Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone periodically face situations when the device begins to work unstable, slows down or completely refuses to respond to commands. Sometimes the only right solution is a complete reset of the system to the original state, which allows you to eliminate software errors and clean up memory from accumulated debris. Resetting is a radical but effective measure that returns the gadget to the state “out of the box”.
Restore procedures may be required before selling the device to prevent new owners from accessing your personal data, or in case you forget your pattern lock or unlock password. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods for returning Redmi 9 to factory settings, including working through the settings menu and using the Recovery engineering menu.
Before you start any manipulation of system files, it is important to understand that all your data will be irretrievably deleted. Recovery removes data even from the memory card if it is installed in a slot formatted as internal storage.
Preparation of the device for the discharge procedure
Before you start taking action, you need to follow a number of preparatory steps that will secure your data and ensure the successful completion of the process. Backup is the most important step, since after reset, it will be impossible to recover information without a backup. Use Google cloud services or the built-in “Mi Cloud” application to save contacts and multimedia.
It is also critical to make sure that the battery level is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can damage system partitions and turn the smartphone into a "brick." If the device turns on, be sure to remove SIM-card and memory card to avoid accidental deletion of data from external media.
Don't forget to turn off Google and Mi Account protection if you plan to sell your phone. Otherwise, the new owner will face activation lock, and unlocking the device without your password will be extremely difficult.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone battery to at least 60% or plug in the charger.
- 📁 Backup all important files to your computer or the cloud.
- 🔑 Log out of Google and Mi Accounts in your device settings.
- 💾 Extract. SIM-MicroSD card and microSD card before the procedure.
⚠️ Note: If the device has Find My Device enabled, the system may require you to enter your Google account password immediately after you reset.
☑️ Ready to dump
Reset via the Android settings menu
The easiest and safest way to get the Xiaomi Redmi 9 back to factory status is directly through the operating system interface. This method is ideal if the phone turns on, the screen responds to touch, and you have access to the settings menu. To begin, open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom of the "About Phone" item.
Inside the About Phone section, you'll need to find the Reset option. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, this item may be in the submenu or highlighted as a separate line. The system will alert you that all data will be deleted, and will suggest you choose the type of reset: with or without cleaning all data.
After confirmation of action, the system may request input PIN-It's a protective measure to prevent accidental or unauthorized reset, and once you enter the code, you start a process of preparation that takes a few minutes, and then the phone will restart and start as a new one.
The sequence of actions may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general algorithm remains the same. If you can't find the right item, search the settings by entering the word "Reset" and this will allow you to quickly go to the desired menu without much searching.
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Use the search in the settings by entering Reset to instantly find the menu you want, regardless of the MIUI version.
Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If the smartphone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo or the touch screen doesn't respond, the only way out is to use Recovery Mode. This method, known as Hard Reset, allows you to reset at a low level, bypassing the operating system. To enter this mode on Redmi 9, you need to turn off the device completely.
When you turn off, press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo or Recovery menu appears on the screen. In this mode, the touch screen does not work, so the navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.
From the Recovery menu, select the English language (if available) or use the top volume button to navigate by items. You need to find the "Wipe Data" option and confirm the power button selection. Then select "Wipe All Data" and confirm the action by selecting "Confirm." The process will take some time, after which a message will appear about the successful completion.
⚠️ Note: When reset via Recovery Mode, data is deleted without recovery.Make sure you really want to lose all the information on the device.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Remote reset via Google Find My Device
In situations where the phone is lost or stolen, but connected to the Internet, you can reset remotely. Google Find My Device allows you not only to track the location, but also to initiate a complete data reset. You need to log on to the service site from any other device, log in under the same Google account that was used on Redmi 9.
From the device list, select your smartphone and click on the "Clean the Device" option. The command will be sent to the phone, and once it connects to the network, the reset process will begin.This is an effective way to protect personal data from unauthorized persons, even if physical access to the phone is limited.
After such a reset, the phone will require you to enter data from a Google account that was previously synced to the device, a standard Factory Reset Protection (FRP) security measure that prevents the use of stolen phones.
| Resetting method | Access to the menu is required | Data retention | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Yes. | No (all removed) | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | No. | No (all removed) | Medium |
| Google Find My Device | No (remotely) | No (all removed) | Low. |
| Mi Cloud | No (remotely) | No (all removed) | Low. |
Reset via Mi Cloud
An alternative to Google’s services is Xiaomi’s own ecosystem. If your Redmi 9 has your Mi Account activated and sync enabled, you can reset via i.mi.com. This method is especially useful if you forget the lock screen password, but remember the Mi Account data.
Go to a cloud service site, log in, and select your device from the list. In the device management menu, find the "Erase Data" or "Wipe Device" function. Once confirmed, the command will be sent to your smartphone. As with Google, the device must be connected to the Internet to receive a command.
This method also activates FRP protection, but from the Mi Account side. Once reset, the phone will require a password from Mi Account to activate, which ensures that even with complete flashing, the device will remain tied to the owner.
Decision and errors in discharge
During the reset process, users may encounter various errors, such as a logo hover, a cyclical reboot or a message about a failed reset. Often the cause is damage to system files or a lack of space for temporary operation files. If the phone freezes, try to perform a forced reboot by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds.
If the reset is not completed and the phone is constantly restarting, the recovery partition may be damaged, in which case it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. This is a more complex procedure, requiring drivers and official firmware for your model.
Also a common problem is blocking a Google account after a reset. If you don't remember a password, it can take a long time to restore access and require you to submit checks for the device to Google Support.
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If after a reset, the phone requires an account you don’t remember, without a purchase check, unlocking the device is officially almost impossible.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the reset process by removing the battery (if it is not removable) or turning off the power.This may damage the loader and require repairs at the service center.
Actions after restoration of factory settings
Once the procedure is completed, Redmi 9 will restart and welcome you to the initial settings screen, select a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network and log into your Google account, at which point the system will prompt you to restore data from a backup if you created it previously.
It is recommended not to restore all applications at once, but only to install the necessary ones, which will help to avoid re-clogging the system and identify applications that may have caused problems before reset, and also check for system updates in the About Phone menu, as the new version of the software may contain security patches.
Now your smartphone is running at the maximum performance it can. Clean the cache regularly and don't install apps from unverified sources to keep the system running smoothly in the future.
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After the first turn on, give the phone 15-20 minutes to background optimization of applications and index files before actively using it.