Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS are complex software packages where each application has its own set of configuration files. Over time, these files can become corrupted, accumulate errors or conflict with system updates, leading to unstable device operation. Users often face a situation where individual programs stop responding, freeze or consume anomalous amounts of power in the background.
App resetting is a radical but effective method of solving software failures that allows software to return to its original state without losing personal data such as photos or contacts. Unlike completely resetting your phone to factory settings, this procedure only affects the logic of running installed programs and system services. Understanding the differences between cache cleaning, data deletion and a complete reset is critical to properly maintaining your gadget.
In this detailed guide, we will break down all the available methods for restoring the functionality of the software on Xiaomi devices. You will learn how to safely clean through the standard menu, what hidden engineering methods exist for advanced users and how to avoid common errors. A competent approach to memory management and settings will extend the life of your smartphone and ensure its performance.
Understanding the Application Data Structure in MIUI
Before you take action, you need to be clear about what you’re going to do with the operating system. App settings aren’t just shortcuts on the desktop, they’re complex databases that store your preferences, logins, authorization tokens, and temporary files. In the Android ecosystem on which MIUI is based, each application is isolated in its own sandbox but has access to shared system resources.
When you decide to reset, you actually force the configuration files to be deleted, making the program think it’s running for the first time after installation.This could mean losing saved passwords in the browser, resetting levels in games, or clearing the messaging history in messengers if they’re not synced to the cloud.
There are several levels of reset, and you can't confuse them. Cache cleaning is safe and only removes temporary files, speeding up work. Deleting data erases all the settings of a particular application. Completely resetting all applications through the engineering menu returns the entire software environment to factory status, which is comparable to reinstalling the operating system without formatting the user partition.
- 📱 Cache – temporary files to speed up downloads, their removal is safe.
- 🗑️ Application data – settings, logins and saves within a specific program.
- ⚙️ System settings – global parameters of the interface and services Xiaomi.
It is important to distinguish between system applications such as Phone, Messages or Gallery and custom software downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. System components require more care, as their incorrect reset can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device or the disappearance of critical interface functions.
Preparation of the device for the discharge procedure
Any deep interference with the smartphone file system requires careful preparation. The first step should be to provide a stable power source.The reset process, especially if it affects system services, can be energy intensive, and suddenly turning off the device at a critical point in data recording can damage the file table.
The second critical step is backing up. Even though we're talking about resetting app settings rather than full formatting, there's always a risk of data loss.Use Xiaomi's built-in backup tool, which allows you to save a list of installed apps, home screen settings and system settings.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for discharge
It’s also worth disabling any third-party antivirus or optimizers that can intercept system requests to change configuration files. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Google or Mi Account, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes, as after a reset, the system may request re-authorization to confirm security.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the reset process even if the screen is out or the smartphone seems to be getting stuck. Interrupting system file writing can lead to a software brick of the device.
Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (Basic Level)
The safest and most recommended way for most users is to use the standard MIUI interface, which allows you to selectively or massively clear application data without using complex commands. First, go to the Settings menu and find the Application section, which in some versions of the firmware may be called All Applications.
In the list that opens, you will see all the programs installed. To reset the settings of a particular problem application, click on it, select Memory or Storage, and then click Clean and select All. This action will delete all data and settings, returning the application to state immediately after installation.
If your goal is to reset all applications immediately through the standard interface, there is usually no such single button-like feature in the user menu, as this is too dangerous for the average user. However, you can use the memory cleanup function, which indirectly affects the cache state of the system. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI (or HyperOS) version and click several times on the logo to activate additional tools if they are available in your version.
For a deeper cleanup, this section uses the built-in Security tool: Launch the Security app, select Cleanup, and then go to deep cleanup. Here, the system will prompt you to remove the remnants of deleted applications and large files, which also helps to free up space occupied by erroneous configuration files.
Method 2: Engineering menu and reset code (Advanced level)
For users who need to reset all app settings at once, there is access to the Android hidden engineering menu, which is the most effective, but requires accuracy. To log in to the menu, you need to open the Phone app and type a special code. Xiaomi devices often have code ##4636##, which opens the test menu.
However, for direct reset of application settings (App Reset) another mechanism is used, available through the recovery menu or special ones. ADB-In the case of the code ##4636###, you can block direct code to massively reset all applications in the dialer-e in new versions of HyperOS. If the code ##4636## does not open the menu, try the code #7780###. This code initiates resetting of application settings and system settings, but does not delete user files (photos, videos, music).
##7780##Once you enter the code, you will see a warning on the screen that all application settings will be reset. The system will request confirmation of the action. Be careful: some older versions of MIUI have this code that may have worked differently, so always read the warning text on the screen before pressing the confirmation button. If the code is not working, it means that the manufacturer has blocked this feature at the firmware level for security reasons.
What if the code doesn't work?
This method is useful when a smartphone starts to behave inadequately after a system update or installing a large amount of software, a kind of “soft reboot” of the logical structure of the operating system, which often solves problems with the battery and interface lags.
Using ADB for professional resetting
The most flexible and powerful tool for managing a Xiaomi smartphone is debugging. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer via a computer. USB-cable and availability of an installed set of Android platform tools SDK It allows you to execute commands that are not available through the touch interface.
To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and press 7 times on MIUI Version (or HyperOS). Then, in the advanced settings, find Developer Mode and turn on USB Debugging Toggle. Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging on your smartphone screen.
To reset the data of a particular application, use the command adb shell pm clear packet name. For example, to reset the settings of the Chrome browser, the command will look like this:
adb shell pm clear com.android.chromeA script can be used to massively reset all third-party applications (non-system) but this requires caution. A simple command file to completely reset "all" without the risk of removing system components does not exist in the public domain, as this depends on the firmware structure. However, you can reset the settings of a specific problematic Google Play service that often causes crashes:
adb shell pm clear com.google.android.gms💡
To find the package name of a particular application, use the command "adb shell pm list packages" and filter the output by the program name, which will help to accurately identify the system name of the application to be reset.
The advantage of ADB is that you can spot-delete data from applications that don’t have an interface or are hidden from the user, which is especially useful for cleaning Xiaomi system services like Mi Cloud or GetApps if they don’t sync properly.
Comparison of cleaning methods and their effect on the system
So that you can choose the best way to solve your problem, let's organize information about different reset methods, each of which has its own depth of penetration and implications for user data.
| Method | Depth of impact | Risk of data loss | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing the cache | Minimum (temporary files) | Absent. | Low. |
| Data resetting of the annex | Medium (one program settings) | Medium (logins, saves) | Low. |
| Code ##7780## | High (all application settings) | High (resetting all settings) | Medium |
| ADB Teams | Point or full | Depends on the team. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the safest method to solve problems with one particular application is to manually reset its data through the settings menu. The use of codes or ADB is justified only in cases of system failures, when the problem is massive and affects the operation of the entire interface.
And it's also worth mentioning the security impact of these procedures, because once you reset your application settings, especially system ones, some permissions can be reset to default, which means you have to re-issue the microphone, camera and geolocation for the programs you use, and it's even a useful side effect of revising which apps you really trust.
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The choice of reset method should depend on the scale of the problem: for one application, use settings, for system lags - engineering codes or ADB.