How to Reset Your Xiaomi Phone: 3 Ways + Data Recovery

Resetting Xiaomi’s smartphone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step, helping to solve performance problems, remove viruses, prepare the device for sale or eliminate errors after a failed upgrade. However, an incorrect reset can lead to data loss, locking the Mi Account account or even “bricking” the phone. In this guide, we will examine all the current ways to reset for 2018-2026 models, including hidden nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

It is important to understand that the procedure differs depending on the condition of the phone. If it turns on and reacts to touch, a menu reset will suit. If the device is getting stuck on the Mi logo or does not respond, you will need hardware buttons or a PC connection. We will consider all scenarios, and also tell you how to bypass the locking of Xiaomi account after a reset without losing functionality (relevant for firmware based on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS).

1.Resetting preparation: what to do before the start

Before you dump Xiaomi, follow the mandatory steps – it will save time and nerves:

• 🔋 Charge the phone to at least 50%. With a low charge, the reset may be interrupted, leading to a reboot cycle.
• 📱 Back up. Use the settings. → The phone. → Backup or third-party applications like Swift Backup (requires root).
• 🔑 Make sure to remember the data from the Mi Account. After the reset, the phone will require entering a login / password, even if there was no previously binding.
• 📡 Disable all accounts (Google, Mi, social networks) in Settings → It'll speed up the process.

Beginning with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has tightened its security policy: if the phone was tied to an account, it will require data entry to unlock it after the reset. Without access to the original account, it is officially impossible to unlock the device, you will have to contact the service center with proof of purchase.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi Note models 10/11/12 and POCO X3/X4/X5 After a Fastboot reset, the hardware lock of the bootloader may work, making the phone unusable without unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool.

2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (for a working phone)

The easiest method is to use a built-in reset function, which is suitable if the phone turns on, responds to touch and is not locked with a password. MIUI 11-15 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (optional, but useful for debugging).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Recovery and Reset.
4. Click Reset Settings, then Delete all data.
5. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock if the system requests.
6. Confirm the action with the Reset button.

It takes 3-10 minutes, and the phone will reboot and suggest that you configure the system as new, and at that point, you might get a request for input from Mi Account, which is fine if the phone was tied.

Make sure the phone is charged|Make a backup copy|Remember the data from the Mi Account|Disable all accounts|Check the availability of the Internet (for activation after resetting)-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (Mi) 11 Ultra, Redmi K40/K50) After resetting the menu, the section may disappear /data into TWRP. This is not critical, but it will complicate the installation of custom firmware.

3. Method 2: Hardware reset (Volume + Power buttons)

If the phone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo or doesn't respond to touch, use a combination of hardware buttons, which works even when the firmware is damaged, but requires strict adherence to the instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it doesn’t respond, press the Power for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up (+) + Power and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).
4. Use Volume Down (-) for navigation and Power to select Wipe Data (or Clear Data).
5. Confirm the reset by choosing Yes.
6. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

The Recovery menu may vary depending on the model. On newer devices (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12) it's in Chinese -- look for characters (clear data). On old (Redmi 4/5) menus in English.

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If the phone doesn't respond to the button combination, try plugging it into charging for 10 to 15 minutes, and sometimes a dead battery blocks the Recovery entrance.

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

The method via Fastboot is suitable if:

• 🔧 The phone doesn’t even load in Recovery.
• 📱 You need to reset the settings without deleting the data in the section /internal_storage (For example, to save a photo).
• 🔓 You need to unlock the loader before the firmware.

You will need a PC with installed drivers. ADB/Fastboot original USB-Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down (-) + Power before the Fastboot logo appears (a robot labeled Fastboot).
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute commands in turn: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

This method does not delete data in the /sdcard partition, but erases all settings, applications and accounts.

fastboot erase system

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked boot loader (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3) The fastboot erase command can cause an error. FAILED (Remote:'Flashing is not allowed'.This requires unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool.

5. How to recover data after resetting

If you have not made a backup, the chances of returning the data depend on the type of reset:

• 📁 Reset via menu: data is deleted irrevocably (except for files on the menu) SD-map).
• 🔧 Hardware reset: You can try programs like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver, but success is not guaranteed.
• 💻 Fastboot reset: If the fastboot erase userdata command is not used, the data may remain in the section /data. Recovery will require TWRP root-access.

To recover via TWRP:

1. Install a custom TWRP recavator for your model.
2. Download to TWRP (button combination depends on the model).
3. Select Mount → System and connect your phone to your PC.
4. Use PhotoRec or TestDisk to scan the /data partition.

Important: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset, which reduces the chances of recovering old files.

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The only reliable way to save data is to back up before reset, and recovery programs only work 30 to 50 percent of the time, and they don't guarantee file safety.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even with the exact following of the instructions, problems can arise. Let's consider typical situations and ways to eliminate them:

If the phone doesn't turn on at all after the reset (black screen, no vibration), it may indicate a hardware malfunction, in which case only a service center with EDL flashing equipment will help.

7. Reset on HyperOS phones: what has changed

In 2026, Xiaomi began the transition to a new HyperOS shell, which replaced MIUI.The reset procedure remained similar, but there are key differences:

• 🔄 Reset menu moved to Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings (previously in additional).
• 🔒 The blocking of Mi Account has become stricter: now even after a reset via Fastboot, you may need to enter account data.
• 📱 Recovery menu on HyperOS is entirely in Chinese, but the items are in the same order.
• ⚡ Quick reset: Quick reset option (removes only settings without affecting files).

HyperOS also has a problem with data encryption: If the phone was encrypted (by default on new models), a reset via Recovery or Fastboot can result in loss of access to internal memory, in which case only a complete firmware reflash will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions