Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have powerful hardware and a thoughtful interface, but over time, even they can start to work unstable. The emergence of system debris, conflicts after unsuccessful upgrades or the trivial desire to sell the device require a radical solution.
This is a simple procedure, but it requires care, because deleting all data is irreversible. If you miss the backup phase, your photos, contacts and instant messenger correspondence will be lost forever. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available reset methods, from the standard menu to the Recovery Resuscitation mode.
Before you start taking action, you need to clearly understand the difference between simply restarting the system and completely erasing the user partition.Reset operation will affect not only your personal files, but also network settings, Bluetooth connections, and accounts associated with the device.Reset via the Recovery menu (Hard Reset) is necessary if the phone is not turned on or hovers on the logo.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
You should start with the most important step, preparation, and without backup, you risk losing valuable files that may not be recoverable, and modern cloud services allow you to do this automatically, but it is better to double-check the availability of critical documents manually.
The second, equally important aspect is battery power: the process of formatting internal memory can take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the drive, and if the phone turns off in the middle of the procedure, there is a high risk of damaging system files and turning the gadget into a brick.
Also, untie your accounts in advance or make sure you remember your passwords. Android and MIUI (HyperOS) security features anti-theft protection that, once reset, will require you to enter a login and password from a previously used Google account or Mi Account.
- 📸 Back up photos and videos via Google Photos or copy them to your computer.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone to a minimum 60-70% Or connect it to the charger.
- 📝 Write down your Wi-Fi passwords as they will be deleted along with the rest of your settings.
- 💳 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card so that external storage is not formatted by accident.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Don't ignore checking accounts. Often users forget that the device has an old corporate email account or a child's account with parental protection enabled, and once reset, the phone may lock, requiring proof of ownership.
Method 1: Reset via system settings (Soft Reset)
The simplest and safest method is available to every user whose phone turns on and responds to touches on the screen, a method called soft reset, because it is performed by the operating system’s regular tools without logging into special modes.
The menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section that covers the general settings of the device, usually at the bottom of the list or at the top if the search is enabled.
Once you log into the reset menu, the system will offer you two options: Reset (without deleting data) and Erase all data. We are interested in the second item that initiates full formatting. The system will warn you several times about the consequences and ask you to enter a graphical key or password to unlock the screen.
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Before clicking the Reset button, make sure you are in a safe place with stable Wi-Fi if you plan to recover data from the cloud right away.
The process may take some time. The Xiaomi logo and progress indicator will appear on the screen. At this point, it is strongly recommended not to touch the device. Once completed, the phone will reboot and greet you with the screen of the initial setting, as if you just bought it in a store.
If the standard menu path seems too long, you can search by settings, type "reset" or "recover" in the search bar, and the system will suggest the desired menu item, which is especially true for newer versions of firmware, where the menu structure often changes.
Method 2: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
And so, things can happen, like the phone freezes, doesn't respond to the sensor, or it just doesn't boot to the desktop, and in those cases, the recovery mode, Recovery Mode, comes to the rescue, and it's a low-level environment built into the device's memory that allows you to control the system bypassing the main interface.
To enter this mode, a combination of physical buttons is used. Most Redmi and Xiaomi models need to press the volume button and the power button at the same time, hold them until the logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume.
In the Recovery menu, you can control the volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects the item. However, on new multi-touch models, you can control the cursor with your finger in Recovery mode, which makes it much easier to do this. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data.
⚠️ Note: Some versions of Recovery may have Chinese menus. If you see characters, look at the button position: usually "Wipe Data" is the second or third line at the top. Be careful not to select "Reboot" that will simply reboot your phone.
Once you select the deletion point, the system will ask for confirmation, and you often need to select Wipe All Data and then confirm the action by selecting Confirm. If you see a password request on the screen, enter it. This is protection against accidental reset of someone else's device.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
The final step is to select Reboot or Reboot to System, and the phone will reboot, and the initialization process will begin, which can take longer than usual. Don't panic if the screen goes out or the logo hangs for a few minutes, and the system partitions are recreated.
Method 3: Remote reset via Google Find My Device
Sometimes, a phone is lost or stolen and there is no physical access to the buttons, in which case the only way to protect your data is by remotely resetting your data via Google, which requires that the device be turned on, connected to the Internet and has a Google account activated.
Go from any other device (computer or phone) to android.com/find. Sign in with the same account you used on your lost smartphone. The system will try to locate the device, and if it's online, you'll have a set of commands available.
Select the latter among the Call, Lock and Clear options, which initiates a command to completely reset all data. Once the command is complete, the phone will return to factory settings and all personal files will be destroyed. The device will continue to be tracked until it flashes or disconnects from the network.
This method is also useful if the phone's touch screen is completely out of order, but the display is working and you see the image.You can remotely run the reset to prepare the device for repair or replacement.
| Resetting method | Access to the menu is required | Risk to data | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Yes (work screen) | Low. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No (buttons only) | Medium (User error) | Medium |
| Google Find My | No (we need the internet) | Tall (remotely) | Low. |
| Mi Flash Tool | No (Fastboot mode) | Maximum | Tall. |
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users often face various difficulties, one of the most common problems is a cyclic bootloop, where the phone is constantly turned off and on, showing the logo, which can happen if the reset process is interrupted or if the system files were damaged before the operation began.
In bootloop, you can't turn on normally. You'll have to use Recovery mode again. If you can't boot there, try Wipe Cache if you can, and then Wipe Data again, and sometimes you can flash the device through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool.
Another common problem is the FRP lock requirement, which, once reset, may require the phone to enter a password from a Google account that was previously synced, which is protection against theft. If you forget your password, it will take time to restore access through the Google account recovery form.
Also worth mentioning is the problem with the sensor that is not working after updating or resetting, sometimes the touchscreen calibration is confused, and in such cases, re-resetting or calibration through the engineering menu helps, although the latter requires some technical knowledge.
⚠️ Warning: If after resetting the phone heats up and discharges quickly in the first 30-60 It's normal to do a little bit of file indexing and application optimization in the background.
Setting up the smartphone after returning to factory parameters
When the process is complete and you see the welcome screen, the setup phase begins. Don't rush to install all the apps at once. First check for system updates in Settings → About phone. Often, fresh devices out of the box have a version of the software that requires critical security updates.
When you restore your data from your backup, Google will offer you a list of previously installed applications, and it makes sense to deselect from programs you haven't used in a long time to avoid clogging your clean system with digital garbage, which is a great reason to start with a clean slate.
Pay special attention to privacy settings. When you first activate, the system will offer you to enable various services for improving the work, sending statistics and advertising. In the MIUI or HyperOS menus, these items are often activated by default. Go through all the settings screens and turn off what you do not need to improve autonomy and privacy.
Remember to reconfigure biometric protection. Fingerprints and facial data that you've stored are deleted when you reset for safety reasons. Register them again in good light and from different angles for better recognition accuracy.