Resetting the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Resetting Xiaomi’s smart vacuum cleaner to factory settings is a procedure that may be required in a variety of situations. It may have started to work unstable after the firmware update, or you plan to sell it and want to delete all personal data. Or it may have simply stopped responding to commands from the Mi Home or Dreamehome app. In any case, a complete reset is a radical but effective solution.

However, not all users know that Xiaomi has several ways to return the vacuum cleaner to a “clean” state: some models support soft reset via the application, others require hardware reboot using buttons on the case. In some cases (for example, in case of serious firmware failures), you may even need to flash it over USB. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, advise on how to avoid errors, and answer frequent questions.

Before you start, make sure that the problem does require a reset. Sometimes it is enough to reboot the vacuum cleaner or reconnect it to Wi-Fi. But if the device behaves unpredictable - spontaneously turns on, does not respond to cleaning cards or gives out errors like Error 12 or Error 18 - reset is the best solution.

When you need to reset the vacuum cleaner Xiaomi to factory settings

Don't rush to reset the device when you first fail, here are the specific cases where the procedure is warranted:

• 🔄 The vacuum cleaner hovers during the boot stage and does not respond to buttons or commands from the application.
• 📱 The device does not connect to Wi-Fi, despite repeated attempts to reset the network.
• 🗺️ Cleaning maps have disappeared or distorted, and it is impossible to recreate them.
• 🔧 After the firmware update, critical errors appeared (for example, Error 5 - engine problem).
• 💰 You sell or transfer the vacuum cleaner to another user and want to delete all data.

Resetting can also help if the vacuum cleaner starts to change settings arbitrarily — for example, it turns on Quiet Cleaning mode itself or ignores the schedule. However, in some cases, the problem lies not in the software, but in hardware malfunctions (wear of brushes, clogged sensors), If errors recur after reset — this is an excuse to contact the service center.

Note that the reset does not restore physically damaged components (such as a broken laser rangefinder or a burned motor) but only returns the software settings to their original state.

⚠️ If the vacuum cleaner is connected to the Xiaomi smart home system (for example, through Mi Home or Google Assistant), after resetting all automation and scenarios will have to be configured again.

Method 1: Soft reset via Mi Home/Dreamehome

This is the easiest and safest method that works for most Xiaomi Mi Robot, Dreame and Viomi models, and requires no physical access to buttons on the case and can be executed in minutes.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app (or Dreamehome for Dreame vacuum cleaners).
2. Select your vacuum cleaner from the list of devices.
3. Go to Settings → About Device → Reset to factory settings (in some versions of the application, the path may differ: Additional → Reset).
4. Confirm the action. The vacuum cleaner will sound and start the procedure.

Once the reset is complete, the device will automatically restart and be ready for a new setup, all you have to do is connect it to Wi-Fi and re-associate it to your account.

Make sure the vacuum cleaner is at least 20% charged

Connect the vacuum cleaner to a stable Wi-Fi network

Close all background apps on your phone

Remember or photograph the current settings (power, schedule)

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If the app doesn’t have a reset option, try updating it to the latest version. In older versions of Mi Home (up to 6.0), this option may not be available.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Dreame Bot) Z10 Pro) application reset does not delete room maps. Complete data cleanup will require hardware reset (see Method 2).

Method 2: Hardware reset using buttons on the body

If the vacuum cleaner doesn’t respond to commands from the app or you don’t have access to your phone, you can do a manual reset. For this, most Xiaomi models have a button combination on their body that needs to be pressed for a few seconds.

Algorithm of action:

1. Turn off the vacuum cleaner (if it is on).
2. Find two buttons on the case: usually Power and Home (or Spot Cleaning on some models).
3. Press both buttons at the same time and hold for 5-10 seconds until you hear the beep.
4. Release the buttons. The vacuum cleaner will start the reset procedure (can flash an indicator or emit a series of signals).

On different models, the combination of buttons may differ. Here is a short table for popular vacuum cleaners:

If the vacuum cleaner does not respond after holding the buttons, try repeating the procedure or checking the battery charge. On some models, the reset is blocked at a charge level below 15%.

Method 3: Reset via USB (for power users)

This method is used in extreme cases when the vacuum cleaner is completely "bricked" (does not turn on, does not respond to buttons, gives an Error 9 error - a critical firmware error).

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows or Linux;
• 🔌 USB-cable (usually Micro-USB or Type-C, depending on the model);
• 📁 Firmware for your model (you can download on the official forums Xiaomi or 4PDA);
• 🛠️ Firmware (e.g., MiFlash or Dreame Flash Tool).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and unpack the archive with firmware for your model.
2. Connect the vacuum cleaner to your computer via USB (some models require you to pre-clamp the Power button for 15 seconds to put the device into firmware mode).
3. Run the firmware program and select the firmware file (.img or.bin).
4. Start the process. Do not turn off the vacuum until the program reports successful completion (usually takes 5-15 minutes).

This requires technical skills, a firmware error can permanently disable the vacuum cleaner, and if you're not sure about your abilities, you'd better go to a service center.

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Before you run through USB, check the vacuum cleaner model with a sticker on the bottom. Installing firmware from another model (for example, from Dreame D9 to Xiaomi Vacuum-Mop 2) will cause the device to fail.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a simple procedure like resetting can go wrong. Here are the typical problems and solutions.

• ❌ The vacuum cleaner is not discharged through the application → Update Mi Home to the latest version or try a hardware reset.
• ❌ After reset, the device does not connect to Wi-Fi → Make sure the router is running at 2.4GHz (Xiaomi vacuum cleaners do not support 5GHz).
• ❌ The discharge is interrupted in the middle. → Check the battery (should be at least 20%) and try again.
• ❌ Vacuum cleaner emits Error 14 error after reset → This indicates a sensor problem. Try to clean the lidar and the cameras of dust.

If the vacuum cleaner does not save new settings after reset (for example, immediately forgets the map of the room), this may indicate a memory malfunction, in such cases only replacing the control board will help.

Another common mistake is losing your account binding, and after resetting, the vacuum cleaner may require you to log in to Mi Home again, and if you forget your account details, restore them through Xiaomi’s official website, otherwise the device will not be able to reconfigure again.

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If the vacuum cleaner is as unstable after the dump as it was before, the problem is probably hardware. Don't waste time resetting, call the service.

What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful discharge, the vacuum cleaner will return to a "out of the box" state.

1. Connect the device to Wi-Fi (only 2.4 GHz!).
2. Link it to your Mi Home or Dreamehome account.
3. Update the firmware to the latest version (if available).
4. Re-create a room map (if the model supports laser navigation).
5. Set up a cleaning schedule, no-go zones and other parameters.

If you sell a vacuum cleaner, untie it from your account in the application settings after the reset, which will allow the new owner to connect the device without any problems.

On some models (such as the Dreame Bot L10 Pro) after reset, you may need to calibrate the sensors. To do this, place the vacuum cleaner on a flat surface and follow the instructions in the application.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions