How to reset on Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Many smartphone owners face a situation where the device starts to work incorrectly, the pattern lock is forgotten or before selling it you need to completely clear the memory. Reset settings on Xiaomi (Hard Reset) is a radical, but often the only sure way to return the gadget to a factory state.

In this article, we will detail how to perform Factory Reset through the standard system menu, as well as through the Recovery engineering menu if the phone is not turned on. Recovery resets permanently deletes data even if the phone is blocked by Mi Account, provided that the Find Device function was disabled before locking. It is important to understand the difference between a simple reset and full formatting, so as not to lose important information.

Before you start taking decisive action, you have to prepare. Backup is a critical step that is often overlooked in a hurry. If you have access to the system, make sure to save contacts, photos and important documents to the cloud or to the computer. Let's take a closer look at the preparatory steps.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

The preparation process requires care, because once the reset function is activated, it will be impossible to return data using standard methods. First of all, check the battery level. The battery must be charged at least 50-60% so that the phone does not turn off at the most inopportune moment, which can damage the system files.

Next, you need to disable account protection if you plan to transfer the device to a new owner, go to the settings and make sure you are out of Mi Account and Google Account. If you do not, the new user will face an activation lock, and the phone will turn into a brick for an outsider.

• 📱 Backup your contacts and messages via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 🔋 Connect the device to the charger or make sure the charge is high.
• 🔑 Remember passwords from Google and Mi accounts to avoid losing access to the ecosystem.
• 📸 Transfer the photo and video to a computer or external memory card (if the slot supports working with the file system after resetting).

⚠️ Warning: If you forget the password from your Mi Account, be sure to restore access before reset. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the phone after the reboot, you will need a check and contact the service center.

It's worth taking out. SIM-microSD card and memory card before the procedure, although modern versions MIUI HyperOS usually ask for confirmation to delete files from the SD-This is especially true for older models where the file system may have been damaged.

Reset settings via the smartphone menu (Soft Reset)

The safest and easiest way to get Xiaomi back to factory settings is to use the built-in settings menu, which is suitable for those cases where you remember the unlock password and have full access to the system, and is ideal for preparing your gadget for sale or fixing software failures that are not associated with the bootloader.

To start, open the Settings app and scroll to the bottom. Find the About Phone or Advanced Settings section, depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. The interface may vary slightly on different models, for example, the Redmi Note 10 and Xiaomi 13 have different menu structures.

In the window that opens, select "Reset settings." The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Click "Erase all data" button. You will be prompted to enter the screen unlock password or a pattern lock to confirm the operation.

Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase All Data → Enter Password → Erase All Data

Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory and file count, and do not interrupt the process or try to turn off the device until you see the welcome language selection screen.

Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If your smartphone is stuck on the logo, doesn't respond to touch, or you've forgotten your login password, Hard Reset will help you with Recovery, which works at the system level and allows you to clear the memory even when the interface is broken, and is universal for most models, including Poco and Redmi.

To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume until the Recovery menu appears.

In this menu, the touch screen does not work. The control is done with volume buttons (up/down) for moving to points and a power button to select (Enter). Select a language (usually English), then go to "Wipe Data" and confirm the action by selecting "Wipe All Data".

⚠️ Note: In some versions of Recovery (especially in the CN-The menu can be in Chinese, butt-button position: Wipe Data is usually the second or third line at the top, and Confirm is the bottom button.

Once the cleanup is completed successfully, the message will appear: "Data wiped successfully." Press "Back to Main Menu," then select "Reboot" and "Reboot to System." The first download after the reset will last longer than usual, sometimes up to 10 minutes.

Resetting with Google Find My Device

There is an alternative way to reset if you have access to the Internet and remember data from a Google account linked to the device, which is convenient because it allows you to delete data remotely without having physical access to the lock screen, but the phone must be on and connected to the network.

Go from any other device (computer or phone) to android.com/find. Log in to the same Google account used on the troubled Xiaomi.

From the control menu, select the option "Erase Device" (Erase Device). The system will warn you of data loss. Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the phone, and it will automatically begin the reset process. This method also helps bypass the lock screen, but will leave Google FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection.

• 🌐 Requires an active Internet connection on your phone (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔒 The device must be switched on and identified in the geolocation system.
• 📱 The method does not work if the phone is turned off or in flight mode.

This is a useful method in the event of theft or loss of a phone, when you need to delete personal data urgently, but to solve software problems with hangings, it is better to use local reset methods through Recovery.

Deleting your Mi and Google account after resetting

After performing Hard Reset, modern Xiaomi smartphones launch the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism. If you did not log out before resetting, the system will require you to enter a password from the last synchronized Google account or Mi Account.

It's a security mechanism against theft. If you drop a phone for sale, the new owner won't be able to use it without your data. So rule number one: always log out before resetting through Settings → Accounts and Sync.

If you forget your password, you can only restore access through the process of restoring an account on the Google or Mi site. Bypassing FRP by third-party methods is a complex technical procedure, often requiring special tools and does not guarantee the result on new versions of Android.

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Tip: If you sell a phone, make a reset with a customer, which will prove that the device is not blocked by other people's accounts and is fully ready for the new setup.

Frequent problems and their solution

Even if all instructions are followed, users may encounter difficulties. One common problem is a cyclic bootloop, where the phone constantly displays the logo and turns off again, in which case you may need to reset via Recovery, selecting the "Wipe All Data" item and then flashing it back.

Another problem is the "Cannot Reset" error, which often happens when there is a shortage of space in the system partition or when the file system is damaged, and in such cases, cleaning the Cache partition (Wipe Cache Partition) before the main data reset helps.

If the phone warms up and discharges quickly after reset, give it 1-2 hours at rest. The system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. This is normal behavior for MIUI and HyperOS immediately after installation.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the first boot process after reset. 15 minutes, only then you can try forced reboot by pressing the power button on 10-15 seconds.

In case none of the software methods works and the phone is not behaving properly, the problem may be in the hardware, damage to flash memory or plumes can simulate a software failure, in which case a diagnosis is required at an authorized service center.

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The main conclusion: Resetting is a powerful tool for resuscitating a smartphone, but it requires mandatory data backup. Without a backup, information recovery is almost impossible.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)