Modern Android tablets, including Xiaomi devices, can run slower over time, accumulating cache, application errors and system debris. Sometimes the gadget starts to freeze, refuses to connect to Wi-Fi or simply incorrectly displays the interface after a failed update. In such situations, the most effective solution is to return to the original state, known as Hard Reset or a complete reset. This procedure removes all user data, returning the software to the state in which it was in immediately after leaving the conveyor.
Before you take any drastic action, you need to understand that resetting is an irreversible process for personal information. All your photos, documents, saved passwords and installed applications will be permanently destroyed. That is why it is critical to back up your data in the Mi Cloud or external media in advance. If you are ready for this step, it will take only a few minutes to restore your Mi Pad to work.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to resuscitate the device in detail, and we will look at the standard method through the settings menu that is suitable for most users, and the more complex options through Recovery Mode for cases when the tablet does not turn on, and also touch on the nuances of reset via your computer and unlocking your Google account so you can choose the best option for your situation.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
Hard Reset requires careful preparation to avoid turning the tablet into a brick or losing important contacts. The first step is backing up. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is done through Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud. Make sure that the ticks are against all important categories: contacts, messages, notes and gallery. The alternative is synchronization with a Google account, which is especially true for apps and calendar.
The second critical point is battery power. The process of formatting internal memory is energy-intensive. If the tablet shuts down in the middle of the process, the file system can be damaged, which requires complex recovery via Fastboot. Charge the device to at least 60-70%, preferably 100%. It is also recommended to remove the microSD card if it is installed, so as not to accidentally format its contents, although the system usually asks for confirmation.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Remember to write or recall passwords from your Google account and Mi Account. After the reset, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) will work. The tablet will require you to enter the username and password of the account that was synced with the device before the reset, without this data you will not be able to log in, and the device will remain locked.
⚠️ Attention: Removing the memory card before the procedure is mandatory if you do not want to risk losing files on an external medium. MIUI may be able to provide formatting and SD-card as part of internal memory.
Method 1: Reset via the MIUI settings menu
This is the easiest and safest method available if the tablet is turned on and the touch screen is responsive to taps. MIUI (or HyperOS on new models) provides easy access to cleaning functions. You need to go to Settings, scroll down and find About Phone (or About Device) and that's where the clean-up start button is hidden.
Inside the About Phone menu, find the MIUI logo icon or MIUI Version. Click on it several times (usually 7-10 times) until the pop-up message “Additional Features Unlocked” appears, and then a new three-dot button or menu icon will appear in the top corner of the screen.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone.
- 🔑 Click on the logo. MIUI before the developer menu appears.
- 🧹 Select “Reset Settings” and confirm the action.
- 🔒 Enter the screen unlock password to confirm.
Once confirmed, the tablet will restart and begin the cleaning process. The screen may display the Xiaomi logo or animation of the Android robot. Don't interrupt this process. The latency depends on the amount of internal memory and the number of files, but usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. Upon completion, the device will turn on as new, greeting you with the language selection screen.
💡
If you are planning to sell a tablet, be sure to reset through the settings menu, which ensures that accounts are properly delinked and FRP protection is activated for the new owner.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the tablet is frozen, unresponsive or goes into an endless reboot, a normal reset via the menu is impossible, and this is a recovery mode called Recovery Mode, which is a low-level environment built into the firmware that allows you to control the device bypassing the main operating system, and it is entered by a combination of physical buttons.
To log into Recovery, Xiaomi tablets typically use pressing the Volume Plus button and Power buttons simultaneously. Hold them until the logo appears, then release the power button while keeping the volume. In some models, such as the Mi Pad 4 or Mi Pad 5, the combination may differ, but this is the method most often used. If the screen is out but the menu does not appear, try connecting the device to the charger when the buttons are off.
In the Recovery menu, you can control the volume buttons (up/down for navigation) and the power button (to select). You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. Within this menu, select the Wipe All Data option. The system will ask for confirmation - select Confirm. After cleaning, select Reboot → Reboot to System.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Method 3: Reset via Fastboot and computer
For advanced users or in cases where other methods do not work, there is the possibility of resetting via Fastboot mode using a computer.This method requires a USB cable, a PC with Xiaomi USB Driver installed and a Mi Flash Tool utility or an ADB command line.
To enter Fastboot mode, turn off the tablet and press the Volume Minus and Power buttons simultaneously. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android that says FASTBOOT. Connect the tablet to your computer. Run the command line in the ADB tool folder and type a command to clean the data.
fastboot erase userdataThis command forcibly erases the user data partition. Be very careful: there are no warnings and cancellations in Fastboot mode. Once you complete the command, type fastboot reboot to reboot, which is especially useful if the Recovery partition is damaged and you can't log in in in in the standard way.
⚠️ Note: Fastboot commands require precision. A command error (e.g., erasing the system partition instead of the user partition) can cause a device to be completely inoperable requiring paid repairs at the service center.
Comparison of discharge methods and their features
The choice of reset method depends on the current state of your Xiaomi device. Each of the methods examined has its advantages and limitations. Understanding these differences will help you avoid unnecessary actions and waste of time. Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of the methods.
| Method | Access required | Difficulty | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Operating sensor and OS | Low. | Complete (controlled) |
| Recovery Mode | Working buttons | Medium | Complete. |
| Fastboot + PC | Computer and cable | Tall. | Total + System Risk |
The Settings method is preferred because it automatically performs additional checks and correctly completes all background processes before cleaning. Recovery Mode is the gold standard for reanimating suspended devices. It ignores OS software errors but requires physical serviceability of volume buttons.
Fastboot is only justified in extreme cases when the software part of the tablet is so damaged that it can not boot even in recovery mode. For the average user who wants to simply clean the memory or sell the device, the first two methods are the only necessary.
Possible problems after discharge and their solution
Once you have successfully completed the Hard Reset procedure, you may encounter a number of standard situations that are not errors, but are standard system behaviors. The first download can take up to 10-15 minutes longer than usual, which is normal, as the system optimizes applications and creates new configuration files.
The most common problem is blocking Google FRP. If you don't remember the password from the account that was linked to the tablet, you can't go through the initial setup. It's almost impossible to get around this protection legally without the owner's data, in which case only restoration of access through the Google site or contacting the previous owner (if the tablet is used).
- 📶 Wi-Fi problems: Sometimes the communication module is unstable after the reset. Try to forget the network and connect again.
- 🔋 Fast discharge: In the first hours, the system re-indexes files, which loads the processor. 1-2 hour.
- 📱 Lack of communication (for LTE-Models: Check if it is correctly defined SIM-map.
If the tablet continues to behave incorrectly after reset (heats, turns off), it may be the hardware problem or the firmware itself is damaged, in which case it may be necessary to completely flash the device through the computer using the official firmware from the site miui.com.
💡
A long first boot (up to 15 minutes) after a reset is a normal Android system optimization process, not a sign of a malfunction.