Hard resets Xiaomi Mi A1: 3 ways to reset to factory settings

Xiaomi Mi A1 is a iconic smartphone with pure Android One, which is still used by many users. However, over time, any gadget begins to slow down, give out errors or require a complete reinstallation of the system, in such cases, the hard reset, the procedure for returning the device to factory settings, helps.

In this article, you will find 3 proven ways to make a hard reset on the Mi A1, including a menu reset, button combination, and even ADB (for power users). We will take a detailed look at each method, warn about possible risks, and answer frequent questions. If your phone freezes, does not turn on or requires cleaning before selling, this is the guide for you.

What is a hard reset and when is it needed?

Hard reset is the complete removal of all user data and the return of the smartphone to the state of "out of the box." Unlike a normal reset, the procedure involves:

• 📱 Installed applications and their data
• 📸 Photos, videos and music in internal memory
• 📞 Contacts, SMS Call log (if not synced with Google)
• ⚙️ All personal settings (wallpaper, sounds, Wi-Fi networks)

On Xiaomi Mi A1 hard reset may be required in the following cases:

• 🐢 The phone is slowing down or constantly overheating.
• 🔄 After an unsuccessful system update (for example, when switching to custom firmware)
• 🔒 You have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-code
• 💰 Preparing the device for sale or transfer to another user
• 🛠️ Removing critical errors (e.g. com.android.phone or System) UI)

⚠️ Attention: If your Mi is yours A1 It doesn't turn on at all (no response to charging and buttons), check the battery first. It may be the hardware, not the software, the hard reset won't help with physical screen or motherboard breakdowns.

Before resetting, make sure to back up your important data. On the Mi A1, you can do this through:

• 🖥️ Settings → System system → Backup (synchronization with Google)
• 📁 Manual copying of files on PC through MTP-regime
• ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

Method 1: Hard Resets via the settings menu (if the phone is turned on)

This is the easiest and safest method to use if your Xiaomi Mi A1 is turned on and responsive to touch.The instructions are relevant for any version of Android (including Android 9 Pie, which officially updated the Mi A1).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the System section → Additionally. → Reset parameters.
3. Select Delete all data (reset settings).
4. Read the warning and click Reset your phone settings.
5. When you request, enter PIN-code.
6. Confirm the action by pressing Erase Everything.

The process will take 5-10 minutes, and when it is finished, the phone will automatically restart and prompt you to set it up as new.

Record the login and password from the Google account|Keep the important ones SMS contact|Make sure the battery is charged > 50%|Disable two-factor authentication (if used)-->

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A1 With Android 8 Oreo and higher, after a reset, you may need to enter data from the last synchronized Google account.If you forget your password, restore it in advance via accounts.google.com, otherwise the phone will remain locked (FRP Lock).

If the phone hangs on the Xiaomi logo for a long time (more than 15 minutes) after reset, this may indicate:

• 🔋 Discharged battery (plug in charge and repeat the procedure)
• 🛠️ Damaged firmware (reflashing via Fastboot is required)

Method 2: Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If the Xiaomi Mi A1 doesn’t respond to the onset, freezes on the screensaver or is locked with a pattern lock, resetting through Recovery Mode will help, which works even when the operating system is damaged.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it is on, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the button combination: Power button + Volume button Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. In the recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
4. Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset in some versions).
5. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
6. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Reboot.

If the Recovery menu is in English or Chinese, focus on the following items:

Once reset, the phone will restart and start setting up the initial setup. If the process is stalled during the boot phase, try:

• 🔌 Connect the charger and wait 10 minutes.
• 🔄 Repeat the reset via Recovery.
• 📥 Fastboot phone search (Those 3).

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A1 With custom firmware (like LineageOS), the Recovery menu may be different. TWRP, Choose the Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, Data, System, then swipe to confirm.

Method 3: Hard Resets via Fastboot (for power users)

If the first two methods fail (e.g., due to a damaged Recovery or a blocked bootloader), you can reset via Fastboot mode, which requires a computer with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed.

Preparation:

• 💻 Install Platform Tools from Google.
• 🔌 Connect Mi. A1 PC through the original USB-cable.
• 🔑 Unlock. OEM Unlock in Developer Settings (Settings) → The phone. → Assembly number (click 7 times) → For developers → Unlocking OEM).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and press: Power button + Volume button Hold until the screen with Fastboot Mode appears (Android robot and FASTBOOT inscription).
2. On your computer, open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (serial number will appear), continue.
4. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

After the reboot, the phone will be reset to factory settings. If you want a full flashing, use the command:

fastboot flash system system.img


fastboot flash boot boot.img

(where system.img and boot.img are the official firmware files for the Mi A1, downloaded from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).

1. Reinstall Google USB Driver drivers.

2. Use another USB-cable (preferably original).

3. Connect the phone to another USB-port (better) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).-->

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi A1 With a locked bootloader, fastboot erase commands may not work, in which case you will need official unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 720 hours (30 days) of waiting.

What to do after a hard reset?

After a successful reset, your Xiaomi Mi A1 will be like new.

1. Language and region setting: Choose Russian and Russia (or your region).
2. Wi-Fi connection: This is required to recover data from your Google account.
3. Google account login: Use the same account you were linked to before the reset (Otherwise, FRP Lock may work).
4. Data recovery: 📱 Contacts and applications will be restored automatically if synchronization is enabled. 📁 Photos and files can be copied back from the PC or from the cloud.

Updating the system

Settings → System → Software Update

If there are problems after the discharge:

• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: Calibrate the battery (discharge to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions).
• 📶 Bad network signal: Update IMEI (If it's gone wrong, through the engineering menu (#4636##).
• 🛠️ Application Errors: Install the latest versions of programs from Google Play.

💡

After a hard reset, the Xiaomi Mi A1 can run slower than usual for the first 1-2 days. This is normal: the system is optimized for your actions (apps are cached, dalvik is configured).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you do the reset properly, you can have problems.

If your Mi A1 is worse than before, there may be a hardware problem:

• 🔋 Bloated battery → replacement.
• 🔥 Processor overheating → check the heatpaste.
• 💾 Damaged memory. → test through ADB (adb shell df -h).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions