Xiaomi’s Redmi 4 series has proven to be reliable, with excellent autonomy. However, over time, any Android gadget can become unstable, with freezes, space loss, or the system reacting to latency commands, and in such situations, a full return to factory status becomes the most effective solution, eliminating software errors and clearing memory of digital debris.
This procedure requires care, as it involves the complete removal of all user data. Before you start any manipulation, you need to clearly understand what steps you will take to avoid turning the desktop into a brick. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from the standard settings menu to using the Recovery engineering mode.
It is important to note that the reset process is irreversible, and if you have important contacts, photos or documents stored on your device, it is your sole responsibility to keep them safe, and we strongly advise you to back up your data in the Mi Cloud cloud storage or on your computer before you start cleaning.
Preparation of the device before data reset
The first and most critical step is to prepare the gadget for radical action. Ignoring this step can lead to loss of important information or problems with activating the device after rebooting. Make sure that the battery charge is at least 50-60%, as a sudden power outage during the formatting of the system partition can damage the file structure.
It's also worth checking the account binding. Modern versions of the MIUI shell have anti-theft protection. If you don't know the password from your Google account or Mi Account, after a reset, the phone will lock and require you to enter data to authorize the previous owner. Delete accounts in advance through the settings menu to avoid blocking.
☑️ Checklist for preparation for discharge
Remember to remove the SD card if installed. While the system will offer a choice of erasing data only from internal memory or from the card too, physical removal of the media will give a 100% guarantee of the safety of your files on the external drive, this is especially true for the Redmi 4 Prime and Redmi 4X models, where users often store large amounts of media files.
⚠️ Attention: Extraction SIM-The card is not mandatory, but some users prefer to take it out to avoid accidental resetting of the operator’s mobile network settings.
Reset method through the standard settings menu
The easiest and safest way to get the Xiaomi Redmi 4 back to its original state is to use the built-in functionality of the operating system. This method is suitable for cases when the device is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you can freely navigate the interface. It does not require a computer connection or special knowledge.
To start, open the Settings app and scroll down to the About Phone section, which is where the basic system management tools are hidden. Depending on the version of MIUI firmware (whether global or Chinese), the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same.
Click on the Reset button (or Clear Data) and the system will alert you to the consequences, and you will be given two options: Reset (without deleting files) and Clear Everything. To fully address performance issues, choose the second option. The process will take a few minutes, after which the device will restart.
What happens when you drop through the menu?
Once the procedure is complete, the phone will turn on as a new one, offering to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. This is an ideal option for preparing the smartphone for sale or transfer to another user.
the user, as it guarantees the deletion of personal data without the need to use complex combinations of buttons.
Using Recovery Mode for Resetting
If the smartphone system is damaged, the device goes into an endless restart (bootloop) or the screen does not respond to touch, the standard method through the menu becomes unavailable. In this case, Recovery mode comes to the rescue. This is a special diagnostic interface, sewn into the phone's memory regardless of the main operating system.
To get into the recovery menu on Redmi 4, you need to turn the device off completely. Then press the Volume Up and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume down until the main Recovery menu appears.
In this mode, the touch screen is not working. The control is carried out by volume buttons (up and down for moving points) and power button (to confirm the selection), you need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Next, the system can request confirmation, often requiring you to select the Wipe All Data item and confirm the action with the Confirm button.
| Action. | Control button | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Move upwards | Volume + | Raise the cursor on the menu |
| Moving down | Loudness. | Put the cursor down on the menu |
| Confirmation | Nutrition | Selection of item / Entry |
| Exit/Cancel | Food (sometimes) | Cancellation |
Once you successfully execute the Wipe Data command, you will see a message on the screen that you have to complete the process, and you will have to select Reboot and then Reboot to System. The first turn on after resetting via Recovery can last longer than usual, sometimes up to 10 minutes — this is normal, the system creates new configuration files.
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If the Recovery menu doesn’t appear when you press the buttons, try connecting the phone that is off to the charger or computer via USB, and then repeat the button combination.
Resetting via computer with ADB
For advanced users who have access to a PC and installed a set of tools Android Debug Bridge (ADB), It's possible to do a software reset, and this is useful if the sensor is partially working, but it's not. USB-Debugging was pre-included in the developer settings.
Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable and open the command line in the folder with the ADB tools. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf a device with device status appears on the list, you can proceed to the reset command.
adb shell recovery --wipe_dataOr an alternative command that works on some versions of MIUI:
adb reboot recoveryAfter entering the second command, the phone itself will reboot to recovery mode, where you will only have to confirm the action with buttons, as described in the previous one.
This method eliminates the risk of mistakenly pressing the wrong button on the smartphone itself, since the initial start is made from a computer.
Post-Reset Solution (FAQ on Problems)
After the Xiaomi Redmi 4 has been dropped, users may encounter a number of typical situations that are not a breakdown, but a regular behavior of the system. For example, the phone can heat up very much in the first 30-60 minutes of operation, this is because the system in the background indexes files, updates apps from Google Play and customizes services.
Another common problem is that the battery runs fast on day one. Don't panic or bring the device to the service. Let the smartphone run as normal, connected to Wi-Fi, and after a day the background processes will end, after which the autonomy will return to normal.
⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone requires you to enter a Google account that was synchronized earlier, but you do not remember it – it will be extremely difficult to restore access without data due to the protection of the Internet. FRP (Factory Reset Protection).
If the device is stuck on the Mi or Android logo after the reboot, the system partition may be damaged or the update interrupted, this will require the device to be flashed through the Mi Flash Tool utility in Fastboot mode. This is a more complex procedure that requires downloading a firmware image for a particular model (Prada, Prime, X).
Account protection and data security
The issue of data security when resetting a Xiaomi phone is particularly acute. Standard Wipe Data procedure marks memory cells as free, but in theory data can be recovered by specialists using special equipment. If you sell the phone or transfer it to an unauthorized person, it is recommended to take additional measures.
Once you reset and set up your initial setup (language selection, Wi-Fi connection) without logging into your accounts, fill your device’s internal memory with junk data. Download large video files or install heavy games until the memory is full. Then reset. This double overwrite procedure makes it much harder to recover the original data.
- 🔒 Delete your Mi Account before resetting to the Settings menu.
- 🔒 Turn off the “Find Device” function in the security settings.
- 🔒 Extract. SD-map SIM-pre-registration.
- 🔒 After a reset, do not sign in to your main Google account if the phone is for sale.
Compliance with these rules ensures that your personal correspondence, photos and passwords do not fall into the wrong hands. Android by default encrypts user data, and after reset, the encryption keys are destroyed, making reading the residual information almost impossible for the average user.
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A full reset via Recovery (Wipe All Data) is a more reliable cleaning method than a simple reset via menu, as it affects all memory partitions, including cache and temporary files.