How to Factory Reset a Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi Phone

Quick Answer: The easiest way to factory reset a Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi phone is to open Settings > About phone > Factory reset > Erase all data . If the phone is locked, frozen, or cannot open Settings, use Recovery Mode by pressing the Power and Volume Up buttons, then choose Wipe Data . A factory reset erases apps, settings, accounts, and files from the phone, so back up your data and make sure you know the Google Account and Mi Account linked to the device before continuing.

Use the method below that matches your situation. If you are resetting the phone to fix a small issue, try basic troubleshooting first. If you are selling, giving away, or unlocking a phone you own, make a backup and remove accounts where possible before erasing the device.

Before You Factory Reset Your Xiaomi Phone

A factory reset can fix software glitches, remove personal data before resale, or help when the phone is no longer usable. But it is also a destructive action. Check the following before you start.

• Back up your data first. Photos, videos, messages, contacts, app data, and downloaded files on internal storage may be erased. You can use Google backup, Xiaomi Cloud, a computer backup, or a third-party data manager if you need a local copy.
• Know your Google Account password. After a factory reset, Android may ask for the Google Account previously synced on the phone. If you recently changed the Google password, wait before resetting to avoid verification issues.
• Know your Mi Account details. Some Xiaomi phones may ask for the Mi Account connected to the device after reset. If you see “This device is locked,” read this guide: unlock Mi Account when this device is locked .
• Charge the phone. Keep the battery high enough and connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data after the reset so the phone can verify the account and complete setup.
• Do not interrupt the reset. Do not press random buttons, unplug the phone during a PC-based process, or force reboot while wiping data.

Which Reset Method Should You Use?

Choose the reset method based on whether you can unlock the phone, use the screen, or access a computer.

Situation	Best Method	What It Does	Important Limit
You can unlock and use the phone	Settings reset	Erases the phone through the built-in Xiaomi settings menu	Requires the screen lock to confirm
The phone is frozen, locked, or Settings will not open	Recovery Mode buttons	Uses hardware buttons to wipe data	May still require the previous Google/Mi Account after reset
The phone is lost or not in your hand	Google Find Hub	Remotely erases a signed-in Android phone	Requires power, network connection, Google sign-in, and Find Hub availability
You are locked out and want guided PC steps	DroidKit Screen Unlocker	Guides you through screen lock removal and reset-related steps	Supported models and lock types should be checked first
You are an advanced user using platform tools	ADB/Fastboot	May help in specific technical cases	Not recommended for most users; commands vary by device and setup

Method 1. Factory Reset Xiaomi/Redmi via Settings

Use this method if your Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi phone still works and you know the screen lock. It is the most straightforward way to erase the phone from the system menu.

Step 1. Open Settings and tap About phone .

Step 2. Tap Factory reset , then tap Erase all data .

Step 3. Enter your PIN, password, or pattern when asked.

Step 4. If your phone offers a backup option, choose Back up before erasing the device if you still need the data.

Step 5. Confirm the reset and wait until the phone restarts. After the reset, set it up as new or restore from a backup.

Note: A factory reset normally removes user data and settings, but it does not roll the phone back to an earlier MIUI or HyperOS version.

Method 2. Hard Reset Xiaomi/Redmi with Recovery Mode Buttons

Use Recovery Mode if your phone is locked, frozen, stuck on the logo, or cannot open Settings. The exact screen may differ by Xiaomi/Redmi model, but the general process is similar.

Step 1. Power off your Xiaomi or Redmi phone. If it is frozen, press and hold the Power button until it shuts down.

Step 2. Press and hold Power and Volume Up at the same time until the Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi logo appears.

Step 3. Release the Power button, but keep holding Volume Up until Recovery Mode appears.

Step 4. Use the volume buttons to select Wipe Data , then press the Power button to confirm.

Step 5. Choose Wipe All Data and select Confirm .

Step 6. When the wipe is complete, choose Back to Main Menu and then Reboot . Set up the phone after it restarts.

If the phone asks for a Google Account after the reset, you need the account that was previously synced on the phone. For related help, see cannot log in to Google after factory reset or bypass Google account verification after reset .

Method 3. Remotely Erase a Xiaomi Phone with Google Find Hub

If your Xiaomi phone is lost, stolen, or not physically accessible, Google Find Hub can help you find, secure, or erase the device remotely. This method works only when the phone meets Google’s requirements, such as being powered on, connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi, signed in to a Google Account, having Find Hub turned on, and being visible on Google Play.

Step 1. On another phone, open the Find Hub app. If you do not have another Android device, open Google Find Hub in a browser.

Step 2. Sign in with the Google Account used on the Xiaomi phone.

Step 3. Select the Xiaomi or Redmi phone from the device list.

Step 4. Open the device settings in Find Hub and choose the option to factory reset or erase the device.

Step 5. Confirm the action. After the erase process, the device’s location will no longer be available in Find Hub.

Important: Remote erase permanently deletes data on the device, but it may not delete SD card data. If you find the phone after erasing it, you may still need the Google Account password to use it again.

Method 4. Reset a Locked Xiaomi Phone with DroidKit

If you are locked out of your Xiaomi or Redmi phone and cannot use Settings, DroidKit - Android Phone Toolkit can be used as a guided PC-based option for Android screen lock removal. During a lock removal or reset-related process, data on the phone may be erased, so back up what you can before starting.

