Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 smartphone (including the Note 4X version) sooner or later face the need to return the device to factory settings, this may be necessary when selling a gadget, in case of serious software failures or before installing custom firmware, this process is not complicated, but requires care, as it leads to the complete deletion of all user data.
Before you start, it’s important to understand that zeroing is not just deleting files, but deep cleaning of system partitions. Depending on the method you choose, you may lose access to the device if you don’t prepare in advance. Below we’ll look at all the current ways, from a simple settings menu to advanced methods through Fastboot.
Redmi Note 4 is based on the Snapdragon 625 processor and has its own features of working with MIUI. Wrong actions can lead to a “brick” state or locking your account. So carefully study each step to choose the best option for your situation.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Any firmware or reset operation starts with the preparatory stage, and ignoring these steps is the most common cause of data loss or device locking, and the first thing you need to do is back up all the important information: contacts, photos, instant messengers and documents.
The current versions of the MIUI shell have strict protections, and if you just reset your settings without untidying your account, the phone will require a password the next time it activates, a theft protection mechanism known as Find Device.
- 📸 Back up photos and videos to your computer or cloud storage.
- 📱 Save important contacts to your Google account or export to a.vcf file.
- 🔑 Make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account and Google account.
- 🔋 Charge the battery of the smartphone to a minimum 60-70% avoiding shutdown in the process.
☑️ Checklist before reset
It is also strongly recommended that SIM-MicroSD card and memory card before the procedure, this will protect your personal data on the memory card from accidental formatting and prevent possible conflicts when restarting the system.
Method 1: Reset via the Android settings menu
The easiest and safest method available to every user is to reset through the system's regular menu, which is suitable if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you have access to settings, and it's ideal for preparing the device for sale or fixing minor software bugs.
To start, go to Settings. Depending on the version of MIUI (7, 8, 9, 10 or 11), the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item responsible for restoring factory parameters.
From the menu, select Advanced Settings (or Additional), then search Recover and Reset. Here you are interested in Reset option. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. If you are ready, click Clear all data.
⚠️ Note: If a pattern lock is installed on the phone, PIN-The unlock code or password, the system will require you to enter it before you start resetting.
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. Don't interrupt this process. Once completed, you'll see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on a new device.
What to do if the Reset button is inactive?
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the system does not boot, freezes on the logo or the touch screen does not respond, the Hard Reset method is used through Recovery Recovery mode. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, this mode allows you to clear the data and cache partitions, which often solves problems with cyclic reboots.
To enter Recovery mode on the device turned off, press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume high. In a few seconds, an orange or black-orange interface menu will appear.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to select a language (usually available in English and Chinese), then go to Wipe Data. In some versions of Recovery (especially in Chinese), you may need to enter a confirmation code that will be indicated on the screen.
| Action. | Navigation buttons | Confirmation button |
|---|---|---|
| Choice of menu item | Volume Up/Down | - |
| Confirmation of choice | - | Power (Power) |
| Getting out of the regime | - | Reboot (reboot) |
| Forced reset | Keep power down 10 seconds. | - |
Once you have selected Wipe All Data, confirm the action. It will go quickly. When you finish, go back to the main menu and select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The first on-line after a reset will last longer than usual, which is normal for the application optimization process.
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If the phone starts to glittle again after Hard Reset, try selecting Wipe Cache from the same Recovery menu without affecting user data. This sometimes helps if a full reset doesn't solve the problem.
Method 3: Reset via Fastboot and Mi Flash (for advanced)
The most radical method that allows you to completely zero out the phone, including re-marking partitions and installing clean global or Chinese firmware, USB-cable and installed driver ADB/Fastboot. It is necessary if the phone went to the “brick” or you need to change the region of the device.
To enter Fastboot mode on the Redmi Note 4 turned off, press the Volume Down button and plug in USB-And you'll see a picture of a hare fixing an android on the screen, and it'll say, FASTBOOT.
The firmware process is as follows:
- Download the official firmware for Redmi Note 4 (codenick: mido) in.tgz (Fastboot ROM) format, not.zip.
- Unpack the archive in the root of the C: disc (the path should not contain Cyrillic).
- Start the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator.
- Press the Refresh button so that the program sees the device.
- At the bottom of the window, select Clean All (complete cleaning) or Clean All and Lock (clean and lock bootloader).
- Press Flash and wait for the process to end.
⚠️ Warning: Choosing the "Clean all and lock" option on a device with an unlocked bootloader or when trying to change region (for example, from China to Global) can lead to a complete lock (Hard Brick.
This method is guaranteed to remove any traces of previous use, viruses or system modifications. However, if the device activates anti-Rollback protection, an attempt to roll back to an older version of Android can be blocked at the hardware level.
Mi Account Problem and Activation Block
One of the main problems after reset is blocking activation. If before zeroing you did not log out of your Mi Account account through the Settings menu -> Mi Account -> Log out, then after the reboot the phone will require you to enter a password from this account.
It's not a bug, it's a security feature. You can't use your phone without the right password. Even flashing it through Fastboot with the bootloader lock won't help you bypass that protection, because it's tied to the unique device ID on Xiaomi servers.
The only way to unlock the device in this case is to know the password from the account to which the phone was linked, or to have a purchase check to contact official support. Third-party services often offer paid unlock services, but they are not always effective and can be insecure.
If you buy a used phone, always ask the seller to log out of all accounts and make a reset.
Typical errors and their solution
Users often face unforeseen challenges in the process of zeroing out, and understanding the nature of these errors helps avoid panic and time wasting. Consider the most common scenarios.
Often, the phone is bootlooped indefinitely after reset, which may indicate damage to system files or hardware conflict, in which case only flashing through the Fastboot with a complete cleanup will help.
- 🔌 Connection error: Computer doesn't see phone in Fastboot mode.Solution: Install Xiaomi drivers USB Driver, use the original cable and port USB 2.0.
- 🚫 Mistake. 0x700058: It comes from the Mi Flash Tool. It usually means that the bootloader is locked or that an incompatible firmware has been selected.
- 📉 Phone warms up: If the device gets too hot during reset or firmware, interrupt the process.
⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the firmware process by removing the cable or turning off the power. Breaking the write to the boot or recovery section is almost guaranteed to turn the phone into a "brick", the recovery of which is possible only through the programr soldering.
Also worth mentioning is the difference between the Redmi Note 4 (MediaTek processor) and the Redmi Note 4X (Snapdragon processor) which require different firmware. If you try to flash Snapdragon firmware to MediaTek, the phone will stop turning on.
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Properly selected firmware (Global for global versions, China for Chinese) and the exact definition of the processor model is the key to successful recovery of the device.