Reset Xiaomi Redmi Note to factory settings: 3 working ways (2026)

Why you need a reset to factory settings and when to apply it

Resetting the Xiaomi Redmi Note to factory settings is a radical but effective way to restore the smartphone to its original health, which removes all user data, apps and settings, returning the device to a โ€œout of the boxโ€ state.

First, if the smartphone started to slow down or spontaneously reboot after the MIUI update. This is a typical problem for Redmi Note 8/9 models, where new firmware versions are not always optimized for the old hardware. Second, reset helps with infection with viruses that are not removed by antivirus (for example, advertising software embedded in system applications); Third, the procedure is mandatory before selling or transferring the phone to another user - to prevent personal data leakage.

However, donโ€™t rush to reset at the slightest lag. Try alternative methods first:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Cleaning the cache in the Settings section โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Cleanup (delete temporary files without data loss).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Reverse updates for problematic apps on Google Play.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery calibration (discharge to 0% and charge to 100% without interruption).
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Resetting network settings to Settings โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Resetting network settings.

If these measures do not help, start a full reset. But remember: on Redmi Note models with a MediaTek processor (for example, the Note 11T), a reset via Recovery can block the bootloader if you previously unlocked it for custom firmware, in which case you will need authorization in Mi Account.

๐Ÿ“Š How often do you reset your smartphone to factory settings?
Once a year for prevention
Just before the sale.
Never dropped it.
Only if the phone is slowing down.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (without loss of data on the memory card)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in reset function in MIUI, which is suitable if:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ The phone is turned on and reacts to touch.
  • ๐Ÿ”“ You remember the password from the lock screen.
  • ๐Ÿ“ You want to save files on your memory card (they are not affected).

Step-by-step:

  1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Go to the About Phone section. โ†’ Backup and reset.
  3. Select Resetting โ†’ Erase all data.
  4. The system will prompt you to enter a password from your Mi Account (if tied) or PIN-code-key.
  5. Confirm the action by clicking Erase All (on some models โ€“ Next โ†’ Ready).

It takes 5-15 minutes. The phone will reboot and start with the initial setup screen. Importantly, if you've used data encryption (includes in Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ Encryption), it can take up to 30-40 minutes to reset โ€” don't interrupt the process!

Make sure the battery is charged > 50%|Make a backup of contacts and photos|Remember the username/password from Mi Account|Get out. SIM-map (optional)|Delete the memory card if it has important files

-->

โš ๏ธ Note: Redmi Note 10 Pro and later after reset may require re-association of the device to the Mi Account via the Reset. SMS-Make sure you have access to the phone number associated with the account.

Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If the smartphone is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touches or is locked with a password, resetting through Recovery Mode will help.This method works on all Redmi Note models, but requires care - improper actions can lead to a blink (complete inoperability) of the device.

Instructions for phones with physical buttons (Note 7/8/9):

  1. Turn off the phone (press the power + Volume increase for 10 seconds).
  2. Press the Power + Volume combination and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
  3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).
  4. With volume buttons, select Wipe Data (or Clear Data) and confirm Power button.
  5. Select Wipe All Data โ†’ Confirm (you will need to enter the unlock code if it was installed).
  6. Once you have finished, select Reboot โ†’ Reboot to System.

Redmi Note 10/11/12 with touch buttons

  • ๐Ÿ”˜ Squeeze the power. + Increase the volume on the phone turned off.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Wait for vibrations and let go โ€“ a menu with touch control will appear.
  • ๐Ÿ‘† Scroll down to Wipe data, tap it.
  • ๐Ÿ”“ Enter your password (if required) and confirm Format data.

If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

  • ๐Ÿงน โ€” dataset.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ โ€” restart.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ โ€” reboot.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
If the phone vibrates after holding the buttons, but the menu does not appear: 1. Check if the battery is discharged (plug the charge for 10 minutes). 2. On the Redmi Note 8T and some modifications, try the Power + Volume Reduction combination. 3. If the phone was previously rooted, Recovery could be replaced with TWRP - in this case, select Wipe โ†’ Format Data and enter Yes. 4. On models with a locked bootloader (for example, after updating MIUI 14), you may need authorization through Mi Account even in Recovery.

