How to completely reset and format Xiaomi Mi 9T: all ways

Xiaomi Mi 9T (also known as the Redmi K20 in some regions) – a popular smartphone with a retractable front camera and AMOLED-It's a display, but even such a reliable device requires a "general cleaning" over time. Formatting (or hard reset) may be needed when selling a phone, after infection with viruses, with constant lags, or if you forget your pattern lock. In this article, we will analyze all available reset methods - from the simplest through the settings menu to complex manipulations through Fastboot and Recovery.

It is important to understand that formatting erases all user data: photos, messages, installed apps and account settings. However, system files (firmware, kernel) remain intact – this is not firmware. If the goal is to update Android or eliminate critical OS errors, other actions will be required (we will discuss them in separate sections).

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge – at least 50% (when reset via Recovery, the phone should not turn off).
• 📱 Backup of data (can be done through Settings) → Google → Backup or manually copy files to PC).
• 🔑 Access to Mi Account – After a reset, you may need to confirm your device ownership.

1. Reset via phone settings (soft reset)

The safest and most recommended way is if the phone is turned on, there is no screen lock, and you remember the password from your Mi Account. This method saves the firmware version and does not require a connection to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Backup and reset.
3. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
4. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock (if installed).
5. Confirm the action by pressing Erase Everything.

The process will take 5-10 minutes. After the reboot, the phone will suggest configuring it as new. If you previously had a Mi Account attached, you will need to enter a username and password to unlock (anti-theft protection).

Back up your important data | Charge your phone at least 50% | Make sure you remember the password from Mi Account | Disable your Google Account (if you plan to sell your phone)

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⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone requires an old password from Mi Account, which you do not remember, you can only restore access through the official website account.xiaomi.com. Using informal methods of bypassing the lock violates the terms of use and may lead to loss of warranty.

2. Formatting via Recovery Mode (hard reset)

If the phone is not turning on, getting stuck on the Xiaomi logo or locked with a pattern lock, a Recovery reset will help.This mode is sewn into the firmware and is available even if the system is damaged.

How to Sign In to Recovery on Mi 9T:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power Button at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).

Next:

• 📱 Use volume buttons to navigate the menu, power button to select.
• 🔄 Select the Wipe Data option → Wipe All Data (complete reset).
• ✅ Confirm the action (Confirmation).
• 🔄 After completion, select Reboot. → Reboot to System.

If the Recovery menu doesn't have Wipe Data, it's custom firmware installed, in which case try the Fastboot option (Section 3).

3. Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

The method through Fastboot is useful if:

• 🔧 Recovery is damaged or missing;
• 📱 The phone doesn't respond to the buttons;
• 🔄 Recovery needs to be re-recovered before resetting.

It will require:

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and Fastboot tool (included in Android) SDK Platform-Tools);
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original);
• 🔋 Charging the phone at least 30%.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears (a robot with a sign on the screen).
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices Must appear serial number of the device.
6. Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

After this procedure, the phone will restart in its clean state, but the firmware version and Recovery will remain the same. TWRP and then set up ZIP-software-file.

1. whether Xiaomi drivers are installed (you can download on the official website).

2. whether you use original cable (cheap cables often do not support data transmission).

3. whether debugging over USB is enabled in the developer settings (if the phone is turned on).

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4. Formatting before selling: what to do

If you're preparing a Mi 9T for sale, one reset is not enough, so that the new owner doesn't run into problems, follow these steps:

After that, complete a reset (section 1 or 2). If the phone was tied to Find Device, turn it off in advance in Settings → Mi Account → Find Device.

⚠️ Note: If you sell a phone with unofficial firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), return the stockware MIUI. Customers often don't know how to work with custom OSes, and the warranty does not apply to such a device. You can return the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions at xiaomiflashtool.com).

5. Resolve errors after formatting

Sometimes, after a reset, the Mi 9T behaves unstable: it does not turn on, reboots cyclically or gives out errors.

• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the Xiaomi logo: the cause is a damaged partition of the system or incompatible firmware. MIUI via Fastboot (section 3).
• 🚫 Recovery's No Command Error: Press and Hold Power + Volume up 10 seconds to reboot Recovery.

If the phone is running slower than before, check:

• 📊 Firmware version (Settings) → It's about the phone, maybe it's outdated software.
• 🛠️ Availability of updates (Settings) → Updating the system).
• 🧹 Residual files (sometimes a reset doesn't clear the cache completely) Reset or manual cleaning through Recovery (Wipe Cache) will help).

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If the phone doesn't turn on after reset, don't try to disassemble it or heat it with a hair dryer - 90% of these problems are solved software.

6.Alternative methods: when standard discharge does not help

In rare cases, such as when a userdata partition is damaged or when a firmware fails, standard methods don't work.

6.1. reset via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

If the phone is switched on but does not respond to the sensor, and USB debugging has been activated before, connect it to your PC and do:

adb shell


recovery --wipe_data

Firmware via EDL Mode (Emergency mode)

If the phone doesn't respond to any combination of buttons, the EDL Mode (Emergency Download Mode) remains.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Close the test points on the motherboard (disassembly required!).
3. Connect to a PC – the device will be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
4. Swipe the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

⚠️ Attention: Working with EDL Mode requires experience and can cause a phone to fail completely if the wrong firmware is selected or the sequence of actions is broken.

Contact the service centre

If none of the methods worked, the phone:

• 🔌 It does not turn on even after charging;
• 🔥 It overheats or makes strange sounds;
• 💥 Has physical damage (cracks, dents);

- it is better to take it to an authorized service center Xiaomi. In Russia and the CIS, the official SC can be found on the website mi.com/service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi 9T formatting