Introduction: why is it necessary to dump and what risks it carries
Resetting Xiaomi Redmi to factory settings is a radical solution that is used when selling a device, critical system failures or after unsuccessful firmware experiments. However, not all users realize what exactly will disappear from the phone after this procedure. Unlike a normal reboot or clearing the cache, a complete reset erases not only installed applications, but also system settings that you have been setting up for months.
The Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are customized MIUI shells that are deeply integrated with Xiaomi services, which means that once reset, you will lose not only local data, but also some cloud connections — if you don’t prepare in advance. For example, linking the device to your Mi Account does not reset automatically, which can lead to locking after flashing.
In this article, we will discuss:
- 📱 What data is deleted irrevocably (and how to save it)
- ⚙️ What happens to the system settings and MIUI
- 🔒 How Reset Affects Device Security and Lockdown
- 📲 Step-by-step instructions with preparation and restoration
1.What is deleted permanently: a complete list of data
The first thing to understand is that a factory reset on Xiaomi Redmi is not just a cleanup of user files, it affects all memory areas except for pre-installed system applications. Here’s what will disappear without recovery (if there was no backup):
- 📂 All user files: photos, videos, music, documents (including downloads and files in the folder) DCIM, Downloads, Documents)
- 📱 Installed applications and their data: games (with progress), instant messengers (history of chats in WhatsApp, Telegram), banking applications (tied cards)
- 📞 Contacts, SMS/MMS Call log (unless synced with Google or Mi Account)
- 🔧 System settings: wallpaper, sound circuits, screen brightness, gestures, fingerprint/face settings
- 🌐 Saved Wi-Fi passwords and mobile network data (APN)
- 📍 Local map data (Google Maps cache, Yandex.Maps, offline maps)
Critically, even if you use Mi Cloud or Google Drive for backup, not all data is automatically synced, for example, WhatsApp requires a separate backup in Google Drive, and some apps (such as Viber or SberBank Online) may not be reset even if you have a backup.
What happens to your internal memory when you reset?
2. Myths and Reality: What is NOT Removed When Reset
There are a few common misconceptions about what happens to Xiaomi Redmi after a reset, and let’s look at what data is left on the device or can be recovered:
| Type of data | Removed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-installed MIUI applications | ❌ No. | Apps like Mi Browser, Mi Video, Themes will stay, but their settings will reset |
| Files on SD-map | ❌ No. | If the memory card is not formatted as internal memory |
| Data in the Mi Account | ❌ No. | But the device’s binding to the account is saved (important for unlocking after resetting) |
| System Updates (MIUI) | ❌ No. | The firmware version remains current, only the settings are reset. |
| Data in a secure storage (e.g., Safe Folder) | ✅ Yes. | If a separate password was not set for unlocking after resetting |
Important nuance: if you used the Factory Reset function with the cleaning of all data (in some versions) MIUI It’s called Erase All Data, and it’s going to be formatted. /internal_storage, This will make file recovery almost impossible even with specialized programs like Dr.Fone or Recuva.
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Before resetting, check if your Redmi is linked to a Mi Account with Find Device enabled. If so, be sure to untie the device in account.xiaomi.com settings, otherwise the phone may require the username/password of the previous owner to be entered after the reset.
3.How the reset affects the security and locking of the device
One of the most frustrating surprises after the Xiaomi Redmi reset is the sudden lockdown requiring you to enter data from Mi Account, which is due to the Mi Cloud Activation Lock feature, which links the device to your Xiaomi account, and if you don’t untie the phone before resetting, it can turn into a brick that says “This device is locked.”
What to do in such a situation:
- 🔑 Enter the username and password from the Mi Account that was linked to the phone
- 📧 If you forget your data, restore access via account.xiaomi.com (you will need access to your email or phone number)
- ⏳ If the device is purchased from hand – contact the previous owner to unbundle
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Mi Cloud Activation Lock works even if you just upgraded your MIUI via fastboot or restored your firmware through the Mi Flash Tool. The only way to avoid blocking is to unplug your device from your account in advance.
Another aspect of security is data encryption. If your Redmi has been encrypted (this can be checked in Settings → Security → Encryption), then after reset, you will need to enter a password to unlock. Without it, the phone will not boot beyond the welcome screen. This is for models with MIUI 12 and later, where encryption is enabled by default for some regions.
⚠️ Note: If you sell or transfer a phone, it is not enough to simply reset your settings. → Accounts Disable Find your device in Mi Cloud SIM-Memory card (if used as internal memory)
4. Step-by-step instruction: how to reset the settings correctly
If you are determined to reset, follow this algorithm to minimize data loss:
Backup in Mi Cloud (Settings → About Phone → Backup)
Copy photos/video to PC or cloud (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk)
Export contacts to VCF-file (Contacts) → Management → Exports)
Save Wi-Fi passwords (apps like WiFi Key Recovery)
Unplug Google and Mi Accounts (if the phone is sold)
Charge your phone at least 50% (reset can take up to 30 minutes)
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When you're done, you start resetting. There are two ways.
Method 1: Through the settings menu (recommended)
- Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings
- Choose to Erase All Data (not to be confused with Settings Reset – these are different options!)
- Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if requested
- Confirm the action with the button Remove everything
- Wait for the reboot (can take 5-15 minutes)
Method 2: Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power button + Volume up before the Mi logo appears
- In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (manage volume buttons, confirm – power button)
- Select Wipe All Data and confirm it.
- After reset, select Reboot
If the phone hangs on the Redmi or MIUI logo after the reset, there may have been a formatting error, in which case you will need to flash it through the Fastboot or Mi Flash Tool.
5. How to recover data after resetting
If you back up, it's going to take a minimum of time to recover, and if you don't, the chances of getting it back up depend on how the reset was done.
- 🔄 Recovery from Mi Cloud: When you first turn on after reset, select Restore from backup Enter data from Mi Account Select the most recent copy (see the creation date in the title)
PC recovery:
If you made a copy through the Mi PC Suite, connect your phone to your computer and follow the instructions, and note that the Mi PC Suite does not always correctly recover application data (for example, save games).
Recovery programmes:
If the reset was made without formatting the internal memory, you can try DiskDigger, EaseUS MobiSaver or Dr.Fone. However, the chances of success are low - MIUI uses default encryption on new models.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the phone itself after a reset! This can overwrite the remaining fragments of files, making them impossible to recover.
It is particularly difficult to recover:
- 💬 Message history in messengers (if there was no cloud backup)
- 🎮 Save games (even with cloud-based saving, not all games sync correctly)
- 📁 Files from application folders (for example, downloads from Telegram or VK)
Without this, it is officially impossible to unlock the phone (bypasses often lead to re-locking).