Smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi are known for their reliability, but over time, even the fastest devices can begin to work slower, freeze, or produce system errors. In such situations, when software cleanings and reboots do not help, the only effective solution is to return to the original state. Full reset (Hard Reset) deletes all user data, applications and settings, restoring the operating system to its factory state MIUI.
This procedure may be required not only if there are problems with the software, but also before selling the gadget so that new owners do not gain access to your personal photos, correspondence and accounts. It is important to understand that this process irreversible is for local data, so it should be approached with the utmost care and preparation. Below we will analyze in detail all the available methods and nuances that need to be taken into account before starting.
Device owners are often afraid to perform a reset due to the risk of losing important information or “bricking” the phone. However, if you follow the instructions, the risk is minimal. Modern shells Android have built-in protection mechanisms that prevent critical errors during standard formatting. The main thing is to clearly understand the difference between a soft reset through the menu and a hard reset through recovery mode.
Preparing the device for the formatting procedure
Before initiating the cleaning process, it is critical to perform a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring this step can lead to permanent loss of contacts, photos and access to important services. Backup This is the first and most important step that should not be skipped.
Make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to a low battery may damage the system memory partitions, requiring complex recovery via a computer. Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network or make sure your mobile data is stable if you plan to synchronize data with the cloud before cleaning.
⚠️ Attention: After resetting, protection may be triggered on the activation screen FRP (Factory Reset Protection). If you don't remember the password for your Google account or Mi account, your phone will be locked. Be sure to remember or reset your passwords before starting the procedure.
Check that you have a SIM card and a microSD memory card. While a menu reset usually doesn't affect the external storage card, Recovery mode sometimes offers the option to wipe the entire drive. Removing the memory card before starting work will prevent accidental deletion of media files that you did not manage to save to the cloud.
☑️ Checklist before resetting
Reset settings via the MIUI menu (Soft Reset)
The safest and easiest way to return the phone to its factory state is to use the built-in settings interface. This method, often called Soft Reset, is available to all users and does not require special technical knowledge. It is ideal when the phone screen responds to touches and the system boots correctly.
To begin, open the Settings application on the Home screen or in the application list. Scroll down to the About Phone section. Depending on the shell version MIUI, the reset item may be located directly in this menu or in the “Advanced settings” subsection. In new versions of the interface, the path usually looks like Settings → About phone → Reset settings.
On the reset screen, you will see several options. We are interested in item "Delete all data". The system will warn you that all files will be deleted, including music, photos and installed applications. If you have previously set a screen lock (PIN code, pattern or fingerprint), the system will require you to enter it to confirm the operation.
If the phone is very slow and the menu opens with a delay, try first clearing the application cache through "Settings → Applications → Manage applications", a full reset may not be possible will be required.
After confirmation, the phone will reboot and start the formatting process. A logo Redmi or an animation of the process may be displayed on the screen. The waiting time depends on the amount of memory that is full: clearing 64 GB will take longer than 16 GB. Upon completion, the device will boot up as new, prompting you to select a language and connect to the network.
Using Recovery mode for Hard Reset
If the phone is frozen, does not boot to the desktop, or you have forgotten the pattern key, the only way out is to use the mode Recovery. This is a special diagnostic mode built into the firmware, which allows you to control the system bypassing the main interface Android.
To enter this mode, turn off the smartphone completely. Then simultaneously hold down the volume up button (Volume Up) and the power button (Power). Hold them until the logo appears Mi, then release the power button, but continue to hold the volume until the Recovery menu appears.
Navigation in this menu is carried out using the volume buttons (up/down), and selecting an item is done using the power button. However, on many modern models with touch Recovery, navigation is also available by touching the screen. You need to select a language (usually English or Chinese is available), and then go to Wipe Data.
| Action | Control buttons | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Enter Recovery | Volume + Power | Start recovery mode |
| Select a menu item | Power button (or touch) | Activate the selected function |
| Move the cursor | Volume Up/Down | Navigation through the list of options |
| Reset confirmation | Power button | Start data formatting |
Inside the menu Wipe Data select option «Wipe All Data». The system will ask for confirmation again, since this action is irreversible. Once confirmed, the cleaning process will begin. When it completes, select Back to Main Menuand then Reboot to reboot the system.
What if Recovery is in Chinese?
If you are in the Chinese Recovery menu, look for the characters corresponding to cleaning. This is usually the second line in the main menu. Even without knowing the language, you can navigate by icons: a trash can or broom icon often means cleaning. Be extremely careful not to accidentally select the firmware installation.
