How to Reset a Blocked Xiaomi to Factory Settings

The situation when Xiaomi smartphone stops responding to touch or forgets the pattern lock, happens to many users. the device can hang on the logo, the screen stops responding to commands, or the system is blocked after many unsuccessful attempts to enter a password. In such cases, the only working solution is forced return to the original state, which allows you to completely clean the internal memory and restore the functionality of the gadget.

However, the procedure of a complete reset, or Hard Reset, requires care and understanding of the processes that take place inside the MIUI operating system. Simply turning off and on the phone will not help here, since you need to log into a special service menu available at the low level of the system.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to resuscitate a locked device, from standard buttons to computer use. We will look at the nuances of working with a Mi Account account, which often becomes an obstacle for new owners, and explain how to properly prepare the device for this procedure.

⚠️ Warning: Completely resetting the device to factory settings leads to the irretrievable deletion of all user data, including contacts, photos, apps and system settings.

Preparation of the device and precautions

Before you start actively unlocking, you need to assess the current state of your smartphone. If the screen is responsive to taps and you can at least partially control the interface, first try synchronizing the data. Go to your Google or Mi Cloud account settings and force the backup to be saved, which is the only way to save important phone numbers and documents before you start the cleanup process.

When the touch screen is completely broken or the device is locked, there are few options for storing data. Data partition formatting is a basic mechanism for protecting information that prevents you from simply retrieving files without unlocking, so all the next steps will be focused solely on restoring the functionality of the device itself, not saving the files inside it.

Be sure to check the battery level. The reset process and subsequent initial setup can take 15 to 40 minutes, and if the phone turns off when system files are being written, you can get a brick. Connect the device to the original charger and make sure the light is on. If the phone doesn't turn on at all, leave it on charge for at least an hour, even if the screen is black.

It's also worth remembering or finding your Mi Account beforehand, and once you reset, the MIUI security system will require you to enter a username and password from an account that was previously associated with that device, which is an anti-theft measure, and you can't get around it with simple methods, and if you forget this data, the phone will remain locked even after a successful reset.

Recovery Mode Reset Method (hardware)

The most common and effective way to bring a locked smartphone back to life is to use Recovery Mode, which is built into the firmware of every Xiaomi device and is available even when the system is off. The login uses a combination of physical buttons to bypass a broken touchscreen or locked interface.

The login process may vary depending on the model, but the classic circuitry is universal. Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears. On some models, especially with the unlock button on the side, you first need to press the volume, and then plug in the USB cable coming from the charge (not connected to the socket, but simply inserted into the PC or power bank port).

Once you enter the menu, you'll see a list of options in English or Chinese, and you'll be able to navigate with volume buttons (up and down), and you'll be able to select with a power button. We'll need Wipe Data or Wipe & Reset. Inside this menu, select Wipe All Data. The system will ask for confirmation several times, because this is a critical operation. You'll agree, and the formatting process will begin.

• 📱 Make sure your phone is completely switched off before the procedure begins.
• 🔋 Don’t release buttons until a logo or menu appears.
• 🔄 If you hit the Fastboot menu, just press the power button for 10 seconds to restart and try again.

After the process, which can take a few minutes, select Reboot or Reboot to System. The first run after the reset will be longer than usual, because the system needs to recreate the file structure. At this stage, the device will be clean, like from the store, but will require configuration.

Using Mi Account to Remotely Unblock

If you have difficulty physically accessing the buttons or are afraid of damaging the device, you can use Xiaomi’s cloud service, which only works if the locked device has the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) turned on and the Find Device feature is activated.

You'll need a computer or a smartphone to do this. Go to i.mi.com and log in to the same Mi Account that was used on the locked phone. In the cloud interface, select Find Device. The system will try to locate your gadget.

If the device is online, you'll see it on the map, and the action list will be a "Wipe Device" button, and if you press that button, you'll send a command to the phone, which will force the complete data reset process to start, and when you do that, the phone will restart and be ready to reset.

It's worth noting that this method doesn't remove the lock on the account, it just clears the data. Once it's rebooted, the phone still needs to enter a password from Mi Account to prove ownership, and it's a theft protection that you can't get around remotely without knowing the credentials.

Reset via ADB and Fastboot (for advanced)

For users who are familiar with the operation of the command line and are not afraid of technical terms, there is a method of resetting over the debugging bridge. ADB. This method is effective if the Recovery menu is damaged or blocked by the manufacturer (which happens on some global versions). USB.

If debugging is enabled, connect the phone to the computer via USB-Install Xiaomi drivers USB Driver and platform SDK Platform-Tools. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter the connection check command:

adb devices

If a device with a serial number appears on the list, the connection is established. To perform the reset, type in the command:

adb reboot recovery

This action will force the smartphone to restart in recovery mode, even if the volume buttons do not work. Then you can use the standard Recovery methods described above. If the phone is locked and debugging is not on, this method, alas, will not help, since the Android security system prohibits external control without confirmation on the screen.

💡

Use the original. USB-Cheap cables often only support charging and do not transmit data, which will lead to an error in the connection of the device. ADB.

Mi Account and activation blocking issues

The most common problem after a reset is that you have an activation screen that requires you to enter a password. This is the Find Device security system, so if you reset your phone but you didn't log out before that, the system thinks the device may have been stolen, and it blocks the new user from accessing it.

So there are two ways to do this: one is to remember your password. If you change your phone number or you forget your data, try to reconnect your Mi Account from another device. The other way is if you bought your phone from your hands and the previous owner didn't untie your device, and you have to contact the seller and ask them to remotely remove the device from their trusted list.

⚠️ Note: Software methods to bypass the lock Mi Account (Bypass) often contain viruses or are a fraud.

There is also the concept of "Regional Lock" (regional lock), typical of some versions of Xiaomi brought from China. SIM-If you have a map of another region, the phone might lock, and if you do that, a simple reset won't help, you'll need to flash it to the global version or unlock the bootloader, which is a more complicated procedure.

What to do after a successful reset

Once the phone has rebooted and you see the welcome screen, the setup phase begins. Don't rush to connect all the services at once. First, make sure the device is stable: check the connection, Wi-Fi, sound and sensor. If artifacts appear on the screen after the reset or the phone is warming up, it is possible that the problem is hardware in nature and the software reset only temporarily eliminated the symptom.

When you set up, the system will suggest you restore data from the backup. If you backup on Google Drive or Mi Cloud, select this option. This will return contacts, the list of applications and some settings. However, do not restore the old system settings if the reason for the lock was a software failure - it is better to configure the phone as new to avoid repeating errors.

Be sure to upgrade to the latest version. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI. Often locks and bugs are fixed in security patches. After the update, install a strong antivirus and set up biometric protection to prevent the situation with the forgotten password from recurring.

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Regularly backing up and remembering passwords from accounts is the best protection against data loss when blocking a smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)