Xiaomi Redmi 4X, despite its venerable age by industry standards, is still a reliable device for many users. However, over time, the MIUI operating system can start to work unstable: freezes appear, applications fly out, and battery power is consumed faster than usual. In such situations, the most effective solution is often a complete reset of the device to factory settings, which allows you to eliminate software errors and return the gadget to its former friction.
The procedure for cleaning up memory and returning to the original state requires some preparation, as it will result in the loss of all user data. It is important to understand that after resetting the phone will look like you just took it out of the box in the store. All contacts, photos, music and installed applications will be permanently deleted unless you take care of creating a backup beforehand.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to perform Hard Reset for the Redmi 4X. You will learn how to properly prepare the device, what are the methods of resetting through the settings menu and Recovery mode, and what to do if the phone is blocked by Mi Account.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before you start taking drastic measures, you have to do a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring this stage can lead to you losing important data or facing a device lock after you reboot. The first step should always be to back up all the valuable information.
Copy photos, videos and documents to your computer or cloud storage. For contacts and messages, MIUI has built-in sync tools. Make sure you remember the password from your Google and Mi Account account, as Android security will require them to be confirmed after reset.
- 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 60-70%, so that the process is not interrupted by the discharge.
- 💾 Save important files to external media or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
- 📱 Extract. SIM-microSD card and memory card if installed so as not to accidentally damage their data.
- 🔑 Remember or write down logins and passwords from Google and Xiaomi accounts.
⚠️ Note: If you don't remove the memory card before resetting, there's a risk that it will be formatted along with the phone's internal memory if you choose the appropriate option.
It’s also worth turning off the device search feature if you plan to transfer the phone to another owner, as done in the Google account settings. It’s critical for Xiaomi users to log out of Mi Account before resetting, otherwise theft protection will work, and the new user will not be able to activate the device without your password.
☑️ Redmi Preparation 4X dump
Method 1: Resetting through system settings
The easiest and safest method available if the smartphone is turned on and the menu is stable, and this option is preferred for most users, as it is intuitive and minimizes the risk of accidental errors when navigating the service menu.
To start, open the Settings app on the home screen or in a list of all programs. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section that deals with the general system settings.
Find Advanced Settings or About Phone, depending on the firmware version. Most current builds for Redmi 4X have the following path: Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset. If you don’t have one in the advanced settings, look for it in About Phone.
In the menu that opens, select Reset option. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Here it is important to choose the correct type of reset. Usually, two options are offered: "Clear everything" or "Reset settings (saving files)". To completely clean, choose the first option.
- 📲 Click on the “Reset Settings” button at the bottom of the screen.
- 🔒 Enter the pattern lock, PIN-screen unlock code or password, if installed.
- ⏳ Wait until the process is over, the phone will automatically restart.
Once the action is confirmed, the deletion process will begin. The screen may go out and the device will be rebooted several times. Don't touch the buttons at this point. The system files will be restored to factory status, and you will see a language selection welcome window.
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Before resetting through the settings, make sure the lock screen (password or pattern lock) is enabled, as some versions of MIUI require it to confirm the reset operation.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is not turned on, the logo or menu is not available, the only way out is to use Recovery mode, which works at the level of low-level software and allows you to clean even when the operating system is broken.
To enter this mode, the Xiaomi Redmi 4X uses a combination of physical buttons. Make sure the phone is completely off. If it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out, and immediately proceed to the next steps.
Press both the Volume Up and Power button at the same time, hold them until the Mi logo appears, and then the power button can be released while holding the volume key. The Recovery menu opens in a few seconds.
In this mode, the touch screen is not working, navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Clear Data. In some versions of Recovery, you will first need to select the language (English), and then go to the Wipe & Reset menu.
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, be extremely careful. Do not choose Reboot to bootloader or Connect with MIAssistant if your goal is simply a reset. Choosing the wrong item can lead to an attempt to flash or enter Fastboot mode.
Once you select a data clearing point, the system will ask you to confirm the action. Often you need to enter the word yes or select Confirm. New versions of Recovery may need to enter a password from your Mi Account if the phone was connected to the network. If you do not have a password or you do not remember it, reset may not be possible without unlocking.
Once you have completed the cleanup, select Reboot → Reboot to System. The first download after Hard Reset will take longer than usual, 3 to 5 minutes, which is normal behavior, driven by application optimization and system file creation.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Table: Comparison of discharge methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of different methods of discharge, which will help you assess the risks and requirements for each method.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Through the Mi Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to the menu | Required. | Not required | Internet access is required |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium. | Absent. |
| File retention | Possibly (option) | Impossible. | Impossible. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
As you can see from the table, the method through settings is the most flexible, because it allows you to save files. However, the method through Recovery is the only working option for critical system failures. Remote reset through the cloud is convenient in case of loss of the phone, but requires a preliminary setup of synchronization.
Choose a method based on the current state of your Redmi 4X. If your phone is working properly but you want to clean it, use the settings. If the device is hanging on the screensaver, only Recovery.
The problem of blocking Mi Account (FRP)
One of the most common issues after a reset is a request for a Google account or Mi Account, which is a FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism designed to protect the owner's data in the event of a device being stolen. If you reset your phone but do not log out of your beforehand account, the system will require you to enter a password when you first set up.
In Xiaomi’s case, the Mi Account binding is particularly strict, and if the phone’s settings included Find the Device, the only way to activate the phone after the reset is to enter the username and password from that account, without which the phone becomes a brick for the average user.
If you forget your password, you can recover it from any other device that has Internet access via i.mi.com, you'll need a phone number or email linked to your account, and it takes a few minutes to recover.
- 🌐 Go to the Xiaomi account website from a computer or other phone.
- 📧 Enter the phone number or email used in registration.
- 🔑 Follow the instructions for resetting the password through SMS postage.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Xiaomi phone, always check if the previous owner is out of your account. Having someone else's Mi Account after reset will make the device useless, and it will be impossible to unlock it in legal ways without the owner's participation.
In some cases, especially older versions of MIUI firmware, there have been vulnerabilities that circumvent security, but in current versions of Android and MIUI, these holes are closed, and the only reliable way is to remember your data or restore it officially.
Initial adjustment after reset
Once you have successfully completed the Hard Reset and rebooted, you will see the welcome screen. Now the setup phase begins.Don't rush to connect to Wi-Fi right away if you want to avoid automatically installing updates that can slow down the old Redmi 4X.
Select a language, a region, and connect to the network, and the system will offer you to restore data from the backup, and if you backup through Mi Cloud or Google, you can get your contacts back, your call history back, your app list back, and that will make it much faster to get back to your environment.
Be sure to upgrade system components like Google Play Services and the app store. For the Redmi 4X, with its modest by modern standards, the Snapdragon 435 processor, it’s important not to overload the system with unnecessary heavy applications at once.
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After reset, it is recommended not to install all applications at once, but to do it gradually, watching the operation of the phone to identify possible causes of brakes.
Set up the lock screen, fingerprint (if the sensor is good) and other security settings. Check the sensor, speaker and microphone. If there are no problems after the reset and clean installation, then the cause of the unstable work was a software conflict or accumulated debris.