Xiaomi’s Redmi series is well-deservedly popular for its excellent price-performance ratio, but over time, even reliable devices can encounter software errors. The user notices that the interface begins to slow down, applications fly out, and battery autonomy declines dramatically for no apparent reason. In such situations, the most effective solution is often a complete system reset to its original state, which allows you to remove accumulated software debris.
However, the process of cleaning the memory requires care and preparation, as it irreversibly deletes all user data. Before you start taking decisive action, you need to understand the difference between simply removing applications and deep formatting of partitions of the system. Recovery Mode resets all data, including the contents of internal memory, while a simple reset can save some media files depending on the selected item.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways Redmi 9 can be brought back to factory, look at the nuances of working with the MIUI shell and answer frequent questions, learn how to prepare for the procedure so as not to lose important contacts and photos, and what to do if the phone stopped responding to touch screen.
Preparing the device for a complete system reset
The first and most critical step is to back up all important data, since once the recovery procedure is started, it will be impossible to return deleted files using standard methods. Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer built-in backup tools that allow you to save your contact list, call history, SMS-It is recommended to connect the device to a stable Wi-Fi network and sync through Mi Cloud or Google account.
Special attention should be paid to battery charge, as interruption of the formatting process due to discharge can damage system files and turn the phone into a "brick". Engineers recommend having a charge of at least 60-70%, and ideally connect the device to the original charger throughout the operation. If you plan to reset the settings through the menu, make sure that the cable is good and securely connected to the port.
Don't forget to unplug accounts if you plan to sell the device or transfer it to another user. Android and MIUI have a theft protection that can lock the phone after a reset if you don't properly log out of your Google or Mi Account. This is a protection measure, but it can create serious problems for the new owner or for you when you re-activate.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting the procedure, be sure to remove the microSD card, if installed. Although the system will offer a choice of what to format, the human factor has not been canceled, and accidentally erasing the archive of photos on the flash drive will be an unpleasant surprise.
Method 1: Reset via the system settings menu
The most gentle and simple method available to every user is to use a standard operating interface.--This is a good option for those cases where the smartphone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you have access to the desktop or settings menu. To begin, open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom of the list to "About Phone.
In the menu that opens, you need to find a section that can be called differently in different versions of MIUI firmware: “Settings Reset”, “Factory Settings” or “Extended Settings”. In current versions of the shell, the path usually looks like Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. By clicking this button, the system will conduct the initial diagnosis and while the summary information about what will be deleted.
☑️ Checklist before resetting through the menu
The system will then request confirmation of the action, often requiring the input of a pattern lock, PIN-A code or password from a Xiaomi account to verify the identity of the owner is an important security element that prevents the accidental or malicious reset of someone else's device. After entering the codes, the final warning will appear, where you will need to click the Reset button, after which the reboot and cleanup process will begin.
It is important to note that this method does not always delete all files irrevocably in terms of data recovery by specialists, but for the average user information will become unavailable. If your phone freezes and the menu opens with a large delay, this method may not work, since the cleaning process requires stable operation of the processor.
⚠️ Note: If the phone has Find Device enabled, the system will require you to enter the Mi Account password during the reset process. Make sure you remember this information, otherwise it will not be possible to activate the phone after the reset.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the Android operating system doesn't boot, the phone goes into an endless bootloop, or the screen doesn't respond to touch, the only way out is to use Recovery Recovery Mode. This method, often called Hard Reset, runs at the low-level software level, bypassing the main system. To enter this mode on a Redmi 9 turned off, you need to press both the volume button and the power button simultaneously.
Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, and then the power button can be released while keeping the volume up. In a few seconds, the Main Menu menu will appear on the screen, which is controlled by the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is made by the power button. The navigation here is completely textual and free of graphical frills, which ensures work even if the display drivers are damaged.
The sequence of actions in Recovery:
1. Wipe Data
2. Wipe All Data
3. Confirm
4. Back to Main Menu
5. Reboot → Reboot to SystemSelect Wipe Data, then confirm Wipe All Data. The system will again warn of the consequences and ask you to confirm the action by selecting Confirm. Once the cleaning process is complete, which will take a few seconds, you need to go back to the main menu and select Reboot. The phone will turn on as new, requiring initial setup.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Method 3: Remote reset via Google Find My Device
In situations where access to the phone menu is not possible, but the device is connected to the Internet and geolocated, you can use Google’s remote management service, which is especially useful if the phone is lost or stolen, and your main goal is to protect personal data, rather than keeping the device operational for further sale.
To perform the operation, you need to go from any other device (computer, tablet or phone of a friend) to the site android.com/find and log in to the same Google account that was used on Redmi 9. In the list of devices, select the desired smartphone, and the map will display its last known location. In the management menu, select the option to Clean the device (Erase Device).
Once the command is confirmed, the phone will receive a signal to perform a complete reset, and it should be noted that to successfully execute the phone must be online at the time the command is received, and if the device was turned off or was in an area without a network, the command will be executed automatically as soon as it appears on the network.
| Resetting method | Access to the OS is required | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Yes (required) | No (preferably) | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No. | No. | Medium |
| Google Find Device | No. | Yes (required) | Low. |
| Xiaomi Cloud | No. | Yes (required) | Medium |
Typical problems and their solution
The reset process is not always smooth and users may encounter various errors. One of the most common problems is requiring an activation password after a reboot, which triggers the FRP (Factory Reset Protection) mechanism, which locks the device if the reset was not performed through the standard menu with a password entered, and this can only be solved by entering the data of the Google or Mi Account, which was synchronized earlier.
Sometimes the phone can hang on the Mi or Android logo after a reset. In most cases, this is a temporary phenomenon associated with app optimization and system file integrity verification, which can take up to 10-15 minutes. If the wait does not help, try resetting through Recovery again, making sure you chose Wipe All Data instead of just Wipe Data (in some versions these are different items).
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If the phone discharges quickly after reset, let it lie on charge in a switched-off state for about an hour, and then turn it on.The system takes time to calibrate the battery and index the files in the background.
There is also a situation where the reset is interrupted during the progress bar stage, which often indicates damage to the internal memory sector or a lack of battery power, in which case it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, which is a more complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the upgrade or reset process by removing the battery (if it is not removable) or clamping buttons if the screen is in the process of booting.This can damage the bootloader partition and the phone will stop turning on at all.
Initial adjustment after reset
Once the procedure is completed, the phone will greet you with a welcome screen, suggesting you choose a language and connect to the network. At this point, Redmi 9 will check for security updates and system patches, which is recommended for stable operation immediately, followed by logging in to your Google account, where you can restore contacts, calendar and installed list of applications from a previously created backup.
The MIUI shell will offer you to set up a Mi Account, which will give you access to cloud storage, the theme of the design and the search function of the device. Don't miss this step if you want to be able to remotely control the phone in the future, and the system will also offer you to configure your fingerprint and face to unlock - biometrics are stored in a secure module and not transmitted to servers.
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After the first turn on, don’t install all the apps at once. Give the system 15-20 minutes to work in the background to complete the optimization, otherwise the battery will quickly go down and the phone will warm up.
An important step is to configure privacy settings and advertising identifiers. The MIUI settings menu recommends disabling ad personalization and unnecessary analytics services to improve the performance of the budget Redmi 9 processor, which will make the use of the interface more smooth and enjoyable.