What buttons to click to reset Android on Xiaomi before factory settings

Why Factory Resets Aren't Always the Solution to Problems

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical way to get the smartphone back to its original performance. But before you grab the buttons, it’s worth understanding that not all problems are solved by hard reset. If the phone is slowing down due to overloaded memory, viruses or a MIUI malfunction, resetting will help. But if hardware malfunctions (for example, a broken screen, a broken camera or a bloated battery) it is useless.

Another nuance: once reset, you will lose all data, including photos, contacts and installed applications. Even if you sync with Mi Account, some information (such as messages in messengers or local files) will not be able to recover. So before pressing the cherished buttons, make sure you make a backup.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can reset, from the standard menu to the forced keyboard, and how to avoid the common mistakes that can turn your Redmi or POCO into a brick.

Resetting: What to do before pressing the buttons

Before you drop Xiaomi before the factory settings, follow a few mandatory steps that will save you from losing important data and unexpected surprises.

• 📱 Create a backup. Use the built-in Backup app MIUI It is especially important to save: Contacts (if not synced with Mi Account), Photos and videos (they do not always load automatically into the cloud) Messages from messengers (in Telegram and WhatsApp there is an option to export chats)
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%. Recovery resets can take up to 10-15 minutes, and if the battery runs out in the process, the device may fail.
• 🔑 Make sure you know the data from Mi Account. After reset, Xiaomi may require you to enter a login and password to unlock (Mi Cloud Activation Lock feature).
• 📡 Disable your Google account (if you plan to sell your phone) and remove the device’s link to your Find My Device profile.

If you are dropping your phone due to a sale, check:

• 💳 Bank cards removed from Google Pay/Mi Pay.
• 📍 Is Find Device disabled in Mi Account settings.
• 🔄 Have you logged out of all social media and messaging accounts.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password, the reset may lock your phone permanently, in which case you will need to contact Xiaomi Service Center with proof of purchase.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the safest)

If the phone is turned on and you remember the pattern lock or PIN-code, use this method. It's the most reliable method because it's controlled by the system and minimizes the risk of error.

Instructions for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12):

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the About phone section (in some firmware - About the device).
3. Slip on Backup and Reset (or Reset in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
5. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if required.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.

The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process. This can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes -- don't interrupt it.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) After reset, re-activation may be required SIM-Check the maps in advance. PUK-operator.

Method 2: Hard Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

If your smartphone doesn’t respond to taps, is stuck on the MI logo or is locked, you’ll have to use Recovery Mode, which works on all Xiaomi devices, but requires precise execution of instructions.

You will need physical buttons:

• Power button (on/off)
• The Volume Up button (Volume Up)

Some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 9 Pro) may require Volume Down.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery menu (black screen with yellow text in English or Chinese).
4. Use Volume Up/Down for navigation and the Power button to select a point.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Factory Reset in older versions).
6. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
7. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of the items:

• The 3rd item on top is Wipe Data.
• The 1st item in the submenu is Wipe All Data.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

If Recovery is not available or the phone is inaccessible when reset, you can use Fastboot mode. This method requires a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and a USB Type-C cable (original to avoid connection problems).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (It is very useful to use the original Xiaomi.li>
• 📦 Mi Flash Tool or Platform Tools (from Google).
• 🔑 Unlocked bootloader (if not previously unlocked, this method will not work).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume Down for 10 seconds until the screen with the hare in the eardress hat appears (Fastboot logo).
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: fastboot devices If the device is identified (the serial number appears), continue. If not, install the driver.
5. Enter the command to reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Once you reboot, the phone will be like new. This method doesn't remove the firmware, it just removes user data.

1. reconnect the cable to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

2. disable the antivirus (it can block drivers).

3. Use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap cables often don't transmit data).-->

Frequent Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

• 🚫 The phone is not included in Recovery Reason: wrong button combination or dead battery Solution: charge the phone at least 30% and try again with hold buttons for longer than 15 seconds.
• 🔒 After reset, the password from Mi Account is required Reason: Mi Cloud Activation Lock is activated. Solution: enter the data from the account to which the phone was linked. If you forgot the password, restore it through account.xiaomi.com.
• ⚠️ Reset interrupted, phone shut down, cause power outage during process or firmware failure Solution: try re-entering Recovery and resetting. If it doesn't work, run your phone through Fastboot.
• 📱 After the reset, the phone is stuck on the logo MI Reason: system partition or incompatible firmware is damaged. Solution: run your phone with official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

If the phone after reset requires an old PIN-code or pattern lock you don’t remember, the only way out is through Fastboot with full cleanup (fastboot erase userdata command).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60) After several failed attempts to enter the Mi Account password, the phone can be locked for 72 hours.

What to do after resetting: the initial setting

After a successful reset, the phone will turn on as new.

1. Choose a language (we recommend Russian or English).
2. Connect to the Wi-Fi network.
3. Sign in to Mi Account (if the phone was linked to your account).
4. Restore the data from the backup (if it was created).
5. Set your fingerprint/face if necessary.
6. Install system updates (go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI).

If you've reset your phone before you sell, don't restore your data.

• Skip the Mi Account entrance.
• Do not connect your Google accounts or social media.
• Turn off the phone and pass it to the buyer.

💡

After reset, be sure to check all the features: camera, speakers, sensors and mobile network. If something doesn’t work, it may indicate a hardware malfunction, not a software failure.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Reset