Why Xiaomi is not resetting to factory settings: a full analysis of the causes and solutions

You're trying to get Xiaomi's smartphone back to factory status, but the system stubbornly ignores the command - the reset button is inactive, the process is hung on the MIUI logo, or after the reboot all the data is left in place? This problem occurs on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices regardless of the model, and there can be a dozen reasons for it - from banal user errors to hardware locks from the manufacturer.

In this article, we will not just list the possible causes, but will analyze them with regard to the current restrictions of 2026: antirollback in MIUI 14/15, locking the bootloader on new devices, features of Fastboot and Recovery on different versions of firmware. You will learn how to get around typical errors (for example, resetting through settings does not work if the Mi Account is tied to the device, even if you turn off Find the device), and what to do if the phone turned into a brick after a failed attempt.

Important: The solutions will be different for Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek devices, as well as for devices with unlocked and locked bootloader. If you are not sure about your model, check it in Settings → About Phone → Model before you start manipulating.

1.Mi Account lock: hidden cause of 80% of failed resets

The most common reason users learn too late is that Xiaomi has linked your account to your device, and even if you have disabled Find a Device (Settings → Mi → Find a Device), the system can keep your profile in the background. When reset via Recovery or Fastboot, the phone requires a username/password from Mi Account, and without them the process is interrupted.

How this works in practice:

• 🔒 Reset via Settings: The process begins, but after the reboot, a lock screen appears requiring you to enter Mi Account details.
• ⚙️ Recovery: Once you select Wipe Data, the system will issue an error This device is bound to a Mi Account.
• 📱 Fastboot reset: The fastboot erase userdata command is executed, but after the reboot the phone still requests an account.

The decision depends on the status of your account:

⚠️ Warning: If you bought Xiaomi on AliExpress or other foreign platforms, Mi’s account could be tied to a region (e.g. China), in which case unlocking through official support is unlikely – you will need to contact local resellers.

2. Anti-Rollback: Why MIUI 14/15 blocks reset

Antirollback is a security mechanism that Xiaomi has implemented in firmware since MIUI 10, and its goal is to prevent rollbacks to an older version of software that could be used to bypass locks or install custom firmware. In 2026, antirollback works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices released after 2018.

How this affects the discharge:

• 🔄 If you try to reset your phone from MIUI 15 to factory status, but it was originally on MIUI 13, the system will block the process.
• 🚫 Forced reset via Fastboot or Recovery can cause the device to fail and “brick” the device.
• ⚠️ Even if the reset is successful, the phone may lock after upgrading to the new version MIUI.

How to check for anti-rollback:

1. Install the Mi Flash Tool app on your PC.
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when the device is off).
3. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Refresh – if the string anti_version:X appears in the logs, then the antirollback is active.

Decisions:

• 📥 Update your firmware to the latest version before resetting. Use the official website MIUI.
• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (if it's locked) and this will allow you to flash custom Recovery (e.g. TWRP) and bypass the restrictions.
• 🛠️ Use EDL- mode (power users only). Requires Xiaomi authorization and a dedicated cable.

3.Blocked bootloader: why Fastboot reset doesn't work

On all Xiaomi devices since 2016, the bootloader has been locked by default, which means that any commands sent via Fastboot (such as fastboot erase userdata) will be ignored if the bootloader is not unlocked, and you can see OKAY message in the terminal, but the data will not actually be deleted.

How to check the status of the loader:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
3. Connect the device to the PC and execute the command: fastboot oem device-info
4. If the answer is Device unlocked: false, the bootloader is locked.

How to unlock the bootloader officially:

Link Mi Account to device | Enable debugging over USB in developer settings | Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website | Wait 72–168 hours after account binding (Xiaomi requirement)

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Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to the tool under the same Mi Account as on your phone.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode.
4. Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, all data will be reset and the device warranty is cancelled.In addition, some features (such as Mi Pay or Widevine L1 for viewing HD- content on Netflix) may stop working.

