Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 3 will sooner or later face the necessary but radical measures to restore the device to work. The smartphone, released several years ago, over time begins to work slower, accumulating system debris and cache from applications. Sometimes the cause of instability is a software failure that cannot be fixed by a standard reboot. In such situations, the only effective solution is a full Hard Reset.
The return procedure completely removes all user information from the device’s internal memory, which includes photos, contacts, installed applications and system settings. Before any manipulations, you need to be aware of the consequences of these actions and prepare for data loss if they were not copied in advance.
There are several ways to roll back the system: through the regular Android settings menu, using the Recovery engineering menu or through the Google Find My Device service. The choice of the specific method depends on the current state of the device: whether the screen is turned on, whether the touchscreen is responsive and whether the desktop is available. In this article, we will discuss each of the available options in detail, paying special attention to the nuances of working with the MIUI shell.
Preparing the smartphone for a complete reset
Before you initiate the process of erasure, you need to perform a number of preparatory actions. Ignoring this step can lead to the fact that after the reboot you will get a clean device without authorization or with a blocked account. First of all, make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60%.
The second critical step is to back up all the critical information. MIUI Allows you to save contacts, messages and logs to the cloud or to the SD-For photos and documents, it is better to use an external drive or computer, since the internal memory will be completely cleared.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Special attention should be paid to the Mi Account. If the phone was signed in to Xiaomi services, then after the reset, the system will require you to enter the password from this account to confirm ownership. This is a mechanism for protecting against theft. If you forget your password, it will be extremely difficult to unlock the device, so make sure that the login data is up to date.
Reset via the Android settings menu
The easiest and most secure method is available if the operating system is stable and you have access to the desktop, which does not require remembering button combinations and runs in the GUI. First, open the main menu and find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear.
In the settings menu, scroll down to Additional (some versions of MIUI may call it Advanced Settings). Here we are interested in Recovery and Reset. This is where the backup management tools and factory reset functions are located.
Click on Reset. The system will show a warning that all data will be deleted. Make sure that the "Clear Internal Memory" box is active if you want to delete all files, including music and photos. Press Reset or Erase all data. The device will request confirmation in the form of entering a pattern lock, PIN-screen unlock code or password.
💡
If your phone is linked to a Google account, it is best to delete your account from your settings before resetting to avoid FRP (Factory Reset Protection) blocking.
Once confirmed, the deletion process will begin, which can take anywhere from minutes to half an hour, and the smartphone will reboot and you will see the screen of the initial settings, as when you first turn on after purchase, which is preferable because it ensures that all system processes are completed correctly before cleaning.
Hard Reset with the Recovery Mode (Click button)
If the screen is not responsive to touch or the system is so hung that you can not enter the menu, the forced reset method through Recovery is used. This mode is loaded before the main operating system starts. To enter, you need to completely turn off the Xiaomi Redmi 3 smartphone.
After turning it off, press two buttons simultaneously: Volume Up (+) and Power. Hold them until the Mi logo appears on the screen, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume rocker. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu opens, where the control is carried out by the volume buttons, and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English or Chinese), then go to Wipe & Reset. Next, select Wipe All Data. The system will warn you about data loss, you will need confirmation via Confirm. After you complete the process, select Back to Main Menu and then Reboot -> Reboot to System.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
Importantly, some versions of MIUI firmware may require you to unlock the screen or password from your Mi Account directly in the recovery menu, which is an additional security measure. If the device requests a password and you don't remember it, the button reset procedure may not be available without first removing the lock.
Remote reset via Google services
If your smartphone is lost, stolen, or the screen is completely broken and unresponsive, but your device is on and connected to the Internet, you can use Google Find My Device, a method that allows you to initiate a remote reset from any other device with access to the Internet.
To do this, you need to log into the service’s website from a computer or another phone using the same Google account that is active on the problematic Redmi 3. In the list of devices, select your smartphone. In the action menu, along with “Call” and “Block”, the option “Clean the device” will be available.
Once you have selected this command and confirmed it, the phone will receive a signal to perform a complete reset, the device will delete all data and return to factory condition, and you should consider that to execute the command, the phone must be online. If it is turned off, the command will be executed as soon as the gadget goes online.
This method also helps to bypass the forgotten pattern lock if the device was enabled synchronization.
In other cases, after the reboot, the system can request the data of the Google account that was last authorized on the device (FRP protection).
Comparison of data dumping methods
Each of these methods has its advantages and limitations, and the choice of the specific method depends on the technical ability to access the phone interface and the availability of the necessary credentials. Below is a table that helps determine the best course of action in your situation.
| Method | Access to the menu is required | We need the Internet. | Risk of data loss | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android settings | Yeah (screen working) | No. | Complete. | Low. |
| Recovery (buttons) | No (buttons only) | No. | Complete. | Medium |
| Google Find My Device | No (remotely) | Yes (required) | Complete. | Low. |
| ADB (for PC) | No (PC needed) | No (need cable) | Complete. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the method through settings is the easiest, but it requires a touchscreen to work. The method through Recovery is a universal "rescue" option. Remote reset is good in specific situations of loss of access to the device itself. For the average user, the first option is optimal, if it is technically possible.
Use of the ADB-The command requires a connection to the computer and installing drivers, which can be difficult for an untrained user. However, it is a powerful tool in the arsenal of specialists, allowing you to control the device even when the system is partially broken. --wipe_data can be performed through the console.
Solving problems and blockages
In the process of resetting users Xiaomi Redmi 3
Another frequent issue is the Google FRP lock (Factory Reset Protection). If you reset the phone without removing the Google account beforehand, the device will ask for the password of the last synced account upon startup. This is an anti-theft feature. Bypassing this without the password is difficult and often requires specialized software or exploiting specific Android vulnerabilities, which changes frequently.
⚠️ Warning: After resetting via Recovery, the phone may require a password from the Mi Account.If you bought the device with your hands and do not know the password of the previous owner, it will be impossible to unlock the phone legally.
You may also experience a situation where the phone is endlessly restarted (bootloop) after trying to reset.This often indicates a hardware malfunction of the power button that may have stuck and continues to signal to enter Recovery or reset. Check the mechanical health of the buttons before starting software manipulations.
💡
If after resetting the phone does not turn on or goes into an eternal reboot - the problem is most likely in the firmware or hardware, flashing through Fastboot is required.