Resetting Xiaomi to Factory Settings Without Losing Data: The Complete 2026 Guide

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step, one that users resort to when selling a device, after a virus attack, or when the phone starts to “glue” for no apparent reason. But the main problem is how to get the system back clean without losing years of accumulated photos, correspondence and settings?

In this article, we’ll break down all the working reset methods for current and outdated Xiaomi models (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark, and we will also dwell on how to save data before hard reset — from cloud services to manual backup. MIUI 14/15, If you're afraid of losing important information, this guide is for you.

When you really need to reset to factory settings

Before you click Reset, make sure there are no alternatives. Hard reset erases everything, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos in the gallery (unless synced to the cloud)
• 📱 Installed applications and their settings
• 📞 Call log and SMS/MMS
• 🔑 Saved Wi-Fi passwords and accounts
• 🎮 Game data (progress, purchases)

Typical cases where a dump is justified:

• 🔄 Selling or transferring your phone – the new owner does not have to access your data.
• 🦠 Viral infection that cannot be eliminated by antiviruses.
• 🐢 Critical system slowdown after updates or installation of heavy applications.
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock/password (if other unlock methods fail).
• 📱 Failed update MIUI, resulting in “eternal” loading or errors.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is locked due to too many failed password attempts, a Recovery reset can activate Mi Account protection. In this case, after the reboot, you will need to enter the username and password from the Xiaomi account associated with the device.

Preparing for resetting: how to save all data

The rule is that the backup must be done before the reset. Once you click Reset, it will be impossible to recover information (unless you use professional tools like Dr.Fone, but this is a separate topic).

1.Cloud backup via Mi Cloud

The easiest method for Xiaomi users is synchronization with Mi Cloud.

• 📞 Contacts and call log
• 📅 Notes and calendar events
• 📸 Photo/video (if option is enabled)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, labels)

How to turn on synchronization:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud
2. Sign in or create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Activate sliders in front of all the items you want to save.
4. Click Sync and wait until it is completed (can take up to 30 minutes with a large amount of data).

⚠️ Warning: The free Mi Cloud tariff only provides 5GB of storage. 4K, In this case, use Google Photos (unlimited storage of compressed photos) or a physical backup on your PC.

2. Manual backup to the computer

To control the data, copy the files to your PC or external drive. Connect the phone to your computer via USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP). Basic folders for copying:

For backups SMS and call logs use apps like SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play) exportes messages to a.xml file, which can then be restored.

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If your phone is not computer-defined, try another one. USB-cable (original from Xiaomi) or turn on Debugging mode USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times on the version, then return to the optional version. → For developers).

3.Local backup through MIUI

V MIUI 12/13/14/15 There's a built-in backup feature on the phone itself:

• 📱 System settings and applications
• 📞 Contacts, SMS, call-in
• 📁 Some User Data (but not all!)

How to make a backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Backup and select the data to save.
3. Wait until the file is completed (the file will be saved to the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup).

Important: This backup doesn't include photos, videos and music -- you have to copy them separately, and you can only recover data from the same menu after the reset.

4. Backup via Google Account

If you use Google services, they automatically sync:

• 📞 Contacts (via Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📱 Installed applications (list for quick recovery)
• 📍 Google Chrome data (bookmarks, history)
• 🎮 Progress in games (if supported by Google Play Games)

To check the synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure that the desired items are marked with ticks.
3. Press Sync.

How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings

Depending on the phone and version MIUI Three methods of discharge are available:

1. Settings – if the phone is stable.
2. Recovery – if the system is not booted or locked.
3. Fastboot is for experienced users (requires a PC).

Let's look at each one in detail.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (for a working phone)

The safest way suitable for MIUI 10-15. Instructions:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Reset (in some versions – Reset all settings).
3. Read the warning and click Delete Everything.
4. When requesting, enter a password/pattern lock (if installed).
5. Confirm the action – the phone will restart and start the reset process (it will take 5-15 minutes).

After the reboot, you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after the purchase, here you can recover data from the backup (if it was made through Mi Cloud or Google).

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

If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo, cyclically reboots or locks, use Recovery.This method works on all models, including the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4, Xiaomi 12/13/14.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (clip Power + Volume up for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the button combination to enter Recovery: For most models: Power + Volume up. For older devices (until 2018): Power + Loudness up + Loudness down.

Mi

Recovery

Nutrition

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Confirm

Reboot → Reboot to System

⚠️ In Recovery on new Xiaomi models (with) MIUI 13+) You may need to enter a password from Mi Account, even if the phone was not blocked before. If you forget your account information, the reset will activate the protection of Mi Cloud Lock - the phone will become a brick without the ability to use it.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 Recovery damaged or unavailable.
• 📱 The phone does not respond to other methods.
• 💻 You have access to a computer with installed ADB/Fastboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot).
2. Turn off your phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Clip the power + On the screen will appear a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo).
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and execute: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number appears), type: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Warning: This method completely erases the partition with user data, including internal memory.If you haven't backupdated in advance, it will be extremely difficult to recover files.

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Fastboot reset is the most radical method, and only use it if other methods have failed, as it irreversibly deletes all data, including files in the phone's memory.

