Xiaomi’s Redmi series is famous for its performance and availability, but even these are not immune to software failures. Sometimes the device starts to work unstable, slow down or even lock down due to a forgotten password, in such situations, the only sure solution is a complete return to factory parameters.
Known as Hard Reset, or full reset, it clears internal memory of accumulated debris, viruses, or conflicting applications, and it's important to understand that this process irreversibly deletes all user data, so it's worth resorting to consciously. We'll look at all the current methods of restoring your gadget to health.
Whether you have access to the settings menu or the screen is locked, there are proven algorithms for action. Below we will describe each step in detail so you can safely reanimate your Xiaomi Redmi and return it to factory speed.
Preparation of the device for the discharge procedure
Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to make sure that you have all the important contacts, photos and documents, once the cleanup process is activated, it will be impossible to restore information with standard means, and backup is a mandatory step that should not be neglected.
It is also worth checking the battery level. If the battery is discharged, the phone may turn off at the most inopportune moment, which will damage the system files, charge the device to at least 50-60% to ensure stability during the operation.
If you have SIM-The card is best removed before the procedure, although this is not strictly a requirement. However, if you plan to sell the phone, retrieving the microSD card and memory card is a matter of your personal security and privacy.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure you remember your Google account details (Mi Account) after a reset, the system can request authorization to an account that was previously linked to the device.
For the convenience of users, we have prepared a list of actions that you need to do in advance, which will help to avoid panic and loss of valuable files in the process.
- 📂 Backup all important files in the cloud or on your computer.
- 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 60%.
- 📱 Extract. SIM-card and memory card (if any).
- 🔑 Remember the login and password from the Google account.
☑️ Ready to dump
Reset via the settings menu (standard method)
The easiest and safest way to get Xiaomi Redmi back to factory status is to use the built-in operating system tools. This method is suitable if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you can unlock the device. You don't need additional buttons or a computer.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to About Phone, which is where the basic management tools are hidden. In some versions of the MIUI shell, this item may simply be called Advanced Settings or be in a separate menu called Additional.
After you go to About Phone, look for the option “Reset” (or “Erase all data”). The system will warn you that all the contents of internal memory will be deleted. This includes installed apps, photos, videos, music and settings for Wi-Fi networks.
If the device has multiple user profiles or guest mode, the system may require them to be deleted separately. Read the pop-up notifications carefully. At the end of the process, you will need to enter a pattern lock or a digital pin code, if installed, to confirm the operation.
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Before resetting through the settings, take a picture of the screen with the current network parameters and important data - this will help to quickly restore the smartphone after the restart.
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and start the cleaning process, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of information it has accumulated.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode (if your phone is locked)
When a smartphone doesn’t respond to touch or you forget your unlock password, it requires a Recovery Mode, a technique that allows you to reset even when access to the Android interface is completely limited, and is universal to most Redmi models.
To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn off your smartphone completely. Then you need to pinch the combination of the buttons: usually a volume button ("Loudness +") and a power button. Hold them simultaneously until the Mi or Redmi logo appears.
Once the logo appears, the power button can be released, but the volume button should be held for a few more seconds until the menu with English text appears. Navigation in this menu is carried out by volume buttons (up / down), and the choice of item is made by the power button.
In the list of options, find Wipe Data and select it. Then the system will offer several cleaning options. You need Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm. Once you complete the process, select Reboot and then Reboot to System.
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touchscreen is not working, all actions are performed only with physical volume and power buttons.
This method is guaranteed to delete all user data and passwords, returning the phone to a store-like state, but it will not help if the problem is a hardware malfunction.
What to do if the Recovery menu does not open?
Using Mi Cloud for Remote Resetting
If you have access to the Internet from another device (computer or tablet), you can reset remotely, which is especially useful if you lost your phone or it was stolen and you want to erase your personal data remotely.
To do this, go to the official website of the Mi Cloud service and log in under the same account that was used on the problematic Redmi. In the service interface, find the “Find Device” section.
In your list of devices, select the smartphone you want, and among the actions you can take is the Wipe Data button, and when you click on it, you send a command to your phone, and once you connect to the network (Wi-Fi or mobile), it automatically resets.
Importantly, to work with this method, the phone must be on and have an active Internet connection, and if the device is turned off or in an uncoated area, the command will be executed the first time the network appears.
| Resetting method | Access to the menu is required | We need the Internet. | Level of difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Yes. | No. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No. | No. | Medium. |
| Mi Cloud | No. | Yeah (on the phone) | Low. |
| Mi Flash Tool | No. | Yes (on PC) | High-pitched |
Full Fastboot Fastboot and Mi Flash
For advanced users who have experienced serious software errors that are not fixed by a conventional reset, there is a flashing method, which is a complete reinstallation of the operating system, cleaning all partitions of memory. USB-cable.
You will need to download the official firmware for your particular Redmi model from miui.com and the Mi Flash Tool utility. The firmware must be unpacked into the root of the C disk so that the path to the files is short and does not contain Cyrillic.
Put your phone in Fastboot mode, holding the volume down button ("Loudness -") and the power button at the same time, and the image of a rabbit repairing an android will appear on the screen, or the words FASTBOOT. Connect the device to the PC.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the path to the firmware folder, and click the "Clean all" button, which is a critical item because it guarantees a complete reset. Press Flash and wait until the process is over. The phone will reboot automatically.
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Using Fastboot Mode and Mi Flash is the only way to restore your phone if the standard Recovery Mode is damaged or missing.
This is the most radical method, which not only deletes data, but also overwrites the system partition, and errors at this stage can make it impossible to turn on the phone, so follow the instructions carefully.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Users often face a variety of problems during resets, and one of the most common is requesting a Google account after rebooting, which is not a bug, but a FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism, and to get around it, you need to enter a login and password that were synchronized with the phone before the reset.
Another common problem is “bootloop” when the phone is constantly turned off and on without reaching the desktop, in which case a simple reset via the menu may not help, logging into Recovery Mode and repeating the Wipe Data procedure, possibly even with the cache clearing (Wipe Cache).
If the phone doesn’t see the computer when you try flashing, check the drivers. ADB And Fastboot. Often the problem is the poor quality. USB-Replace the cable with an original or quality cable.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t interrupt flashing or resetting. Disabling power or cable while writing system files can turn a smartphone into a “brick” that can only be restored in a service center.
Also worth mentioning is the problem with the locked bootloader: If you previously unlocked the bootloader to install custom firmware, the reset procedure may require re-unlocking or result in a MIUI reset to a global version.