How to reset all settings on Xiaomi: instructions for phones and TVs

Resetting on Xiaomi devices is a radical but effective way to bring back factory performance. Whether you’ve experienced slowdowns, viruses, bugs after upgrading, or just want to sell your device, a proper reset will solve most of the problems. However, not everyone knows that there are three fundamentally different methods on Mi/Redmi/POCO phones and TVs: through the settings menu, through physical resets, and through recovery mode.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways Xiaomi will reset in 2026, including hidden MIUI features that aren’t described in the official documentation. You’ll learn how to save important data before resetting, what to do if the device doesn’t respond to commands, and how to avoid the typical errors that can make a smartphone a brick.

Preparation for resetting: what to do before the start

Before you hit the Reset button, make sure you don't lose critical data. Even if your Redmi Note 12 or Mi TV Q2 is malfunctioning, the chance to recover information after a reset is minimal.

• 📱 Sync contacts and notes with your Mi Account or Google account. Check that sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronization.
• 📁 Save photos and videos to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or copy to your computer via cable USB (file transfer mode MTP).
• 🔑 Write down Wi-Fi passwords. Once reset, all networks will be deleted. Use applications like WiFi Password Viewer (requires root) or take screenshots. QR-router code.
• 🎮 Export game data. If you're playing Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, or any other game with an account attached, check that the progress is saved on the server.

On some models (for example, POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T) after reset, you may need to enter a login and password from Mi Account, which was previously associated. If you forget the data, restore it in advance, otherwise you risk getting a locked device.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi TVs TV Resetting removes all installed apps, including Netflix, YouTube and IVI. You will have to re-install them through the Mi. TV App Store.If you have paid subscriptions (like Okko or Kion), link them to your account in advance.

Reset settings on Xiaomi smartphones via the menu (soft reset)

The safest and most recommended method is to reset via the standard MIUI menu. This is suitable if the phone is turned on, touch-responsive and you have access to settings. The instructions are relevant for all models on MIUI 12/13/14, including the Redmi 10C, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 14.

How to reset:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone (or About Device on New Versions).
3. Slip on Resetting (may be called Reset and Reset).
4. Select Reset Settings (not to be confused with Network Reset or Password Reset!).
5. The system will be asked to PIN-code or pattern lock (if installed).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Delete Everything.

It takes 5-10 minutes, and the phone will reboot and return to factory settings, and once you turn on, you'll need to go through the initial setup, just like after you buy it.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell a phone, be sure to delete all accounts (Mi Account, Google, Samsung) before reset, otherwise the new owner may face lockdown due to being linked to your account.

Hard Reset: Reset via buttons (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If your Xiaomi doesn't respond to charging, hangs on the MI logo or doesn't turn on at all, hard reset will help, which works at the firmware level and doesn't require access to the system, but it deletes everything, including files on internal memory.

Instructions for most models (including Redmi Note 11, POCO M5, Xiaomi 12 Lite):

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power for older smartphones (until 2019): Volume up + Volume down + Power

Mi Recovery

In the recovery menu, select the language (if there is one).

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

Reboot to System

If the phone doesn’t turn on after the reset or gives a No command error, it can mean that the firmware is damaged, in which case you will need to flash it through Fastboot (more about this in the next section).

Reset via Fastboot: When Recovery Doesn't Help

If the phone doesn’t boot even into recovery or produces errors like Invalid partition, the last chance is to reset via Fastboot mode, a method that requires a computer and ADB/Fastboot drivers installed, and is suitable for power users, as the wrong commands can finally kill the device.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Google’s Platform Tools on your computer.
2. Turn off your phone and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (a hare image will appear with the inscription Fastboot).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, install the drivers.
6. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Once it's rebooted, it'll go back to factory settings, and if that didn't work, you'll need to flash it completely through the Mi Flash Tool.

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Before working with Fastboot, disable the antivirus – it can block fastboot commands as suspicious.

How to Reset Your Settings on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV)

Resetting on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV A2, Q2, P1) is different from smartphones. There is no recovery mode, but there is a hidden menu for engineering settings. Importantly, after the reset, you will have to reconfigure Wi-Fi, apps and accounts (for example, Netflix or YouTube).

Method 1: Through the settings menu (if TV is turned on):

1. On the remote, click Settings (cog icon).
2. Go to General Settings → On TV.
3. Select Reset (may be called Factory Reset).
4. Enter. PIN-code (by default 0000 or 1234 if you have not changed it).
5. Confirm the reset by selecting Yes.

Method 2: Through the engineering menu (if the TV freezes):

1. Turn off the TV remote.
2. On the remote, press the buttons at the same time: For Mi TV 4/4A/4C: Menu + Volume down For Mi TV Q1/Q2/P1: Menu + Volume up

Hold for 5-10 seconds until the service menu appears.

Factory Reset

Confirm the reset and wait for the reset.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs, resetting does not remove firmware updates. If the problem was caused by an error in the last update, reset will not help - you will need to roll back to the previous version via the previous version. USB.

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On Xiaomi TVs, resetting through the engineering menu works even if the main settings menu is not available due to a glitch.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make reset errors that can lead to data loss or device lockdown, and here are the most common mistakes and how to prevent them:

• 🔋 If the phone turns off during reset, it can damage system files. Charge the device to at least 50% before starting.
• 🔒 Forgotten Mi Account. Some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) require a username and password from the Mi Account that was previously linked after reset. If you don't remember it, restore access in advance.
• 📱 Resetting through unofficial utilities, programs like Mi Flash or SP Flash Tools are designed to be firmware, not reset. Using them without experience can turn a phone into a brick».
• 🔄 If you interrupt the reset (for example, by taking out the battery or turning off the power), the device may stop turning on.

Another common problem is the loss of IMEI after a custom firmware reset, and if you used unofficial software (like LineageOS), save the original IMEI before reset using the command:

adb shell su -c 'cat /data/.cid.info'

It can be restored later via the engineering menu (#4636##).

What to do after resetting: initial setup

Once reset successfully, the device will return to the out-of-the-box state, and you will need to go through the initial setup, but there are a few nuances that many people forget about:

1. Don't connect to Wi-Fi right away. If you're selling a device, skip the step with the network connection so the new owner can link his account.
2. If the reset was made due to viruses or crashes, recovering old data can return the problem.
3. Update your firmware. After reset, check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update. This is especially important for Mi TVs, where older versions of the software may contain critical vulnerabilities.
4. Configure permissions for applications. In MIUI, many applications lose access to the camera, microphone, or geolocation after a reset. Check permissions in Settings → Applications → Permissions.

For Xiaomi TVs, after reset, it is recommended:

• 📺 Calibrate the screen. Go to Settings. → Screen and sound → Calibration of color to return optimal brightness and contrast settings.
• 🔊 Customize the sound. → Sound. → Select the appropriate profile (for example, Movie or Music).
• 🎯 Reinstall the applications. Open Mi. TV App Store and download the necessary services (YouTube, Netflix, IVI).

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After resetting on the TVs, Xiaomi is recommended to reset the remote settings (press Menu + OK for 5 seconds) if the buttons are not working correctly.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions