How to reset Xiaomi Mi5 to factory settings: 3 ways + FAQ

Why is it necessary to reset the Mi5 to factory settings?

The Xiaomi Mi5, released in 2016, is still in demand among users due to its balanced characteristics: Snapdragon 820 processor, 3 GB of RAM and a 3000 mAh battery. However, over the years, even reliable equipment begins to slow down, glitch or become infected with viruses.

Returning the Mi5 to its original state may be necessary in several cases:

• 🐢 The phone is severely slowing down, applications are constantly flying out or hanging.
• 🔒 You have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-screen-lock.
• 🦠 The device is infected with viruses or advertising software that is not removed by standard methods.
• 📱 Plan to sell or transfer your smartphone to another person and want to delete all personal data.
• 🔄 After a failed update MIUI The phone stopped working properly.

It is important to understand that resetting is not a panacea for all problems. If the Mi5 has hardware malfunctions (such as a bloated battery or a damaged motherboard), software reboot will not help, and the procedure will not correct the errors associated with the bootloop due to a damaged bootloader.

Preparation for resetting: what should be done in advance?

Before you start resetting, be sure to save all the important data — after the procedure, they will be irretrievably deleted. There is no memory card slot in the Mi5, so you will have to back up through the cloud or computer.

Here's what needs to be done:

• 📱 Sync your contacts with your Google or Mi Account. Go to Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable synchronization.
• 📷 Copy photos and videos to your computer through USB-Cable or upload them to Google Photos/Mi Cloud.
• 💬 Export. SMS and a call log using apps like SMS Backup & Restore.
• 🎮 Save game data if it is linked to accounts (e.g. Google Play Games or social media).
• 🔐 Make sure you know the username and password from Mi Account – after resetting, the phone may require you to enter credentials to unlock.

If you are using a custom-built Mi5 (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), note that you may need to re-rout through Recovery. Also check your battery power – it should be at least 50% to avoid a sudden shutdown during the process.

⚠️ Note: If the phone has enabled Find Device in Mi Account, the Xiaomi account may be blocked after the reset. To avoid this, disable it in advance in Settings → Mi Account → Find Device.

Make a backup copy of the data|Charge your phone to at least 50%|Disable Find Device in your Mi Account|Remember the username/password from Mi Account|Prepare. USB-cable (if you need to reset via PC)

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Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (soft reset)

The easiest and safest method is to reset directly from the operating system, which is suitable if the phone turns on and you can log into the settings menu, which requires no additional tools and takes only 5-10 minutes.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Recovery and Reset (in new versions of MIUI, the path can look like Settings → About Phone → Reset settings).
3. Select Resetting (or Delete all data).
4. The system will be asked to PIN-code or pattern lock for confirmation.
5. Click Reset your phone and wait for the process to be completed.

Once you reboot, the Mi5 will go back out of the box, and you just have to go through the initial setup, like when you first turn on, and if the phone requests Mi Account data, enter it, which is a normal anti-theft procedure.

⚠️ Warning: Some firmware may have a "This device is locked" error after a reset, which means that the phone is tied to Mi Account and you need to enter the account information you linked to before the reset to unlock it. If you forget your password, restore it to account.xiaomi.com.

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If the phone is loading for a long time after reset (more than 15 minutes), don’t panic – the first turn on after a hard reset can take up to 30 minutes.

Method 2: Recovery Mode (hard reset)

If the Mi5 doesn’t turn on, is stuck on the Mi logo or locked with a pattern lock, you’ll have to use Recovery Mode, which works even on a broken system, but requires care – incorrect actions can lead to a blink (complete failure) of the device.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time and hold them for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data in Chinese).
6. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm or Yes.
7. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of the items:

If the phone doesn't turn on after reset or freezes on the screensaver, the firmware may be damaged, in which case you will need to flash through Fastboot (read about this in the next section).

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

If the first two methods fail (for example, due to a damaged Recovery or a blocked bootloader), the last option is to reset via Fastboot mode, USB-cables and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot. He's a good fit for:

• 🔧 Recovery of the phone after a failed firmware.
• 🔒 Bypassing Mi Account lock (only on older versions) MIUI).
• 📱 Eliminate bootloop (circular loading).

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot on PC (or use the Mi Flash Tool).
2. Turn off the Mi5 and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
3. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
4. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), execute the command to completely reset:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

These commands will delete all user data and cache, but save the firmware. If you need to reflash the phone completely, download the official firmware for Mi5 (codename gemini) from the Xiaomi Firmware site and use the Mi Flash Tool.

⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI (above 12) a reset via Fastboot can lead to the blocking of the bootloader (Anti-Rollback.

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Fastboot reset is the most radical method, and only use it if other methods fail, as the wrong commands can turn your phone into a brick.

What do I do after the dump?

After the successful reset of the Xiaomi Mi5, the initial setup is to be made.

1. Sign in to Mi Account and Google Account – this will unlock access to previously synchronized data.
2. Restore your backup (if you did it through Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
3. Set up your fingerprint and face unlock (if necessary) in Settings → Screen lock.

If your phone is running slower than before, try:

• 🧹 Clear the application cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔄 Disable animation in Settings → Additionally. → For developers (enable developer mode by clicking 7 times on the Version) MIUI in the section About the telephone).
• 📵 Remove unnecessary system applications through ADB (Only for experienced users!).

If you dropped your phone before selling, remember:

• 🔄 Sign out of Mi Account and Google Account.
• 📱 Delete everything SIM-Memory cards and cards (if you use an adapter).
• 🔒 Reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems.

If neither method worked, the problem may be the hardware, for example, a faulty flash memory (eMMC) can cause cyclical failures even after a reset, in which case only repairs at a service center will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions