How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 9T to factory settings: all ways

Why you need to reset Xiaomi Redmi 9T and when to do it

Resetting the Xiaomi Redmi 9T to factory settings is a radical but effective way to bring the smartphone back to its former performance. Over time, even budget models like the Redmi 9T start to slow down: apps open long, the system emits errors, and the battery goes down in a few hours, the reasons lie in clogged memory, fragmented files and software conflicts.

But reset is not a panacea. It's worth doing in four cases:

• 🔄 Selling or transferring a phone – to delete personal data (photos, passwords, messages).
• 🐢 Strong lags after update MIUI or installing "heavy" applications.
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock/password (if other unlock methods fail).
• 📱 Preparing for firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.

It's important to understand that resetting removes all the data from internal memory, including gallery photos, WhatsApp messages, and game saves. Even if you sync contacts with Mi Account, local files will not be recoverable. So the first step is backup.

Preparing for resetting: how to save important data

Before resetting the Xiaomi Redmi 9T, check what you have:

• 📁 Backup photo/video (copy on PC or in the Google Cloud Photos).
• 📱 Copy of contacts (export to.vcf via the Contacts app»).
• 💬 Backup chats (on WhatsApp: Settings) → chat → Backup).
• 🎮 Game Save (use built-in cloud services or Helium).

Pay special attention to the binding of the Mi Account. After the reset, the phone may require you to enter a login / password from the last associated account (Mi Cloud Lock protection. FAQ end-of-article.

If you use SD-The card is an internal memory (Adoptable Storage in Android), remove it before resetting. Otherwise, the data on the map will also be erased.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) are linked to the device. After a reset, you may need to re-activate via a support call.

Method 1: Reset via MIUI settings (the easiest)

This method works if the phone turns on and you remember the unlock password. MIUI 12/13/14 on the Redmi 9T:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode (you will receive a notification “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Recovery and Reset.
4. Click Reset Settings → Erase all data.
5. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.

The phone will reboot and start cleaning, and it'll take 5 to 10 minutes, and after the reset, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you bought it.

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If after reset, the phone asks you to enter the password from the old Mi Account, and you do not remember it - try to restore access through account.xiaomi.com.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Redmi 9T doesn’t boot, freezes on the logo or is locked, use Restore Mode.

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons - you will be taken to the Recovery menu (navigation is carried out by volume buttons, the choice is by the power button).
4. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data and confirm the action.

If you don't have Wipe Data on the Recovery menu, you have Xiaomi's effluent recovery.

• Choose English (or another language).
• Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data.
• Confirm the reset by Confirm selection.

If the process is stuck by 30% or more, don’t panic: on weak smartphones (like the Redmi 9T with a Snapdragon 662), the reset can take up to 20 minutes.

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting via Recovery, the phone does not turn on or gives an error "No" OS "installed" means the firmware is damaged. In this case, you will need to flash through Fastboot (method 3).

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 The phone is fully “brick” (no response to buttons).
• 📥 You need to stitch stock firmware over the custom room.
• 🔒 Reset Mi Account Lock (only for unlocked bootloader!).

The work will require:

• 💻 Computer with Windows or Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 📦 Mi Flash Tool and firmware for Redmi 9T (codename).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 9T (select the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\MIUI\lime).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool.
4. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
5. Get Redmi on board. 9T to PC, open Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and press Refresh (should appear) COM-port).
6. At the bottom, select Clean All (full reset) and click Flash.

It takes 5-15 minutes. When it's done, the phone automatically restarts. If the Mi Flash Tool gives you a "Critical Partition Flashing Is Not Allowed" error, you've got the bootloader locked.

1. Apply for unblocking through the official website.
2. Wait 7-15 days (depending on Xiaomi policy)
3. Use the Mi Unlock Tool program.

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Resetting via Fastboot is the only way to bring back the redmi 9T, but it requires an unlocked bootloader.

What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, Xiaomi Redmi 9T will offer to go through the initial setup.

1. Sign in to Mi Account: If you sell a phone, skip this step. If the phone is for you, log in to restore the backup.
2. Locking Configurement: We recommend installing PIN-code instead of pattern lock (more reliable).

After setting up, check:

• 📶 Mobile network operation (if there is no signal, see the error table above).
• 🔋 Battery charge: After reset, it may show an incorrect percentage.
• 🔊 Sound: Volume settings are sometimes reset - check in Settings → Sound.

If the phone was slower than before, MIUI animations may have been activated to speed up the system:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as in Method 1).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after resetting the Redmi 9T properly, there can be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If root access is lost after reset (if it was), it will have to be re-acquired via Magisk or SuperSU, and TWRP Recovery settings can also fly, in which case it must be reinstalled.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone before selling but forgot to log out of your Mi Account, the new owner will not be able to use the device without your data. To avoid this, make sure to log out in the settings before resetting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions