When Xiaomi's smartphone starts to slow down, spontaneously reboot or make errors, a hard reset may be the only way to bring the device back to life, a process that completely erases all user data, returning the phone to a factory state -- as it did after the purchase. But how do you properly reset it so that it doesn't become a brick?
In this article, we will analyze three official hard reboot methods for all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO — From flagships to budget devices, you'll learn when hard reset is really needed and when software reset is enough, how to save important data before resetting, and what to do if the phone doesn't respond to buttons. MIUI 14/15, which are not mentioned in the standard instructions.
How is a hard reboot different from a regular one?
Many users confuse hard reset with a normal restart.
- 🔄 Soft reboot (Power) + Volume Up: Just switches the phone off and on without touching the data, similar to removing the battery on older devices.
- 🧹 Hard Reboot: Completely delete all user files, apps and settings. Phone returns to factory state.
- 🔧 Fastboot reset: low-level flashing, requires PCs and special tools (used for severe crashes).
Hard reset is required in cases of:
- 🐢 Strong slowdown after update MIUI.
- 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock or password (if the reset is not triggered by Find My Device).
- 🦠 Viral infection that cannot be removed by antivirus.
- 📱 Preparing the phone for sale or transfer to another user.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12/13/14 Snapdragon-chip 8 Gen 2 Hard reset via the recovery menu can block the bootloader if the Mi Account was not previously unlocked.
Once a year for prevention | Only before sale | Never done | Only when the phone is buggy-->
Method 1: Hard reboot via MIUI settings
The safest method is if the phone turns on and reacts to touch, suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-15.
Step-by-step:
- Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
- Slip on Reset settings (on some firmware, the item is called Recovery and Reset).
- Choose to erase all data (hard reset).
- Enter a password/pattern lock if requested.
- Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.
The process will take 3-7 minutes, the phone will restart and suggest that you configure it as new, at which point you can restore data from the backup of the Mi Cloud (if it was created in advance).
Make a backup copy in Mi Cloud|Record the Mi Account details|Make sure the battery is charged >30%|Disable your Google account (if you plan to sell your phone)-->
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ After reset, you may need to re-assign Mi Account to unlock the bootloader. If you forget your account password, restore it before you perform a hard reset! Method 2: Hardware reset via Recovery Mode If the phone does not turn on, it hung on the logo MI If you don't respond to touch, use Recovery Mode, which works even when your firmware is damaged, but requires physical access to the buttons. Instructions for all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11: Turn off the phone (press the Power for 10-15 seconds). + Volume Up and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Recovery logo appears. From the recovery menu, select the language (usually English by default). → Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm. After completion, select Reboot. → Reboot to System. If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of the items: 📱 The first point is reset. 🧹 The second item is data resetting (). 🔧 The third point is additional settings. What to do if the sensor in Recovery is not working? If the screen does not respond to touch, use Volume buttons for navigation (Volume). Up/Down — Moving, Power - choice. On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) It may be necessary to connect OTG-mouse. Xiaomi Model Combination of buttons for Recovery Features Xiaomi 13/13 Pro Power + Volume Up Requires Confirmation via Mi Account after Redmi Note reset 10/11 Power + Volume Up Menu in English/Chinese, sensor works POCO F4/F5 Power + Volume Up Resets without password if Find My Device Xiaomi Mi is disabled A3 (Android One) Power + Volume Up Uses the Standard Android Recovery Menu 3: Hard Fastboot reset If the first two methods don't work (e.g., the phone is stuck on startup the logo or gives a No command error in Recovery), then fastboot resets. ADB/Fastboot Step-by-step: Download and install Google's Platform Tools. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode. + Volume Down with the device switched off). Open the command line in the fastboot folder and execute: fastboot devices (the serial number of your device should be displayed). fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot If after these commands the phone does not turn on, you will need a full flashing through the Mi Flash Tool. XDA Developers or 4PDA. 💡Before resetting via fastboot, check the bootloader status with fastboot oem device-info. If Device unlocked: false is the answer, unlock it through Mi Unlock Tool, otherwise the phone will turn into a brick. What to do after a hard reboot? After a successful reset, the phone will be like new, but there are a few important steps to help avoid problems in the future: 🔐 Security setting: Back up passwords in Mi Cloud or Google Smart Lock. Activate Find My Device in Google Settings. ☁️ Data recovery: Restore contacts, photos and apps from Mi Cloud or local copy. Do not restore system settings - this can bring back old errors. 📱 Optimizing Work: Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system. ⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 15 Once reset, Smart Lock can automatically activate, which unlocks your phone on trusted networks. 💡After a hard reset, the first 24 hours avoid installing applications from unknown sources - this will help to identify possible hardware problems without the influence of third-party software. Common errors and how to avoid them Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes during a hard reboot. Here are the most common of them and ways to prevent them: Error Reason Decision Phone does not turn on after resetting the interrupted process or battery is discharged Charge phone 30+ Reset the Mi Account Requires Password after Recovery Account was not untied before reset Restore access to Mi Account via account.xiaomi.com No command error in Recovery Damaged Recovery section Use reset via fastboot or re-recovery Loss IMEI Remove the modem data (rarely, but it happens on custom firmware) IMEI Engineer Mode (#3646633##) If the phone is slower than before, check it out: 🔋 Battery condition (wear and tear) >50% has a strong impact on productivity). 📦 Number of pre-installed applications (on some firmwares, they can be disabled through Settings) → Annexes → Show it all). 🔄 Version MIUI (Sometimes old updates are more stable than new ones). FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's hard reset Can you make a hard reset without losing data? No, hard reset always deletes user data. However, you can pre-create a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup or Mi Cloud. Once reset, you can recover the data. Why does the phone ask for the old password after reset (FRP). If you had a Google account attached to your phone, you'll need to reset your login and password. If you forget your data, restore it through accounts.google.com. How to reset Xiaomi if the screen isn't working? If the sensor isn't responding, but the phone turns on: Connect. OTG-You can use a mouse or a keyboard. + Volume Up for Recovery Entry. Use the mouse to navigate the reset menu. If the screen is completely black, try resetting via fastboot (see Method 3). Will the unlocked bootloader reset after hard reset? No, the bootloader status (unlocked/locked) is retained after a hard reboot. However, some models (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50) may require reauthorization in Mi Account to unlock additional features (for example, install custom firmware). Can you cancel the hard reset? No, after confirming the reset, the process is irreversible. The only way to restore data from a backup copy of the program, like a backup from a backup copy of the Mobise.