Users of Xiaomi smartphones Redmi often face the need to completely reset the device. This may be due to selling the gadget, transferring it to another person, or the desire to eliminate system errors that have accumulated over years of use. The procedure formatting returns the phone to its out-of-the-box state, deleting all personal files, photos and installed applications.
However, before starting the process, you must clearly understand the difference between simply deleting files and deep formatting. Many owners confuse these concepts, which leads to the loss of important data without the possibility of recovery. In this material, we will analyze in detail all the ways to format a phone Redmi, paying special attention to preparing the device for this irreversible operation.
Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS offer several levels of cleaning. The specific method you choose depends on whether your smartphone turns on at all and whether you have access to the settings menu. If the device is frozen at the logo or locked with a forgotten password, the approach will be radically different from the standard reset through the interface.
Preparing the smartphone for a full reset
Before starting the cleaning process, it is critically important to save all significant data. Formatting erases information irrevocably, and it will be impossible to restore it using standard means. Backup Must include contacts, messages, call history and media files.
The most reliable way to save data is to use cloud services. For phones Xiaomi ideal Mi Cloudthat synchronizes contacts, notes and system settings. It is also recommended to manually copy photos and videos to a computer or external drive via a USB cable.
Don't forget to unlink your accounts. If Google Account or Mi Accountis active on your phone, they must be removed from the settings before resetting. Otherwise, after formatting, protection will work FRP (Factory Reset Protection), and the phone will require you to enter the password from the old account to activate.
☑️ Checklist before formatting
⚠️ Attention: If you plan to sell the phone, delete your account Google is a required step. Ignoring this rule will turn the device into a “brick” for the new owner, who will not be able to use it.
Reset through the settings menu (standard method)
The safest and easiest way to format the phone Redmi is to use the built-in system menu. This method is suitable for devices that are stable and have access to the desktop. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version. First, open the Settings app and scroll down to the About phone section. Here you can find basic information about the model and software version. It is in this menu that the full reset function is hidden, which users often look for. MIUI or HyperOS.
To get started, open the Settings app and scroll down to the About Phone section. Here you can find basic information about the model and software version. It is in this menu that the hard reset function is hidden, which users often look for.
Click on the “Reset settings” item. The system will offer several options, but we are only interested in one - “Delete all data”. Clicking this button initiates the preparation process for formatting. The phone will warn you that all files will be deleted and will ask you to enter the screen unlock code.
- 📱 Go to
Settings → About phone. - 🔄 Select
Reset settings. - 🗑️ Press the red button
Delete all data. - 🔒 Confirm the action by entering a password or pattern.
Before pressing the confirmation button, make sure that the phone is connected to the charger. The process may take from 10 to 30 minutes, and draining the battery at this point is unacceptable.
After confirmation, the smartphone will reboot and begin the cleaning process. A logo Redmi or robot animation Androidcan be displayed on the screen. Do not try to interrupt this process by pressing buttons, as this may damage the system partitions.
Format through Recovery mode
If the phone does not turn on, is stuck on the screen saver, or you have forgotten the pattern key, the standard method will not work. In such cases, the Recoverymode is used. This is a special diagnostic mode, hardwired into the device’s memory, which allows you to control the system bypassing the main interface.
To enter Recovery, you must completely turn off the smartphone. Then you need to hold down the key combination: usually this is the volume up button Vol+ and the power button Power. Hold them simultaneously until the logo appears Mi, after which the power button can be released while continuing to hold the volume.
In the Recovery menu, control is carried out with the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed with the power button. You need to find the item Wipe Data or Clear Data. After selecting, a submenu will appear where you should confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
Some versions of firmware for the Chinese market have menus in hieroglyphs. In this case, be guided by the icons or the number of items. Typically the reset point is second or third on the list. You can try to change the language by selecting Settings → Language → English, if available.
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen does not work. All actions are performed exclusively by mechanical buttons. Be careful when navigating so as not to select the wrong item.
Reset features on different versions of MIUI
The shell MIUI is constantly updated, and the menu location may change. In the latest versions, such as MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS, the algorithm of actions remains the same, but the visual design and names of the items may differ.
For example, in older versions MIUI the reset item could be located in the "Advanced" section. In new builds, it is strictly tied to the “About phone” menu. In addition, modern systems require you to enter your password before starting the reset, if the “Find device” function was active. Mi Account before starting the reset if the Find My Device function was active.
If, when you try to reset, the system asks for a password that you do not remember, you will have to use the site i.mi.com to recover it through the linked email or phone number. Without this step, formatting through settings will be blocked for security reasons.
| System version | Path to reset | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 13 | Settings → About phone → Reset | Screen password |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → About phone → Reset | Mi Account password |
| HyperOS | Settings → About phone → Reset | Mi Account password + Screen |
| Android Stock | Settings → System → Reset | Google Password |
Deleting accounts and protection FRP
Mechanism FRP (Factory Reset Protection) is an important part of security Android. It prevents a stolen or lost phone from being used after a reset. If you have not logged out of your account Google before formatting, the system will block activation.
To avoid problems, go to the menu Settings → Accounts and synchronization. Select your Google account and click “Delete account”. Repeat the same procedure for Mi Account. Only after this can you safely reset the data.
If the phone has already been reset and asks for an old account, the only legal way to unlock it is to enter data from this account. Third-party FRP bypass methods are often unstable and can disrupt the system, so it is better to take care of this in advance.
Safety Rule: Always delete Google and Mi accounts through settings before performing a Hard Reset. This ensures that the phone is not locked by FRP protection after a reboot.
Solving problems after formatting
After the phone is formatted and turned on, it may behave unstable in the first minutes. The system performs initial application optimization and file indexing. During this time, the device may heat up and the battery may drain faster than usual.
If you notice that the phone is very slow even after completing the setup, the problem may not be with the system, but with damage to the internal memory. In rare cases, after an incorrect reset, boot errors may occur.
To eliminate minor glitches, it is recommended to check for system updates. Go to Settings → About phone and click on version MIUI. Installing fresh firmware often corrects errors that occurred after a reset.
- 🔋 Let the phone charge for 1-2 hours after the first turn on.
- 📶 Check the operation of Wi-Fi and mobile network.
- 📲 Do not install all applications at once, do it gradually.
⚠️ Attention: If after resetting the phone constantly reboots or freezes at the logo, the system partition may be damaged. In this case, you will need to flash the device via a computer using the utility Mi Flash Tool.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the SD card be deleted when formatting the phone?
By default, the “Delete all data” function in the settings Android does not affect external SD card. However, in some versions MIUI the “Clear internal memory and SD card” checkbox may appear. Please read the warnings carefully before clicking the confirm button. If the checkbox is not checked, the card will remain untouched.
Is it possible to recover a photo after formatting?
Data recovery after full formatting is almost impossible on modern smartphones. The encryption protocol Android destroys data access keys upon reset. Specialized services can try to restore something only in case of superficial deletion of files, but not after a factory reset.
How long does the reset process take?
Usually the process takes from 5 to 15 minutes. The time depends on the amount of memory filled and the speed of the processor. If the phone is stuck in the cleaning phase for more than 30 minutes, it may have crashed and will require a forced reboot.
Do you need to insert a SIM card before resetting?
No, it is better to remove the SIM card before starting the procedure. This will protect contacts saved on the SIM card (if any) from accidental deletion, although modern phones rarely use SIM memory for contacts.