Xiaomi mobile devices running on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS are high performance, but sometimes require radical measures to restore health. Users often face situations when the gadget begins to work unstable, forget the lock password of the screen or accumulate a critical amount of system debris that cannot be removed by standard cleaning methods.
The return to the original state completely deletes all user data, including contacts, photos, installed applications and account logins. That is why creating a full backup of data is a must before starting any firmware manipulation. Failure to do so will lead to the irretrievable loss of important information, the recovery of which will be extremely difficult or impossible without a pre-created backup.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can reboot your system, from the regular settings menu to the Recovery mode for locked devices. You will learn about the nuances of working with a Google account and Mi Account, which can lock your phone after a reset, if you do not know the safety rules. Let’s look at the algorithms that will help reanimate your gadget and return it to factory speed.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before proceeding with the active phase of deleting data, you need to make sure that the device is ready for this process.The battery should be at least 50-60%, since the procedure for formatting memory partitions is energy intensive and interrupting power at a critical stage can damage the system files. If the phone turns on, be sure to check the charge level and connect it to the original charger if necessary.
The second critical step is data synchronization with cloud services, and Xiaomi smartphone owners are encouraged to use the built-in Mi Cloud to save contacts, notes, voice recordings and call schedules. For photos and videos, the best service is Google Photos or manual copying of files to a computer through the Internet. USB-cable.
☑️ Checklist before reset
It’s also worth removing the MicroSD card in advance if it’s installed in the device’s slot. Although modern versions of Android often ask for confirmation to erase external memory, physical removal of the media ensures that your personal files on the card remain intact. Also, don't forget to take it out. SIM-card to avoid accidental loss of contacts if they are stored on it, and not in the memory of the phone.
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Before reset, force your Google account to sync: Settings → Google → Sync → Click on three dots and select Sync Now.
Method 1: Reset via the system settings menu
The safest and easiest way to get back to factory settings is directly through the operating system interface, which is suitable for cases where the smartphone is functioning normally, the screen responds to touch, and you know the unlock password or the pattern lock. The algorithm for actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the overall logic remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll to the bottom of the list. Find About Phone (or Advanced Settings in some versions). Inside this section, find Reset. In newer firmware versions, the path may look like Settings → About Phone → Reset, whereas in older versions it was often located along the Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset path.
After going to the reset menu, the system will offer two options: “Reset all settings” (without deleting personal files) and “Erase all data” (full Hard Reset). We are interested in the second option. When choosing this option, the system will give a warning that all data will be deleted. You will need to enter the unlock password for confirmation of operation. After that, the cleaning process will begin, which will take from 5 to 15 minutes, after which the device will be rebooted in the “out of the box” state.
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Using the settings menu is the only way to guarantee FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection if you plan to sell the device, since the system itself correctly untie accounts.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone doesn't load, freezes on the logo or the touch screen stops responding, the only way out is to use Recovery Mode Recovery Mode, which allows you to reset at the bootloader level, bypassing the operating system. It's important to understand that this mode is navigated by volume buttons, and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
To enter recovery mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume key until the Recovery menu appears. Some models, such as the Redmi Note series, may require a charging cable to activate this mode.
⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen does not work. Moving on points is done by short presses of the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by a single press of the power button. In the menu that opens, select a language (usually English and Chinese only, choose English). Go to Wipe Data and confirm the choice. The next screen will show the Wipe All Data option. Once confirmed, the system will warn you about the loss of data again. When completed, the message “Data wiped successfully” will appear, and then select Back to Main Menu and then Reboot. → Reboot to System. What to do if Recovery requires a password? MIUI (12, 13, 14) and HyperOS logging into Recovery Mode may require you to enter a screen unlock password or pattern lock for security purposes. If you have forgotten the password and cannot log in, this method may not be available without first unlocking the bootloader through the system. PC. Resetting a forgotten password and locks One of the common reasons for resetting is the loss of access to the device due to a forgotten pattern lock, PIN-However, modern versions of Android are equipped with powerful security mechanisms, in particular, FRP (Factory Reset Protection.This means that even after a full reset via Recovery, the phone will require you to enter the Google account data that was synced to the device before locking. If you reset your phone, forget your password, but remember your Google account data, there will be no problems. Otherwise, the device will become a brick for an outsider. There is also a lock on Mi Account. If you have a Xiaomi account in your phone settings and you have the Find Device feature enabled, you will need to enter your login and password from that account after the reset. It is almost impossible to get around these protections legally without your account data. Attempts to use third-party software to reset FRP often lead to unstable system operation or complete loss of functionality of communication modules. So if you change your password, be sure to write new data to a safe place or use password managers. Type of locking Method of removal Risk of data loss Required data pattern lock / PIN Hard Reset with Recovery 100% (all deleted) Google Account / Mi Account FRP (Google Lock Entering Google Password No (if password is available) Google Mi Account Lock Login and Password Entering Mi Password No (if password is available) Login and password Xiaomi bootloader (Locked) BL) Official 100% unlock (unblock) 168 hours account binding Delete accounts before selling If your goal is to sell the device or transfer it to another user, a simple data reset is not enough. You need to manually unplug your device from the cloud so that the new owner doesn't encounter activation locks. This is a security rule that manufacturers have put in place to combat theft. First, delete your Google account. Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Select your email address and click on Delete Account or Sign Out. Similar procedure should be done with your Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account. → The system will warn that the Device Search features will be disabled - that's exactly what we need. 📊 Forgot the password I have a phone for sale Virus or system error Only after manually exiting all accounts you can perform the reset procedure through the settings menu, as described in the second section. This approach ensures that the device will not remain a “digital footprint”, and the new owner will be able to activate the smartphone to their data without unnecessary questions and checks. Frequent Post-Reset Problems and Their Solutions After Hard Reset is executed, the first start of the system can take significantly longer than usual.The logo screen can burn from 5 to 10 minutes. This is normal behavior, as the system optimizes applications and creates new encrypted memory partitions, and do not attempt to interrupt this process by forced reboot if the boot indicator has not gone out for more than 20 minutes. Another common problem is the fast battery drain and heating in the first hours of use, which is due to background indexing of files and downloading data from the cloud. Let the phone lie on a charge in standby mode for about an hour after the first turn on so that the background processes are completed. ⚠️ Warning: If the phone is constantly bootlooped or hangs on the logo after the reset, system partitions may be damaged, in which case you will need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. Users may also face the absence of some applications that were preinstalled by the manufacturer. In some regions (e.g., the Global version for Europe) it may be necessary to re-accept user agreements and configure basic Google Play services after the reset. Make sure that the date and time are set automatically, as the wrong time can block the connection to the activation servers. If you didn't back up to the cloud, and the photos were only stored in the device's internal memory, they were permanently deleted during formatting. They can only be restored by paid professional services, and then not always. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Will the Operating System Remove When Reset? No, Android Operating System and Shell MIUI/HyperOS The reset only affects the user's memory partition, removing apps, settings and personal files, but not the firmware itself. Can you recover data after Hard Reset? In today's disk-encrypted smartphones, it's almost impossible to recover data after a complete reset without professional equipment. If you haven't backed up in advance, consider it lost. Will the bootloader unlock? No, the unlocked bootloader status is still there even after the full reset. If the bootloader has been unlocked, it will remain that way. However, if you lock it back through Fastboot, the phone may stop loading if it's custom firmware. SIM-- before the reset, SIM-It doesn't affect the reset process, but retrieving it will protect the contacts stored on it from being accidentally deleted if you choose the wrong cleaning parameter.