Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to return the device to its original state. The Redmi 9, with its popular budget segment, can accumulate software errors, slow down or require transfer to a new user. Complete system cleaning is a radical but effective method of solving many problems with the performance and stability of the MIUI interface.
The process of deleting all data is irreversible, so it should be approached with the utmost responsibility. Wrong actions can lead to the loss of important information or locking the device with a security account. In this guide, we will discuss all the available ways to format internal memory, including standard methods and deep reset through the engineering menu.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before you start the formatting procedure, you need to perform a number of critical steps. Ignoring the preparatory stage often leads to the fact that after a reboot, the user can not activate the phone due to the protection of Google FRP or Mi Account.
Back up all your important files: photos, contacts, and documents. Redmi 9 is more comfortable with Mi Cloud or synchronization with Google Drive. USB-cable, connected in file transfer mode.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting your Mi and Google account before reset is a must. If you just do Hard Reset without leaving your profiles, your phone will require you to enter passwords from those accounts when you turn on».
Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%. The cleaning process takes time, and suddenly turning off the smartphone when the system partitions are erased can damage the structure of the file system. USB-mouse-over OTG menu-navigation.
Check availability SIM-Some firmware versions may require confirmation of the phone number when reset, although in MIUI 12 and later this is rarely required. It is better to remove the microSD card if it is installed so as not to accidentally format external data.
Method 1: Reset via standard MIUI settings
The safest and easiest method for most users is to use the built-in functionality of the operating system, which is suitable if you remember the unlock password of the screen and have access to the desktop of the smartphone.
Open the main menu and find the Settings app. At the top of the list, select About Phone. Scroll down to Reset. Here, the system will offer two options: Reset all settings (without losing data) and Erase all data (complete cleaning).
Choose to erase all data, the system will alert you that photos, contacts, apps and accounts will be deleted, confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or a digital unlock code, and then the preparation process will begin, which can take several minutes.
In the countdown timer window that appears (usually 10 seconds), you press the confirmation button. The smartphone will reboot and begin the deletion process. The screen can go out and light up several times - this is normal behavior of the system when reassembling partitions.
☑️ Checklist before resetting through settings
Why is resetting via settings considered safer?
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Menu
If the device is stuck on the logo, does not respond to the sensor, or you have forgotten the unlock password, you will have to use a hardware reset. This method is triggered by a combination of physical buttons before the operating system boots.
Turn off the Redmi 9 smartphone completely. 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, but keep the volume up until the Main Menu (Recovery) menu appears.
Navigate in this menu with volume buttons (up/down), and select the item with the power button. Choose English (if available) or immediately look for Wipe Data. In the next menu, select Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
| Action. | Navigation button | Confirmation button | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choice of menu item | Volume Up/down | - | Moving the cursor |
| Confirmation of choice | - | Nutrition | Entering a section or starting an action |
| Undischarged exit | - | Meals (on Reboot) | Phone reboot |
| Total reset | Loudness (on Wipe) | Nutrition | Deletion of all data |
Once the process is complete, the screen will display the message Data wiped successfully. Select Reboot and then Reboot to System. The first download after the reset will last longer than usual, sometimes up to 5-7 minutes, as the system creates new configuration files.
⚠️ Note: In the Recovery menu, navigation can be inverted on some firmware versions. If the volume buttons don't move the cursor, try just a short press of the power button to switch points.
Deletion of accounts and protection against blocking
The most common problem after cleaning Redmi 9 is activation blocking. Android and MIUI security mechanisms tie the device to the owner. If you don't follow the right sequence of steps, the phone will become useless to an outsider.
To completely remove the Mi Account binding, go to Settings → Mi Account. At the bottom of the screen, click Out. The system will request a password. Once successfully exited, the account status will change, and the device's association with Xiaomi servers will be severed.
The same procedure is done for Google: Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync (or just Google). Select your email address, click three dots in the corner, and select Delete Account. This action will delete email, contacts, and Google service data from your device, but save it to the cloud.
If you sell a phone, remember to also untie the device remotely via mi.com or google.com/android/find if you don't have physical access to the settings menu. From the device list, find your Redmi 9 and select "Delete from List" or "Get Out."
💡
Tip: Before selling, make a test call and check the Wi-Fi after the reset to make sure there are no hidden software conflicts left in the device.
Solving the Problem: What to Do When Resetting Doesn't Help
Sometimes even a complete cleanup doesn’t fix the problem, it can indicate that the system’s firmware files are damaged or that there is a hardware malfunction. If Redmi 9 continues to hang on the logo after a reset or goes into a bootloop, a firmware reflash is required.
Use the official Mi Flash Tool for PC. You'll need to download the Fastboot ROM for your model. Importantly, the Fastboot firmware cleans your phone completely, so backup is a must.
If the phone is not in Recovery or Fastboot mode, it may be the buttons or the plume that are the problem. Try to press buttons at different points carefully, without undue effort, while you connect the USB cable to the computer. Sometimes tapping on the back cover around the buttons helps when you connect the cable.
Another reason for a failed reset could be a crowded or damaged Cache partition. In the Recovery menu, try selecting Wipe Cache first, and then Wipe Data. Clearing the cache takes seconds and doesn't affect user files, but can fix errors that prevent a full reset.
💡
If a standard reset does not help, the problem is most likely not in the software settings, but in damage to the firmware itself or the hardware part of the drive.