Redmi smartphones are famous for their availability and functionality, but even a reliable device can eventually face software errors or memory overflow. If your Xiaomi Redmi 9 started running slowly, hanging out or you plan to sell the gadget, you will be faced with the question of complete data cleanup. The formatting procedure will return the phone to its factory state by removing all user files, applications and settings.
Many users are afraid to perform Hard Reset on their own, fearing turning the phone into a brick or losing important contacts. However, the process of returning to the factory settings in the MIUI shell is as simplified and standardized as possible. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible formatting methods, from the standard menu to using the Recovery engineering mode.
Before we go into action, we need to understand that formatting is an irreversible action. All photos, messengers and saved passwords will be destroyed without being retrieved by standard means. To successfully complete the process, the battery must be at least 40-50% so that the device does not turn off at a critical time of writing system files. Let's get ready for the procedure correctly.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
The first and most important step is to back up information, and Xiaomi owners can use the built-in cloud service or third-party solutions, and without that, you risk losing access to important documents and personal archives forever.
Be sure to check if your Google or Mi Account account is linked to the device. Once formatted, the security system will require you to enter a password from the account that was last on that smartphone. This is a measure of protection against theft known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
- 📂 Backup your contacts and photos to Google Cloud or on the Internet SD-map.
- 🔋 Make sure your battery is over 50% or plug in the charger.
- 📱 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card if you do not want to format their contents.
- 🔐 Remember or write down logins and passwords from Google and Mi accounts.
If you ignore the need to retrieve the memory card, there is a risk that the system will offer to format the external drive. SD-The card may be affected, so physical extraction is the most reliable way to protect them.
Method 1: Reset via the Android settings menu
The most gentle and simple method available to every user is to use the standard interface of the operating system, which is suitable if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you can get into the main menu.
To start, open the Settings app. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section that deals with the general system settings.
The sequence of actions is as follows: go to Settings → About phone. At the bottom of the screen you will see the button "Reset settings." By clicking on it, the system will warn about the consequences.
☑️ Check before reset via settings
The system will offer two options: "Reset settings (delete all data)" or simply reset settings without deleting files. For full formatting, choose the first option. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will restart in a clean state.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone has a lock screen (pattern lock, PIN-A code or fingerprint, the system will require you to enter it before you start resetting it, and it's a protection against inadvertent deletion of data by unauthorized persons.
Method 2: Formatting with Recovery Mode (Hard Reset)
If your smartphone is stuck, doesn't respond to touch, or you forget the unlock password, only Hard Reset will help you through the recovery menu, which works at the bootloader level and does not require access to the operating system.
To enter Recovery mode on Redmi 9, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume.
You'll see a menu with English text and a few items, and you'll see volume buttons (up and down) and you'll see the power button. You need Wipe Data.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Once you select Wipe Data, the system will request confirmation. Select Wipe All Data and confirm the action. The cleaning process will begin, which can take anywhere from 10 seconds to several minutes, and when completed, the message "Data wiped successfully" will appear.
Press Back to Main Menu and then Reboot → Reboot to System. The first run after a reset will last longer than usual - that's fine, as the system configures again.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. |
|---|---|---|
| Access to the menu | Required. | Not required |
| Screenworking | I'll be sure. | Preferably (for navigation) |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium (human factor) |
Solving problems: forgotten password and account lock
A common reason for formatting is a forgotten graphical key or password. After performing Hard Reset via Recovery, the first activation of the phone will require you to enter the data of a Google account that was synced with the device previously.
If you don't remember your Google account password, you can retrieve it through your computer or another phone on your Google account site, and without this step, it's almost impossible to unlock your device legally because of the FRP protection system.
In case the phone was bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie his account, you will need his participation.Ask the seller to remove the device from the list of trusted in the settings of his Mi or Google account remotely.
There are ways to bypass FRP through special utilities and PCs, but they require technical skills and are often closed by manufacturers in new security updates.
Why the phone is not formatted: Common mistakes
Sometimes the reset process is interrupted or terminated by an error, which may be due to damage to the system partition, a failure of the volume button, or a critical discharge of the battery in the process.
If the phone goes into an endless bootloop after reset, the firmware file may be damaged, in which case simple formatting is not enough, you will need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
- 🔌 Check the integrity of the charging cable and power supply before the procedure begins.
- 🛑 Don’t interrupt the process even if the screen is gone – the phone can update partitions in the background.
- 💾 Make sure that the internal storage device has at least 1-2 GB free space before reset (for temporary files).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone says "System has been destroyed" or a similar error after the reset, it indicates damage to the bootloader or critical system files.
Primary configuration after formatting
Once you've successfully completed the procedure and downloaded it, you'll see a welcome screen, select a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and the system will prompt you to recover data from a backup if you've created it before.
It's important to not miss the steps of setting up security. PIN-A code or a pattern lock, add a fingerprint, and that will protect your data in the future.
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When you first set up, refuse to install unnecessary applications that the Play Market or GetApps store offers. Set only the minimum necessary to make the phone work faster.
Be sure to check for system updates. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI. New security patches can fix vulnerabilities in factory firmware.
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Once formatted, the phone works faster, as cached data and remnants of remote applications that may have slowed the system are deleted.