Deleting accounts and FRP protection
One of the most serious problems after a reset is blocking FRP-lock. This is a Google security mechanism designed to protect your device from theft. If a Google account was added to the phone, after resetting the device will require you to enter the password for this account during the first setup.
To avoid blocking, it is strongly recommended to log out of all accounts before resetting through the menu. Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization, select your Google account and click “Delete account”. The same should be done with the account Mi Cloud, since it may also require authorization.
⚠️ Attention: If you reset via Recovery without deleting the accounts in advance, the phone will be blocked. It is almost impossible to bypass FRP without knowing the password using legal methods, since this is a security vulnerability.
Owners of devices with activated binding to Mi Account may encounter a similar blocking from Xiaomi servers. The device will check for connectivity when connected to the internet after the reset. If the phone was found or purchased secondhand, make sure that the previous owner unlinked the device from his cloud.
Reset features on different Redmi models
The interface and location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the model of your smartphone and the installed firmware version. Budget models of the series Redmi A work on pure Android (Go Edition), where the reset menu looks different than in the shell MIUI on the flagships of the series Redmi Note or K.
On devices with a pure Android system the path often looks like Settings → System → Reset options → Delete all data. While in MIUI the emphasis is on the “About phone” section. In addition, on some models with a Home button (for example, older Redmi 4X) the combination of buttons to enter Recovery may differ, requiring simultaneous pressing of three buttons or a specific sequence.
If you have a device with an unlocked bootloader (Bootloader), the reset procedure is standard. However, if the bootloader is locked, some custom actions in Recovery may not be available, although the standard one always works. This limitation was introduced by the manufacturer to protect the integrity of the system. Wipe Data always works. This limitation is imposed by the manufacturer to protect the integrity of the system.
The appearance of the menu depends on the version of Android and MIUI, but the logic of the actions (searching for the "Reset" or "Wipe" section) remains the same for all devices in the Xiaomi ecosystem.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Sometimes after a reset, the user encounters the fact that the phone freezes on the logo when loading. This phenomenon is called bootloop. Most often, this is due to damage to the system partition during the formatting process or lack of battery power at a critical moment.
If the device is stuck on the logo for more than 10-15 minutes, try performing a force reboot by holding the power button for 10-20 seconds. If this does not help, you will need to re-enter Recovery mode and try the reset again. In the worst case, you may need to flash the device through a computer using the utility Mi Flash Tool.
Another common problem is no connection or Wi-Fi not working after a reset. This may indicate that the modem drivers have been deleted or damaged (which is rare with a standard reset) or that the network settings have been lost. In this case, manually entering access point settings (APN), which can be obtained from your mobile operator, will help.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and item names may change with software updates. If you do not find an exact match with the instructions, look for synonyms (Reset, Wipe, Reset, Cleaning) in the settings.
It is also important to remember that after the first turn on the phone may heat up and work slower for 30-60 minutes. The system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. Don't panic and try to reset the phone again if it slows down immediately after setup - give it time to get back to normal.
Data recovery after cleaning
After successful completion of the reset and initial setup, the stage of information recovery begins. If you created a backup in Google Drive or Mi Cloud, the process will take place automatically. When you connect to Wi-Fi and log into your Google account, the system will offer to restore contacts, call history and previously installed applications.
To restore photos and videos saved in the cloud, just install the application Google Photos or go to the gallery and turn on synchronization. Files that were stored only in the internal memory and were not uploaded to the cloud, unfortunately, cannot be restored using standard means.
There are specialized apps for PCs that promise data recovery from internal Android drives, but their effectiveness after a complete reset (when the memory is re-allocated) is extremely low. A modern file system ext4 or f2fs quickly overwrites old data with new ones, making recovery an almost impossible task for the average user.
Use the "Data Transplant" (Mi Mover) function during the initial setup to transfer data from an old phone to a new or reset Redmi without using clouds.
Is it possible to restore data after a full reset?
Restoring data after formatting the internal memory is extremely difficult and in most cases impossible without professional equipment. If the data was not saved in the cloud or on an SD card, consider it lost.
How long does it take to reset settings on Redmi?
The process usually takes from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory and the speed of the drive. The first boot after a reset may take longer - up to 10 minutes.
Will the memory card be deleted during a reset?
If you select the “Delete all data” option through the settings menu, the memory card is usually not formatted. However, in Recovery mode there is an option “Wipe SD Card”, which must be selected carefully. It is better to remove the card before the procedure.
What to do if the phone asks for a password after resetting?
This is FRP protection. You need to enter the password for the Google account that was synced with your phone before the reset. Without this password, you will not be able to legally unlock the device.