Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all known for their performance, but over time, even the most powerful devices start to run slower. Accumulated software debris, system errors or the need to sell a gadget are the main reasons why users need to perform a full reset. This procedure returns the device to the “out of the box” state, removing all personal data, accounts and installed applications.
The process of restoring factory parameters to the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS is simple enough, but requires care. Wrong actions can lead to the loss of important information that can then be impossible to recover. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from the standard settings menu to using the engineering Recovery mode, and answer complex questions.
Before we get started, we need to understand what Hard Reset is and how it differs from normal file deletion, which is not just a memory cleaner, but a deep rewriting of system partitions that returns the standard algorithms of the processor and communication modules, so preparing for an operation is a critical step that cannot be ignored.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
The first and most important step is to back up your data, and once you start the cleanup process, there's nothing left on the internal drive except system files, photos, contacts, instant messaging, and game saving will be permanently lost unless you make a copy of it in advance.
Mi Account and Google account owners should be aware of Anti-theft security. If you drop your phone without untethering your accounts, your device will ask for a password when you activate them first, and without that knowledge, your phone will become a brick, and it will be extremely difficult to unlock it even in a service center.
💡
Take screenshots of important settings or take a picture of the About Phone screen before resetting – this will help you remember the firmware version and important configuration options.
Be sure to charge the battery of the smartphone to at least 60-70%. the process of formatting partitions and reinstallation of system files is energy-consuming. If the device turns off at a critical time of writing system libraries, this can disrupt the Bootloader.
- 📱 Create a backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup of the SD-card.
- 🔒 Untie your Mi Account and Google account in the Passwords and Security section».
- 📸 Move all photos and videos to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
- 🔋 Make sure the battery level is above 60%.
☑️ Ready to dump
Method 1: Reset via the MIUI and HyperOS settings menu
It's the safest and easiest method available to every user whose phone is turned on and touch-sensitive, and it doesn't require any special knowledge or computer connection, and the algorithm is almost identical to all versions of the shell, whether it's the old MIUI 12 or the newest HyperOS.
To start, open the main menu and find the Settings icon. You are interested in a section that can be called About Phone or Advanced Settings, depending on the version of the software. In most modern models, the path looks like Settings → About Phone → Reset.
The system will offer you two options: "Erase all data" or "Reset settings." Choose complete erasure if your goal is to sell the phone or remove all traces of use. After choosing, the system will ask you to enter a graphical key or unlock password to confirm the identity of the owner.
⚠️ Attention: After pressing the Reset button, the process can no longer be interrupted. The phone will automatically go into reboot, and the internal memory cleaner will start.
The duration of the procedure depends on the amount of memory filled. If you have 200 GB of 256 GB, the process can take from 10 to 20 minutes. Don't panic if the screen goes out or the Xiaomi logo appears - this is the usual behavior of the system when formatting userdata partitions.
💡
Resetting via the menu is the only way to guarantee automatic data clearing from the Mi Account (FRP) binding, if you have not previously logged out.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is frozen, does not respond to touch or goes into an endless restart (bootloop), a normal reset through the settings is impossible. In this case, Recovery mode is used. It is accessed by a combination of physical buttons when the device is turned off.
Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press both the Volume Up and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the Power button, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears.
In this mode, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
Once you have cleaned, select Reboot → Reboot to System. The phone will reboot and you’ll start setting up the first time you turn on a new device.This method ignores software locks, but doesn’t remove protection for Google or Mi accounts if it’s been active.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Through Mi Flash (PC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| I need a PC. | No. | No. | Yes. |
| It works when you're hanging. | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Takes down FRP (Google/Mi) | Yes (when logging out) | No. | Only with an unlocked BL |
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Remote reset via Google Find My Device
There is a scenario where the phone is lost or stolen and no physical access is possible, in which case Google Find My Device helps, a method that allows you to remotely initiate a command to completely erase data so that information does not fall into the wrong hands.
To do this, you need to log in from any other device (computer or tablet) to the service site, log in to the same Google account that was entered on the lost smartphone, and the system will try to determine the location of the device.
From the control menu, select the option "Clean the device." The command will go to the phone, and once it connects to the Internet (via mobile network or Wi-Fi), the reset process will begin, and it is important to understand that after this procedure, you will no longer be able to track the location of the phone.
- 🌍 It only works if the device is on and has access to the network.
- 🔐 Requires password knowledge from the owner’s Google account.
- 📱 Deletes all data, including SD-map (on some models).
Problem Solving: What to Do If Resetting Doesn't Help
Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after a reset the phone continues to malfunction, warm up or discharge quickly, which may indicate that the problem is not in software debris, but in the hardware or damage to the system files of the firmware.
If the standard Hard Reset doesn’t solve the problem, it may be that the cache partition is damaged or the operating system itself has critical errors, and in such cases, you need to flash the device using a computer and the Mi Flash Tool utility.
It is also worth checking the battery status: a software reset cannot correct the physical wear of the battery or the oxidation of the contacts. If the phone turns off 20-30% of the charge even after reset, it is likely that a replacement of the battery will be required.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is warmed after resetting for more than 30 minutes, do not rush to carry it for repair.The system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background, which causes temporary heating.