Reset Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite to factory settings: the full guide

Why to Reset the Mi A2 Lite and When It Is Necessary

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (codenamed daisy) is one of the most popular Android One devices released in 2018. Despite its age, the device is still used thanks to stable firmware and the ability to upgrade to Android 10. However, over time, any smartphone begins to slow down, glitch or require complete cleaning before selling, in which cases, a factory reset helps.

The main reasons for resetting the Mi A2 Lite: system freezes after updates, virus infection, preparation for sale, deletion of personal data or recovery from a failed firmware. It is important to understand that the reset deletes all user data, including photos, messages and installed applications, but does not affect the files on the memory card (if installed).

In this article, you will find 3 proven ways to reset: through Android settings, Recovery mode and Fastboot. We will also discuss how to prepare for the procedure, what to do if the smartphone does not turn on, and how to recover data after a reset. If you have never performed such operations before, do not worry: the instructions are adapted even for beginners.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Before you start resetting, follow a few critical steps: Without backup, you risk losing contacts, photos, and other data forever.

• 📱 Create a backup through Settings → System system → Backup or use Google Drive, Mi Cloud (if your Xiaomi account is tied).
• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50%. Recovery reset can take up to 10-15 minutes, and discharging in the process will lead to a knock (inoperability) of the device.
• 📋 Write down the Google account associated with the phone. After the reset, you will need to enter the username and password to unlock (FRP — Factory Reset Protection).
• 🔌 Remove the memory card and SIM (If they're installed, it'll save them from random formatting.

If you drop your phone before selling, be sure to log out of all accounts (Google, Mi Account, social media) and remove the attached devices (such as Mi Band or Yeelight smart light bulbs).

Backup created|Battery charged. >50%|Extracted. SIM and SD-map|Google account information is stored|Removed attached devices (if preparing for sale)-->

⚠️ Attention: If on Mi A2 Lite installed custom Recovery (for example, TWRP), A standard reset via the menu may not work, in which case use the method via Fastboot or reflash the stock Recovery.

Method 1: Reset via Android Settings (the easiest)

This is the safest and most recommended method if the smartphone is turned on and responsive to touch.The manual is suitable for all versions of Android installed on the Mi A2 Lite (8.1 to 10).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon in the application menu).
2. Go to the System section → Additionally. → Resetting settings.
3. Select Delete all data (reset to factory settings).
4. When you request, enter PIN-code, pattern lock or password.
5. Confirm the action by clicking Reset the phone.

It takes 5-10 minutes, and when it's done, it automatically reboots and prompts you to configure it as new, and if you've had a Google account that you've previously linked to, that's OK, because that's how FRP works.

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If after resetting the phone asks for an old Wi-Fi password that you don’t remember, just connect to another network or use mobile internet.

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

If the Mi A2 Lite doesn’t respond to touch, hangs on the screensaver or doesn’t turn on at all, use Recovery Mode. This method will also help if you forget your pattern lock or password.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (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. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will open.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data in Chinese).
6. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
7. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

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

• 📛 The first item is reboot (Reboot).
• 🗑️ The third point is the data reset (Wipe Data).
• 🔄 The last point is the exit (Back).

⚠️ Note: Some firmware after reset via Recovery may fly IMEI (If there is no network after the reboot, check IMEI *#06# and restore it via Engineer Mode if necessary. SN Write Tool.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method requires a computer with ADB/Fastboot drivers installed and is suitable for cases where:

• 🔧 The sensor or buttons are not working.
• 📱 The phone doesn’t even load in Recovery.
• 🔄 You need to re-flash stockware after unsuccessful experiments.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb).
2. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds.
3. Connect Mi. A2 Lite to the computer via USB-cable.
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
5. Run the command to check the connection: fastboot devices should appear serial number of the device.
6. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If after these commands the phone does not restart, try a full flashing of the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

1. Download the firmware for daisy (for example, from here).
2. Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Select the firmware folder and press Refresh, then Flash.

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Reset via Fastboot only erases user data, but does not affect system files. If the problem is in the firmware, you will need a complete firmware reflash.

What to do after resetting: setup and recovery of data

After a successful reset, the Mi A2 Lite will offer you to go through the initial setup.

• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile network to sync your Google account.
• 🔑 Log in to the Google account that was linked before the reset (otherwise you will not be able to continue setting up due to the FRP).
• ☁️ Restore data from a backup (if it was created via Google Drive or Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version in Settings → System system → Updating the system.

If you're selling a phone, don't restore the data, just complete the setup as a new device, and that's a plus for the customer.

To recover photos and files, use:

• 📁 Google Photos (if synchronization was enabled).
• 💾 DiskDigger or Recuva (for recovery from internal memory, but the chances are low after resetting).
• 🔗 Mi Mover (application from Xiaomi to transfer data from another device).

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting the phone began to warm up or discharge quickly, check the load on the processor in Settings → Battery. Maybe the background processes aren't optimized, so rebooting or resetting the cache in Recovery (Wipe Cache Partition) can help).

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and let's look at the typical mistakes and how to fix them:

If none of the methods worked and the phone still doesn’t work, there may be a hardware problem (e.g. damaged eMMC memory).In this case, contact the service center. For the Mi A2 Lite, repairs usually cost 1,500-3,000 rubles (replacement of the memory chip or soldering of contacts).

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If the camera is worse after reset (for example, the photos are blurred), reset the camera settings in Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite