How to reset Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 to factory settings: full instructions with nuances

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

locking up Mi Account

This article provides 3 proven ways to reset the Redmi Note 4 (including models with Snapdragon and Helio X20 processors), detailed stage screenshots, method comparison tables, and answers to frequent questions. Particular emphasis is placed on saving data before reset and avoiding possible errors, such as when the phone does not turn on or asks for a password from a Xiaomi account after a reset.

If your Redmi Note 4 is stuck on the logo, doesn't respond to touch, or just works too slowly, factory resets are often the only solution. But before you get started, it's important to understand that all the data on your phone will be deleted, including photos, contacts, and installed apps. So the first step is to back up.

We’ll look at not only the standard reset via the settings menu, but also alternative methods: using Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn’t turn on) and Fastboot (for advanced users), and also understand what to do if after resetting Redmi Note 4 requires entering the username and password from Mi Account – this problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi.

1.Resetting preparation: what to do before starting

Factory resets are not just the press of a button; improper preparation can lead to the loss of important data or even locking the device.

First, back up all critical data. Even if you plan to recover it later through the Mi Cloud, it’s best to be safe. Use Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local backup or third-party apps like Titanium Backup (require root rights).

Second, check if your Mi Account is linked to your phone. After a reset, your device may require login and password input, especially if you previously activated Find Device. Make sure you remember the login details or untie your account in advance in Settings → Mi Account.

Finally, charge your phone to at least 50 percent, and interrupting the reset process due to battery failure can cause serious system failures.

• 📱 Backup: Save contacts, photos, SMS Use Google Photos for Media and Mi Cloud for the rest.
• 🔒 Mi Account: Make sure you remember your username/password or untie your account in the settings. Without this, after resetting, your phone may lock.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Minimum level is 50%. It is better to charge up to 80% to avoid sudden shutdown.
• 📡 Wi-Fi Network: If you reset via a menu, connect to a stable network – this will speed up the account verification after the reboot.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Redmi Note 4 handheld and do not know the previous owner’s data from Mi Account, the reset may result in a complete lock of the device.

2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest)

This is a method that works if you turn on your phone and it responds to touch, and it's the safest and doesn't require any additional knowledge.

1. Open the settings on the phone.

2. Go to the section Additional → Backup and Reset.

3. Select Reset (in some versions of MIUI – Reset all settings).

4. The system will suggest choosing which to reset, and we recommend that you mark all items, including "Clear internal memory".

5. Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or PIN-code (if installed).

6. Wait for the process to be completed (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and the phone will reboot automatically.

After the reboot, you will need to go through the initial setup, as after the purchase. If the phone was tied to the Mi Account, the system will request login and password.

Data backup created|The phone is charged at least 50 times%|I remember the username/password from Mi Account.|All off. SIM-cards and memory card (if desired)-->

⚠️ Note: If you are using the Redmi Note 4 with a Helio processor X20 (model MTK), When reset, the menu may be filled with a "This device is locked" error, which means that the phone is linked to a Mi Account and you need to enter data or contact the service to unlock it.

3. Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If the Redmi Note 4 doesn’t respond to the on button, hovers on the logo or reboots cyclically, a reset via Recovery Mode will help.This mode allows you to control the phone without fully booting the system.

To enter Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power button and the Volume Up button at the same time.
3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then let them go.
4. In a few seconds, you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).

In the Recovery menu, the volume buttons (move) and the power button (select) are controlled.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data)
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 15 minutes).
4. Select Reboot to reboot.

If the Recovery menu doesn't have Wipe Data, or if the phone asks for a password, it's a custom Recovery (like TWRP), in which case the algorithm is different -- see spoiler below.

• 🔧 Suitable for: Phones that don’t turn on or hover on the logo.
• 🔄 Process time: 10-20 minutes (depending on the amount of data).
• 🛑 Limitation: It will not work if the firmware is damaged or the bootloader is blocked.

💡

If the phone is resetting via Recovery, try repeating the procedure or using method 3 (Fastboot), the system partition may be damaged and a complete firmware reflash is required.

4. Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for advanced users)

This method requires a computer and command line knowledge, but it's the most reliable method if the first two methods don't work.

• The phone is not included in or included in Recovery.
• The system is so damaged that even a reset via the menu is impossible.
• You need to unlock the bootloader before the firmware.

To reset via Fastboot you will need:

• Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• USB Type-C cable (original or high-quality analogue).
• Mi Flash Tool or ADB/Fastboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume Down button to enter Fastboot mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared will appear).
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Open the command prompt (Win + R → cmd) and type: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, check the driver.
5. Enter the command to reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Once the commands are executed, the phone will restart and start the initial setup, which is guaranteed to bypass the Mi Account lock only on the unlocked bootloader, and if the bootloader is locked, you will need to enter your account data after the reset.

⚠️ Attention: The fastboot erase userdata and fastboot erase cache commands completely erase user data and cache. If you plan on further firmware, it is recommended to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool after resetting.

5 What to do if the phone requires a Mi Account after resetting

One of the most common problems after resetting the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is requesting a username and password from the Mi Account, which happens if the Find Device function was previously activated.

Method 1: Enter your account information

If you remember your username and password, just type them in. Once you have successfully logged in, the phone will unlock and you can use it again.

Method 2: Unblock through the official website

If you forgot your password:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Click Forgot Password? and follow the recovery instructions.
3. Use a linked email or phone number.

Method 3: Contacting a Service Center

If your account is not yours (for example, a phone is bought by hand), you can officially unlock it only through the Xiaomi service center, providing proof of purchase (check, box). EDL-mode) requires special equipment and may cause the device to break down.

• 🔓 If you remember the data: Enter the username / password from Mi Account and confirm unlocking.
• 📧 If you forget your password: Restore access through the official Xiaomi website.
• 🛠️ If your account is not yours: Contact the service center with documents on the phone.

💡

The Mi Account lock after a reset is not a bug, but a theft protection feature, which cannot be circumvented legally without the original owner's data.

6. Frequent errors and their solution

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can get errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, it may be the hardware (for example, damaged memory or motherboard), in which case we recommend to contact the service center.

Additional advice:

• 🔄 If the reset didn’t help eliminate the lag, try rolling back the firmware to an older version.
• 📱 After reset, don’t install many applications at once – let the system stabilize.
• 🔋 If the phone discharges quickly after reset, calibrate the battery (discharge to 0% and charge to 100% without interruption).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions