Forgot the pattern lock on Xiaomi? Does the phone hang on the MIUI logo or not respond to touch? 90% of these cases are helped by hardware reset through buttons — a method that works even with a completely broken screen. This method is suitable for all devices of the brand, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, including POCO models and older devices on the MIUI 10-14.
Unlike resetting through settings, which requires an unlocked screen, hard reset is done exclusively with hardware buttons.
- 🔒 Deletion of graphical password/PIN-code without loss of data (if Mi Account was enabled)
- 🐢 Eliminate “eternal” bootloops after a failed update
- 🦠 Treatments for viruses that block access to the system
- 📱 Preparing the phone for sale (full cleaning)
But there are nuances: on new Xiaomi models (released after 2021), a button reset may require data input from Mi Account if the protective mode was previously activated.
When to reset through the buttons and when to do without it
Before you start taking drastic measures, check if you really need hard reset. Half of the time, more gentle methods solve the problem:
| Problem. | Can we do without a reset? | Alternative solution |
|---|---|---|
| Phone's slowing down. | ✅ Yes. | Cleaning the cache in Settings → Memory → Cleaning |
| Touchscreen's not working. | ⚠️ Partially. | Connect your mouse over OTG or use ADB |
| Forgotten. PIN-code | ❌ No. | Only reset or unlock through Mi Account |
| Cyclical reboot | ❌ No. | Hard reset or flashing through Fastboot |
| Not activated after the update | ⚠️ Depends on the cause. | Try to log into Recovery Mode and roll back the update. |
Critical: If the phone turns on but you forgot your password, first try unlocking it through the official Mi Account website.Reset via buttons will automatically delete all data from internal memory, including photos and messages, if a backup was not made to the Mi Cloud.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12/13/14 Redmi Note 11/12 After reset, you may need to enter a username/password from the Mi Account attached to the device, without which the phone will become a brick".
Redmi (series) Note/Pro)|POCO (F/X/M)|Mi (number series)|Black Shark|Another model-->
Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance
Even if the screen doesn’t respond, preparation will reduce the risks and simplify the process.
Charge your phone to at least 50%|Extract SIM-card and memory card (if any)|Prepare data from Mi Account (if it was linked)|Finding the original USB-cable (for models with lock after resetting)|Make sure there are no important unsaved data on your phone-->
Why is charging important? If the phone runs out during reset, it can cause firmware damage and the need to refashion the device via the Fastboot. < 4000 mAh (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) 11 Lite) process takes 3-5 minutes, on the flagships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — before 10 minute.
Special attention to memory card, and in most cases, the reset through the buttons does not affect the memory card. SD-map, but some firmware (especially custom) may format an external drive. If there are important files on the card, retrieve it before the procedure.
Mi Account is a major trap for Xiaomi owners. If you've ever logged in to a Xiaomi account on this phone, after a reset, the system will ask for a username and password. Without them, it will be impossible to unlock the device (officially). There are workarounds, but they require skills with Fastboot and EDL.
What to do if I don’t remember my Mi Account?
Step-by-step: how to go to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi
The reset process begins with the Recovery Mode, which depends on the model and condition of the phone:
Method 1: Standard input (for working phones)
- Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (10-15 seconds).
- Hold the combination: 🔄 Power button + Loudness up for most models (Redmi Note) 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12) 🔄 Power button + Loudness up + Loudness down for older models (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1)
Mi
Recovery
Method 2: For phones with damaged screen or buttons
If the physical buttons don’t work, try:
- 🔌 Connect your phone to charging and keep Volume up - some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) Recovery is downloaded with this combination.
- 🖱️ Use it. ADB (if debugging is on USB): adb reboot recovery
How do you know you're in Recovery Mode? Chinese/English menus with Reboot, Wipe Data, and more will appear on the screen. On the new models (Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the interface can be on MIUI Recovery 5.0 with touch control.
⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Global) ROM for POCO X5) Recovery menus can be in Chinese. Look for characters (data cleanup) or (fabrication resets).
💡
If the phone vibrates when holding the buttons, but the screen remains black, try holding the combination longer (up to 30 seconds).
Reset: Selecting the Right Menu Item
In the Recovery Mode menu, you need to find the reset item, and the name depends on the firmware version:
| Recovery version | Discharge point | Example of models |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI Recovery 3.0 (old) | Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data | Redmi 5/6/7, Mi 8/9 |
| MIUI Recovery 4.0 | Wipe Data → Wipe All Data | Redmi Note 8/9, POCO X3 |
| MIUI Recovery 5.0 (new) | Erase All Data (Factory Reset) | Xiaomi 12/13, Redmi Note 11/12 |
| TWRP (castomic) | Wipe → Format Data | Any model with an unlocked loader |
Step-by-step algorithm:
- With the volume buttons, select the Wipe Data (or similar).
