How to completely reset your Xiaomi phone to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Why you might need to reset Xiaomi to factory settings

Resetting a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary solution, most often resorted to when the device starts to malfunction: freezes, overheats, discharges quickly or emits errors when installing applications. In 80% of cases, a hard reset helps restore the phone to its previous performance by removing accumulated digital debris, conflicting updates or viruses.

Another common reason is to prepare the phone for sale, and even if you delete all files manually, personal data (logins, passwords, message history) can remain in the system folders, and a full reset is guaranteed to clear internal memory, including hidden data and cache partitions, which is especially important for MIUI models where Xiaomi accounts are tied to the device at the firmware level.

Finally, a reset may be required after a failed firmware update, when the phone is stuck on the Mi logo or gives off a Fastboot error. In such cases, recovery through Recovery Mode is often the only way to resuscitate the device without going to the service center.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Before you start resetting, make sure you don’t lose important data. On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14 and later, resetting through settings automatically unties your Xiaomi account, but only if the device is connected to the Internet at the time of the procedure. Otherwise, you will need to enter your username and password after the reboot.

Here is the checklist of mandatory actions:

Make a backup of contacts and photos|Record the username/password from the Xiaomi account|Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%|Disable Google Photos and other cloud syncs|Get out. SIM-card and memory card (if any)-->

Pay special attention to backup. MIUI has a built-in archiving feature: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup. It saves:

• 📞 Contacts and call log
• 📸 Photos and videos (except for those on the SD-map)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)

However, there are no remaining:

• 🔒 Passwords from apps and browsers
• 💳 Data of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.)
• 📥 Downloads from Telegram, WhatsApp, messengers
• 🎵 Music and podcasts downloaded offline

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If you forget your Xiaomi account password, try to restore it through account.xiaomi.com before the reset, and after the procedure, your phone may lock for 72 hours if you enter incorrect data 5 times in a row.

Method 1: Reset via phone settings (the safest)

This method is suitable for all working smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO running MIUI 12-14. the main advantage is simplicity and minimal risk of errors. Instructions are relevant for models 2019-2026 (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

Step-by-step procedure:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Click Backup and Reset.
4. Select Settings Reset.
5. Tap Delete all data (entry may be required) PIN-code-key).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset the phone.

It takes 3-10 minutes depending on the model, the phone will reboot and start setting up as new, and the welcome menu will appear on the screen with the choice of language.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) After reset, you may need to re-activate via Mi Account, even if you have untied the device before!

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If your smartphone is stuck on the logo, reboots constantly or doesn’t respond to touch, you’ll need to use Recovery Mode, which works on 99% of Xiaomi devices, but requires care – wrong actions can lead to loss of IMEI or lock the bootloader.

Instructions for entering Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Hold the combination: 🔘 Power button + Loudness up (for most models) 🔘 Power button + Loudness down (for) POCO X3, Redmi Note 10 Pro)

Mi

In Recovery Mode, volume buttons (up/down, move, power, select) are used.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset on newer versions).
2. Confirm Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the end (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
4. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter the Fastboot (there will be a hare in a hat-eared hat on the screen).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue.
5. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi K40) After fastboot erase commands, you may need to flash through the Mi Flash Tool, otherwise the phone will not boot.

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Fastboot reset erases data completely, but it doesn’t remove the Mi Account binding.If you forget your password, this method won’t help you bypass the lock!

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

One particular problem is IMEI loss, which happens when you delete critical partitions when you reset through Fastboot.

• 📵 No network (on the operator's place) the inscription No service)
• 🔍 In the settings IMEI is displayed as 0 or Null
• 📞 Impossible to call or send SMS

To restore the IMEI:

1. Install the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm QPST (for Snapdragon).
2. Enter the code #4636## and select Information.
3. Find the original IMEIs (they are listed on the box or under the battery) and enter them in the appropriate fields.

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

After a successful reset, the Xiaomi phone will launch as new.

1. Choose a language and region (for Russia – Russian Federation).
2. Connect to Wi-Fi (required to activate Mi Account)
3. Enter your Xiaomi account details (if the phone was tied).
4. Set up a pattern lock or PIN-code.
5. Restore data from the backup (if you did backup through MIUI).

⚠️ Note: If you are recovering data from the Mi Cloud, make sure that the firmware version of the phone matches the version at the time of backup creation.

To speed up the settings:

• 🔄 Restore contacts through Google Account (they are synced automatically).
• 📷 Transfer photos and videos from your computer or cloud (Google Photos, Yandex Drive).
• 🎮 Install apps via Mi App Store or Google Play (use the list of My apps and games) → Library).
• 🔧 Disable unnecessary system applications through Settings → Annexes → Removal of rights (saves charge).

After setting up, it is recommended:

1. Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings → About the phone → System Update).
2. Check the operation of sensors (gyroscope, compass, NFC) through the Test equipment (code # #4636##).
3. Calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions.

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To avoid repeated crashes, install an antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and clean the cache regularly through Settings → Storage → Clean.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions