The MIUI operating system installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is famous for its functionality, but sometimes even it can fail. Accumulated software debris, errors after a failed update or simply a desire to sell the device require radical measures. In such situations, a standard settings menu may not be enough, especially if the gadget is not turned on or locked, and this is where the recovery mode known as Recovery Mode comes to the rescue.
Using this tool, you can perform what's called Hard Reset, which completely clears the device's internal memory of user data, and it will bring the phone back out of the box by removing all apps, photos, contacts and system errors. It's important to understand that this process is irreversible, so you need to be clear about the consequences before you start any manipulations and prepare the device for the procedure.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to enter the recovery mode on different models of Chinese smartphones, which menu items to choose for safe reset and what to do if the system requires account confirmation. We will also look at the differences between the global and Chinese versions of firmware, as the algorithm of actions in them can differ significantly.
Preparation of the device for radical reset
Before you go to technical actions, you need to perform a number of preparatory operations. Hard Reset is a rough intervention in the file system, and if you miss the preparation stage, you can lose critical data forever. The first thing you need to make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60%.
The second important step is backup. Even if the phone is unstable, try syncing your contacts with your Google or Mi Account. You better copy your photos and documents to your computer or to the cloud. If you lose access to the system completely, you'll have to skip this step, but keep in mind that you can't restore data after a reset through the receptacle without a pre-created copy.
⚠️ Note: If the device is enabled with the function "Find Device" (Find Device), after resetting the phone will require you to enter the username and password from the Mi-account that was previously associated.
It is also worth removing the memory card. SD and SIM-The card before the procedure, although the current versions MIUI Usually asked which partition to clean, physical removal of media will eliminate the risk of accidentally formatting an external memory card along with the internal memory of the phone.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Entering Recovery mode on Xiaomi smartphones
The process of entering recovery mode may vary slightly depending on the model and version of the operating system, but the basic algorithm remains the same for most devices of the brand: first you need to completely turn off the smartphone. Not just put it into sleep mode, but to terminate the system. Once the screen is gone, you can start a combination of keys.
Press both the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears on the screen, and then the power button can be released while still holding the volume. In a few seconds, the main receptacle menu will open. If the device responds to touch, you have a Chinese firmware or global version with the touch interface on. If you can control only the volume buttons (up and down) and a confirmation via the power button, you have a stock android receptacle.
Navigation on the menu is different. In the touch version, just choose the right point with your finger. In the button version, a short press on Volume Up raises the cursor up, on Volume Down it lowers down. The choice of item is confirmed by a single press on the power button. Beware: in some old models, the logic of the volume buttons can be inverted.
What to do if the menu does not appear?
Recovery Interfaces: Stock and Custom MIUI
Users are often confused by the different interfaces of the recovery menu, which is due to regional features of the firmware. MIUI (Global ROM) The most common is the standard Android Recovery menu, which looks ascetic: black background, blue or yellow text and no touch screen support. data/factory reset.
Chinese firmware versions (China ROM) and some custom builds offer an extended MIUI Recovery menu. It supports multi-touch, has a graphical interface and offers more options, including connecting to Wi-Fi to reset passwords or clearing all data (Wipe All Data).
| Function | Stock Recovery (Global) | MIUI Recovery (China/Custom) |
|---|---|---|
| Management | Volume and power buttons | Touch screen (Touch) |
| Language | English | Chinese/English |
| Data resetting | Wipe data/factory reset | Wipe Data → Wipe All Data |
| Connection to PC | Connect to PC (rarely) | Support for Mi PC Suite |
Don't be alarmed if you see characters. In most cases, you just need to find a button with a gear or globe to change the language to English, if it's supported by a particular version of the Recovery. If language change is not possible, look at the location of the buttons: the full reset function is almost always in the second or third place on top.
Step-by-step instructions for running Wipe Data
Consider the action algorithm for the most common scenario, a reset through the standard menu. Once you enter the recovery mode, you'll see a list of options. Using the volume buttons, go down to Wipe data or Wipe data/factory reset. Press the power button to confirm the selection.
It will alert you that all data will be deleted, and it's a random security mechanism, so you need to select Wipe All Data (GUI) or confirm the action with the Yes/Confirm button. Some versions of MIUI require you to press the confirmation button again on the final screen, where you will see the words "Data wiped successfully."
After successfully completing the formatting process, which can take anywhere from 10 seconds to a few minutes depending on the amount of memory, the phone will return to the main reboot menu. Now you need to select Reboot, then Reboot to System. The device will restart, and the initial setup will begin, which takes longer than usual.
⚠️ Note: The first launch after reset may last until 10-15 If the screen burns longer, don't panic, the system checks the integrity of files and optimizes applications.
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If the phone is stuck on the bootloop after reset, try resetting, but select “Wipe Cache” (if available) before rebooting, and then “Reboot” again.
Mi Account Problem and Protection Against Theft
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a serious security system. If the device was turned on the Internet before reset and signed in to Mi Account, and activated the function “Find the device”, then after formatting, activation lock will start.
This is done to protect against theft: even a factory reset will prevent an unauthorized person from using the phone. If you forget your password, you can only restore access through the official i.mi.com website, having access to a linked phone number or mail. Bypassing this protection by unofficial methods often leads to the inoperability of communication modules.
If you buy a used phone and you see a demand, it means that the previous owner did not untie the device. Contact him to unlock. Using the purchased "unlocks" through server methods carries risks: the phone can be locked remotely at any time, because the phone can be locked remotely at any time. IM-The code will remain on the manufacturer's server blacklist.
Possible errors and methods of their solution
It doesn't always go smoothly. One of the common problems is the message "Can't verify update" or the refusal to reset, which can happen if the recovery partition is damaged or there are version conflicts, in which case it can help to log into Fastboot mode (power button + volume reduction) and firmware the device through the computer utility Mi Flash Tool.
Another situation is that the phone reboots indefinitely after reset, which could indicate a physical malfunction of the power button (it stuck inside the case) or critical damage to system files. If re-entry into the Recovery and resetting do not help, most likely, re-flashing through the EDL-The procedure that is performed in service centers.
Users also face the fact that after reset, the touch screen does not work or the touch-skin “gluts”. Before contacting the service, try calibrating the screen through the engineering menu or checking if a thick protective glass-armor is pasted, which can interfere with the operation of the digitizer.
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If a standard reset via Recovery does not solve the problem with software errors, the only correct solution is to completely reflash the device from the computer.