How to reset settings on Xiaomi Mi 7: a full guide with photos and warnings

Why should the Xiaomi Mi 7 owner need a reset?

Resetting to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary solution for the Xiaomi Mi 7. This smartphone, released in 2018, still remains in demand thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 845 processor and the new model. AMOLED-But over time, even the most reliable devices start to slow down: apps shut down spontaneously, the battery goes down in a few hours, and the system emits bugs when it updates. In 80% of these cases, hard reset helps to return the phone to its original state without losing performance.

There are other reasons to reset: preparing to sell (to delete personal data), fixing the consequences of a failed rooting or firmware, and fighting viruses that are not removed by antivirus software. It is important to understand that reset is not a panacea. If the problem is related to physical damage (for example, a bloated battery or a departed screen plume), software manipulation will not help. But in most cases, the Mi 7 after reset works “like new”.

Before you start, check if a more gentle method will help: cleaning the app cache (Settings → Applications → Select the application → Storage → Clear the cache) or rolling back updates through Settings → About the phone → System Update. If these methods do not work, start resetting.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Resetting the settings on the Xiaomi Mi 7 removes all data from internal memory, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos (including screenshots and images from messengers)
• 📱 Contacts, SMS Call history (unless synced with Google or Mi Account)
• 🎵 Music, downloads and documents
• 🎮 Game saving (unless linked to a developer account)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi and App Passwords (unless you use a Password Manager)

To avoid losing important information, follow the following steps:

Backup via Mi Cloud| Copy files to PC or flash drive | Record phone IMEI (in case of locking) | Unlock Google and Mi| Charge phone to at least 50%-->

Pay special attention to backup. The Mi 7 has a built-in archiving feature:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select data for saving (contacts, SMS, system settings).
3. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed (the file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder).

If the phone doesn't turn on or is stuck on the logo, you can't back up. In this case, use Mi PC Suite (the official utility from Xiaomi) to extract data through Fastboot mode. More about this is in the section about resetting through the computer.

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Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (if the phone is working)

This is the easiest and safest method to use if the Mi 7 is on and responsive to touch. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 10-14 (the latest official version for the Mi 7 is MIUI 12.5 based on Android 10).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Slip on backup and reset.
4. Select Settings Reset.
5. The system will ask you to choose what to drop: 🔄 Reset all settings – only removes settings (Wi-Fi, brightness, sound), but saves files. 🗑️ Delete all data – complete reset (recommended for selling or eliminating serious errors).

password from the Mi Account

Wait for the reboot (it will take 3-5 minutes).

Important: If you forget your Mi Account password, resetting through the settings menu will not be possible – the phone will require data input to unlock. In this case, use methods 2 or 3 (via Recovery or Fastboot).

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If the phone is loading for longer than 10 minutes after reset, don't panic. The first boot after a hard reset can take up to 15-20 minutes.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If the Xiaomi Mi 7 is stuck on the logo, reboots cyclically or does not respond to touch, use Recovery mode. This method works even with damaged firmware, but requires care - improper actions can lead to a blink (complete failure) of the device.

Instructions for entering Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time.
3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears (usually 5-10 seconds).
4. Release the buttons and you will see the MI-Recovery 3.0 menu (English or Chinese).

If you don't have Wipe Data on the Recovery menu, you have customized recavers (like TWRP).

1. Pick Wipe.
2. Tick Dalvik Cache, System, Data, Cache.
3. Swipe for confirmation (don’t forget to make a backup!)

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method requires a computer and installed ADB/Fastboot drivers.

• 🔌 The phone is not included in or included in Recovery.
• 🔒 Mi Account password is forgotten (but bootloader unlocked).
• 🛠️ You need to reflash the device after a failed update.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (the official tool from Google).
2. Turn off the Mi 7 and turn to Fastboot: Press the power button + volume down for 10 seconds. The screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
4. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder with platform-tools: cd C:\platform-tools
5. Check that the device is determined: fastboot devices should appear serial number of the phone.
6. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If the phone hasn’t restarted after these commands, try cleaning it completely:

fastboot format userdata


fastboot format cache




fastboot reboot

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Reset via Fastboot only deletes user data, but does not affect system files. If the problem was in the damaged firmware, you will need to reinstall it through the command fastboot flash system.img (you need a firmware file for Mi 7 codenamed dipper).

What to do after reset: the first setup Xiaomi Mi 7

After a successful reset, the phone will turn on in initial setup mode, like after purchase.

1. Select the language (Russian is available by default in global firmware).
2. Connect to Wi-Fi – this is necessary to download updates and restore data from the cloud.
3. Sign in to Google account – this will restore contacts, emails and apps from Google Play.
4. Skip the Mi Account binding (unless you plan to use Xiaomi services).
5. Set up your fingerprint and Face Unlock (Settings → Passwords and Security).
6. Disable unnecessary system applications (such as Mi Video, Mi Music) to save battery life.

If you have made a backup through Mi Cloud, restore the data:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Restore from backup.
3. Log in to your Mi Account and select the last backup.

Post-reset optimization:

• 🔋 Turn on Adaptive Brightness (Settings) → Display) to save charge.
• 🚫 Turn off auto-run of unnecessary applications (Settings) → Annexes → Auto-start).
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).

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If the phone is running out faster after reset, check the battery through the AccuBattery app. The battery may be worn out (capacity below 80% of nominal) and needs to be replaced.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems.

If none of these methods worked, there may be a hardware problem, such as a faulty memory module (eMMC) that can block the recording of data, which prevents the reset from being completed, in which case contact the service center - self-repair can lead to permanent failure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Mi 7