Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to return the device to its original state, which may be required when selling a gadget, after a failed system update, or when critical software errors are accumulated that cannot be corrected by standard cleaning methods. The process of returning to factory settings completely removes user data, so it is important to understand each step so that important information is not lost irretrievably.
There are several ways to perform Hard Reset: through the operating system’s GUI if the phone is turned on, or through the Recovery Engineering Menu if the device is locked or not booting. The choice of method depends on the current state of your Xiaomi and access to the settings menu. In this article, we will discuss both options in detail, paying special attention to precautions.
Don’t ignore the preparatory stage, as rushing to do so can lead to loss of photos, contacts and correspondence in messengers. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS have several levels of data protection that can lock a device after a reset if you don’t perform certain actions in advance.
Preparing a smartphone before resetting
The first and most critical step is to back up all of your critical data, and resetting to factory settings permanently erases all of your internal memory, including DCIM folders, Download, and application data, and use the built-in Mi Cloud or third-party services like Google Drive to save your contacts, calendar, and notes.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If a Google or Mi Account is activated on a phone, FRP (Factory Reset Protection) will require you to enter a password from them immediately after rebooting. A forgotten password from a Mi Account after reset can lead to a complete lockdown of the device that cannot be removed without contacting the service center with a purchase check. So make sure you remember the login details or delete accounts from settings in advance.
The process of formatting the data partition can take from 5 to 15 minutes, and at this time the phone should not turn off, it is recommended to have a charge of at least 60% or connect the device to a power source.
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Before starting the procedure, take pictures of screens with important settings (access points, Wi-Fi settings) to quickly restore the Internet after resetting.
Reset via the MIUI and HyperOS settings menu
The safest and easiest method is available if the operating system is stable and you can get into the main menu, which ensures that all system processes are completed correctly before formatting. The path to the desired function may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the logic remains the same.
You need to go to the settings section and find the item responsible for general information about the device. In the new versions of HyperOS, the menu structure has been changed, so you should be careful when searching. Next, you should select the cleaning option that initiates a reboot to restore mode.
- 📱 Open the Settings app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Go to About Phone (in some versions Advanced Settings).
- 🗑️ Find and click Reset or Erase all data.
- 🔒 Enter the pattern lock or screen unlock password to confirm.
After pressing the confirmation button, the system can request a password from the Mi Account to verify the owner.This is standard security procedure.If you plan to sell the phone, this step is mandatory so that the new owner does not encounter your account.
☑️ Check before reset via menu
Xiaomi Resets with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is not turning on, stuck on the logo or not responding to touch, the Recovery Mode reset method is used, which is a low-level mode that allows you to control the system bypassing the main interface, and enters this mode by a combination of physical buttons when the device is turned off.
To enter, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then press the Volume Up and Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears.
⚠️ Attention: In the Recovery menu, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button.
In the menu that opens, the default interface language is often Chinese or English. If you see characters, select English (usually the second one on top). Then go to Wipe Data and confirm the choice with the power button. Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
The cleaning process will take some time, after which the screen will show a message about the successful completion. To reboot, select Reboot, then Reboot to System. The first start of the system after such a reset can last up to 5-10 minutes, as the initial partition configuration occurs.
What to do if the Recovery menu does not open?
Deletion of accounts and protection of FRP
One of the main reasons for the problem after the reset is the protection of Google FRP (Factory Reset Protection), which is designed to prevent the use of stolen devices. If a Google account was added to the phone, after the reset, the system will require you to enter the username and password from the last account used.
A similar situation occurs with Xiaomi account: if the Find Device function was active, the phone will lock and require authorization, and to avoid blocking, you must log out of all accounts before resetting through the settings menu.
Procedures for safe removal:
- ☁️ Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization.
- 👤 Select a Google account and click Delete your account.
- 📱 Select the Mi Account and exit.
- 🔐 Make sure there are no third-party accounts left on the list.
If you forget to do this, you can unlock the device only with the knowledge of passwords, otherwise you will need a complex procedure to remove the lock through service centers with the provision of documents confirming ownership of the gadget.
| Type of lockdown | When it comes to | How to avoid | Consequences of neglect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google FRP | After being dumped through Recovery | Delete the account before resetting | Blocking activation |
| Mi Account Lock | If it's "Find the device" on. | Disable in the Mi Cloud settings | Inability to log in |
| Lock screen | For any type of discharge | Remember the password/PIN-code | Requirement for code entry at first start-up |
Decision and errors in discharge
When you go back to the factory settings, you may encounter a variety of errors, such as the phone hanging on the logo after the procedure is complete, often by re-entering Recovery mode and trying to reset again, or by waiting for 30-40 minutes for the system to complete the background processes.
Another common problem is cyclic reboot: If the phone is constantly restarting after reset, the system partition may be damaged or the update interrupted, in which case it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
⚠️ Warning: If after a reset, the phone requires a password from an account you don't remember, don't try to pick it up endlessly.After several failed attempts, the device may be locked for a long time or permanently.
Sometimes users complain that applications or contacts are missing after reset, which is normal because internal memory is cleared, data can only be recovered from a previously created backup, and if there was no copy, file recovery is impossible by standard means.
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Cyclical reboot after reset most often indicates damage to system files, rather than hardware failure, and is solved by flashing.