Redmi Note modelCombination for RecoveryFeatures
Redmi Note 7/8/9Power + Volume IncreaseMenu in English, supports sensory control
Redmi Note 10/10 ProPower + Volume IncreaseRequires confirmation via Mi Account when resetting
Redmi Note 11/12Power + Volume IncreaseIcon menu, touch control
Redmi Note 8T/9TPower + Volume reductionSometimes you need to connect to a PC to unlock.

โš ๏ธ Warning: On the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 10 Pro with a Snapdragon processor after resetting via Recovery, Anti-Rollback protection may work. MIUI version cannot be downgraded, you will need to flash the original firmware through Fastboot.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is used if:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Recovery damaged or missing.
  • ๐Ÿ“ต The phone doesn't respond to the buttons.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ You need to bypass the Mi Account lock (only for unlocked bootloader!).

The work will require:

  • ๐Ÿ’ป Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and Mi Flash Tool.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Cable USB (preferably original).
  • ๐Ÿ“ Firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Press Power + Volume reduction for 10 seconds - the phone will go to Fastboot mode (a hare will appear in a hat-eared).
  3. Connect the phone to the PC.
  4. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (file with the extension.tgz).
  5. Press Refresh โ€“ the program must determine the device (it will appear). COM-port).
  6. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
  7. Wait for the end (10-20 minutes) and the phone to restart.

Warnings:

  • ๐Ÿšซ Do not turn off the cable during firmware - this will lead to a breeze.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ If the bootloader is blocked, you will need to log in to Mi Account via Mi Unlock Tool.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก On the Redmi Note 12 S MIUI 14+ You may need to roll back to an older version of the firmware before unlocking.

1. Reinstall the driver via Mi Phone Manager.

2. Use another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

3. run the program on behalf of the administrator.

4. Enable debugging mode via USB in the developer settings (if the phone is turned on at least somehow).

-->

What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, the phone will launch with a welcome screen.

  1. Language and region choice: Install Russian (Russia) or English (United States) if you plan to use global firmware.
  2. Wi-Fi Connection: Skip this step if you want to set up your phone later.
  3. Sign in to Mi Account: If your phone was linked to your account, enter your login and password. If you forget your data, restore access via account.xiaomi.com.
  4. Data recovery: ๐Ÿ“ฑ Backup copy. MIUI (If you have backup in the settings โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Backup). โ˜๏ธ From Google Account (contacts, calendar, some settings). ๐Ÿ’ป Mi Mover (a data transfer application from another Xiaomi).
  5. Disabling unnecessary functions: ๐Ÿ“Š Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Application management โ†’ Autostart (turn off to save battery). ๐Ÿ”” Settings โ†’ Notifications โ†’ Priority of notifications (remove unnecessary notifications). ๐Ÿ“ก Settings โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Mobile Internet (disable background traffic for applications).

On Redmi Note 11 and later, you may be prompted to activate Mi Cloud and Data Sync, and if you donโ€™t plan to use these services, turn them off immediately, saving traffic and battery.

- Fingerprint sensor operation (configure again in Settings โ†’ Password and security โ†’ Fingerprints).

- Availability of MIUI updates in Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ System Update.

- The camera and speakers (sometimes after resetting the microphone settings are lost).

-->

How to avoid data loss before resetting

Factory reset deletes everything except files on the memory card (unless it's encrypted) to avoid losing important information:

  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Photo and video: Copy to PC via cable USB (folder DCIM). Use Google Photos for automatic backup. on Redmi Note with MIUI 12+ set the settings on โ†’ Google โ†’ Backup โ†’ Backup of photographs.
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Contacts: Export to the file VCF: Contacts โ†’ Settings โ†’ Exports/imports โ†’ Export to your device. sync with Google Account: Settings โ†’ Accounts. โ†’ Google โ†’ Synchronization of contacts.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Communications SMS: Use the app. SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play MIUI: Communications โ†’ Settings โ†’ Backup and restoration.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Game saves: For cloud-based games (e.g. Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) link your account to Google Play or social networks. For offline games, copy the folder Android/obb and Android/data PC-only.