- Confirm the choice of the power button.
- In some versions, you will need to enter Yes manually (keyboard will appear on the screen).
- Wait until the process is complete (the screen will display the words Data wipe complete or Reset successful).
- Select Reboot → Reboot to System to reboot.
On models with MIUI 13/14, the Mi Account activation screen may appear after the reset, and if you don't remember the data, the phone will be locked.
- 📱 Try to restore access through [Recovery page](https://account.xiaomi.com/pass/retrieve).
- 🔧 If the phone was purchased from hand – contact the previous owner for data.
- 🛠️ In extreme cases, you will need firmware through Fastboot with the removal of Mi Account (risky for beginners).
💡
On phones with an unlocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery does not result in Mi Account blocking. This is true for enthusiasts installing custom firmware.
What to do if resetting does not help: alternative methods
In 5-10% of cases, hard resets don't solve the problem.
Scenario 1: Phone hangs on MI logo after reset
Reasons:
- 🔄 Damaged firmware (often after a failed "over-the-air" update").
- 🛠️ Incompatible version MIUI (For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 10 is installed on the Note 10 Pro).
Solution: I'll run my phone through Fastboot with the official firmware.
- Download the firmware for your model from [the official website] (https://new.c.mi.com/global/miuidownload/index).
- Unpack the archive and launch the script flash_all.bat (Windows).
- Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
Scenario 2: After reset, Mi Account is required, but no data is available
This is the most difficult situation.
- 📞 Contact the Xiaomi service center with documents on the phone (if it is guaranteed).
- 💻 Use Mi Flash Unlock (requires an unlocked bootloader).
- 🔧 Switching the phone through EDL (For experienced users only, the risk of “bricking").
Important: Mi Account bypass methods often violate Xiaomi’s user agreement and can result in a loss of warranty. forums (e.g. 4PDA) have instructions, but they require technical skills.
Scenario 3: The phone doesn't respond to buttons at all
If the device does not turn on and enters Recovery:
- 🔋 Check charging: connect to another cable/power supply for 30 minutes.
- 🔌 Try to light a light from another phone OTG-cable (sometimes helps with a discharged battery).
- 🛠️ If the phone fell or got wet - bring to the service (possible hardware damage).
What is EDL and why is it an extreme method?
How to recover data after resetting
If you haven’t backed up to Mi Cloud, the chances of getting your data back are minimal, but there are:
Method 1: Recovery with Mi Cloud
If the phone has been synchronized:
- Sign in to i.mi.com.
- Go to the Devices section → [model] → Backup copies.
- Download the archive with data (if the backup was created automatically).
Method 2: Recovery programs (only if the phone is turned on)
If the phone is working after a reset, but the files have been deleted:
- 📱 DiskDigger – looking for deleted photos and documents.
- 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver – Restore Contacts and Messages.
Limitation: These programs only work if new data is not written on top of old data, and once reset, the chances of recovery drop to 20-30%.
Method 3: Contacting service centers
Companies like Dr.Fone or Hetman Recovery offer physical storage recovery services, costing between 5,000 and 20,000 rubles, and it's important that not all services work with Xiaomi because of the MIUI encryption.
⚠️ Note: Do not use memory card recovery software if the phone is still locked. Repeated attempts to enter a password may result in the device permanently locked.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even in a simple reset procedure, users make critical mistakes.
- 🔋 Discharge during discharge → The phone turns into a brick. Always check the battery.
- 🔄 Choosing the Wrong Item in Recovery → For example, Wipe Cache instead of Wipe Data.
- 📱 Use of non-original cable → On newer models (Xiaomi 13), this can lead to an authentication error.
- 🔒 Forgetting Mi Account data → The phone is locked forever (without going through the phone). EDL).
- 🛠️ Interruption of the process → For example, battery extraction (on removable battery models) damages the firmware.
How do you minimize the risks?
- Use only original cables and chargers.
- Do not interrupt the process, even if it seems that the phone is “hung” (on the Snapdragon 8xx reset can take up to 10 minutes).
- Before reset, check if the bootloader is unlocked (in the developer settings).
On models with MediaTek (for example, Redmi 10C, POCO M4 Pro) the reset is sometimes faster, but after it more often errors occur with Mi Account.