How to reset your desktop settings on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Why Xiaomi smartphone needs a desktop reset?

The MIUI desktop is not just a background image with icons, but a complex system of widgets, themes and personal settings. Over time, even top-end Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ models can experience problems: scroll lags, widgets disappear, lost themes or the inability to change wallpaper, most often due to conflicts after MIUI updates, installing third-party launchers or cleaning the cache manually.

Desktop resets are a “soft reboot” of the interface that returns standard system launcher settings without deleting personal data. Unlike a full reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), the procedure takes less than a minute and does not require backup. However, there are nuances: on some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for the global version), the option is hidden deeper than in Chinese builds.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways, from standard menus to hidden commands for ADB, which work even on locked devices, and how to avoid common bugs that cause users to lose saved themes or widget settings.

Method 1: Standard reset via MIUI settings

The safest and most recommended method is to use the built-in MIUI menu, which is suitable for 90% of models, including the Poco F5, Redmi 12 and Xiaomi 13T. The main advantage is that you do not need a PC connection or root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Show all applications.
4. In the list, find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair if you use an alternative launcher).
5. Slip on the Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.

After the device is restarted, the desktop will return to factory settings, but all installed applications and files will remain in place. On models with MIUI 13 and later after reset, you may need to reconfigure the control gestures - this bug is not officially fixed.

Clean the launcher cache manually|Take screenshots of current widgets|Remember the theme used|Disable third-party launchers-->

Method 2: Reset through Recovery Mode

If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to touch or the settings menu is not available, you can use the recovery mode. This method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or official firmware. Importantly, the method does not work on devices with a locked Bootloader (for example, purchased in China without global firmware).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if available).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (on some versions of Advanced Wipe) → Dalvik/ART Cache).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: This method removes all data from the device, including photos and apps. Use it only if other methods have failed or you have a backup.

After the procedure, the phone will reboot to its original state. On Poco X5 Pro and later, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account account.

With MIUI|Via Recovery | With ADB| Never reset-->

Method 3: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

For users familiar with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), there is a way to reset the desktop without losing data.The method works on all versions of MIUI, including beta firmware, but requires a computer connection and enabled debugging over USB.

Algorithm of action:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices should display the serial number of the device.
5. Perform launcher reset: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home For alternative launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher), use their batch name.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell cmd package reset com.miui.home

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14+ After this command, the allowed refresh rate of the screen may reset. Check the settings of the display after the restart.

Method 4: Reset via Safe Mode

If the desktop problems are caused by a third-party application (such as a virus or an incorrect launcher), Safe Mode will help. In this mode, only system applications are loaded, which allows you to identify and remove conflicting software.

How to activate:

• 🔄 Method 1: Press the power button before the turn off menu appears, then hold your finger to turn off the power - a prompt will appear to go to Safe Mode.
• 🔄 Method 2: Turn off the phone, then turn it on with the Volume button down before booting.

In Safe Mode:

1. Check if the problems with the desktop have disappeared.
2. If yes, remove recently installed launchers or widgets.
3. Restart your phone in normal mode.

On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and other flagships with MIUI 13+ in Safe Mode can turn off Always-on Display – this is normal, the functionality will recover after the release.

Method 5: Manually delete settings files (for root)

For users with root rights or custom firmware (like LineageOS), a radical method is to manually delete launcher configuration files, a risky approach, but sometimes the only one possible in case of serious failures.

Actions required:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Cross the path: /data/data/com.miui.home/shared_prefs/
3. Delete the files: com.miui.home.preferences.xml launcher_persistent_state.xml
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting files manually without root rights can cause a device to blink (completely inoperable).Do not try this method on locked phones.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users sometimes experience problems after a desktop reset, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

• 🔴 The wallpaper's gone: MIUI wallpaper /MIUI/theme/.data/. Before resetting, copy the folder to the PC.
• 🔴 Gestures dropped: On MIUI 14 After clearing the launcher data, it may be necessary to reconfigure the navigation.
• 🔴 Widgets don’t work: Some widgets (like Google Discover) require re-authorization after resetting.
• 🔴 Launcher does not start: If the screen remains black after reset, install any third-party launcher from the Play Market and return to the standard through the settings.

On devices with HyperOS (new shell for Xiaomi 14 and newer) after reset, you may need to re-sync with Mi Account to restore themes. If sync does not work, check your account settings in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Synchronization.

💡

Before reset, disable MIUI Optimization in the battery settings. It can block the launcher from re-initializing after data has been cleared.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions