How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus to factory settings

Xiaomi’s Redmi line of smartphones is well-deservedly popular for their excellent value for money. The Redmi 5 Plus, also known as the Redmi Note 5 in the global version, is still in use by millions of users around the world. However, over time, any software can become unstable, accumulate errors or require complete cleaning before selling the device.

Recovery is a radical, but often the only effective, method of solving software failures, a process that requires care, because it will result in a clean device as it was when you bought it, and it is important to understand the difference between a simple menu reset and a deep formatting known as Hard Reset.

In this detailed guide, we’ll look at all the ways Redmi 5 Plus can be brought back to factory status, detailing device preparation, methods through the standard MIUI menu, using Recovery’s engineering menu, and even resetting with your computer, and following these instructions will help you avoid typical errors.

Preparation of the device for complete reset

Before you start the cleaning process, you need to perform a number of critical actions: Factory Reset completely destroys user data, including contacts, photos, correspondence and installed applications. Ignoring the backup phase will lead to irretrievable loss of information.

• 📸 Backup all important photos and videos by saving them to a memory card or cloud storage.
• 📞 Sync your contacts with your Google or Mi Account so you don’t lose your phone numbers.
• 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 60-70%, so that the device does not turn off during the formatting process.
• 🔑 Remember the passwords from Google and Mi Accounts, as after the reset, the system will require them to confirm the rights of the owner.

Special attention should be paid to tied accounts. If you do not know the password from the Google account that was synced on the phone, after a reset, the device can be blocked by FRP (Factory Reset Protection), in which case it will be extremely difficult, sometimes even impossible, to unlock the phone without data from the account without contacting the service.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to sell your phone, be sure to pull it out. SIM-microSD card and memory card before the procedure, and delete accounts from your phone's settings before resetting if possible.

Check the free space and system status. Make sure there are no critical file system errors on the disk, although the reset process itself is often designed to fix them. If the phone is unstable, try to copy the data to the computer through the computer. USB-cable.

Method 1: Reset via the MIUI settings menu

The simplest and most secure method is available directly through the operating system interface, which is suitable for cases where the phone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you can freely navigate the menu. The MIUI shell algorithm may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the overall logic remains the same.

To start, open the main app menu and find the Settings icon. In the settings list that opens, scroll down to About, and that's where the basic device information and the tools for managing the system are concentrated. We'll need a section to clean up the data.

Inside the About Phone menu, find the Reset button (or Factory Settings) and the system will offer two options: Reset all settings (return only system settings by saving files) and Clear all data (full reset).

⚠️ Note: After clicking the “Erase all data” button, the phone may request the input of the pattern lock, PIN-A screen unlock code or password is a security measure to prevent unauthorized people from deleting data.

Once confirmed, the system will warn you that all data will be deleted. Confirm the operation, and in a few seconds Redmi 5 Plus will restart. The formatting process can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the amount of information accumulated. Do not interrupt the process.

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Before resetting via the settings menu, turn off the Internet (Wi-Fi and mobile data) to prevent possible conflicts when synchronizing or updating at the time of the cleanup procedure.

Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is frozen, does not respond to touches or can not boot the operating system, the Recovery Mode recovery mode comes to the rescue. This is a low-level environment that allows you to control the device bypassing the main OS. To enter this mode on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, a combination of physical buttons is used.

Turn off your smartphone completely. Make sure it's turned off, not in sleep mode. Then simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power button. Keep them pressed until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears.

In the Recovery menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the power button selects the item. However, newer versions of Recovery from Xiaomi often support touchscreen control. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it.

Then the system can offer several cleanup options: Select Wipe All Data to completely delete user information. After that, you will need confirmation - select Confirm. Wait for the process to end, the indicator of which is the message Data wiped successfully.

Once the cleanup is complete, go back to the main Recovery menu and select Reboot -> Reboot to System. The phone will reboot and the initial setup will begin, just like the new device. The first download after Hard Reset can last longer than usual - up to 10 minutes.

Use of Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot

For advanced users or in cases where the software failure is deep, there is a method of resetting through a computer. ADB/Fastboot. This method allows not only to clean the data, but also to reinstall the system partition, which guarantees the elimination of any software errors.

The first step is to put the Redmi 5 Plus into Fastboot mode, turn off the phone and then press the Volume Down and power button at the same time, and the image of a hare repairing an android will appear on the screen and the words FASTBOOT will read.

Connect the device to the computer through the original USB-Run the Mi Flash Tool on your PC. If the drivers are installed correctly, the program will identify the connected device by displaying its serial number in the list. You will need to download the official firmware for your model from miui.com.

• 💻 Download the firmware type "Fastboot" (has the extension.tgz), not "Recovery".
• 📂 Unpack the firmware archive in the root of the C disk so that the path does not contain Cyrillic and is short.
• 🔌 In the Mi Flash Tool, click the Refresh button and select your phone.
• 🧹 Select the option “Clean all” for a full reset or “Clean all and lock” for a reset with a lock bootloader.

Press Flash and wait until the process is complete. The green progress bar and success status mean successful reinstallation, which is the most reliable method, but requires a computer and a stable-internet connection.

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Using Fastboot and Mi Flash Tool is the only way to restore your device if the Recovery partition is damaged or the system doesn’t boot even in Safe Mode.

Solving problems: FRP and account locking

Once a reset is done, users often encounter the Google Activation Screen, a theft protection system (FRP) that requires you to enter the username and password of an account that was synced to the phone before the reset, and if you enter incorrect data or don't remember it, the phone will remain locked.

If you have forgotten your Google password, try to retrieve access via your computer or other phone by going to the Google account recovery page. If the phone was bought with your hands and you have a third-party account on it, you can only legally unlock it by contacting the previous owner.

There's also a Mi Account lock, and if you've searched for a device in your phone settings, Xiaomi will ask you to reset your Mi Account password, and you can't activate your phone without that password, and that protects your data even when you're completely flashing it.

⚠️ Attention: There are services for circumvention FRP, But their use can be illegal and often leads to unstable phone operation.

If you are resetting your phone for sale, make sure you log out of all accounts before the procedure begins. Go to Settings -> Accounts and Sync, select Google and Mi Account, and click "Delete Account." Only then do the reset.

Primary adjustment after reset

When the formatting process is complete and the phone has restarted, you'll see a welcome screen, and the system will suggest you choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and set a date. Since this is a Redmi 5 Plus running on Android, the process will be standard, but with its own MIUI features.

In the data recovery phase, the system will suggest copying apps and settings from Google's cloud or another Xiaomi device. If you've been backing up, this is a great time to use it. However, if the purpose of the reset was to fix viruses or bugs, it's better to set up the phone as new by installing apps manually.

Be sure to check for system updates immediately after you set up. Go to Settings -> About Phone -> System Update. Redmi 5 Plus has released important security patches that are worth installing for stable operation.

Configure your power consumption. In MIUI, aggressive energy saving can block messengers. Go to your battery settings and set "No Limits" mode for important applications (WhatsApp, Telegram) to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)