How to restore factory settings on Xiaomi phone: the full guide 2026

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical but effective way to return the smartphone to a “clean” state.The procedure removes all user data, apps and settings, returning the device to the way it was when it was bought.

However, not all users know that there are three official ways to perform a reset: through phone settings, Recovery modes and Fastboot. Each method is suitable for different situations - from regular work to cases when Xiaomi is not turned on or blocked. In this article, we will analyze all options with detailed instructions, warnings and answers to frequent questions.

Important: the procedure is irreversible! After the reset, you lose all data except the data stored on the reset. SD-If the phone still works, back up in advance.

1. When do you need a factory reset?

Resetting is not a cure-all, but in some cases it's the only way to bring your phone back to life. Here are 5 of the most common reasons:

• 📱 Selling or transferring a phone – deletion of personal data (photos, messages, accounts).
• 🔄 Hanging and lags – if Xiaomi slows down after updating or installing apps.
• 🔒 A forgotten pattern lock/PIN — When Unblocking with Mi Account Is Not Possible.
• 🛠️ Failures after firmware – if the phone doesn’t boot or isn’t working properly.
• 🦠 Viruses and malware – when antivirus fails to deal with the threat.

But before resetting, check out alternative solutions:

• 🔋 Restart your phone – sometimes helps with temporary hangings.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 🔄 Reverse the update if the problems started after it.

⚠️ Note: If your phone is locked through Find My Device (Mi Cloud), reset will not help – you will need to enter a login / password from your Xiaomi account after rebooting.

2. Method 1: Reset via phone settings (the easiest)

If Xiaomi is on and you can log in, use this method. It is the most secure and requires no additional tools.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to About Phone (in older versions of MIUI – Additional → Recovery and Reset).
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Click Delete all data and confirm the action.
5. Enter. PIN-code or password (if requested).
6. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

After the reset, you will be asked to set up your phone as new, and if you previously had a Mi Account attached, you will need to enter its data to unlock (protection against theft).

Make a backup copy (photos, contacts, messages)

Remember the username/password from Mi Account

Connect your phone to charge (battery > 50%)

Delete SD-Card (if there are important files)

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⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11) may require a Wi-Fi connection to verify your account after a reset!

3. Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo, does not respond to buttons or is blocked, Recovery Mode will help.

Steps:

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to the Recovery menu (English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power for selection.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data in older versions).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
7. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

• 🧹 — data-cleaning;
• 🔄 — restart;
• 📱 — exit.

On models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro for the European market) after reset via Recovery, you may need to log in via Mi Account even without linking to the account previously.

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (Mi Flash Tool) for power users

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 The phone does not turn on at all (no reaction to the buttons).
• 🔒 Recovery Mode is damaged or blocked.
• 📦 You need to reflash the phone from scratch (for example, after a failed update).

The work will require:

• 💻 Windows computer;
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original);
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool Programming;
• 📦 Firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Instructions:

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Xiaomi drivers on your PC.
2. Unpack the downloaded firmware (.tgz or.zip format) into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter the Fastboot (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear).
4. Connect the phone to the PC.
5. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
6. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
7. Wait for the end (5-10 minutes). The phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ WARNING: Wrong firmware through Fastboot can turn your phone into a "brick"! make sure the firmware version matches the device model (Settings) → About phone → Model).

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Before you run through Fastboot, disable the antivirus on your PC – it can block Xiaomi drivers, which will lead to an error of 0x80070005.

5. What to do after the discharge?

After a successful reset, the phone will start as new.

1. Activate the device - select a language, region, connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Sign in to Mi Account (if previously linked) or create a new one.
3. Restore data from a backup (if you did it through Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
4. Update the software – check the relevance of the version in Settings → About phone → System update.
5. Set up a fingerprint/face to unlock.

If the phone asks for an old password after reset (even if you didn’t set it), it means that Mi Account was previously activated. Enter data from it or use the access restoration.

In the models with IR-Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50) after resetting, it may be necessary to reconfigure the remote control for equipment.

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If after resetting the phone does not turn on or stuck on the logo - repeat the procedure through Fastboot with a full flashing.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

If the phone does not see after the reset SIM-map, check it out:

• 📶 Correct installation SIM (On some models, the tray has a key).
• 📡 Network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Selecting a network (select manually).
• 🔄 Firmware updates – sometimes network bugs are fixed in new versions MIUI.

7. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions