Owners of the popular Redmi Note 4 series of smartphones periodically face the need to completely clean the device’s memory, which can be caused by selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or trivial problems in the operation of the MIUI operating system. When the interface begins to work unstable and applications fly out, a complete reset often becomes the only effective solution.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can get back to factory settings, learn how to prepare your device for the procedure to avoid losing important contacts and photos, and discuss the nuances of working with your Mi Account and blocking FRP, which can occur after cleaning.
It’s worth noting that the process of restoring factory status on Xiaomi has its own peculiarities depending on the firmware version. Complete reset deletes absolutely all user data, including photos, contacts, messages and installed applications, without the possibility of recovery by standard means.
Preparing the smartphone for a complete reset
Before you start active, you need to follow a number of preparatory steps. Ignoring this step can lead to the fact that you lose access to important files or permanently lock the device due to forgetfulness of passwords. Make sure that the battery is at least 50-60%, as the process of formatting the data partition requires stable power.
First, back up all your important information. You can use Google's cloud services or the built-in "Mi Cloud" app to sync contacts, calendars and notes. Photos and videos are best suited for manual transfer to your computer or external drive via a computer or external drive. USB-cable.
- 📱 Copy all media files on PC or in cloud storage.
- 🔑 Remember or write down passwords from your Google account and Mi Account.
- 🔋 Charge the battery of the smartphone to at least half.
- 💾 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and memory card before the procedure.
Special attention should be paid to accounts. If the phone is activated Mi Account, it must be untie before resetting through the settings, otherwise after the reboot will work protection against theft. Enter the username and password to verify their relevance, and write them down in a safe place.
☑️ Preparation for data dumping
Reset via the Android settings menu
The easiest and safest way to get the Redmi Note 4 back to factory status is to use a regular settings menu, which is ideal if the device is turned on, the touch screen is responsive to touch, and you have access to the system. It's fully automated and requires no special knowledge.
To start, open the main menu and find the Settings icon. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell (7, 8, 9 or 10), the path to the desired item may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for system settings or advanced settings.
Next, follow the algorithm: go to About Phone or Advanced Settings. Find Reset. Before the final confirmation, the system will warn you again about the consequences. Press Clear Everything or Reset, and then the deletion process will begin.
What to do if the reset button is inactive?
Once confirmed, the phone will restart, the Android logo or MIUI can be displayed on the screen, as well as the progress scale. Do not touch the device at this point, as interrupting the process can damage system files and lead to boot errors.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If the system is not booting, freezes on the logo or the touch screen has stopped responding, you will need Hard Reset via the Recovery menu.This mode works independently of the operating system and allows you to clean even in case of critical software failures.
To enter recovery mode on the Redmi Note 4, 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, but keep the volume down.
In the Recovery menu, the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. Select a language (usually English or Chinese), then go to Wipe Data, and here you will be asked to choose the Wipe All Data option for complete cleanup.
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen is not working, all actions are performed by physical volume and power buttons, and be careful when selecting menu items so as not to remove excess volume.
Once you have selected the Confirm command, the formatting process will begin, which can take anywhere from seconds to a couple of minutes. Upon completion, the message "Data wiped successfully" will appear at the top of the screen. Select Back to Main Menu, then Reboot -> Reboot to System.
| Action. | Control button | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Moving on the menu | Volume Up/Down | The cursor moves between points |
| Confirmation of choice | Power button | Launch of the selected team |
| Exit from Recovery | Reboot to System | Reboot as normal |
| Entrance to Fastboot | Volume Down + Nutrition | Firmware mode (hare with android) |
Solving Mi and FRP account issues
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a serious system of protection against theft, known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).If you have performed a reset, but did not delete your Mi Account beforehand, the first activation of the phone will require you to enter a password from the previously associated account.
This is done to prevent an attacker from using a stolen device after it is cleaned, and if you forget your password, it can take a long time to restore access and require you to contact customer support with your purchase checks, so untidying your account before selling it is a must.
To unplug, go to Settings -> Accounts and Sync -> Mi Account. Press the exit button and enter the password. Only after successfully logging out can you reset without fear of being blocked.
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If you are buying a used Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, be sure to ask the seller to reset and initial setup to make sure that there are no other accounts.
In the event that the lock has already occurred and the account data is lost, the only legal way to unlock the device is to provide documents proving ownership of the device to an authorized service center.
Actions after resetting settings
After a successful reboot, you will see a welcome screen, like when you first turn on a new phone, and you will be asked to choose a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and log into a Google account, which is a step to restore contacts and download previously installed apps from the Play Market.
Take your time to install all the apps at once. First, check the basic functions: speaker, microphone, cameras and sensor. Make sure that after the reset, the problem you did the procedure for is gone. If the phone is stable, you can start setting up the interface.
You should immediately update your system components. Go to Settings -> About Phone and check for MIUI updates. Often new firmware versions fix security bugs and optimize power consumption, which is especially true for the Redmi Note 4.
⚠️ Note: After reset, the system may work slowly in the first 15-20 This is the process of optimizing applications and cache, so give the phone time to accelerate before you use it.
Restore backup photos and documents. If you've been synced with Google Photos, your photos will appear in the gallery automatically after you log in. For files stored locally, use the file manager to copy data from your computer.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Sometimes the reset process may go wrong, users may experience a cyclic bootloop, where the phone is constantly turned off and on, often by logging back in to Recovery and executing the Wipe All Data command again.
Another common problem is the black screen after reset. If the notification indicator is on but no image, try holding the power button for 15-20 seconds to force a reboot. If that doesn't help, the system partition may be damaged and you'll need to flash it through your computer.
Mi Account password errors are often due to the wrong keyboard layout or account region, and make sure you enter data from the region (e.g. Russia, China, Global Version) that you specified when you signed up.
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If after resetting the phone goes into a permanent restart more than 3 times, most likely, the system files are damaged and a complete flashing of the device through the PC is required.
In rare cases, older devices may experience a rapid battery drain immediately after reset, due to background indexing processes, usually resolve the problem by itself within a day of active use.