Reset Xiaomi settings through buttons: full instructions for smartphones and TV

Did you forget the pattern lock on Xiaomi? The phone is stuck on the MIUI logo and didn't react to touch? Or maybe the Mi TV started to brake after the upgrade and you want to return the factory settings? In these cases, hardware resetting through physical buttons is the only working way to restore the device. This method doesn't require access to the system menu, works even when the firmware is damaged or the screen is locked.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all types of Xiaomi devices: smartphones (including models from Qualcomm and Mediatek), tablets and TVs. We will discuss which button combinations to use, how to avoid errors when resetting, and what to do if the device does not respond to commands, and also we will tell you how to prepare for the procedure so that you do not lose important data.

⚠️ Important: Hardware reset removes all data from the device, including photos, contacts and installed apps. If the phone is still turning on, first try to save information through Mi Cloud or PC connection.

1. When you need to reset through buttons - 5 reasons

Hard reset is the last resort that is used when software methods fail, and here are the typical situations in which it is needed:

• 🔒 Forgot your password or pattern lock – the device is locked and you can’t log in.
• 🐢 Strong brakes and lags – a smartphone or TV has become unbearably slow, even after cleaning the cache.
• 🔄 Hanging on the logo MIUI or Mi TV — The device is switched on but not loaded beyond the screensaver.

If your problem doesn't make it to this list, it might be enough to reset software through the settings menu, for example, to fix minor interface glitches or application crashes.

2.Resetting preparation: what to do in advance

Before you start a hardware reset, follow these steps to minimize the risks:

⚠️ Warning: If you are dropping the Mi TV, Turn it off for 10 to 15 minutes before the procedure, which will reset temporary errors in the device’s memory and increase the chances of a successful recovery.

3. Reset settings on Xiaomi smartphones (all models)

The procedure differs depending on the device's processor. Xiaomi has two main types of chipsets: Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek. You can find out which processor in your model, on the GSMArena website or in the specs on the box.

3.1. Devices on Qualcomm (Redmi, POCO, Mi 10/11 etc.)

For smartphones with a Snapdragon processor (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3, Mi 11) use this combination:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the power button + volume button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-20 seconds until the Mi Bunny logo appears in Fastboot mode.
4. With the help of volume buttons, select Recovery Mode and confirm the choice with the power button.
5. From the recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).

🔹 Note: on some models (e.g, POCO X3 NFC) To log in to Recovery, you must first select Reboot to Recovery from the Fastboot menu.

3.2. MediaTek devices (Redmi 9, 8A, Note 8, etc.)

For smartphones with a chipset MediaTek Helio (for example, Redmi 9A, Redmi 8, Note 8 2021) the algorithm is different:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the power button + volume button for 10-15 seconds.
3. When the Redmi or Xiaomi logo appears, release the power button, but keep holding the volume button until you see the Recovery menu.
4. Select Wipe Data → Confirm (on some models, the item may be called Clear eMMC).

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MediaTek, do not interrupt the reset process, even if the screen goes out for a few minutes. 7A, Redmi Go can stay on the black screen for up to 5 minutes – it’s normal.

4. Reset settings on Mi TVs (all generations)

Xiaomi Mi TVs (including Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1, Mi TV A2) are reset differently than smartphones. There are no physical volume buttons, so a combination with a remote and a button on the case is used.

Instructions for Mi TV:

1. Turn off the TV with a button on the remote or on the case (usually located on the side or bottom).
2. Press and hold the power button on the TV case (not on the remote!) for 10-15 seconds.
3. When the Mi TV logo appears on the screen, release the button and immediately press the combination on the remote: Menu → Back → Menu → Back (on some models Menu → Up → Menu → Up).
4. In the menu that opens, select Wipe Data/Factory Reset and confirm the action.

📌 Important: After the Mi reset TV You will need to reconfigure your account, including Wi-Fi connection and Mi Account login!

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If the remote doesn't work, use the official Mi Remote app on your smartphone, which emulates all the buttons on the physical remote, including the Menu and Back.

5 Possible Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

• ❌ The device is not included in Recovery 🔹 Reason: damaged firmware or faulty buttons. 🔹 Solution: Try connecting the device to a PC and using the Mi Flash Tool for forced flashing.
• ❌ Reset interrupted at half 🔹 Reason: Low battery power or damaged memory sectors. 🔹 Solution: charge the device to 100% and try again. If the error repeats, contact the service center.
• ❌ After resetting, the phone asks for an old password 🔹 Reason: Mi Account is linked to your device (Find Device feature). 🔹 Solution: enter your Xiaomi account. If you forget your password, restore it to account.xiaomi.com.

⚠️ Note: if after the discharge of the Mi TV Stops turning on or shows a No Signal error, check cables and ports. Sometimes a reset resets settings HDMI — Reconnect the signal sources sufficiently.

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If the device doesn't turn on or is stuck on the logo after the reset, don't panic - this may be due to a long initial setup.

6. Alternative reset methods (if the buttons do not work)

If physical buttons are damaged or the device does not respond to them, there are two alternative methods:

6.1.Reset via Fastboot (for smartphones)

You will need a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and the original Xiaomi cable.

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Press the power button + volume reduction to enter the Fastboot.
3. On your computer, open the command line and type: fastboot devices (should display your device).
4. Run the reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

6.2. Reset via Mi Account (remote)

If the Find Device feature is enabled on the device, you can reset it via the web interface:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select your device in the list.
3. Press Erase Device and confirm the action.

🔹 Limitation: This method only works if the device is connected to the Internet and the Find Device function was activated before blocking.

7.What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, the device will return to the factory settings.

1. Choose a language and region – we recommend you to specify Russia or Global to avoid problems with Google services.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi – Use a reliable network, as immediately after the reset, the system can download updates.
3. Sign in to your Mi Account – if you have forgotten your data, restore it in advance.
4. Recover data from backup – if you did backup through Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

⚠️ Note: on some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3) After the reset, you may see a warning about unlocking the bootloader. This is normal if you previously unlocked it to install custom firmware.

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After reset, don’t rush to install all the applications at once. Let the system run 1-2 days in a “clean” form to make sure there are no lags.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset