Reset Xiaomi to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical but effective way to solve most software problems, from slowdowns and errors to viruses and “bricks” after a failed update. However, an incorrect reset can lead to the loss of important data, blocking the Mi Account account or even turning the device into a “brick.” In this guide, we will examine all the official hard reset methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, including hidden nuances that are not written in the standard instructions.

It's important to understand that resetting isn't always a panacea. For example, if your Xiaomi doesn't turn on because of a physical battery or motherboard breakdown, software manipulation won't help. But in 80% of cases (according to service centers statistics), the problems are caused by software -- and this is where resetting becomes the first step to recovery. We'll look at scenarios for different situations: when the phone is running, when it's locked, and even when it doesn't respond to buttons.

When you need to reset Xiaomi to factory settings

Before you start taking drastic measures, assess whether they are really necessary. Here are the valid reasons for dumping:

• 🐢 Smartphone slows down, applications constantly fly out, and less than 10% of free memory remains even after cleaning the cache.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Critical bugs: Camera is not working, sound is missing, or the device restarts every 5 minutes.
• 🔒 You have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-code and Mi Account unlock is not available (e.g. no internet connection).
• 🦠 Suspicion of virus: Advertising in all apps, unknown transactions, or antivirus finds threats that are not removed.
• 📦 Before selling or transferring a phone to another person (mandatory for the protection of personal data!).

Here are the cases where the reset will not help or even harm:

• ⚡ The phone does not turn on or respond to charging (a problem in the battery or power board).
• 📡 No network or Wi-Fi due to damaged communication module (requires antenna repair).
• 💧 We got liquid – we need to analyze and clean, not software manipulations.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is tied to your Mi Account and you don’t remember the login details, a Recovery reset will lock your phone! in this case, first untie the device through the official website or contact support.

Preparing for resetting: how to save important data

The factory reset completely removes all data from internal memory, including:

• 📸 Photos and videos (including screenshots and camera footage).
• 📱 Contacts, SMS, Call log (unless synced with Google or Mi Cloud).
• 🎮 Save games and customize applications.
• 📁 Uploaded files (documents, music, APK).

To avoid losses, follow the following steps:

Backup to Mi Cloud (Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup)

Copy photo/video on PC or external drive

Exporting Contacts to Google Account

Record the IMEI of your phone (type *#06#)

Make sure you know the username/password from Mi Account (if the phone is tied)-->

For backups via Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select data to save (contacts, messages, system settings).
3. Click on “Create backup” and wait until it is completed (it may take 10-30 minutes).

If Mi Cloud is not working (for example, due to account locking), use third-party tools:

• 🖥️ For PC: Xiaomi Programs PC Suite or Mi Phone Manager (official backup utilities).
• 📱 Apps like Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup.

💡

If the phone is locked but turns on, connect it to your PC via USB and copy files manually through Windows Explorer (Internal Storage folder).

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (soft reset)

This is the safest and most recommended method if the phone is turned on and you remember the unlock password.It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 9 and newer.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone (or About Device on some models).
3. Select Backup and Reset → Resetting.
4. Click Delete all data (or Reset settings on older versions of MIUI).
5. Enter. PIN-code/password/pattern lock for confirmation.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Next → Ready.

It takes 5-15 minutes, and the phone will restart and suggest that you configure it as new, and at that point, you can recover the data from the backup.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Does not require you to disable Mi Account (unless your phone is locked).
• ✅ Minimum risk of error (process controlled by system).
• ✅ Stores data on a memory card (if installed).

Method 2: Recovery Mode (hard reset)

This method will be useful if:

• 🔐 You forgot the unlock password.
• 📵 The phone is switched on but constantly restarted (bootloop").
• 🚫 No access to the settings menu due to system failure.

Instructions for Xiaomi with stock Recovery (not custom TWRP!):

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO F1/F2/F3: Volume up + Volume down + Power. For Xiaomi Mi 11/12: Volume up + Power (hold 15+ seconds).

Mi

Recovery

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe Data

Wipe All Data

Confirm

Reboot

Reboot to System

If you need to enter Mi Account data after reset and you don't remember it, use the official unlock form, waiting time for support response is 3 to 72 hours.

💡

On models with a locked bootloader (such as Xiaomi EU or Chinese versions), a reset via Recovery can result in a lock due to Anti-Rollback.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP Resetting through standard Recovery can result in the loss of custom recovery! in which case use the fastboot boot command twrp.img temporary TWRP.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is used if:

• 🔧 Recovery is damaged or the phone doesn’t load into it.
• 📥 You need to sew stock firmware after unsuccessful experiments with custom ROM.
• 🔒 Device locked Mi Account, but you know the login details.

To reset via Fastboot, you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Archive with firmware for your model (download from the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume down + Power to enter the Fastboot (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
2. Connect the device to the PC and open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Check the connection command: fastboot devices should appear serial number of the device.
4. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot
5. If you need to flash stock firmware, use a script flash_all.bat archived ROM.

Once rebooted, the phone will look like new, but you may need to re-authorize in your Mi Account.

💡

If the fastboot device command doesn’t show the device, install the Mi Flash Tool drivers or use Google’s universal USB Driver. Windows 11 may need to disable driver signature verification.

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

• 🔄 "Phone stuck on Mi logo after reset" Reason: Damaged partition system or incompatible firmware Solution: Sweat stock firmware through Fastboot (see Method 3).
• 🔒 "Requires Mi Account after reset Reason: Factory Reset Protection activated (FRP). Solution: Enter the account to which the phone was linked. If you don't remember, restore access via account.xiaomi.com.
• 📵 "Not turned on after reset via Recovery" Reason: Power failure or damaged ROM.Solution: Connect to charging for 30 minutes, then try logging in to Fastboot (Loudness down) + Nutrition).
• 🗃️ "Reason: Recovery selected Wipe Internal Storage. Solution: Use data recovery software (e.g. DiskDigger or Recuva).
• 🔋 "Battery discharged during reset" Reason: Charge level was below 30% Solution: Charge phone to at least 50% before retrying.

If neither method worked, there might be a hardware problem, such as a damaged flash memory (eMMC) that can simulate software failures, in which case only a diagnostics service center would help.

Reset on a blocked Xiaomi without data loss

Situation: You forgot your password, and a reset via Recovery requires authorization to your Mi Account, which also lost data. Is there a way out?

Options for action:

1. If USB Debugging was enabled: Connect your phone to your PC and use ADB to delete gesture.key (for a pattern lock) or password.key (for a PIN): adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key Reboot the device – the password will be reset.
2. If Find My Device has been activated: Go to findmi.com from another device. Select a locked phone and use the Erase Device option (only user data will be erased, Mi Account will remain tied).

MIUI 8

• Use the vulnerability in Recovery: When you request a password, enter any combination 10+ times until the Forgot Pattern button appears.
• Enter the Google Account that was synced to your phone.