Forgot the password from Xiaomi? Does the phone hang on the logo or malfunction? 90% of these cases are aided by hard resetting through hardware buttons — a method that requires no access to the system and works even on locked devices. This method is also called Hard Reset or Recovery Mode, and it is universal for all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models (including old devices on MIUI 8 and new ones on HyperOS).
Unlike resetting through settings, the hardware method erases all data without recovery — photos, contacts, messages, and installed applications. So it is only used in extreme cases: when the phone does not respond to touch, cyclically reboots or needs to sell a device with clean firmware. In this article, step-by-step instructions for different scenarios, a table of compatibility with models and answers to frequent errors.
When you need to reset via buttons (and when not)
Hardware drops are "heavy artillery" that are used when software methods fail, and here are the exact cases where they are justified:
- 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock, PIN Password or password is the only way to unlock the device without losing functionality.
- 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo. MI Redmi (Infinite Boot After Update or Failure).
But there are situations where Hard Reset won’t help or even hurt:
- 💾 Memory damage (eMMC) – reset could worsen the problem if the memory chip fails.
⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is linked to your Mi Account and Find Device is enabled, you will need to enter your account login and password after the reset»!
Preparing for reset: what to do before pressing the buttons
Before you start resetting, follow the mandatory steps to avoid additional problems:
- Make sure you know the Mi Account data, and without it, it will be impossible to unlock the phone after the reset (if there was a link).
If the phone is still on, but you want to back up the data before resetting, use:
- 📱 Local backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup (saves contacts, messages, settings).
- ☁️ Mi Cloud – syncs photos, notes and records (you need access to your account).
- 💻 ADB-commands for experienced users (you can pull files even from a locked phone).
☑️ Checklist before reset
Step-by-step: how to reset Xiaomi through the buttons
The procedure differs depending on the model and firmware version, but the overall scheme is the same: below is a universal algorithm for all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.).
Step 1. Turn off the phone.
If the device is frozen, press the power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out. If the phone reacts, turn it off in the standard way through the menu.
Step 2. Press the button combination
Immediately after turning off, press and hold:
- For tablets Xiaomi Pad: Power button + Volume up (hold 20+ seconds).
Hold the buttons until the Mi or Fastboot logo appears, which usually takes 10 to 30 seconds.
Step 3. Go to Recovery Mode
When the logo appears, release the buttons, and you'll be taken to the Fastboot menu to go to Recovery Mode:
- With the volume button down, select Recovery Mode.
- With the power button, confirm the choice.
On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) instead of Fastboot immediately opens Recovery with touch control.
Step 4. Perform reset.
On the Recovery menu:
- Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset) using the volume buttons.
- Confirm the action of the power button.
- Select Wipe All Data (full reset).
- Confirm again (you may need to enter Yes or Confirm).
The process will take 1-5 minutes. Once completed, select Reboot → Reboot to System.
What to do if the menu is in Chinese?
Table: button combinations for different Xiaomi models
| Model/Series | Button combination | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 10/11/12 | Food + Volume up | Recovery menu with touch control (on new firmware). |
| Redmi 9/9A/9C, POCO M3/M4 | Food + Volume up | Long-term retention may be required (20+ sec). |
| Mi A1/A2/A3 (Android One) | Food + Volume Down | Fastboot menu without Recovery option – you need to select Recovery Mode separately. |
| Xiaomi Pad 5/6, Black Shark 4/5 | Food + Volume up (15+sec) | On tablets, volume buttons can be replaced by Volume Down. |
| Older models (Mi 5/6, Redmi 4/5) | Food + Volume up + Volume down | You need to hold all three buttons at the same time. |
If your model isn’t in the table, try the standard combination Power + Volume Up – it works 80% of the time.
Frequent mistakes and how to fix them
Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and here are some common mistakes and solutions.
1.The phone does not respond to the button combination
Possible causes and actions:
- 🔋 Battery's dead. Charge for 10 to 15 minutes, then try again.
- 🔧 The power button is stuck. Try tapping the button gently or using another combination (e.g. Volume up). + Loudness down + Nutrition).
- 📱 If the phone doesn't turn on at all, you need a diagnosis at the service center.
2.After reset, the phone requires a Mi Account
This is FRP Lock.
- 🔑 Enter your account details. If you remember your login/password, the problem is solved.
- 💻 Reset your password through the Mi Account website. You will need access to an email or phone linked to your account.
- 🛠️ Contact the service. FRP You need an authorized Xiaomi account (not all workshops do it legally).
⚠️ Warning: Buying handsets without undrafting from Mi Account is fraught with problems! before the deal, ask the seller to perform a reset and make sure the device doesn't require input from someone else's data.
3.Reset got stuck at the Wipe Data stage
If the process is “freezing” by 0% or 50%:
- ⏳ Wait 10-15 minutes on weak processors (e.g. Redmi) 7A) discharge can take a long time.
- 🔌 Check the charging. Connect the phone to the grid -- sometimes it stops because of a lack of power.
- 🔄 Reboot to Fastboot and reset again. If it doesn't work, you'll need firmware on your PC.
💡
If after resetting the phone cyclically reboots, try flashing it through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode. Download official firmware on the MIUI Downloads website.
Alternative Reset Methods (if the buttons don't work)
If the hardware buttons are damaged or the phone is not responding to them, use one of these methods:
1.Reset via Find Device (remote)
It works if:
- The phone is connected to the Internet (mobile data or Wi-Fi).
- Find Device is enabled in the Mi Account settings.
- You know the login/password from the account.
Instructions:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Select your device in the list.
- Press Erase Data. → Confirm.
2. reset via ADB (for unlocked bootloader)
Suitable for users who previously had Bootloader unlocked. USB-cable.
Commands for entering into ADB:
adb shell
recovery --wipe_dataIf the device is not detected, check the drivers and enable USB Debugging (if the phone is still on).
3.Firmware through Fastboot
The last resort, if the other methods didn't work, the next step is:
- Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
- Unpack the archive in a folder with the Mi Flash Tool.
- Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
- In the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and click Refresh → Flash.
⚠️ Note: Fastboot erases all data without recovery, including the contents of internal memory (unlike Recovery, which sometimes saves files in a folder). MIUI).
What to do after resetting: setting up your phone from scratch
After a successful reset, the phone will turn on as new.
- Log in to Mi Account. If you forgot your password, restore it via email or SMS.
To avoid problems in the future:
- ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud (photos, contacts, notes).
- 📱 Regularly create local backups through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
💡
After a reset, the phone can run slower for the first 1-2 days — that's OK. The system indexes files and optimizes performance. Don't panic or reset the device again!