Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face the need to return the device to its original state sooner or later, which may be required when selling a gadget, after a failed application installation, or when the system begins to work unstable. The process of returning to factory parameters, known as Hard Reset, is a cardinal solution to software problems.
There are several ways to do this, and one of them involves using an inbuilt mechanism to restart the system. It is important to understand that this step will result in the complete deletion of all user information.
Before taking any action, you need to assess the current state of the device and make sure that the procedure is appropriate. If the phone is functioning normally, but you need to clean, you better use the standard menu. In case the gadget is frozen or does not respond to touch, you will need to use a combination of buttons to enter recovery mode.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
The memory cleanup process requires prior preparation to avoid losing important information. The first step is to back up all the important files. You can use Google Drive, the built-in Mi Cloud, or transfer data to your computer via a computer. USB-cable.
Be sure to check the battery level. To successfully complete the process, the charge should be at least 50-60%. If at a critical moment the energy runs out, there is a risk of damage to the system files and turning the smartphone into a “brick”.
⚠️ Attention: Extraction SIM-MicroSD cards and memory cards will protect your personal data from accidental deletion before the operation begins and prevent the operator from resetting the network settings.
It’s also worth disabling Google and Mi Account protection if you plan to transfer your device to another user, otherwise the new owner won’t be able to activate the phone without your password due to FRP security.
☑️ Preparation for discharge
Remember that after the reset, you will need to re-enter the password from the Wi-Fi network and all social networks, write down important data in a notebook or save it in a safe place in advance.
Reset via the MIUI settings menu
The safest and easiest way to get back to factory settings is directly from the operating system that's working, and this is ideal if the screen is touch-sensitive and the interface is not hanging. You need to follow the path consistently: Settings → About Phone → Reset.
The screen will open a menu that will offer cleanup options, and the system will alert you to what data will be deleted, usually contacts, messages, photos, music and all installed applications, and system files and preinstalled services will remain intact.
The process will require confirmation of actions. The device can request multiple times to enter a graphical key or unlock pin, as well as a password from the Mi Account.
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If the phone is slow, try simply restarting the device through the power menu before resetting – sometimes this solves the problem without losing data.
Once confirmed, the phone will automatically restart and the cleaning process will begin.The screen can display the Xiaomi logo or animation of the Android robot. The duration of the procedure depends on the amount of memory filled and can take from 5 to 15 minutes.
Using Recovery Mode for Resetting
If the operating system is not loading or the touch screen is not working, the Recovery menu reset method is used. To enter this mode, you need to turn off the smartphone completely. Then you need to press the combination of buttons: usually a Volume Up button and a Power button.
Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume up, and opens the main recovery menu, where the control is carried out by the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
In the options list, you need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. In some versions of MIUI firmware, this menu can be in English. Once you select the cleanup point, the system will again request confirmation, often requiring you to select Wipe All Data and confirm the action with the Confirm button.
What to do if the menu is in Chinese?
Once the cleanup is complete, you'll see a success message, and then you'll select Reboot and confirm the transition to Reboot to System, and the first run after the reset will last longer than usual.
Comparison of discharge methods and their features
Different ways to return to factory settings have their own technical nuances and applications, and understanding the differences will help you choose the best option for your situation and avoid mistakes.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Remote discharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Work interface required | It works when the OS fails. | I need an internet account. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Data retention | Complete removal | Complete removal | Complete removal |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium. | Depends on the link. |
The method through the settings menu is considered the most gentle, since the system itself correctly closes all processes before cleaning. Using Recovery is a more aggressive and forced way that bypasses software locks.
Remote reset via Google’s Find Device service is only useful in the event of a phone being stolen or lost, requiring the device to be turned on and connected to the internet at the time the command is submitted.
Common Mistakes in Hard Reset
Users often make mistakes that lead to repeated problems or data loss. One common problem is ignoring a security account. If you don't log out of your Mi Account before resetting, your phone will ask for a password from it when you first activate it.
Another mistake is interruption, and many users, when they see a long boot or logo, try to restart the phone manually, and they can't do this until the language selection window is on the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Interrupting system file writing during reset may damage the boot partition, making the device unable to boot.
Also worth mentioning is the problem of incompatibility of regional versions of firmware: After resetting the global version on a Chinese device (or vice versa), conflicts of Google Play services may arise, in which case you may need to flash through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
If the phone is reset cyclically (bootloop), this indicates damage to system files or hardware memory failure, in which case the software reset will not help, requires the intervention of a specialist.
Primary setup after returning to factory
Once you have successfully completed the procedure and restarted, you will see a welcome screen, and the system will prompt you to select an interface language and connect to an available Wi-Fi network. Without an Internet connection, activation of certain functions can be difficult.
This is a must-have step for the Play Market app store to run and restore backups that you previously saved, and if you created a backup, the system will prompt you to restore apps and settings automatically.
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The first run after the reset takes longer, as the system optimizes applications and restores file indexes.
At the security setting stage, it is recommended to immediately install a new unlock method: a pin code, a pattern lock or biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition), which will ensure that your data is protected from the first seconds of use.
Don’t forget to check for operating system updates. After a reset, the device may have an old version of MIUI or HyperOS that contains security vulnerabilities. Go to Settings → About the phone and click on the system version to check for updates.