How to Reset Xiaomi Mi6 to Factory Settings: The Complete Guide

Resetting the Xiaomi Mi6 to factory settings is a procedure that can be required in a variety of situations, from preparing a device for sale to fixing software failures. This smartphone, released in 2017, is still in demand thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 835 processor and 6 GB of RAM, but over time even such hardware begins to slow down due to filled cache, conflicting applications or failed MIUI updates.

Factory reset removes all user data, including photos, contacts and installed programs. But not everyone knows that there are three official ways to reset on the Mi6: through the system settings, Recovery mode and Fastboot. Each of them has its own nuances: for example, when resetting via Recovery, you may need to enter a password from your Mi Account even if you did not use it.

In this article, we will go through all the options in detail, warn against typical errors (for example, a reset via Recovery on a Mi6 with a locked bootloader will lead to a “brick” if you do not follow the sequence of actions), and give recommendations for data recovery after the procedure. If your Mi6 is stuck on the logo, constantly restarting or just running slowly, here you will find a solution.

1.Resetting preparation: what to do in advance

Before you start resetting, make sure you don’t lose important data. The Xiaomi Mi6 defaults on backup to Mi Cloud, but it doesn’t save everything. For example, SMS, notes, and some app settings may not sync.

Here is the mandatory checklist before resetting:

Pay special attention to the Mi Account binding. If you forget the password from your Xiaomi account, a reset via Recovery can block a device requiring login/password entry. This is due to the Find Device function, which is activated automatically when you add an account.

⚠️ Attention: Mi6 firmware MIUI 12+ After resetting through Recovery, a request to enter the old one may appear PIN-It's a system bug -- there's a solution, but you'll need access to your PC.

If you plan to sell or transfer your phone, be sure to log out of your Mi Account before resetting:

1. Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account.
2. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select to exit and confirm the action.

2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest)

This method is suitable if the Xiaomi Mi6 is turned on, touch-responsive and you have access to the main menu.The procedure takes no more than 5 minutes and requires no additional tools.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to About Phone (or Additional → Recovery and Reset in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Click Delete all data and confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or PIN-code.
5. Wait until the process is complete (the phone will reboot automatically).

Once you reboot, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, like after you buy it, and at this point, you can either reconfigure the phone or restore the data from the backup.

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If the Mi6 is long on the logo after reset (more than 10 minutes), try to force it to restart by holding the power button for 15-20 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware Mi6 (especially custom) after resetting through the settings disappears IMEI. This is due to damage to the nvram partition. To avoid a problem, check before resetting. IMEI, typing in *#06# and save it.

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

If the Xiaomi Mi6 is stuck on the logo, reboots cyclically or does not respond to touch, resetting through recovery mode will help.This method works even if system files are damaged, but requires caution - improper actions can lead to loss of access to the phone due to blocking the Mi Account.

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the menu in English or Chinese.

In the Recovery menu on the Mi6, the control is carried out by volume buttons (up/down for navigation, power for selection).

1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data in Chinese version).
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the process is complete (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
4. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If after resetting the phone requires you to enter a password from Mi Account, and you do not remember it, you will have to use the official unlock tool from Xiaomi (for more details in the section about errors).

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical and reliable method, but it requires a computer connection.

• 🔄 The phone doesn’t even load in Recovery.
• 🔒 Mi Account password is forgotten and reset via Recovery blocks the device.
• 🛠️ You need to reflash the phone from scratch (for example, after a failed update).

The work will require:

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool for Windows).
• 📂 Firmware for Mi6.tgz format (download only official versions!).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
3. Connect the Mi6 to the PC.
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
5. At the bottom of the program, select Clean All mode (complete cleaning).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (the process will take 5-10 minutes).

Once firmware is installed, the phone will automatically restart in factory condition, a method that is guaranteed to delete all data, including viruses and corrupted system files, but requires care — an incorrect firmware can turn the device into a brick.

5. Typical errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi Mi6 users face challenges, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If the IMEI is missing after the reset, try to restore it as follows:

1. Please dial the phone application ##4636##.
2. Go to the phone information.
3. Scroll down and click Select Network Configuration.
4. Enter your IMEI (if you saved it) and reboot your phone.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery IMEI The engineering menu doesn't work on all firmware, and if it doesn't work, you'll need to run the Fastboot with the official software.

6.How to recover data after reset

If you did not back up in advance, the chances of returning deleted data depend on how the reset was performed:

• 📱 Reset via Settings: Data is deleted software and can be recovered using utilities like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver (provided that no new files are written to the phone).
• 🔧 Dumping through Recovery/Fastboot: Data is deleted at a low level and recovery is unlikely (especially after Clean All in the Mi Flash Tool).

To recover photos and files:

1. Connect the Mi6 to your PC via USB.
2. Run a recovery program (e.g., DiskDigger for Android).
3. Select the phone’s memory section and start scanning.
4. Save the files found on the computer.

Important: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset, which reduces the chances of a successful recovery, and note that free versions of programs usually only show previews of files, and to save it, you need to purchase a license.

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The only reliable way to save data is to back up regularly, and on the Mi6, you can do this automatically through the Mi Cloud or manually by copying files to your PC.

7. Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Mi6 reset

8. Alternatives to resetting: when can you do without it

Before you resort to radical measures, check if one of these solutions will help:

• 🐢 Brake system: Clean the cache manually through Settings → Memory. → Clean or disable animation in Developer Settings.
• 🔄 Apps fly out: Update them via Google Play or reinstall.
• 📵 Network problems: Reset network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: Check charge consumption in Settings → Battery and disable background activity of unnecessary apps.

If the problem is with the MIUI update, try to roll back to the previous version:

1. Download the necessary firmware from the official website.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Log in to Recovery and select Install update.zip to System.

Factory reset is a last resort, and most of the time, Xiaomi Mi6 problems are solved software-based, without data loss, but if the phone is truly “dead” (it doesn’t turn on, doesn’t respond to charging, and gives up loading errors), then a full reset via Fastboot is the only way to bring it back to life.

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Before selling the Mi6, make sure to reset through the settings and log out of the Mi Account.This will protect your data and avoid problems for the new owner with activating the device.