How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 5 to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, released in 2017. Despite its age, the device is still in active use, but over time it can start to slow down, emit errors or require a complete reinstallation of the system. Resetting to factory settings helps solve most software problems, from freezes to viruses, from update errors to application conflicts.

In this article, you will find three official ways to reset — through your phone settings, Recovery mode and Fastboot. We will detail each method, specify the nuances for different versions of MIUI (9 to 14), and explain how to save important data before cleaning. If your Redmi 5 does not turn on, hovers on the logo or requires unlocking — there are solutions for these cases.

Preparing for resetting: what to do before cleaning

Resetting to factory settings will remove all the data from the phone’s internal memory: photos, contacts, messages, installed apps and account settings, and it will be impossible to restore them after cleaning, so preparation is a critical stage.

Here is what must be done:

• 📱 Sync your contacts and notes with your Google or Mi Account account. Check that sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts. → Google/Mi Account.
• 📷 Copy photos and videos to a computer, cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or external drive. Use a wired connection or wireless services like Xender.
• 🔑 Write down passwords from Wi-Fi, social media and banking apps, and you'll have to re-enter them once you reset them.
• 📥 Save a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup. This file can be recovered after reset.

If the phone doesn’t respond to touch or doesn’t turn on, skip this step and proceed immediately to reset via Recovery or Fastboot, in which case the data will likely be lost.

⚠️ Note: If Redmi 5 has a bootloader installed, a Fastboot reset may require unlocking, which will result in a complete cleanup of the device, including the data on internal memory.

Method 1: Reset via phone settings (the easiest one)

This method is suitable if Redmi 5 is activated and responsive to touch, it is the safest and requires no additional tools, instructions are relevant for MIUI 9-14.

Steps for discharge:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Additional section (older versions of MIUI may call Advanced Settings).
3. Select Backup and Reset.
4. Slip on Reset settings (or Reset to factory settings).
5. The system will tell you what to clean, and we recommend that you mark all items (including internal memory).
6. Confirm the action by entering the password from the Mi Account (if it is linked).

Once the phone is rebooted, it will turn on in a boxy state, and you will need to reconfigure the language, connect to Wi-Fi, and log into your Google/Mi Account.

⚠️ Warning: If, after resetting, the phone requires you to enter an old password from a Mi Account you don't remember, it means that the device is tied to the account. Without entering your account data, you will not be able to use your smartphone. Solution: restore the password on account.xiaomi.com.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on or got stuck)

If Redmi 5 doesn’t respond to the screen, freezes on the MI logo or reboots cyclically, use Recovery Mode, a built-in recovery menu that works even when there are serious system failures.

Instructions for entering Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up button at the same time.
3. Hold them until the MI logo and Recovery menu appear (usually 5-10 seconds).

In the Recovery menu, the volume buttons (move) and the power button (select) are controlled.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset in newer versions).
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the process is complete (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
4. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, look for the location of items (usually Wipe Data is the second or third on top).

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical method, and it requires you to connect your phone to your computer, and you need it if you:

• 🔄 Phone is not included in Recovery;
• 📱 The device is locked by Mi Account and does not accept password.

The work will require:

• Windows computer (or Mac/Linux with ADB drivers installed)
• USB Type-C cable (original, undamaged)
• Platform Tools (ADB & Fastboot)
• The charge of the phone is at least 70%.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Platform Tools on your computer and unpack the archive to the root of the C:\ drive (e.g., C:\platform-tools).
2. Turn off Redmi 5 and press the Power button + Volume Down button to enter Fastboot mode (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear on the screen).
3. Connect your phone to your computer with a cable.
4. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter) and go to the folder with Platform Tools: cd C:\platform-tools
5. Check that the device is determined by entering: fastboot devices If you see a serial number in response, you can continue.
6. Run the reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If after these commands the phone requires a password from Mi Account, and you do not remember it, you will need an official unlock through the Xiaomi website (can take up to 72 hours).

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If the fastboot device command doesn’t show your device, install ADB drivers manually through Device Manager (find Redmi 5 in the exclamation point list and update the driver by pointing the path to the platform-tools folder).

What to do after a reset: initial setup and data recovery

After a successful reset, Redmi 5 will turn on in initial settings.

1. Choose a language (Russian or other).
2. Connect to a Wi-Fi network (required to download updates).
3. Sign in to your Google or Mi Account (if previously linked).
4. Restore data from the backup (if you did backup through Settings → Backup).
5. Install the necessary applications from Google Play.

If you do not remember the password from Mi Account, but the phone requires it, use the recovery function on account.xiaomi.com. Enter the linked email or phone number, follow the instructions for resetting the password.

To speed up the Redmi 5 after resetting:

• 🚀 Turn off animation in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Scale of animation and choose No animation).
• 🔋 Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Battery → Battery consumption management.
• 🧹 Clean the cache regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.

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If your phone is slower than before, check if there are any viruses or heavy apps installed. Use Google Play Protect to scan the system.

Common Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

If none of these methods worked, it may be a problem in the hardware (memory damage, motherboard), in which case we recommend contacting the Xiaomi service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Redmi 5