The MIUI operating system installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones can accumulate software errors over time that slow down the device. Users often notice that the phone begins to react to touches longer, applications spontaneously close, and the battery drains faster than usual. In such situations, the most effective solution is a complete return to factory parameters, which allows you to clean the system partition of debris and conflicting files.
Reset, or Hard Reset, removes all user data, returning the gadget to the "out of the box" state. This is a radical, but often the only way to resuscitate the device after a failed update or infection with a virus. It is important to understand that the process is irreversible, so you need to carefully prepare and store important information on external media or in cloud storage before starting any action.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available resetting methods, from the regular menu to Recovery mode. You will learn how to properly prepare your smartphone, what steps to follow to successfully clean up and what to do if the system requests an account after a reboot. Following the instructions will help avoid common errors and keep your device working.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before you start cleaning, it is critical to back up your data. Standard MIUI tools allow you to save contacts, messages, call history and application configurations to the Mi Cloud or computer, and manually transfer photos, videos and documents to a memory card or PC, since the internal memory will be fully formatted.
Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can damage system files and turn the smartphone into a brick. If the device is connected to Wi-Fi, it is better to turn off the Internet before the procedure to avoid automatic synchronization during the cleaning process.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Special attention should be paid to the Mi Account and Google account. If you do not remember passwords from them, it is better to restore access in advance or untie devices from accounts via the web interface. Otherwise, after the reset, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection will work, and the phone will require the previous owner to enter data for activation.
Why extract? SIM-map?
Reset via the settings menu (staff method)
The safest and easiest way to get back to factory settings is to use the built-in menu, which is suitable for when the phone is turned on, the screen is touch-sensitive, and you have access to the desktop. The algorithm for doing things may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the overall logic remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom. Find About and click on your phone. In the menu that opens, look for Reset or Restore and Reset. In some firmware versions, this item may be immediately in the main settings menu, in the Additional section.
The system will offer two options: Reset (without deleting personal files) and Erase all data. We need the second option. After selecting, the system will show a list of what will be deleted: apps, photos, music, accounts. Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or unlock pin, if installed.
- 📱 Press Settings. → The phone.
- 🗑️ Select Settings Reset. → Erase all data.
- 🔒 Enter the screen unlock password to confirm.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to end and automatic reboot.
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If the phone thinks long before reset, don't panic.The system checks for encrypted data and can delay the preparation stage for 2-3 minutes.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is stuck, does not respond to touch or can not boot the operating system, Recovery mode comes to the rescue. This is a special diagnostic interface recorded in the memory of the device regardless of the main OS.
Turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or POCO logo appears, then release the power button, while continuing to hold the volume button. In a few seconds, the Main Menu menu opens.
⚠️ Attention: Navigation in Recovery mode is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of point is confirmed by the power button!
In the list that opens, select Wipe Data and confirm the power button with the volume rocker, and then the system will request confirmation: select Wipe All Data. Once you clean up, the Data wiped successfully message will appear. Return to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) and select Reboot → Reboot to System.
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Recovery mode is the only way to reset your phone if it doesn’t turn on or hovers on your logo.
Reset via ADB (for advanced users)
For users with access to a computer and basic command line skills, a USB debugging reset method is available, which requires that the phone previously activate the USB debugging function in the Developer Menu.
Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB-Open the command line on your computer in the tool folder. ADB. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf the device appears in the list, enter the command to reboot to Restore:
adb reboot recoveryOnce the Android logo with an exclamation point appears, press and hold the power button, then press the volume up once. Recovery menu will open, where you can reset, as described in the previous section. There is also a direct command to reset, but it does not work on all versions of firmware for security reasons:
adb shell recovery --wipe_dataWhat to do if your phone requires an account after a reset
Once the procedure is successfully completed and restarted, the system can request a password from a Google account or Mi Account that has been synced to the device before, which is the work of the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) anti-theft mechanism, designed to protect the owner’s data in the event of a loss of the phone.
If you are the legal owner, just enter your account details. Problems arise if the phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie the device, in which case you will not be able to unlock the gadget using standard methods - you will need to contact the previous owner for data or to the service center with a check for the purchase.
Sometimes the system may require a password from the lock screen that was in place before the reset, which occurs if the reset was not made through the menu, but through Recovery, and the data was not previously deleted by a cryptographic key.
Typical problems and their solution
During the reset process, users may encounter various errors, and the table below is the most common problems and ways to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The phone is stuck on the logo. | Update error or file system failure | Do Hard Reset with Recovery |
| Cyclical reboot | Conflict of system applications | Complete data reset (Wipe All Data) |
| The sensor does not work after resetting | Failure of drivers or calibration | Reflashing the device or calibration in the engineering menu |
| Old password required | Encryption of data before resetting | Enter the password that was before the reset |
If the phone continues to behave unstable after reset, it may be hardware-related or firmware system partition damage, and in such cases, it is recommended to clean install the current MIUI version through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
⚠️ Note: If the phone is purchased in China (Chinese version of firmware), after the reset, advertising services may be activated and no Russian is available. ROM).