Modern Xiaomi smartphones, running on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, are complex computing devices that can accumulate software errors over time. Users often face situations when the gadget begins to work unstable, quickly discharge or freeze at the most inopportune moment, in which case the most effective solution is to return to the original state of the system.
Memory cleaning and factory resetting may be required not only in the event of technical failures, such as when you plan to sell your device or transfer it to another family member, and you must ensure that all personal data is deleted. Properly performing all the steps ensures that sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands and the operating system works at a new speed.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to do this, including standard methods through menus and advanced options through recovery mode. We will focus on preparing the gadget to avoid losing important contacts and photos. Full reset via Recovery (Wipe Data) deletes system partitions and user data without the possibility of recovery through standard Android tools.
Preparing the device for radical measures
Before you start the cleaning process, it is critical to perform several preparatory actions. Ignoring this step can lead to irretrievable loss of photos, correspondence and documents. First, make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%, as interruption of the process due to battery discharge can damage system files.
The next step is to back up your data, and Google and Mi Account account holders can use cloud services to save contacts, calendars and notes, and for photos and videos, it’s better to use external drives or upload them to the cloud, because internal memory will be completely cleared.
You also need to untie the device from security accounts, and if the phone has "Find Device" or two-factor authorization enabled, after the reset, the system can request a password from the previous owner, which is a security mechanism against theft that can lock the phone.
⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the Mi-account associated with the device, unlocking the smartphone after the reset will be extremely difficult, sometimes you need to contact the service center with checks for purchase.
Be sure to check for a MicroSD card. If installed, it is best to remove it before starting the procedure, so that you do not accidentally format external files along with the system files, and you should delete or transfer all important files from the download folder.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Standard reset via the settings menu
The safest and easiest way to get Android back to its original state is to use the system’s built-in menu, a method that is suitable for most users who have access to the desktop and smartphone settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic of action remains the same.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to About Phone, which shows basic information about the model, the CPU version, and the current version of the operating system. At the bottom of the screen, or in the three-dot menu in the corner, you need to find the Reset option.
You're interested in "Erase all data," and if you click on it, the operating system will give you a warning that all files will be deleted, and if you've already done a backup, feel free to continue.
- 📱 Click on the “Next” button to confirm your intentions.
- 🔒 Enter the pattern lock, PIN-screen-lock code.
- ☁️ If necessary, enter the password from the Mi-account to confirm the identity of the owner.
- ⏳ Expect to complete the process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes.
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the formatting process will begin. The screen can go out and light up several times. Don't try to interrupt work or take out the battery, even if the process seems to be hanging. The smartphone will complete the cleaning itself and turn on in initial setup mode, as if you just bought it from a store.
Using Recovery Mode for Resetting
If the operating system is unstable, the phone is constantly restarting or does not respond to touch, the standard method through the menu may not be available. In such cases, Recovery Mode is used. This is a special diagnostic interface recorded in the memory of the device regardless of the main system.
To enter this mode, you need to turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the volume button and the power button. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, while continuing to keep the volume. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will open.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by a short press of the power button. You need to find the "Wipe Data" item and select it. You will need to confirm the action by selecting "Wipe All Data".
⚠️ Note: In Recovery mode, the touch screen does not work, control is possible only with physical volume and turn on buttons.
Once you have cleaned, select the option "Reboot" and then "Reboot to System." The device will restart. The first run after such a reset can last longer than usual, sometimes up to 10 minutes, as the system performs file integrity checks.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
Comparison of data dumping methods
The choice of cleaning method depends on the current state of your gadget and the goals you are pursuing. Standard resetting through settings is convenient when the system is stable but requires access to the interface. Recovery mode is a more powerful tool to clean the device even when the bootloader or system is critically flawed.
There is also remote reset via Google’s Find Device service, which is useful in the event of a phone being stolen or lost, but this method requires an active internet connection on the device itself and pre-on geolocation.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Remotely (Google) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to the system | Required. | Not required | Internet is required |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
| Deletion of data | Complete. | Complete. | Complete. |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium. | Depends on the link. |
For ordinary users who want to simply refresh or prepare their phones for sale, the best choice is the first method, which is the most understandable and provided with detailed on-screen tips.
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Use Recovery only if the phone doesn’t turn on normally or hangs on the logo, otherwise the settings menu is safer.
Solving problems after discharge
Once Android has been successfully reset, users may face a number of questions, and a common problem with Google accounts is that security will require you to enter the username and password that were previously used on the device, a feature called FRP (Factory Reset Protection) designed to protect the owner’s data when the device is stolen.
If you forget the login details, it can take time to restore access, in some cases it takes 24 hours to wait after trying to enter the wrong password, and there may be problems connecting to Wi-Fi if the reset does not remove the network errors completely.
It's important to understand that once you turn on the phone, it's going to be slower than normal. Background processes, file indexing, and application updates consume CPU resources. Let the device lie on charge with Wi-Fi on for about an hour to complete all the background tasks.
- 📶 Check the mobile and internet connection.
- 🔄 Update all apps via Google Play or GetApps.
- 🔋 Calibrate the battery by draining the phone to 0% and charging to 100%.
- 🛡️ Install the necessary system security updates.
If the phone continues to warm or discharge quickly even after all the updates, it may be a hardware problem, in which case the software reset did not help, and a diagnosis is required at the service center.
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After reset, do not install all the applications at once, put only the most necessary ones and watch the phone work for a day to identify the possible culprit of the problems.