The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, despite its age, remains a popular device due to its excellent balance of features. However, over time, the Android operating system can accumulate software errors that cause slowdowns or unstable interface behavior. Often the only effective solution is a complete return to factory parameters.
A data cleanup procedure known as Hard Reset removes all user information, returning the gadget to the “out of the box” state, which helps eliminate the consequences of crashes after failed updates, deleting system files or malware infection. It is important to understand that once the process is complete, it will be impossible to restore deleted photos or contacts without a backup.
In this article, we will discuss in detail two main ways to perform a reset: through the standard settings menu and using the Recovery engineering menu. You will learn how to properly prepare the device to avoid losing important data, and what to do if the phone stopped responding to screen commands.
Before you start active, make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%. interruption of the process of firmware or reset due to battery discharge can lead to critical errors of the bootloader, after which the device will have to recover through the computer.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
The initial phase is critical to preserving your digital life. Before you start a cleanup, you need to back up all the relevant data. Xiaomi offers built-in backup tools, but you shouldn’t rely on them alone.
Copy photos, videos and documents to your computer or cloud storage, such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud. Pay special attention to the contact list and the history of correspondence in messengers, as they are often stored locally in the phone’s memory.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Be sure to untie your bank cards and log out of important accounts if you plan to sell the device, and you will also need to know the password from your Mi Account and Google Account, as after the reset, the system will require them to confirm ownership (FRP protection).
⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the Google account after reset, unlocking the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro will be extremely difficult, often requires contacting the service center with checks about the purchase.
Method 1: Reset via the settings menu
The safest and easiest method is available to every user whose screen responds to touch, and this is preferable because the system will correctly complete all background processes before cleaning.
To start, open the main menu and go to Settings. Find Advanced Settings (or “Advanced” depending on the firmware version) and select Recover and Reset.
In the menu that opens, click Reset button at the bottom of the screen. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. If you want to clear not only your personal files, but also your internal memory completely, check the box against Clear All.
💡
Before pressing the final button “Reset settings” again check that all important files are copied to an external medium.
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the formatting process will begin, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone screen is not working, the device is stuck on the logo or does not load the operating system, the method of forced reset through the Recovery menu is used.
Turn off the smartphone completely. Then simultaneously press and hold the Volume Up and Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while still holding the volume.
The Main Menu will open, where you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down) and the power button confirms your choice. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it.
In the next menu, select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The system will start formatting memory partitions. Once completed, the message will appear "Data wiped successfully", and you will need to click Back to Main Menu, and then Reboot → Reboot to System.
What to do if the Recovery menu does not open?
Comparison of data dumping methods
Both of these methods have the same result, which is a complete cleanup of the user partition, but there are technical differences that should be considered depending on the situation.
Mild reset through settings is less stressful for the file system, as the OS shuts down applications itself. Hard reset via Recovery works at a lower level and can bypass some software locks that interfere with a normal reboot.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Through Mi Flash (PC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to OS is required | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Low. | Medium. |
| Implementation time | 10-15 minutes | 5-10 minutes | 20-30 minutes |
Using a computer and Mi Flash utility is recommended only in extreme cases when the software failure is so deep that the phone does not even enter Recovery mode.
💡
For the average user selling a phone or eliminating lags, the method through the settings menu is enough.Recovery is needed for download malfunctions.
Possible problems and solutions
During the reset process, users of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro may face a number of difficulties, most often the device requests a password from the Mi Account immediately after turning on, a security feature called Find Device that cannot be avoided by a simple reset.
If the phone is stuck on startup the "Mi" logo after reset, try forcibly rebooting it by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds.If that doesn't help, the system partition may have been damaged and you'll need to flash it.
Sometimes the cleaning process can take longer than usual, especially if there was a lot of data on the phone. Do not interrupt the process even if the screen is out or the phone seems to be getting stuck, wait 30 minutes.
⚠️ Warning: The appearance of the red line “Status: Failed” when reset via Recovery indicates a physical memory malfunction or critical damage to the bootloader.
Initial adjustment after reset
Once the procedure is completed successfully, the smartphone will turn on as a new one, and you will be greeted by the language selection screen, select Russian and follow the instructions of the customization wizard.
At the Wi-Fi connection stage, the system may require you to enter a password from a previously linked Google account, which is the standard owner verification (FRP) procedure.
Next, the system will offer to restore data from the backup. If you created a backup in Google Drive or Mi Cloud, select the appropriate option to return contacts, settings and application list.
After you load your desktop, it is recommended to check the system updates in the Settings → About Phone menu immediately. The current firmware version may contain security fixes and stability improvements for your model.