Xiaomi Mi 9 cleanup: reset to factory settings without data loss

Resetting the Xiaomi Mi 9 to factory settings is a necessary procedure before selling the device, if you have critical system failures or if you have forgotten the pattern lock. However, improper cleaning can lead to locking through the Mi Account account, loss of important data or even “bricking” the phone. In this article, 3 proven ways to completely reset, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware for the Mi 9, as well as instructions for safely deleting personal information.

Xiaomi Mi 9

cepheus

Snapdragon 855

unique data storage scheme

/data

MIUI 10+

whole

1.Reset preparation: what to do before cleaning

Before starting a reset, be sure to follow 4 steps, otherwise you risk losing access to the device or important data. This is especially critical for the Xiaomi Mi 9 with a tied Mi Account - after a reset, the phone may require the username / password of the previous owner.

First, check the status of your Mi Account:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Make sure that your Mi 9 is displayed in the Devices section.
3. If your phone is not tied to your account, skip this step. If it is tied, remember your username and password, or untie your device in advance.

Then back up, even if you're planning to sell the phone, keep it in case the new owner wants to return the device.

• 📱 Use the built-in Settings tool → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup (saves contacts, SMS, setup).
• ☁️ Sync data with Mi Cloud (photos, notes, call records) to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 💾 For full backup (including apps) use TWRP Adb backup (requires an unlocked bootloader).

⚠️ Note: If you are resetting your phone due to viruses or suspicious apps, do not connect the backup to the new device - it may contain malicious code.

The final stage of preparation is to check the battery charge. Make sure the charge level is at least 50%. If the discharge is interrupted due to discharge, the Mi 9 can hang on the logo. MIUI (You know, you know, bootloop. You also have to prepare the original. USB-cable and computer (required for methods 2 and 3).

Make sure your phone is not tied to your Mi Account (or remember your data)|Create a backup copy of important data|Charge the battery to 50% or more|Prepare. USB-cable and computer (for alternative methods)|Disable protection with a pattern lock/password (if possible)-->

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

This method works if the phone is turned on, you have access to the menu, and you remember the pattern lock/password.It doesn't delete data from the memory card (if it's installed), but completely clears the internal memory.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (if not already activated).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
4. Choose to Erase all data (not “Settings Reset” – this will only delete settings, not files!).
5. Enter a password/pattern lock if required.
6. Confirm the action by clicking Delete Everything.

It takes 5-10 minutes, the phone will reboot and suggest that you configure it as new, and if you request Mi Account data after the reset, enter the previously associated account.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12+ When reset, you may have a "This device is locked" error, which means that the phone is tied to your Mi Account, but Xiaomi servers won't recognize it as yours, so you can enter the account information that the Mi 9 was linked to before the reset.

If this method does not work (for example, the phone freezes during the reset stage), move to method 2.

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If the phone is loading for longer than 15 minutes after reset, don’t panic. Xiaomi Mi 9 may be “thinking” about app optimization at the first setup. Wait 20 to 30 minutes before starting alternative methods.

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

If the Mi 9 doesn’t respond to clicks, hovers on the logo, or requires a password you’ve forgotten, use Recovery Mode, a method that works even without access to the system, but requires physical access to the phone’s buttons.

Steps to Enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the power button + volume button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and recovery menu appear.

From the Recovery menu (it is in English or Chinese) select:

• 🔧 Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (complete cleaning).
• ⚠️ Wipe Cache (optional if you want to clear the cache as well).
• 🔄 Reboot → Reboot to System (Reboot).

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

The third line at the top is Wipe Data.

The first line is reboot (Reboot).

⚠️ Note: In the Mi 9 with an unlocked bootloader, the Recovery menu can be replaced with a new one. TWRP. In this case, select the Wipe. → Advanced Wipe and tick Dalvik, Cache, Data, Internal Storage.

Once reset, the phone will reboot to its original state, and if there is a "No command" error or the device freezes, the recovery partition is damaged, in which case you go to method 3.

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

This is the most radical method, and it's the most suitable one if the first two methods don't work, USB-cables and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot. Use it only as a last resort – the wrong commands can turn your phone into a brick".

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11 Linux.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (don’t take cheap ones – they may not transmit data).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (download Platform Tools from Google).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 70%.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Mi 9.
2. Press the power button + volume reduction button to enter Fastboot mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with Platform Tools and type: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, install the drivers.
5. Run the full reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Once the phone is restarted, it will be completely cleared, and if you see an error called "FAILED (remote: 'Flashing is not allowed in Lock State')" then the bootloader is locked, in which case it requires official unlocking via the Mi Unlock Tool (the process takes up to 720 hours of waiting on new Mi accounts).

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Fastboot reset is the only way to completely delete data if the phone is locked at the firmware level (for example, after a failed update).However, it requires an unlocked bootloader or official firmware to recover.

5. How to delete Mi Account after reset (if the phone requires an old login)

If the Xiaomi Mi 9 requests data from the previous Mi Account after a reset, it means that the device is tied to the Mi Cloud Lock (anti-theft protection), which can only be circumvented legally by entering the correct data or officially removing the anchor.

Options for a solution:

• 🔑 Enter the account to which the phone was linked before the reset. If you forgot the password, restore it to account.xiaomi.com.
• 📧 If the phone is purchased from hand and the previous owner did not untie the account, request that he delete the device from the Mi Cloud. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Find the device. Select Mi 9 and press Delete.
• 🛠️ If you cannot contact the previous owner, contact Xiaomi Support with a purchase check. They can manually remove the binding (the process takes 3-7 days).