Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 flagship smartphones often face situations where the operating system is unstable, which can manifest itself in constant freezes, spontaneous reboots or a critical decrease in the interface response speed, in which case the only effective solution is a complete return to the factory state, which removes all user data and system debris.
The reset procedure, known as Hard Reset, is a powerful tool, but requires careful handling. Before you start any manipulation, you need to clearly understand that all your photos, contacts, correspondence and installed applications will be irretrievably deleted, so preparing the device for this process is no less important than the technical operation itself.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to reboot the Xiaomi Mi 9 system. You will learn how to reset through the standard settings menu, how to enter Recovery mode if the screen does not respond, and what to do if you forget the pattern lock. We will also touch on the important nuances of working with the Mi Account, blocking which can be an unpleasant surprise after cleaning the memory.
Preparing the smartphone for a complete data reset
Before you take drastic action, make sure your Xiaomi Mi 9 has a battery charge of at least 60-70%.The process of formatting internal memory requires stable power, and suddenly turning off the device at this point can damage system partitions.If the phone turns on, first connect it to the network or check the charge level.
The most critical step is to save important information, and unlike deleting files, formatting makes it almost impossible to recover data without first copying it, and use cloud services or a computer to transfer valuable files.
- 📸 Back up photos and videos via Google Photos or copy a folder DCIM computer.
- 📞 Sync your contacts with your Google account so you don’t lose your phone numbers.
- 💬 Keep the history of correspondence in messengers if archiving of dialogues is important for you.
- 🔑 Remember or write down the logins and passwords from your Google and Mi Account account that you will need to log in.
You should also turn off the device search function if you plan to transfer your smartphone to a new owner, log out of all accounts in the system settings, and if you reset your phone for yourself to correct errors, just make sure you remember the login details.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Resetting settings through the menu of the Xiaomi smartphone
The safest and easiest way to return to factory settings is through the standard MIUI shell interface, which is suitable for cases where the device is stable, the screen responds to touch, and you have full access to the system. The algorithm is simple enough, but requires careful choice of options.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll through the list to About Phone, which is where the basic system management tools are hidden. Some versions of MIUI firmware may have a slightly different path, so focus on the visuals of the interface.
Click on Reset (or Erase All Data) and the system will issue a warning that all files will be deleted, you will need to enter the unlock password to confirm the operation, and then the phone will restart and begin the cleanup process.
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Before resetting through the settings menu, it is recommended to remove SIM-microSD card and memory card so that external media are not accidentally formatted if this option is chosen.
The process can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory filled. Don't touch the device at this time. Upon completion, the Xiaomi Mi 9 will turn on as new, suggesting you choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi.
Hard Reset with Recovery Mode (Recovery Mode)
If the system is not booting, the screen is locked or the sensor does not respond, Recovery mode comes to the rescue. Entering this mode is done with hardware buttons, which allows you to control the phone even when the display is not working (though you can not see the action). On Xiaomi Mi 9, the entrance to Recovery is performed by a combination of power and volume keys.
Turn off the smartphone completely. Then press the volume button at the same time ("Loudness"). +») Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu comes up.
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, the touch screen is not working. All actions are performed only with physical volume (up/down) and power (confirmation) buttons).
From the menu that opens, select the language (usually English or Chinese), then go to Wipe Data. Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The system will again warn about the risks - agree, and formatting will begin.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Once you have completed the procedure, select Reboot and then Reboot to System. The first run after Hard Reset will be longer than usual, as the system needs to recreate the file structure.
Remote reset via Google Find My Device
There is a scenario where the device itself is not accessible, but it is on and connected to the Internet, such as if you forgot your pattern lock or unlock password, in which case Google Find My Device, which allows you to remotely control your smartphone, will help.
To use this method, you will need a computer or other smartphone. Go to the service website and log in to the Google account that was the main one on the blocked Xiaomi Mi 9.
In the list of available actions, select the option “Erase Device” (Erase Device), you will receive a warning that all data will be deleted, after confirmation, the team will go to the phone, and it will automatically begin the reset process as soon as it receives a signal from the network.
| Parameter | Requirement | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Internet | Wi-Fi or Mobile Data | The command is executed instantly |
| GPS | Not mandatory. | The reset will be successful |
| Account. | Exact login to Google | Access to management |
| Charge. | Any > 0 per cent | The phone should be on. |
This method is especially useful in case of loss of a device, although it is primarily used for data protection. Remember that after such a reset, the phone will request the data of the Google account that was installed on it earlier (FRP protection).
Mi and Google Account Lockdown (FRP)
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Mi 9, are equipped with a system of protection against theft, known as FRP (Factory Reset Protection).If you reset settings without first logging out of accounts, the first activation system will require you to enter a password from the Google account or Mi Account, which was synced with the device.
It's not a bug or a virus, it's a regular security feature, designed to prevent a stolen phone from being used after being forced to reset, and if you forget your password, you can only restore access through the process of restoring an account on the official Google or Xiaomi website.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to circumvent FRP using third-party software can lead to a complete lock of the motherboard (Hard Brick.
To avoid this situation, always log out before selling or transferring your phone. In the settings, look for Accounts and Sync, select the profile you want, and click Delete Account. Only then can you safely reset.
If the phone was taken from another owner and it did not log out of the account, the only legal way to unlock it is to provide a check about the purchase to an authorized service center to remove the lock.
Possible problems and solutions
Even with strict adherence to the instructions, there can be unforeseen circumstances, such as the phone can “hang” on the Mi logo after a reset, a phenomenon called “bootloop”, most often associated with corrupting system files or a failed update prior to a reset.
In this case, simply repeating the Hard Reset procedure may not be enough, requiring a computer flashing device and the Mi Flash Tool, a more complex process that requires unlocking the bootloader, which takes 7 to 15 days to wait.
- 🔄 If the phone warms up after reset, let it lie on the table. 30-40 minutes, file indexing is going on.
- 📉 If the battery is draining too quickly, check if there are any background processes left from old applications (it is better to do a double reset).
- 📶 If you don’t catch the network, make sure that the right type of network is selected in the settings (preferably the right type of network). LTE/4G).
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If the phone does not turn on after reset for more than 20 minutes or is constantly rebooted, the problem may be hardware (memory, battery) and requires service intervention.
Also worth mentioning is the situation where resetting does not solve the problem of slow performance. In the case of the Xiaomi Mi 9, which was released a few years ago, the slowdowns can be associated with physical wear of the memory storage, in which cases the software reset gives only a temporary effect.