How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 4A to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Resetting the Xiaomi Redmi 4A to factory settings is a procedure that can be required in a variety of situations, from preparing a device for sale to fixing software failures. This budget smartphone, released in 2016, is still popular due to its reliability and simplicity, but over time even it begins to โ€œbrakeโ€, emit errors or simply requires a โ€œclean startโ€.

In this article, you will find three official ways to reset โ€“ through your phone settings, Recovery mode and Fastboot, as well as tips for saving data and solving typical problems, we will figure out which method is suitable for your situation, and warn against common mistakes that can turn reset into a real headache.

If your Redmi 4A is stuck on the logo, does not respond to clicks or just works unstable, do not rush to carry it to the service. In 90% of cases, a complete reset solves the problem without the intervention of the masters, the main thing is to follow the instructions and not miss important steps, especially when it comes to working with Fastboot or custom firmware.

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1.Reset preparation: what to do before zero

Factory resets are the removal of all user data from your phone: contacts, photos, messages, installed apps, even some system settings. If you don't prepare in advance, you risk losing important information forever.

The first thing you need to do is back up. Redmi 4A has built-in tools for that, but they're not always reliable. You'd better use a combination of cloud storage and a physical backup on your computer.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Contact and SMS: sync with Google Account (in Account settings) โ†’ Google โ†’ Synchronize or export through apps like Super Backup.
  • ๐Ÿ“ท Photos and videos: copy to your computer USB-Cable or upload to Google Photos/Mi Cloud (if you have a Xiaomi account).
  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Passwords and Notes: Export from Mi Notes or Save to a Text File.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Gaming data: Link accounts to Google Play Games or social networks if the game supports cloud-based saves.

Second, check your Mi Account. If your phone has a Xiaomi account attached, you may need to enter your username and password to unlock (Mi Account Lock) after reset. Make sure you remember the login details or unplug your account in Settings โ†’ Accounts โ†’ Mi Account โ†’ Sign out.

โš ๏ธ Note: If you have purchased a Redmi 4A If you donโ€™t know the previous ownerโ€™s data, a reset via Recovery or Fastboot can block the device.

Third, charge your phone. Make sure your battery level is at least 50 percent, and if the discharge is interrupted by a discharge, it can cause you to lose access to Recovery or even build up the device.

๐Ÿ“Š Have you ever done a reset on your smartphone?
Yeah, you.
Yeah, in the service.
No, but I want to try.
No, and no planning.

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2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest)

If the phone turns on and responds to taps, it's the safest and fastest method, and it's suitable for most users and doesn't require any additional knowledge.

Step instructions:

  1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Scroll down and select Additional (or Advanced Settings, depending on the version of MIUI).
  3. Go to Restore and Reset (or Reset settings).
  4. Slip on Resetting (could be called Resetting All Data).
  5. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code or pattern lock, if installed.
  6. Wait until the process is completed (usually takes 3-5 minutes).

Once rebooted, the phone will be like new, with a clean MIUI system and standard apps, and you just have to go through the initial setup.

โš ๏ธ Attention: Some Xiaomi firmware may have a "No Command" error with the robot lying down after reset. + Volume up for 10 seconds to reboot.

Battery charge > 50%|Synchronized contacts and photos|Mi Accounts are cancelled (if necessary)|Remembered. PIN-code-key-->

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3. Method 2: Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on)

If the Redmi 4A is stuck on the logo, doesn't respond to clicks, or reboots cyclically, you'll have to use Recovery Mode, which is a special recovery mode built into the phone.

To enter Recovery:

  1. Press Power + Volume up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

In the Recovery menu, the volume buttons (Up/Down for navigation) and Power for confirmation are controlled.

  1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data)
  2. Confirm the action by selecting Yes.
  3. Once completed, go back to the main menu and select Reboot (or Reboot System Now).

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

- ๐Ÿงน โ€” Data Cleanup (Wipe Data),

- ๐Ÿ”„ โ€” reboot (Reboot).

โš ๏ธ Note: On some versions MIUI Recovery may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account, even if you untie it. If you don't remember the data, a Fastboot reset (mode 3) may be the only way out.

What happens if Recovery does not open?
If after holding Power + Volume up the phone vibrates, but the screen remains black, try: 1. Connect the charger and try again. 2. Use the combination Power + Volume down (on some firmware). 3. If nothing helps, go to reset via Fastboot (method 3).

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Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

This is the most radical method, and it requires you to connect your phone to your computer, and it's useful if you:

Recovery is not available or blocked,

The phone does not respond to the buttons.

You need to reflash the device after an unsuccessful update.

The work will require:

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Windows computer (or Linux/macOS driverless ADB),
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ USB-cable (preferably original),
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Mi Flash Tool (download from the official website of Xiaomi),
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Qualcomm drivers for Redmi 4A (If the computer does not recognize the device).