DroidKit may help in situations where you forgot the screen password, PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or face unlock. Supported models, Android versions, and lock types can vary, so check the latest DroidKit support information before using it on a specific Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi phone.

Step 1. Launch DroidKit on your computer and choose Screen Unlocker .

Step 2. Connect your Xiaomi or Redmi phone to the computer with a USB cable, then click Start .

Step 3. Wait for DroidKit to prepare the device configuration file, then click Remove Now .

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions for your phone model. DroidKit may ask you to put the phone into Recovery Mode.

Step 5. Keep the phone connected while DroidKit removes the screen lock. When the process finishes, the phone will restart and you can set it up again.

If the reset leads to Google verification on a Redmi phone, you may also need this related guide: Google FRP bypass on Redmi .

About ADB/Fastboot Reset: Use with Caution

Some users search for ADB or Fastboot commands to reset a Xiaomi phone. This path is not recommended for most users because it depends on USB drivers, device detection, the phone’s current mode, and the exact command supported by the device. A wrong command can fail or cause extra setup problems.

For regular users, use Settings reset, Recovery Mode, or Google Find Hub first. If a guide asks you to use ADB, remember that USB debugging normally needs to be enabled before the phone is locked. Learn more here: enable USB debugging when phone is locked .

How to Back Up Your Xiaomi Phone Before Resetting

Because factory reset erases data from the phone, back up important files before wiping the device. You can use Google backup, Xiaomi Cloud, copy files to a computer, or use DroidKit’s Data Manager feature for a local export.

Option 1. Back Up with Google or Xiaomi Cloud

If the phone can still be unlocked, open Settings and check the available backup options for your Google Account and Xiaomi Account. Make sure photos, contacts, messages, and app data you care about are synced or backed up before resetting.

Option 2. Back Up to a Computer with DroidKit

If you prefer saving a copy to your computer, DroidKit’s Data Manager feature lets you preview and export supported content from an Android phone to a computer. Available data types can vary by phone model and connection status.

Step 1. Download and launch DroidKit on your computer. Choose Data Manager and then Device Manager . Connect your Xiaomi phone with a USB cable.

Step 2. After DroidKit detects the phone, click Export Content .

Step 3. Select the data types you want to export and click To PC .

Step 4. Wait until the transfer is complete. The time needed depends on the size of the files.

FAQs About Factory Resetting Xiaomi/Redmi Phones

1. Does factory reset delete everything on a Xiaomi phone?

Yes. A factory reset removes apps, settings, accounts, and personal files from the phone’s internal storage. Back up important data before you reset the device.

2. Can I factory reset a Xiaomi phone without the password?

Yes, you may be able to reset it from Recovery Mode using the Power and Volume Up buttons. However, after the reset, the phone may ask for the previously synced Google Account or Mi Account.

3. Will a factory reset remove Google account verification?

No. A factory reset may trigger Google account verification if the phone had a Google Account before the reset. You usually need the original account credentials to set up the phone again.

4. How do I reset a Redmi phone if the screen is frozen?

Turn off the phone first, then enter Recovery Mode by pressing Power and Volume Up . Choose Wipe Data and confirm. The exact button behavior may vary slightly by model.

5. Can I factory reset a Xiaomi phone remotely?

Yes, if the phone is signed in to your Google Account, has power, is connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi, has Find Hub turned on, and is visible on Google Play, you can erase it remotely with Google Find Hub.

6. Will factory reset remove MIUI or HyperOS updates?

No. A factory reset normally removes user data and settings, but it does not roll the phone back to an older operating system version.

7. Can I recover data after factory resetting a Xiaomi phone?

Only if you backed it up before the reset. You may restore synced Google data, cloud photos, contacts, or local backups, but data that was not backed up may be difficult or impossible to recover.

8. Is DroidKit required to reset a Xiaomi phone?

No. Built-in Settings and Recovery Mode are the first options. DroidKit can be used as an additional guided PC-based option for some locked-phone situations, but supported models and lock types should be checked before you start.

Related Guides You May Need Next

After a Xiaomi or Redmi factory reset, some users may run into Google verification, Mi Account lock, or USB debugging limitations. The following guides can help with the most common next-step problems.

• Bypass Google Account Verification After Reset - Use this if the phone asks for the previously synced Google Account after wiping data.
• Cannot Log in to Google After Factory Reset - Use this if you know the account but still cannot pass Google sign-in after reset.
• Google FRP Bypass on Redmi - Use this for Redmi-specific FRP problems after a reset.
• Unlock Mi Account When This Device Is Locked - Use this if your Xiaomi phone shows a Mi Account lock screen.
• Remove Previously Synced Google Account from Android - Use this before or after a reset when Google account ownership causes setup issues.
• Enable USB Debugging When Phone Is Locked - Use this to understand why ADB-based reset methods may not work on a locked phone.

The Bottom Line

To factory reset a Xiaomi, Redmi, or Mi phone, use Settings > About phone > Factory reset > Erase all data when the phone is accessible. If the phone is locked or frozen, use Recovery Mode with the Power and Volume Up buttons. If the phone is lost, Google Find Hub may erase it remotely when the device meets Google’s requirements.

If you cannot use the built-in methods because you are locked out, DroidKit’s Screen Unlocker can be used as a guided PC-based option for certain Android screen lock situations. Always back up your data first when possible, and check supported models and account verification requirements before resetting.