The situation when Xiaomi smartphone stops responding to commands or is blocked by a forgotten pattern lock is familiar to many users. At such moments, standard methods of rebooting through the screen become unavailable, and the only way out is to use physical control buttons. Hard Reset is a radical, but often the only possible way to revive the device, returning it to its original state.
The process of returning to factory parameters through the Recovery Mode engineering menu requires careful and accurate follow-up. Errors at this stage can lead to loss of important data or, in rare cases, software failures. So it is crucial to understand which buttons to pinch and how to correctly navigate the menu where the touch screen is not working.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of the reset procedure for different Redmi and Mi models. You will learn about the differences in the Recovery menu, how to bypass account locks and methods of saving backups before critical changes to the system.
Preparation of the device for forced discharge
Before you start manipulating the buttons, you need to perform a series of preparatory steps. If the phone is still turning on and responding to touch, the first step should be to back up all the important data. Recovery completely destroys the information in the internal storage, including photos, contacts and installed applications.
Make sure the battery is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can lead to system files being degraded and the smartphone becoming a brick. If the device is frozen and not charging, plug in the original power cable and wait at least 15-20 minutes before the procedure.
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Remove before resetting SIM-microSD card and memory card, if installed to avoid accidental loss of data from external media or lockdown SIM-post-reboot.
You should also disable Find Device in your Mi Account settings if possible, which will make it easier to set up the initial setup after the reset and prevent a request for a password from a Google or Mi Account that may occur under FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security.
☑️ Preparation for Hard Reset
Differences in Recovery versions on Xiaomi smartphones
The recovery interface you get to when you press the buttons can vary significantly depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, and the firmware region, and understanding these differences is critical because the navigation and options available are implemented differently.
There are two main menu types: Orange Recovery (often found on global and Chinese versions with an unlocked bootloader) and Blue Recovery (a standard menu for locked bootloaders). In the orange menu, control is via the touch screen, whereas in the blue version, navigation is only possible with physical volume buttons.
Why is the menu blue or orange?
Don’t be alarmed if the phone requires you to enter the unlock password after you enter the recovery mode.This is Xiaomi’s new security feature introduced in the latest versions of MIUI 12/13/14. If you forget the screen password, it may not be possible to get into the Recovery menu for reset without first logging in through the Mi Account on the manufacturer’s website.
Step-by-step: Entry into Recovery Mode
The process of entering recovery mode is universal for most models, but the reaction rate to presses can vary. First, turn off the smartphone completely. If the device is suspended and does not turn off in the usual way, press the power button for 10-15 seconds before vibration and switch off the screen.
Once the screen is out, press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold both buttons. When the Mi or Redmi logo appears on the screen, release the power button, but continue holding the volume button until the Recovery menu appears.
| Action. | Button | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Turning off the phone | Power (or clamping) | Before the screen is turned off |
| Entering Recovery Mode | Volume Up + Nutrition | Before the logo came along |
| Fixing the entrance | Volume Up. | Before the menu arrives |
| Navigation (in blue menu) | Volume Up/down | Short press |
| Confirmation of choice | Nutrition | Short press |
It's important to keep the timing: if you release the volume button too early, the phone will just start the normal operating system booting. If you move the buttons, you can accidentally get into Fastboot mode, which we don't need, in which case just press the power button for 10 seconds to force the restart and try again.
Navigation and performance of data reset
Once you've successfully logged in, you'll see a list of options. If you have Blue Recovery, you can move around the points with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by a short press of the power button. If you have Orange Recovery, just tap the desired point with your finger.
You need to find Wipe Data. In some versions of the menu, it may be called Clear Data. Once you select this, the system will alert you to the irreversibility of the operation. Choose a confirmation, usually Wipe All Data or Confirm.
⚠️ Attention: The erasure process can take from a few seconds to several minutes. The screen may display the progress bar. Under no circumstances attempt to remove the battery (if it is not removable) or interrupt the process with buttons at this moment.
Once you have finished cleaning files, the system will suggest going back to the main menu (Back to Main Menu) or immediately restarting the device (Reboot). Select Reboot → Reboot to System. The first start after a reset will last longer than usual - this is normal, since the system reconfigures the files.
Solving problems: if the menu doesn't appear or reset doesn't help
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the button combination does not work and the phone simply turns on as normal.This may be due to a software failure or a feature of a particular model. In such cases, try connecting the phone turned off with a USB cable to a computer or charger, and then press the buttons.
If the reset is successful, but the phone continues to behave incorrectly or requires a password from a Google/Mi Account that you don't remember, the situation becomes complicated: the FRP security system locks the device after the reset, requiring proof of ownership, and it is almost impossible to get around without a password in legal ways.
What to do if your phone requires a Mi Account password after a reset?
In rare cases, especially on custom firmware, the Recovery menu can be damaged. If you see an Android lying down with the words "No command" instead of a menu, try pressing the power button and briefly pressing the volume up (or down, depending on the model) once. If this does not help, you will need to flash it through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
Initial setup after Hard Reset
Once you reboot, you'll see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on a new phone. Choose a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network. At this point, the system can check for linked accounts. If it's successful, you'll be taken to a clean desktop.
Now it's time to recover data from backup, and if you've used Google or Mi Cloud, it'll offer you to restore contacts, photos and app lists, which can take time depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet.
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After the first turn on after reset, give the phone 10-15 minutes of rest. The system performs background optimization of applications and indexing of files, which can temporarily reduce performance and heat the case.
It is recommended to check for system updates in the Settings → About Phone → MIUI/HyperOS version. Often the problems that led to the need to reset are fixed in new security and stability patches.