How to recover data after resetting

After a successful reset, you'll have to set up your phone from scratch, and in the initial configuration, the system will suggest recovering data from the backup.

1.Recovery from Mi Cloud

When first incorporated after discharge:

1. Choose a language and region.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi.
3. In the Data Recovery phase, select Restore from Mi Cloud.
4. Sign in to your Xiaomi account.
5. Select the last backup and wait for the download to be completed.

Recovery:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS, call-in.
• 📱 Installed applications (but not their data!).
• 🖼️ Wallpaper, system settings.

2. Recovery from Google Account

If you have synced with Google:

1. At the setup stage, select Copy the data.
2. Log in to your Google Account.
3. Select which data to restore (contacts, apps, calendar).

Important: Photos and videos from Google Photos are not automatically restored – they need to be downloaded manually through the app after setting up the phone.

3. Manual file recovery

If you were backing up on PC:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Copy previously saved files back to the device memory: Photos - in /DCIM/Camera. Music is in /Music. Documents - in /Documents.

SMS Backup & Restore

.xml

4.Recovery of applications and their data

Unfortunately, application settings (such as game progression or chats in instant messengers) are not always restored.

• 🎮 Games: If the game supports Google Play Games or its cloud service (such as Genshin Impact), log in to your account – progress will be automatically picked up.
• 💬 WhatsApp: Restore chats from backup to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (file msgstore.db.crypt14). Telegram: Chat secretaries and media files synced through the cloud when logged in.
• 📱 System applications: Mi Browser settings, Notes, Calendar recover from Mi Cloud.

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If the applications are unstable after recovery, try clearing their cache: Settings → Annexes → Select the application → Clear the cache.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting, here are 5 common problems and ways to solve them:

1.The phone asks for Mi Account after reset

Reason: The device has activated Mi Cloud Lock protection, which is tied to Xiaomi’s account, a standard security feature that prevents data theft when you lose your phone.

Decision:

• If you remember the login / password, enter them.
• If you forget, try to restore access through the official website](https://account.xiaomi.com).
• If the phone is bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie the account - contact him or contact the service center (you will need a check for the purchase).

2.Reset interrupted and phone not switched on

Reason: Interrupting the process (e.g., due to a dead battery) can cause system files to be damaged.

Decision:

1. Try going back to Recovery and repeat the reset.
2. If it doesn’t work, use Fastboot (see the instructions above).
3. In extreme cases, reflash the phone through the Mi Flash Tool (requires a PC and official firmware).

3. After reset, no photos from Mi Cloud are recovered

Reason: The Mi Cloud settings did not enable media file sync, or the cloud space ran out.

Decision:

• Check if Sync Photos is enabled in Mi Cloud → gallery.
• If the place is over, vacate it or buy an extra amount.
• Restore the photo from the local backup (if you took it on a PC).

4.The phone has become even slower since the reset.

Reason: Perhaps the problem was not in the software, but in the hardware (worn memory, damaged battery).

Decision:

• Check the state of the battery in Settings → Battery → Battery condition.
• If your phone is warming up and slowing down, try to roll back to an older version. MIUI.
• In extreme cases, contact the service for the diagnosis of iron.

5. Not recovering. SMS call-book

Reason: This data was not included in the backup or backup was not recovered correctly.

Decision:

• If you've used SMS Backup & Restore – Import the file manually.
• Check if the synchronization is enabled. SMS Mi Cloud or Google.
• If nothing helps, contact the operator to restore your call history (not all operators provide this service).

Reset specific models Xiaomi: nuances

While the general principle of resetting is the same for all Xiaomi devices, some models have features.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10/11/12 Series

On these phones:

• 🔧 Recovery has a graphical interface (you can control taps).
• 🔒 After the reset, you will need to enter your Mi Account data, even if the phone was not blocked.
• 📱 V MIUI 13/14 There is an option Easy reset (Settings) → Memory. → Cleanups that only delete cache and temporary files without data loss.

POCO F3/F4/F5

Linear devices POCO work MIUI for POCO, where:

• 📁 The path to Recovery may be different: on some models you need to pinch the power supply + Loudness up before the logo appears POCO.
• 🔄 In the settings there is a separate item Reset to factory settings POCO, which saves some launcher settings.
• 🎮 For game models (e.g., for example, POCO F3 GT) After resetting, you may need to reset the Game Turbo.

Xiaomi 12/13/14 Series (flagships)

Flagship models have:

• 🔐 Enhanced Data Protection – Recovery Resets Always Require Mi Accounts.
• 📱 Wireless support ADB, What makes it easier to reset via fastboot without cable.
• 🔄 Smart Reset option in Settings → Memory that analyzes unnecessary files before resetting.

Old models (Redmi) 4/5/6, Mi A1/A2)

For devices older than 2018:

• 📵 Recovery text (managing volume buttons).
• 🔧 There is no built-in backup in Mi Cloud – use Google Account or manual copying.
• 📱 On Xiaomi Mi. A1/A2 (With pure Android One, the reset is done via the standard Settings menu → System system → Reset.

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Before resetting an old Xiaomi model, be sure to check if it supports the Mi Cloud. e.g. Redmi 4X It does not have built-in synchronization with the cloud – backup should only be done manually.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions