How to make a rollback to factory settings on Xiaomi: all ways to reset

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a procedure that can be required in a variety of situations, from preparing the device for sale to fixing software failures. However, not all users know that there are three fundamentally different methods for performing this operation, each of which has its own nuances, advantages and risks. For example, resetting through the phone’s settings saves some system files, while hard rollback through Fastboot removes absolutely everything, including hidden partitions.

In this article, we will go through all the current reset methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (including the models of 2023-2026), explain how to avoid losing important data if you choose the wrong method, and reveal little-known subtleties – for example, why IMEI sometimes disappears after resetting through Recovery and how to fix it.

When do I need to reset to factory settings?

Many users resort to resetting as a “last resort,” but there are actually clear signs when the procedure is warranted:

• 📱 Hanging and lag: if the smartphone slows down even after cleaning the cache and removing unnecessary applications, the reset can return performance.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot: The device turns on, shows the Mi logo, then restarts – a classic symptom of system file corruption.
• 🚫 Blocking MI-account: when buying a used phone with a previous owner’s account tied (only for unlocking through official channels!).
• 📦 Preparing for sale: Complete removal of personal data, photos, passwords and application history.
• 🔧 After an unsuccessful update: if the firmware "broken" functionality (for example, the camera or mobile network stopped working).

But there are also false reasons to reset, which are common on forums, such as the fact that a battery discharge in 2-3 hours is almost never associated with software errors, either battery wear or application background activity, in which cases resetting will not help, only erased data.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is locked through Find Device, a factory reset won’t remove the block—it will require the entry of the Mi Account associated with the device.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (soft reset)

The simplest and most secure method, which requires no additional tools, is suitable for most situations when the phone turns on and responds to touch, the main advantage is the ability to choose which data to save (for example, photos on a memory card).

The instructions are valid for all devices on MIUI 12-14 (including Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13, POCO F5):

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset on Older Versions).
2. Select Reset (or Erase All Data).
3. The system will then choose what to remove: 📱 All data – complete cleaning (recommended before sale). 🔄 Settings only – photos, videos and documents are saved.

PIN-code

Wait for the reboot (it will take 3-10 minutes).

Once completed, the smartphone will turn on with the initial setup, as after purchase: you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi, log into your Mi Account (if it was tied), and restore data from the backup (if it was created).

Make sure battery power > 50% | Save important files to your PC or cloud | Remember Wi-Fi and account passwords | Untie your device from Google Pay (if used) | Sign out of your Mi Account (optional)

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⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication in your Mi Account, you may need to confirm via a reset. SMS Make sure you have access to them or you risk losing access to the device!

Method 2: Recovery Mode (hard reset)

This is the method used when the smartphone is not turning on, getting stuck on the Mi logo, or the screen does not respond to touch. No special programs are needed to log into Recovery, only physical access to the phone buttons.

• ⚙️ On new models (Xiaomi) 12/13, Redmi Note 11/12) used MIUI Recovery with touch control.
• ⌨️ On older devices (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1) — Classic menu with volume button control.
• 🔒 If you have a boot password, you will need to enter it.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Click the combination: For most models: Power button + Volume up. For POCO F1/F2: Power button + Volume down.
3. Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then let go.
4. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice: 📱 On Touch Models: Tap Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. ⌨️ On the buttons: select Wipe Data with the volume button, confirm the power button.

Confirm the action (a password may be required).

Reboot → Reboot to System

The process will take 5-15 minutes. If after the reboot the phone again hovers on the logo, this may indicate damage to the firmware - you will need to flash through Fastboot (see Method 3).

Method 3: Complete Fastboot reset (for power users)

This is the most radical method used in extreme cases:

• 🔧 Phone does not respond to reset via Recovery.
• 📱 You must delete all data without the possibility of recovery (for example, before selling with a guarantee of confidentiality).
• 🔄 Refuse the device to another version MIUI.

This will require a computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and the Mi Flash Tool program.

Important: This method deletes all data, including IMEI, serial number and warranty data. If you don't back up the EFS partition, the phone could lose network! Backup instructions are in Xiaomi's official documentation (the Advanced section in the Mi Flash Tool).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the Mi Flash Tool from Xiaomi’s official website.
2. Install drivers for your model (e.g. Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 for smartphones on Snapdragon).
3. Turn off the phone and put it into Fastboot mode: Press the power button + volume down for 10 seconds.
4. Connect the device to the PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
5. In the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (.tgz format) and press Refresh – the program must determine the device.
6. Select Cleanup Mode: Clean All deletes everything, including Mi. Clean All and Lock account details, the same thing, but blocks the bootloader (for security).

Flash

Once you flash it, the phone will turn on in a clean state, like after you buy it. If you used Clean All and Lock, the bootloader will be locked, which protects against accidental flashing in the future.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi K40) Once reset, the Fastboot may lose encryption, which means that the internal memory will be formatted as portable storage and will have to be reconfigured into Settings. → Memory.

1.Use USB-cables (not all cables support data transmission).

2. disable driver signatures in Windows (via gpedit.msc).

3. Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager (select Mi Flash in the list).

4. try another PC (sometimes drivers from other manufacturers conflict).

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What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

After a successful reset, you have to set up the device first.

1. Wi-Fi connection: Without the internet, you can’t log in to your Mi Account or recover data.
2. Log in to Xiaomi account (if it was tied before reset). If you forgot the password, restore it through the official website.
3. Data recovery: 📱 From Mi Cloud: if synchronization was enabled. 🖥️ From the computer: via Mi PC Suite or manually (copy files to internal memory). 🔄 From backup: if you did backup through Settings → System system → Backup.

IMEI verification

*#06#

Firmware update

Settings → About the phone → System update

MIUI

If you notice that there is no mobile network or sensors working after the reset, this may be due to:

• 📡 Damage to the modem partition - will help flashing through Fastboot.
• 🔧 Failure in settings APN — Check the parameters of the mobile Internet operator.
• 🔋 Hardware malfunction (for example, antenna plume) - diagnostics are required.

1. camera operation (sometimes the driver settings are reset).

2. Fingerprint and Face ID (resetting may be required).

3. Sound in speakers (some models are reset) EQ-setting).

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Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting Xiaomi, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

One of the most insidious mistakes is that you lose your Google account data after you reset it, and if you have FRP (Factory Reset Protection) enabled on your device, you'll need to reset your phone, and you'll need to enter your login and password from the last Google account you connected to, which is a theft protection measure, and you can't legally get around it, and the only way out is to remember the data or restore access through Google's recovery page.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions