud-like SD-For photos and videos, it is better to use the service Google Photos or copy files to your computer through the USB-cable.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If you have a Mi Account or Google account activated on your phone, the security system will require you to enter a password immediately after you reset, which is a feature of FRP, and without knowing the passwords, you will not be able to activate the phone again.
⚠️ Warning: Be sure to untie your Mi Account before resetting if you don't remember the password from it, otherwise the phone will turn into a "brick" requiring complex unlocking through the service center.
It is also worth checking the battery power. The data partition formatting process can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the amount of memory, and if the device turns off in the middle, it can damage the file system and cause the operating system to not load.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Remember to remove the MicroSD card if you don’t plan on formatting it, and while a standard menu reset doesn’t usually affect the external drive, there is still a risk of accidentally deleting the data from the flash drive, so it’s better to be safe.
Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (standard method)
The safest and easiest way to get back to factory settings is right in the operating system interface, and it's a method that works when the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you can navigate the menu seamlessly.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom. You are interested in About Phone or Advanced Settings, depending on your HyperOS or MIUI firmware version. Next, you need to find the partition responsible for restoring the system.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Go to the Settings menu → The phone.
- 🗑️ Select Reset Settings or Erase All Data.
- 🔒 The system will ask you to enter a pattern lock or a digital screen unlock code.
- ✅ Confirm the action by clicking the button “Reset settings».
Once confirmed, the phone can request a password from the Mi Account to verify the identity of the owner, which is a critical security step, and if you type the wrong password, the process will not begin, and make sure that you enter the data from the account that is listed as the primary one.
💡
If you have two-factor authentication enabled, make sure you have access to a phone number or authenticator app to receive a confirmation code.
After starting the process, the device will restart, and the Xiaomi logo will appear on the screen with a progress indicator. At this time, you should absolutely not interrupt the power or try to turn off the smartphone with buttons. The system will delete all sections of user data and install a clean version of the firmware.
The latency depends on the speed of the processor and the amount of memory filled, usually the entire process takes about 10 minutes, and when completed, the phone will turn on as a new one, suggesting that you choose a language and connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Method 2: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If the operating system is not booting, the phone is stuck on the logo or you have forgotten the pattern lock, Recovery Mode will help.This is a low-level environment built into the device’s memory that allows you to manage system partitions bypassing the main Android interface.
To enter this mode on most Redmi and Xiaomi models, you need to perform a certain combination of buttons on the device that is turned off: press both the Volume Up and the Power button. Hold them until the logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume.
When the Recovery menu appears (usually with a black background and a few lines of text), the volume buttons (up/down) control the selection and the power button confirms the choice. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it.
The following is the choice of the type of discharge:
- 🔄 Wipe All Data – Complete reset, deletes everything, including internal files.
- 🔙 Back to Menu – Return to the main menu without changes.
- 🔒 Reboot – a normal reboot of the device.
⚠️ Attention: In new versions MIUI (12, 13, 14) and HyperOS to confirm the reset in Recovery may require you to enter a password from the Mi Account right in this menu.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Once you have selected Wipe All Data, the system will ask for the final confirmation. Select Confirm. The cleaning process will start in a few seconds. Upon completion, the message will appear "Data wiped successfully." After that, select Reboot → Reboot to System to launch the phone.
Comparison of discharge methods and their features
Both methods have the same end result, which is the clean state of the system, but there are significant technical differences that affect how you choose to do it in a given situation, and understanding these nuances will help you avoid unnecessary problems.
Resetting the settings menu is a soft method, and it goes through a regular shutdown cycle for services and applications, which reduces the risk of logical errors in the file system, preferably when the phone is functioning normally, but you want to sell it or start using it from scratch.
Hard Reset via Recovery is a hard method that forcibly formats data sections, ignoring the state of running processes, and is an indispensable tool in the process of building a system, virus attacks, or cyclic reboots when you can’t log in to a menu.
| Characteristics | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Requires a screen and access to the menu | It works even when the OS loading fails |
| Security of data | High (staff completion of processes) | Medium (forced formatting) |
| Account protection | Requires Mi/Google password before resetting | You may need a password in the Recovery menu. |
| Speed of implementation | Longer (preparation and reloading) | Faster (just formatting) |
💡
Use a menu reset if the phone is stable. Recovery is an emergency tool for broken devices.
It is also worth noting that after resetting via Recovery, some models may require a longer initial setup, as the system needs to recreate all system caches and media file indexes.
Post-Reset Problems and FRP Protection
One of the most common issues users face after a reset is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) blocking, a Google and Xiaomi protection mechanism that prevents unauthorized users from using the device after a forced data reset.
If you entered a Google account or Mi Account before resetting your phone, the first time you activated it after reset, the system will require you to enter a password from that account, and entering a new account or trying to guess the password will lock the device.
Common mistakes that occur at this stage:
- ❌ «No account found – you may have entered an email with a typo or you are using the wrong account.
- ❌ «Incorrect password – the password has been changed recently and the sync has not yet gone through, or you remember the old password.
- ❌ «Network connection required – without Wi-Fi or mobile network, account verification is not possible.
⚠️ Warning: If you bought a phone with your hands and it requests the account of the previous owner, it is almost impossible to bring the device back to life without it.
To solve the FRP problem, you need to restore access to a forgotten account through the Google or Xiaomi site from another device, and if this is not possible, you will need to contact the service center with a receipt of purchase confirming your ownership of the device.