Xiaomi reset to factory settings if it doesn’t turn on: 3 working ways

Why Xiaomi smartphone doesn’t turn on and when you need a reset

Your Xiaomi has stopped responding to the power button, is stuck on the MI logo or is not showing any signs of life? The reasons can vary from software failure after the update to hardware malfunctions. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by hard reset - returning the device to factory settings. But how to do this if the screen does not work and the phone does not turn on?

In this article, we'll look at all the possible reset methods, including Recovery Mode, Fastboot, and even PC-based ones. Importantly, the procedure will remove all the data from the device -- photos, contacts, messages -- if the phone was previously synced to Mi Account, some of the information can be recovered after the reset.

Before you start, check the obvious things: charge your smartphone at least 30% (plug it into charging for 15-20 minutes), try another socket or cable. If the indicator doesn’t burn after charging, the battery or power card may be the problem, in which case repairs will be required.

Method 1: Reset via Recovery Mode (for most models)

Recovery Mode is an integrated recovery mode available on all Xiaomi smartphones, it works even if the system is not booting, you need to use a combination of physical buttons to get into it, and the combinations may differ between Redmi, POCO and Mi models.

Here is the general instruction for most devices (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12):

• 🔋 Turn off the phone (if it freezes – press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
• 🔄 Press the combination: The power button + Volume up (for new models) or Power button + Loudness up + Loudness down (for older ones, for example, Redmi) 4X).
• 📱 Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
• 🖱️ Control: Volume buttons - moving, power button - choice.

From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (or Clear Data, Factory Reset, depending on the firmware version), confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed. Once the reset is completed, the phone will restart automatically. If the menu is in Chinese, look for characters (data cleanup).

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F1, Mi A1/A2) Recovery menu can be in English, but with touch control.If the screen does not respond to touch, use the volume and power buttons.

Method 2: Reset via Fastboot (if Recovery is not available)

If the phone is not included in Recovery Mode or the menu is damaged, you can use Fastboot mode.This method requires connection to the PC and installed Xiaomi drivers. Suitable for all models, including Redmi 9/9A/9C, POCO M3/M4, Mi 10/11.

You'll need:

• 💻 Windows computer (or Mac/Linux fixed ADB/Fastboot).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Xiaomi Drivers (download from the official website or via the Mi Flash Tool).
• 🛠️ Fastboot utility (part of Android) SDK Platform Tools).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press the Power Button + Volume down for 5-10 seconds until the hare appears in the eardress cap (Fastboot logo).
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command prompt (Win + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder from Fastboot:

cd C:\platform-tools

Enter the reset command:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

The phone will reboot and start setting up as new. If the command doesn't work, try:

fastboot flashing unlock_critical

(Requires an unlocked boot loader).

Method 3: Reset via Mi Flash Tool (for advanced users)

If the first two methods didn't work, the last option is to completely flash through the Mi Flash Tool, which erases all data and installs a clean firmware, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📁 Official firmware for your model (download from Xiaomi website).
• 💾 Mi Flash Tool (download from the official page).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware archive in a folder without Cyrillic (for example, C:\ROM\).
2. Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (as in Method 2).
4. In the utility, click Select and select the folder with the firmware.
5. Press Refresh – the program must identify the device.
6. Select firmware mode: Clean all - complete cleaning (recommended). Clean all and lock - cleaning + lock bootloader (beware!).

Flash

⚠️ Warning: The wrong firmware can turn your phone into a brick. Make sure you download the firmware exactly for your model (check the sticker under the lid or box). For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet) will not work for the Redmi Note 10 (mojito).

💡

Before you install the firmware, disable the antivirus, which can block Mi Flash Tool files as “suspicious.”

Table: Recovery/Fastboot button combinations on popular models

What to do if the reset did not help: diagnosis of hardware problems

If none of the methods worked, the problem could be hardware, and here are the signs of malfunctions that need repair:

• 🔋 Phone does not charge (indicator does not burn, PC does not detect the device).
• 💥 After a fall or impact (may damage to the motherboard).
• 🌡️ The phone overheats (turns off after 1-2 minutes after switching on).
• 💧 Traces of corrosion on the board (infection of moisture).
• 📱 The screen does not respond to touch, but the backlight works.

Critical information: If the phone has been repaired before (e.g., battery or screen replacement), the cause of the malfunction may be poor contact of the plumes or damage to the power chips, and in 60% of these cases, re-solding of components helps.

For diagnosis:

1. Try connecting your phone to charge with another cable and power supply.
2. Light a flashlight on the screen – if the image is barely noticeable, the problem is in the backlight.
3. Connect the headphones – if you hear the boot sound when you turn on, but the screen is black, the display module is to blame.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the phone yourself unless you have experience. - Modern Xiaomi (e.g. Mi 12 or Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) have fragile plumes and glue joints - they are easy to damage.

Charging from a non-original adapter

Other causes-->

How to avoid data loss in the future

To avoid losing data in the following crashes, set up automatic backup:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Enable synchronization of contacts, photos and notes in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Local Backup: Settings → The phone. → Backup (saves to the memory card).
• 🔄 Google Account: sync your data with Google Drive (Settings) → Accounts. → Google).
• 💾 Third-party applications: Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup.

We also recommend:

• Regularly update the firmware (but not through beta).
• Avoid installing applications from unknown sources.
• Do not interrupt the system update process.
• Use covers and protective glass to prevent mechanical damage.

💡

Even if your phone is stable, back up once a month, which will take 5-10 minutes, but save you days of data recovery in the event of a crash.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset