Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face situations where the device starts to work unstable, the system is overflowing with errors or you need to delete all data before selling the gadget. In such cases, the most effective solution is to return to the original state of the software, which completely cleans the internal memory, deletes user accounts and returns the MIUI or HyperOS operating system to the “out of the box”.
Known as Hard Reset or Factory Reset, the reset procedure is a radical but often the only way to solve software failures. It is important to understand that once the operation is complete, there will be no photos, no contacts, no installed applications on the phone, which is why you need to carefully prepare before starting any manipulations so that valuable information is not lost forever.
There are several ways to do this: through the standard settings menu if the phone turns on and responds to commands, or through Recovery mode if the system is locked or not booting. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail, consider the nuances of unlocking FRP (Google protection) and answer frequent questions from Chinese smartphone owners.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
Before you initiate a cleanup process, it is critical to perform a number of preparatory steps, ignoring this step can lead to the permanent loss of personal data or locking the device by Google security mechanisms, first of all you need to back up all important information.
Use Xiaomi’s built-in tools or cloud services to save contacts, messages, and call history. Multimedia (photos, videos, documents) is best done manually on a computer or uploaded to a cloud storage.
- 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 50-60%, so that the process is not interrupted by discharge.
- ☁️ Sync data with Mi Cloud or Google Drive to save settings and contacts.
- 📸 Transfer all photos and videos to an external hard drive or PC.
- 📱 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card before the procedure.
⚠️ Attention: If you do not remove SIM-card, in rare cases, when reset, the contacts stored on the SIM card chip, and not in the phone memory, can be deleted.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If you log in to a Google account on a device, after resetting, the system will require you to enter a password from that account on the first activation, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection) protection mechanism, and if you forget your password, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the phone.
It is recommended to remove your Google and Mi Account account from your phone settings in advance, if possible, and this is guaranteed to protect you from activation problems after cleaning.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Method 1: Reset via the Settings Menu (Soft Reset)
The simplest and most secure method is available to users whose devices are functioning normally and are placed on the main menu, which requires no special knowledge or connection to a computer, and the entire operation is performed through the MIUI graphical interface.
To start, open the Settings app (the gear icon) and find the About Phone section, which is usually at the bottom of the list, and that's where the basic system management tools are hidden.
Inside the About Phone section, you need to find the Reset option. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or the new HyperOS), the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same.
- 📱 Click on the “Erase All Data” button at the bottom of the screen.
- 🔐 Enter the screen unlock password or pattern lock to confirm identity.
- ⏳ Expect to complete the process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes.
The system will once again warn you that all data will be deleted, and once confirmed, the phone will restart, and the process of formatting memory partitions will begin, and the screen can go out and light up several times, which is normal behavior.
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If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Mi Account, make sure you have access to your phone number to receive SMS, as the system may request confirmation when you log out.
Once you've cleaned, you'll see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on a new smartphone, and you'll be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and reconfigure the device.
Method 2: Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If the phone doesn't boot, freezes on the logo, or you forget the unlock password, you'll have to use Recovery Mode, which works at the low-level software level and allows you to clean the phone even when the system is broken.
To enter this mode, you need to run a combination of buttons on the device that is turned off. Press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to hold the volume until the Recovery menu appears.
In this mode, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects the item. You need to find the Wipe Data item.
Once you select this item, the system will offer several options: Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. The device will request confirmation again to avoid accidental deletion.
⚠️ Note: Some CIS firmware versions may require you to enter a password from a Mi Account that was previously associated with the device after resetting via Recovery.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
The formatting process will start automatically. Upon completion, the screen will show the following message: "Data wiped successfully." After that, select Reboot -> Reboot to System for normal boot.
Method 3: Remote reset via Google Find My Device
In situations where the phone is lost or stolen, physical access to the buttons is impossible, in which case the owner comes to the rescue of the service Google Find My Device, which allows you to remotely initiate a complete reset if the device is connected to the Internet.
To do this, you need to go to android.com/find from any other device (computer, tablet) and log in under the same Google account that was on the lost phone.
From the device management menu, select the option “Erase Device” (Erase Device). Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the smartphone. Once it is online, the reset process will begin.
- 🌍 It only works if the phone is on and has access to mobile internet or Wi-Fi.
- 🔒 After resetting, the phone will be locked and you can only log in with your Google account.
- 📍 Geolocation will cease to update after the discharge command is executed.
This method is also useful if the phone is so getting stuck that it doesn’t respond to any taps, but the system inside is still running and holding the network.
Table of comparison of discharge methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the risks and requirements of each method.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Remotely (Google) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to the menu | Required. | Not required | Not required |
| We need the Internet. | Not mandatory. | Not required | I'll be sure. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium. | Depends on the link. |
As you can see from the table, the method through settings is the most preferred method for the average user, since it is the most popular, but Recovery mode remains the "heavy artillery" for complex cases.
The problem of blocking FRP and Mi Account
One of the main problems users face after a reset is account locking.Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is built into Android to prevent the use of stolen devices.If you reset your phone without first deleting your Google account, the system will require you to enter your login and password when you first set up.
A similar situation occurs with Mi Account. In firmware for the Chinese market, and sometimes in global ones, when turned on after a reset, you may need to log in to the Xiaomi account that was linked to the device.
If you forgot your password:
- 📧 Try to restore access via Google or Xiaomi from your computer.
- 📞 Contact the service center with a check about the purchase of the device to confirm ownership.
- 🚫 Do not try to use questionable programs to “hack” it can finally kill the firmware.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always ask the seller to reset your settings and log out of all accounts. Otherwise, you risk getting a brick tied to someone else's account.
There are bypasses, but they depend on the specific version of Android and the security patch. On newer versions of Android 12, 13, 14, most simple methods no longer work.
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The only guaranteed way to avoid blocking FRP is to delete your Google account (Settings -> Accounts -> Delete your account) before resetting your settings.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Unforeseen situations can occur during the reset process, and understanding the nature of these errors will help you not panic and act correctly.
A common problem is hanging on the Mi or Android logo after a reset, which can mean damage to system files or conflict updates, in which case it helps to re-enter Recovery and execute the Wipe Data command again, or flash the device through the computer.
Another error is the endless restart (bootloop) if the phone is constantly turned off and on, the recording process may have been interrupted or the cache partition damaged. Try clearing the Wipe Cache partition in the Recovery menu (if such an item is available in your version).
Sometimes users complain that after a reset, the phone is slow, which is normal in the first 30-60 minutes of operation, as the system is indexing files and optimizing applications.
Data recovery after cleaning
Once the phone is reset and reconfigured, the recovery phase begins, and if you follow the preparation guidelines, it will go smoothly.
When you first log in to a Google account, the system will prompt you to restore apps and settings from the last backup, and you can choose which apps to install and which ones not.
To recover photos and videos:
- Go to the Google Photos or Gallery app.
- Wait for the synchronization with the cloud.
- If you have used Mi Cloud, sign in to Xiaomi account and enable sync.
Can I recover data without a backup?
Contacts will be restored automatically if they were saved to a Google account. check this in the Contacts section of your phone's settings.