How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 9 to factory settings

Xiaomi Redmi 9

Hard Reset

Before taking any drastic action, it is important to be clear that all personal data on Redmi 9 will be permanently destroyed, including photos, contacts, messages, installed apps and account settings. This article details all available methods for returning to factory status, including options with a locked screen and through the settings menu.

The reset procedure affects all parts of internal memory, so it is critical to back up important information in advance. The MIUI shell offers several levels of data protection that you need to consider before starting an operation. If you plan to just refresh the system, it may be enough to clean the cache, but a full reset is required for deep diagnostics.

There are two main ways to perform this operation: software method through the interface and hardware method through recovery mode. The choice of the specific method depends on the current state of your Xiaomi Redmi 9. If the phone turns on and responds to touch, the former option will be preferable and safer for inexperienced users.

Preparing the device for a complete data reset

The preparation should begin with checking the battery level, the charge should be at least 50% to complete the process successfully, and ideally be fully filled, interruption of the procedure due to discharge can lead to damage to system files and the inability to boot the operating system.

The second critical step is to unbundle the Google account and the Mi Account, and if you don't, the theft protection will go off after the reset, and the phone will ask for a password from an account that was synced earlier, and without that data, the device will become a brick, which will be extremely difficult to unlock.

• 📱 Make a backup of contacts in memory SIM-Export them to the.vcf file.
• 📸 Save photos and videos to a microSD card or upload them to Google Cloud Storage Photos.
• 🔑 Write down or remember passwords from accounts that were tied to your smartphone.
• 🔌 Connect the device to a power source or make sure the battery is high.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your Mi Account password after a reset, it may take several days to restore access and require you to submit receipts for the purchase of the device to support.

Reset via the MIUI settings menu

The easiest and most secure method is available to users who have full access to the smartphone interface. First, you need to go to the main menu and find Settings, then you need to scroll to the bottom and select the About Phone section, where you have the basic information about the system.

In the menu that opens, you'll find the Reset button, which is usually at the bottom of the screen. The system will offer several options, but we're interested in a complete cleanup. By clicking on Delete all data, you'll start a process that will require confirmation through a pattern lock or PIN-screen-lock.

Once confirmed, the deletion process will begin, which can take anywhere from minutes to half an hour, during which time the Xiaomi logo or download animation can be displayed on the screen, and it is strictly forbidden to interrupt this process, as it can violate the integrity of the file system.

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Before clicking the final button "Erase all data" again visually check the list of files that will be deleted if the system offers a preview.

Hard Reset via Recovery Mode

If the smartphone does not load, freezes on the logo or does not respond to the touch of the screen, Recovery mode is used. To enter it on the Redmi 9 turned off, you need to press the combination of the Up Volume and Power buttons, hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to keep the volume.

In the Recovery menu, the volume buttons (up/down) control the menu, and the power button confirms the choice. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system can offer two options: Wipe All Data (complete clean) and Reset Password (password reset, if supported by the version).

Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The system will warn you that the data will be deleted. After the process is completed, which will take some time, a success message will appear on the screen -> Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: In Recovery mode, the touchscreen does not work, navigation is performed exclusively by mechanical volume and power buttons, be careful when choosing points.

Delete passwords through Find My Device

In situations where the user has forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-The code, but the phone is connected to the Internet, you can use remote control, Google Find My Device allows you not only to track the location, but also to execute a cleanup command.

You need to go to the service site, log in under the same account as on the blocked Redmi 9. From the list of devices, select your smartphone and click on the command Clean the device. This command initiates a remote reset to factory settings, after which the phone will restart without locking the screen.

It is worth noting that this method only works when the Internet connection is active on the problem device, and if the phone is in flight mode or without a network, the command will be executed as soon as it appears in the coverage area of the network.

• 🌐 The method requires the mandatory availability of the Internet on a smartphone.
• 🔒 Google Account must be pre-add to your device.
• 📍 Geolocation must be enabled to correctly identify the device in the list.

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For professionals and experienced users, there is a method of debugging through USB and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit, which requires a computer, a Xiaomi driver installed, and the SDK Platform Tools platform. If the phone previously had USB debugging enabled, this method will allow you to reset even with a partially broken interface.

Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device command to check for communication. If the device appears in the list, you can execute a command to enter recovery mode: adb reboot recovery.

There is also a direct reset command, but it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI for security reasons.A more reliable is using ADB to enter recovery mode when the volume buttons are faulty.

adb reboot recovery

Once you've done the command, the phone automatically goes to the menu, which is especially useful if the volume button is triggered or not responding to the presses, and computer diagnostics is an alternative control channel.

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB requires accuracy; erroneous commands can lead to unpredictable system behavior if you do not follow instructions.

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Using ADB is a professional method that bypasses physical buttons but requires pre-setting debugging over USB.

First start and setup after reset

Once the procedure is completed successfully, the phone will restart and the initial setup process familiar at the time of purchase will begin, prompting the system to select a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network and log into a Google account. At this stage, Xiaomi Redmi 9 can request proof of identity.

Be prepared to enter the password from the Google account that was the primary one on this device before the reset, which is the standard FRP (Factory Reset Protection) procedure, and if you type the wrong password multiple times, the account may be temporarily blocked.

Once you log in, the system will suggest that you restore data from a backup, and if you've created a backup in the Google Drive or Mi Cloud cloud, you can return contacts, call history and installed app lists, which can take a long time depending on the amount of data you recover.

• 🚀 Check for system updates in the About Phone section immediately after setting up.
• 🔐 Install a new reliable method of locking the screen.
• 📲 Install the required applications from the Play Market again.

It's important to make sure that all the functions are working correctly. Check the sensor, speakers, microphone and communication modules. If problems persist after reset, this may indicate a hardware malfunction of the smartphone components.