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Hold the Loud down. + Power and plug in. USB-The screen should stay black, that's okay.
  3. Open Device Manager on your computer and check that the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 device appears in the list (if not, install the drivers manually).
  4. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool, then download the official firmware for Redmi. 4A (for example, global_stable Xiaomi).
  5. In Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware, connect the phone in Fastboot mode and press Flash.
  6. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes) and the phone will automatically restart.

This method completely reinstalls the firmware, so it's effective even in severe crashes, but it requires care -- a mistake in choosing a firmware can cause a communication module or camera to fail.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the Mi Flash Tool gives an error "critical partition flashing is not allowed", try to select Clean All mode instead of Clean All and Lock.

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Table: Comparison of discharge methods

To choose the best way, compare their features:

MethodDifficultyPC requiredSuitable forRisks.
Through settingsโญ (simple)โŒ No.The phone is turned on, reacts to pressingMinimum (only data loss)
Through Recovery.โญโญ (middle-of-the-road)โŒ No.Phone is not turned on, but there is access to RecoveryBlocking Mi Account, Clearing Errors
Through Fastboot.โญโญโญ (difficult)โœ… Yes.Phone is not responding, need to flashFitting with error, loss of IMEI

If you are not confident in your abilities, start with the simplest method and move on to the more complex only when necessary.

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6.Frequent post-discharge problems and their solutions

Even after a successful reset, problems can occur, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

  • ๐Ÿ”’ Phone requires password from Mi Account after reset: if you do not remember the data, try to restore access through account.xiaomi.com. If the phone is purchased with hands โ€“ contact the previous owner or Xiaomi service to unlock.
  • ๐Ÿ“ต No network after reset: check if installed SIM-If the problem persists, go to Settings. โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Settings APN and adjust the operator's parameters manually.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ The battery goes down quickly after resetting: this is normal in the first place. 2-3 If the problem persists, calibrate the battery (discharge to the battery) 0% and charge up 100% breaklessly).
  • ๐Ÿ›‘ The phone hangs on the logo after the reset: try re-entering Recovery and making Wipe Cache. If it doesn't work, run the phone through Fastboot (method 3).

If they're missing after the dump. IMEI or MAC-Wi-Fi address, which means that it has been damaged NVRAM-The memory area, and you can only recover it through utility tools like this. SN Writer Tool, but it takes experience.

โš ๏ธ Note: If after reset via Fastboot, the phone stopped seeing SIM-The card is likely not installed for your model (for example, for Redmi 4 Prime instead of Redmi). 4A). In this case, you need to re-sweep the correct version. MIUI.

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7.How to avoid resetting in the future: prevention of failures

To avoid having to reset Redmi 4A regularly, follow the following simple guidelines:

  • ๐Ÿงน Clean the cache regularly: go to Settings โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Clean and delete unnecessary files once in a while 1-2 month.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update your firmware: Install official updates MIUI through settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Updating the system, closing vulnerabilities and improving stability.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Avoid โ€œleft-handedโ€ firmware: custom ROM (LineageOS, for example, can speed up your phone, but it often crashes. NVRAM.
  • ๐Ÿ“ด Donโ€™t overload your phone: Donโ€™t run too many apps at the same time, especially heavy games like this. PUBG Or Genshin Impact.

If the phone starts to โ€œglutchโ€, try a soft reset first:

  1. Turn off the device.
  2. Extract. SIM-card and memory card (if any).
  3. Hold power for 30 seconds (even if the screen is unresponsive).
  4. Turn on your phone and check the work.

In 70% of cases, this method helps to eliminate temporary freezes without data loss.

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If Redmi 4A started to slow down, try clearing the cache first and removing unnecessary apps.Resetting to factory settings is a last resort, not the first solution.

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

โ“ Can we reset Redmi? 4A data-free?
No, a full reset always deletes user data. However, you can do a selective cleanup through Settings โ†’ Applications by removing cache and data only for specific programs.
โ“ What to do if the phone asks for an old password after reset?
This means that the phone has been enabled with Google FRP (Factory Reset Protection), and to unlock it, you need to enter data from the Google Account that was linked before the reset, and if you don't remember the password, restore it through accounts.google.com.
โ“ How long does it take to dump?
Time depends on the method: through settings: 3-5 minutes, through Recovery: 5-10 minutes, through Fastboot: 10-15 minutes (plus time to download firmware). If the process took longer than 20 minutes, something went wrong (for example, the phone got stuck). Try to reboot forcefully.
โ“ Can we reset Redmi? 4A via a computer without Fastboot?
Yes, but it requires special programs like Mi PC Suite (the official utility from Xiaomi), but it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI and requires USB debugging, and it's more reliable to use standard methods.
โ“ Why does the camera or speaker not work after reset?
This is a typical problem when the firmware is incorrect through Fastboot. Most likely, the firmware was installed not for your model (for example, for Redmi 4 Pro), the solution is to flash the correct version of MIUI from the official website.