4. Damaged firmware or system files

If the factory reset is interrupted in the middle or the phone is loaded into Recovery after the reboot, the problem may be in corrupted system files, often after:

• 🔌 Failed update MIUI "over the air" (OTA).
• 📱 Install custom firmware or mods without compatibility checks.
• 💥 Power failures during firmware (e.g., if the phone is 0% depleted in the process).

Signs of damaged firmware:

• 🔄 The phone is booted in an infinite loop (bootloop).
• ⚠️ System UI has stopped or Android is starting.
• 📵 Reset via Recovery ends with E:Unable to mount /data error.

Decisions:

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Before you run through the Mi Flash Tool, turn off driver signature verification in Windows. To do this, reboot your Shift PC → Select Diagnostics → Additional settings → Boot Options → Disable Mandatory Driver Signature Verification.

5. Hardware problems: when the "iron" is to blame

If the software methods don't work, the problem may be the hardware of the device, and it's often the fault of:

• 💾 Damaged flash memory (eMMC or UFS) Symptoms: phone is constantly rebooting, data is not stored, reset is cut off by 50-70%.
• 🔋 Failed battery: If the voltage drops below a critical level during discharge, the process is interrupted.
• 🔌 Problems with the power connector or the charging controller. The phone can suddenly shut down even when the cable is connected.

How to diagnose hardware problems:

1. Check Memory: Adb shell df -h If there are errors in the response, such as I/O error, the memory is damaged.
2. Battery test: - Install the AccuBattery app and check battery status. - If the capacity has dropped below 60% of the nominal, the battery needs to be replaced.
3. Check the connector: - Connect the phone to another cable and power supply. - If the charge is jerking or interrupted - the problem is in the connector or controller.

Decisions:

• 🔧 Replacement of flash memory, requires soldering and specialized equipment, cost of repair: from 3,000 to 8,000 rubles (depending on the model).
• 🔋 Battery replacement: Xiaomi with a non-removable battery (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) costs 1,500-2,500 rubles.
• 🔌 Repair the connector, if the problem is the charging socket, it costs 1,000 to 2,000 rubles to clean or replace it.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has been exposed to moisture (even if there is no external corrosion), the reset may not work due to the oxidation of the contacts on the board, in which case a full diagnosis at the service center is required.

6. Features of models on MediaTek: why they are "capricious"

Xiaomi devices on MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi 9A, POCO C31, Redmi Note 11 on Helio G88/G96) have a number of features that make resetting difficult:

• 🔒 There is no official support for unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.
• 📥 Firmware for MediaTek is often delivered in.tgz rather than.zip format, which requires additional manipulation.
• ⚠️ High risk of "bricking" if incorrect firmware is used through the SP Flash Tool.

How to reset Xiaomi on MediaTek:

1. Reset via Recovery: - Press Volume Up + Power to log in to Recovery. - Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. - Important: on some models (Redmi 9C) you need to first select the language (button in the upper right corner).
2. Firmware via SP Flash Tool: - Download the firmware in.tgz format and unpack it. - In SP Flash Tool, download the file MTxxxx_Android_scatter.txt. - Press Download and connect the phone turned off.

Typical errors and decisions:

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On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek, you cannot use fastboot commands to reset (for example, fastboot erase userdata) - this will lead to an error. The only working methods are Recovery or SP Flash Tool.

7. Alternative methods of discharge, if nothing helps

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these non-obvious solutions:

Method 1: Reset via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Developer Settings → USB Debugging).
2. Follow the commands: adb shell su resetprop ro.frp.pst /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/config reboot recovery
3. After rebooting in Recovery, reset.

Method 2: Use TestPoint for EDL (power users only!)

• 🔧 Suitable for devices with locked bootloader and active antirollback.
• 📌 Requires disassembling the phone and closing the contacts on the board (TestPoint).
• ⚠️ Risk of damaging fees if you do wrong.

Method 3: Contact Xiaomi Service Center

• 📍 Official service addresses: mi.com/service.
• 💰 Reset cost: from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles (if there is no hardware damage).
• ⏳ Timeline: 1-3 days (if the device is not warranty, it can take up to a week).

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If you send a phone to a service, pre-delete all personal data via Recovery mode (if possible) or retrieve the memory card. Service centers are not responsible for the loss of data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reset