If the phone is locked but turns on, you can try to extract data via USB debugging mode (if it was turned on earlier):

  1. Connect the phone to the PC.
  2. Open the command line and type: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Redmi_Backup\ This will copy all files from internal memory to disk. C:\.

โš ๏ธ Attention: On the Redmi Note 10S Note 11 Pro+ s MIUI 13+ Application data (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) are encrypted by default, and without a lock screen password, it is impossible to restore them after resetting.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if the reset is done correctly, there can be problems, including the following:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
This device is locked in Fastbootbootloader lockedUnlock with Mi Unlock Tool (requires binding to Mi Account and waiting 7-15 days)
phone is stuck on startup Mi logo after resetSystem or boot partition damagedSwitch the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All and Lock mode
Can't verify update in RecoveryA firmware file or incompatible version is damagedDownload the firmware again from the official website, check the phone model
After reset, the sensor does not workCalibration failure after MIUI updateType in ##6484## โ†’ Test Mode โ†’ Touch Screen Test โ†’ Calibrate
Requires a password from Mi Account after resetFind Device Protection ActivatedSign in to your account or reset your password via account.xiaomi.com

If the phone does not detect after the reset SIM-map, check it out:

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Correct installation SIM (Redmi Note 9 Pro card tray has asymmetrical slots).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Network settings: Settings โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Name of the access point (APN) (for MTS, Beeline and others. APN You can find the operator's website).
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Flight mode: sometimes activated automatically after resetting.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with a Helio G90T processor, after reset, sound may disappear in the speaker.

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ Sound quality.
  2. Turn off Hi-Fi audio and sound effects.
  3. Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I reset Redmi Note without losing data?
No, a full reset always deletes user data from internal memory. However, you can: Save files to the memory card (if it is not encrypted). Back up via Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ Backup (saves contacts, SMS, settings, but not photos and applications). Use Mi Mover to transfer data to another Xiaomi. If the phone is locked but turns on, try to extract data via adb pull (you need to enable debugging over USB).
The phone asks for the old password after the reset.
This means that the device has been activated with the Mi Account Device Protection feature, Solutions: Enter the password from the previously associated Mi Account. If you forgot the password: Go to account.xiaomi.com and restore access. Use a backup email or phone number linked to your account. If your account is not yours (the phone is purchased by a used one), contact the previous owner to untie the device. โš ๏ธ Without access to Mi Account, it is impossible to unlock the phone (on models from 2020 and later).
Recovery reset doesn't work -- the menu doesn't open. What do we do?
The problem may be: A discharged battery โ€” plug in a 10-15-minute charge and try again. With damaged buttons โ€” try holding the combination longer (up to 20 seconds). With a locked bootloader โ€” new models (Redmi Note 11/12) may require authorization through Mi Account even to log into Recovery. Non-original firmware โ€” if you previously installed custom Recovery (TWRP), try the Power + Volume combination or connect the phone to a PC and use the command: adb reboot, even if nothing is saved through the 3ast recovery method (see).
After resetting, the phone does not turn on - only the Mi logo flashes.
This is a sign of damage to the system partition. Possible causes and solutions: Cause Decision Unsuccessful reset via Recovery Swipe the original firmware through Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode. Interrupted firmware via Fastboot Repeat firmware, making sure the connection is stable USB. Conflict of versions MIUI (For example, try to roll back on an older firmware) Switch the same or newer version MIUI. On the Redmi Note 10 and later, the rollback is blocked by the Anti-Rollback system. EDL Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account and cable) EDL). If the phone is not determined by the PC, try: Clip the power + Reduce volume by 30 seconds (forced exit from the getting stuck state). Connect to another USB-Use the original Xiaomi cable.
How to reset Redmi Note if you forget the password from the lock screen?
There are three options: Recovery (see Method 2). Newer models (Redmi Note 10 and later) will require data input from Mi Account after reset. Find Device reset (if the phone is tied to Mi Account): Go to i.mi.com. log in and select your device. Click Delete Data (the device must be connected to the Internet). Fastboot firmware (see Method 3. โš ๏ธ Redmi Note 9 Pro and newer after reset via Find Device may require confirmation via SMS number-bound.