Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, released in early 2019, is still a popular device, but over time, the operating system can start to work unstable. Users often face sudden freezes, spontaneous reboots or a decrease in the response speed of the interface. In such situations, the most effective solution is to completely reset the device to the original state, which allows you to clean up the system debris and return to its former performance.
Factory reset is necessary not only for software errors, but also before selling a gadget to ensure that personal data is deleted. It is important to understand that Hard Reset will completely destroy all information in internal memory, including contacts, photos and installed applications.
There are several proven methods of returning the system to working state, each of which has its own characteristics and use cases. If the device is turned on and responds to commands, the easiest way to use the standard menu of MIUI settings. However, in cases where the phone is locked or does not respond to touch, you will have to use more complex methods through Recovery Mode or Fastboot. Let's go through each of the available options in detail.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
Before you start the cleaning procedure, you need to perform a number of preparatory actions that will protect your data and the firmware process itself. 7 It has a powerful battery, but the processor's intense work during the reset may require a significant charge. 50-60%, So that the device does not turn off at the most inopportune moment.
Special attention should be paid to your Google Account and Mi Account. If you just run a reset without untiing your accounts, the security system can lock your phone after the reboot, requiring you to enter passwords you may have forgotten. This is the standard anti-theft protection known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
โ ๏ธ Note: If you do not remember the password from the Google account associated with the phone, be sure to delete this account from the settings before resetting. Otherwise, it will be impossible to activate the device after cleaning without entering data.
It's also worth checking for a microSD card, and although modern versions of MIUI usually ask if you need to format an external card, it's best to physically remove it before you start, which ensures that your personal photos and documents on the flash drive remain intact.
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Back up your contacts to Google: Settings โ Accounts โ Google โ Sync. It will take a couple of minutes, but it will save your phone book.
Method 1: Reset via the MIUI settings menu
The easiest and most secure method is available to users whose phones are fully functional and unlocked, ideal for those who are planning to sell a device or just want to start from scratch without using computer utilities.
In the menu that opens, scroll down to About Phone, where you can find all the information about MIUI version, processor and memory. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see Reset. When you click on it, the system will offer two options: Reset (return only system settings) and Erase all data (complete reset).
Choose to erase all data if your goal is to clean it completely, the system will warn you that all files will be deleted, after confirmation, the preparation process will begin, which can take a few minutes, and then the phone will restart and begin formatting memory partitions.
โ๏ธ Preparation for reset via menu
It is important not to interrupt the process or press buttons while the Xiaomi logo or boot indicator is displayed on the screen. Interrupting the system file record can damage the bootloader.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo, or doesn't respond to touches, the standard menu becomes unavailable, and you need to use Recovery Mode, or Recovery Mode, which works at the low-level software level and is available even when the operating system is broken.
To enter recovery mode on the Redmi Note 7, you need to turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the Volume Up and Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume down until the Recovery menu appears.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Next, the system can request confirmation, often requiring you to press Wipe All Data and then Confirm.
โ ๏ธ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen is not working, all actions are performed by mechanical buttons on the side of the case. Be careful when selecting points, so as not to erase excess.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
After a successful cleanup process, which will take about 5-10 minutes, select Reboot โ Reboot to System. The first run after such a reset will last longer than usual, as the system takes time to index files.
Reset via Mi Flash Tool and Fastboot
For advanced users who have experienced serious software failures when the phone is not included in the menu or in Recovery, the method of flashing through Fastboot remains. ADB/Fastboot, and the Mi Flash Tool.
First, you need to transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode. To do this, the phone is switched off connects to the computer through the USB-The cable with the Volume Down button pressed, and the image of a hare repairing an android will appear on the screen, indicating a successful transition to bootloader mode.
When you run the Mi Flash Tool, you see the connected device in the list, and if you select the appropriate firmware (preferably the Clean All version for complete deletion), you can start the process. This method completely rewrites the system partition, eliminating any software errors.
| Resetting method | Conditions required | Difficulty | Data retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings menu | Screenwork, access to the system | Low. | No (removes everything) |
| Recovery Mode | Working volume buttons | Medium | No (removes everything) |
| Fastboot + PC | Computer, cable, drivers | Tall. | No (complete flashing) |
| Service code | Working dialing | Low. | No (removes everything) |
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Using a Fastboot is "heavy artillery." Use this method only if a soft reset via Recovery didn't solve the boot problem.
Deletion of accounts and protection against blocking
One of the most common problems after resetting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is activation blocking. This is a security mechanism that requires you to enter a login and password from an account that was synced to the device before the reset, and if you forget this data, the phone will turn into a brick.
To avoid this, before reset, be sure to follow the following steps:
- ๐ Go to Settings. โ Accounts and synchronization.
- ๐ Select a Google account and click Delete your account.
- ๐ Select your Mi Account and exit it.
- ๐ If the lock screen is installed (pattern lock, PIN-code), delete it in the Passwords and Security section.
If the phone has already been reset and requests a password you don't remember, the situation becomes complicated. Officially, you can only restore access through the process of restoring an account on the Google or Mi site. Using third-party programs to bypass FRP is often temporary and can be insecure.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, Redmi Note 7 users may encounter a number of difficulties, such as the phone can freeze during the initialization stage or restart indefinitely (bootloop), often indicating damage to system files or hardware memory failure.
If the sensor or Wi-Fi is not working after the reset, the driver partitions may have been damaged, in which case only a complete flashing in the original way through Fastboot with the Clean All + Lock option will help (although locking the bootloader may be unnecessary if you do not plan to unlock it in the future).
โ ๏ธ Warning: If the phone warms up in the top of the case during a reset or makes strange noises, immediately interrupt the procedure.
Also worth mentioning is the problem with data encryption: on modern versions of Android, data is encrypted, and when you reset the encryption keys are destroyed, if the process is interrupted during the formatting stage, the phone may stop seeing internal memory, requiring a qualified repair in the service center.