How to Reset Your Settings on Xiaomi Mi 8: A Complete Guide with 3 Ways

The Xiaomi Mi 8, released in 2018, is still a popular smartphone thanks to its powerful hardware and flexible MIUI firmware. But over time, any gadget begins to slow down, glitches or simply requires a “clean sheet” before selling. Resetting to factory settings is a universal solution for most software problems, but in the case of the Mi 8 there are nuances that are not written in the standard instructions.

This article will not just list the reset methods, but will explain which method to choose depending on the situation: when the smartphone turns on, when it is locked, or if after a failed update it turned into a brick.We will also discuss how to get around the “No command” error in Recovery, which often occurs on older versions of MIUI for Mi 8, and what to do if after reset the phone requires an old Mi Account.

Preparation for resetting: what to do before the start

Resetting is not just a matter of pressing a button, but improper preparation can lead to loss of important data or even to the "bricking" of the device.

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50% If the smartphone turns off during reset via Recovery, it can damage system files.
• 📱 Backup. Even if the phone doesn't turn on, try connecting it to a PC -- sometimes data can be saved through a computer. ADB Specialized tools like Dr.Fone.
• 🔑 Xiaomi account details. After reset, you will need to enter the username and password from the Mi Account that was linked to the device. If you forget them, restore them in advance at account.xiaomi.com.
• 📡 Wi-Fi or SIM-Once reset, you'll have to reset your Internet connection, so prepare the login data.

Pay special attention to blocking Mi Account. On the Mi 8 with firmware older than MIUI 12, Factory Reset Protection (FRP) can work after a reset. If you do not remember the account data, the reset will lead to a complete locking of the device with a username / password requirement, in which case only the official Xiaomi service center with proof of ownership will help.

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If you reset the Mi 8 before selling, be sure to untie the device from the Mi Account in your account settings.This will save the new owner from activation problems.

⚠️ Note: On the Xiaomi Mi 8 with Unlocked Bootloader, a reset via Recovery can result in the loss of custom firmware. MIUI, But all the data will be erased.

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

The easiest and safest method is to reset directly from a working system, and it is suitable if:

• 📱 The smartphone is turned on and reacts to touch.
• 🔓 You remember the pattern lock or PIN-code.
• 📶 No critical errors that interfere with the loading MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. The system will ask you to choose what to drop: 📱 All data – full reset to factory settings. 🔄 Network settings – reset only Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.

Confirm the action by entering a password (if installed).

Wait until the process is completed (usually takes 2-5 minutes).

After the reboot, you will see the screen of the initial settings, as after the purchase. If at this stage the phone requires the entry of Mi Account data, use the same login and password that you had before the reset.

Password from lock screen|Battery charge >50%|Backup of contacts and photo|Mi Account data at hand|Disable Find Device (if you plan to sell)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Mi 8 firmware (especially custom ones) may not have Recovery and Reset. In this case, use Recovery (Method 2).

Method 2: Reset via Recovery (if the phone doesn't boot)

If the Xiaomi Mi 8 doesn’t turn on, hovers on the logo or reboots cyclically, resetting through Recovery will help.This method is also relevant if you forget the screen unlock password.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear All Data in older versions).
6. Confirm the action by choosing Confirm.
7. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If instead of the Recovery menu, you see a recumbent robot with the word No command, it means that the standard recovery is damaged.

• Press and hold the Power button + Volume up again to forcefully log into Recovery.
• If it doesn’t work, try connecting your phone to your PC and using Fastboot (Method 3).

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

If the first two fail, Fastboot is a mode that allows you to control your device through a computer, which requires you to install drivers and the Mi Flash Tool, but is guaranteed to work even on the “brick” Mi 8.

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer (Windows recommended) 10/11).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 🛠 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website of Xiaomi).
• 📥 Firmware for Mi 8 (The following is the Dipper for the global version or dipper_cn Chinese).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume down and connect the cable to the PC. The screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared — a sign of successful login to the Fastboot.
3. On your computer, run the Mi Flash Tool and select the downloaded firmware (file with the.tgz extension).
4. At the bottom of the program, select Clean All (full reset) or Clean All and Lock (reset + lock bootloader).
5. Press Flash and wait until the process is complete (usually 5-10 minutes).
6. After successful firmware, the phone will automatically restart.

If the Mi Flash Tool is an anti-rollback error, it means you are trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one on your phone, in which case download the newer firmware or use Fastboot commands to bypass the restriction:

fastboot oem edl


fastboot flash all [name file firmware].tgz




fastboot reboot

Yeah, through the settings menu.|Yes, through Recovery.|Yes, via Fastboot.|No, you didn't.|I don't know what it is.-->

⚠️ Note: Using the Fastboot on the Mi 8 with a Locked Bootloader will lead to an error. To unlock the bootloader, you need to obtain permission from Xiaomi through the official Mi Unlock Tool application.

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

After the successful reset of the Xiaomi Mi 8, the initial setup is to be made.

• 📱 Link the same account you had before the reset, or create a new one. Without it, many features (like Find Device or cloud backup) won’t work.
• 🔄 Data recovery: If you backed up through Mi Cloud or Google Account, the system will prompt you to restore contacts, photos and apps during the setup phase.
• 🔒 Security. Install a new one. PIN-The Mi 8 also has facial unlock, but it's less reliable than a fingerprint.
• 📡 Network: Connect to Wi-Fi or set up mobile internet (options) APN This may vary depending on the operator).

If your phone is running slower than before, try:

• 📱 Disable animation in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times on the version bar, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, turn off window animation and transition animation).
• 🔄 Do a cache reset in Recovery (Wipe Cache).
• 📥 Update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.

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After resetting the Mi 8, some features, such as Google Pay or banking apps, may need to be re-activated, due to a change in device identifiers (such as Widevine for DRM).

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, a reset on the Xiaomi Mi 8 can end in error.

If none of the methods worked, and the Mi 8 still fails to turn on or gives errors, it may be a problem in the hardware (for example, damaged eMMC memory).In this case, contact the service center. Diagnostics will cost 500-1500 rubles, and repair (if you need to replace the memory chip) – from 3000 rubles.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Mi 8