How to Reset Xiaomi Smartphone to Factory Settings and Save All Data: The Complete Guide 2026

Why Xiaomi’s factory reset isn’t a sentence for your data

Reset Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO before factory settings have in a variety of situations: from bugs after the update MIUI But the main problem that stops users is the fear of losing photos, WhatsApp, passwords and app settings. In fact, a full reset does not necessarily mean data loss if you approach the process correctly.

In this article, we’ll break down all the working ways to save information before resetting, including Xiaomi Cloud services, local backups, and even manually saving critical files. And we'll also find out what data you can't recover after reset under any circumstances, which will help you avoid unpleasant surprises. MIUI 14/15 and all modern models of the brand, from budget Redmi 12 before Xiaomi's flagships 14 Ultra.

Important: the procedure for resetting on devices with an unlocked bootloader has nuances, we will also discuss this separately. If you have never encountered firmware and custom recovery, do not worry: the basic methods do not require technical knowledge.

What data can be saved before resetting – and what is not

Not all files and settings are backed up equally easily, but here's what you can guarantee when you prepare it correctly:

• 📷 Photos and videos – via Google Photos, Xiaomi Cloud or local copy on PC
• 📞 Contacts and call logs – synced with your Google or Mi Account
• 💬 Correspondence in messengers – WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber (manual reservation is required)
• 🎵 Music and documents – if stored in Download or Documents folders
• 🔑 Browser passwords – linked to a Google or Mi Account

Now, the unpleasant part: some data is permanently deleted when reset, unless special measures are taken:

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has enabled data encryption (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption, then after resetting all files on internal memory will become unreadable without a password. SD-map unaffected.

Method 1: Backup through Xiaomi Cloud (the most reliable method)

Xiaomi Cloud is a proprietary cloud storage from the manufacturer that automatically syncs most critical data. MIUI, which Google does not reserve (such as themes or controls).

To enable reservations:

1. Open your Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (if not registered, create it in advance!).
3. Select the Backup section and activate the switch.
4. Click Backup Now and wait until it is completed (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data).

What exactly is saved in Xiaomi Cloud:

• 📱 Contacts, SMS, call-in
• 📁 Notes, calendar, notebook
• 🎨 Themes, wallpaper, lock screen settings
• 🔄 System settings (sound, notifications, gestures)

⚠️ Note: Free tariff Xiaomi Cloud provides only 5 GB of space. If you have a lot of photos, you will either have to buy a seat (from 90 GB). ₽/a month for 50 GB, or use additional services like Google Photos.

Wi-Fi connection (mobile internet may not be able to handle a large volume)

Battery charge > 50% (energy-intensive process)

Free space in the cloud (remove old copies if necessary)

Update to Xiaomi Cloud to the latest version-->

Method 2: Local backup to a PC or SD-map

If you don't trust the clouds or you have slow Internet, you can create a complete copy of the data directly on your computer or on a removable drive.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 💾 SD-map (if you copy it to it)

Instructions for copying to PC:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. On PC, open the folder This computer → [The model of Xiaomi].
4. Copy critical folders: DCIM — Download photos and videos – uploaded files WhatsApp/Media — media Android/data — Data from some applications (not all!)

To copy on SD-map:

1. Insert the memory card into the slot (if supported).
2. Open the File Manager MIUI.
3. Select the files you need. → Copy → choose SD-map.

Method 3: Reservation of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

Messaging is one of the most valuable data users often lose when resetting, and fortunately, most popular apps are good at backing up.

📌 WhatsApp

To save chat and media:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Click Create a copy (saves by default to Google Drive).
3. Make sure the last copy is created after your important messages.

📌 Telegram

Telegram syncs messages to the cloud automatically, but for secret chats and local media, you need to:

1. Go to Settings. → Data and memory → Warehouse.
2. Export the data manually (.zip format).

📌 Viber

In Viber, a backup is created as follows:

1. More. → Settings → Account. → Backup copy.
2. Select Google Drive or Local (on the memory card).

⚠️ Note: On WhatsApp, the backup on Google Drive does not include calls and status history.

How to properly reset Xiaomi to factory settings: step-by-step instructions

When all the data is saved, you can start the reset itself. There are two official ways: through the settings menu and using the recovery mode. The first is easier, the second is needed if the phone is not turned on or locked.

🔧 Method 1: Reset via settings (for a working phone)

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
3. If necessary, enter the password from Mi Account (if the account is linked).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-15 minutes).

🛠️ Method 2: Reset by recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume buttons, confirm – power button).
4. After reset, select Reboot.

What if the phone asks for an old Mi Account after a reset?

This is anti-theft protection -- Xiaomi locks the device after it's reset if it's been linked to an account.

1. Enter the username and password from Mi Account, which was on the phone before the reset.
2. If you do not remember the data, restore access through account.xiaomi.com.
3. If the phone is bought with hands and the previous owner did not untie the account – contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

💡

After resetting via recovery, the phone can boot longer than usual (up to 10 minutes).

Recovery of data after reset: what to do first

After a successful reset, you have to reconfigure the phone.

1. Connect to Wi-Fi – without the Internet, you will not be able to restore cloud copies.
2. Sign in to Mi Account and Google – this will unlock access to backups.
3. Recover data from Xiaomi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Restore. Select the last copy and wait until it's finished.

Install applications

Google Play

Restore the messengers

WhatsApp

Telegram

Transfer local files

What if all the data is not restored?

• 🔍 Check the data packets: sometimes copies are not created entirely because of errors.
• 📱 Use third-party utilities: WhatsApp has programs like Backuptrans that extract data from local copies.
• 💬 Contact us for support: if you lost purchases in games or paid subscriptions, write to the developer with a check about payment.

💡

If the phone slows down after recovery, do another reset and restore the data selectively (for example, only contacts and photos first, and applications later).

Frequent Mistakes When Resetting Xiaomi and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes experience problems after a reset, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

Another common problem is that the fingerprint or facial recognition stopped working after the reset, and that's because the biometrics are stored in a protected area of memory and reset with the rest of the settings.

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Fingerprint.
2. Remove old prints (if they are displayed) and add again.
3. To recognize the face, repeat the adjustment procedure in Settings → Lock screen → Facial recognition.

⚠️ Note: If you are resetting Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader, you may need to re-unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool. Without this, some features (such as air updates) will not work.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Reset