Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones sooner or later face the need to return the device to its original state, this can be caused by selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or the desire to eliminate software errors accumulated during operation. The data cleanup procedure requires careful attention, as in the process all personal information, including contacts, photos and installed applications, will be deleted.
There are several ways to perform Hard Reset, each with its own characteristics and suits different situations. If the phone turns on and responds to touch, the easiest way to use the standard settings menu is to use the standard settings menu. However, when the device is locked or stuck on the logo, you will need to use Recovery mode. Understanding the differences between these methods will help to avoid locking your account and losing important data.
Before any manipulations are initiated, it is necessary to realize the irreversibility of the process. Once confirmed, it will be impossible to restore files without a pre-created backup. In this article, we will discuss all the stages of preparation, step-by-step instructions for various scenarios and answer frequent questions that arise from users when resetting a MIUI or HyperOS system.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
The first and most critical step is to back up all the relevant information, and even if you plan on just cleaning your phone of garbage, there's always a risk of an unforeseen failure during the process. Save photos, videos and documents to Google Drive cloud storage or copy them to your computer via Google Drive. USB-cable.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If a Google or Mi Account is activated on a phone, they must be unplugged before resetting. Otherwise, after a reboot, the system will require you to enter the username and password from the account to which the phone was linked before cleaning, a standard measure of protection against theft known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password or Google password after a reset, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device, and in some cases impossible without contacting the service center with purchase checks.
Also, be sure to check the battery power. To perform a successful operation, the charge level must be at least 50-60%. If the phone turns off when the memory partitions are formatted, this can damage the file system and prevent the operating system from further loading.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Method 1: Reset via the Settings Menu (Soft Reset)
The easiest and most secure method is available to every user whose phone is functioning normally, and it doesn't require a computer or any special knowledge. First, go to the main menu and select Settings. Next, scroll down to About Phone.
In the menu that opens, find the Reset button, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen. The system will offer several options: reset the settings of Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth, or completely reset all data. We are interested in the second option - Erase all data. Click on it to continue.
After selecting the cleaning option, the phone may request a pattern lock, PIN-A screen unlock code or password is a security measure to prevent unauthorized users from accidentally deleting data, and confirm the action, and the system will warn you that all files will be deleted.
What happens when you select the option "Clear internal memory"?
The duration of the process depends on the amount of information accumulated and the speed of the drive. This usually takes from 5 to 15 minutes. The device can reboot several times, and the screen will display the Xiaomi logo or progress indicator. Do not touch the control buttons at this point.
Method 2: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If the phone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo, or forgets the unlock password, Recovery mode is used. This method works at the bootloader level and allows you to clean even when the operating system is broken.
Press both the Volume Up and Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while still holding the volume. In a few seconds, the main Recovery menu will open.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. Select a language (if available), then go to Wipe Data. Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
| Action. | Control button | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Moving on the menu | Volume Up/down | The cursor moves between points |
| Confirmation of choice | Power (Power) | Entering the submenus or starting the process |
| Getting out of the regime | Reboot → Reboot to System | Rebooting the phone in normal mode |
Once the cleanup is complete, the message will appear “Data wiped successfully.” Press the “Back to Main Menu” button, and then select Reboot → Reboot to System. The first run after the reset will take longer than usual, as the system creates new configuration files.
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If the volume buttons don't work, try connecting your phone to the charger before entering Recovery mode. On some models, this helps activate touch control in the recovery menu.
Deletion of Mi Account and Protection against Blocking
One of the most common problems after a reset is activation blocking, which occurs if the Xiaomi account was not logged out before the cleanup, and the security system perceives the reset as an attempt to steal if the device was tied to the manufacturer's cloud service.
To avoid this, go to the settings, find the Mi Account section, and click the Log Out or Delete Account button. The system will require you to enter a password, and only after successful exit can you safely reset your data in any of the ways described.
When the phone has already been reset and requires a password from the previous owner, the situation becomes complicated: officially unlock the device can only be provided with a check of purchase at an authorized service center. Using third-party programs to bypass the lock (Bypass) often carries the risk of malware infection or complete failure of the software.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check if it is untied from the seller's Mi Account. If after turning on the phone asks for a password from someone else's account, it will be almost impossible to return it legally.
Resolve and recover from discharge
Once the phone is turned on and the welcome window is gone, the initial setup phase begins, the system will suggest selecting a language, connecting to Wi-Fi and recovering data from a backup, and if you used Google's cloud service, the contact and app list recovery process will go through automatically.
Sometimes users have a problem when the phone starts to warm up or discharge quickly after a reset, which is normal in the first hours of operation, as background processes index files and update applications.
If the phone is stuck on the Bootloop logo after trying to reset, the system partition may be damaged, in which case flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility and the official firmware for your model will help, a more complex procedure that requires drivers and a stable Internet connection.
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After reset, be sure to update all apps through Google Play Market and check for system updates in the About Phone section to fix possible bugs of the old version of the software.
Comparison of data cleanup methods
The choice of reset method depends on the current state of the device and the user's goals. For a normal sale or transfer of the phone, a standard menu is enough. Recovery mode is better for repairing or correcting deep system errors.
- 📱 Through settings: Ideal for routine cleaning, sale or transfer of the device to a new owner.
- 🛠 Through Recovery: Needed for a broken sensor, forgotten unlock password, or critical Android download errors.
- 💻 Mi Flash: Used to "fill" the phone when neither menu nor recovery mode is working.
It is important to understand that none of the methods guarantee 100% impossibility of data recovery by professional forensics, but for everyday use, these methods make information inaccessible to the average user.