How to return Xiaomi Redmi 6A to factory settings: 3 working methods + FAQ

Why Redmi 6A Reset Could Be a Salvage for Your Smartphone

Resetting the Xiaomi Redmi 6A to factory settings is a radical but often necessary step to solve a whole range of problems. Imagine: the phone started to slow down after a year of active use, apps spontaneously close, and the battery goes down in half a day. Or worse, you picked up a virus through a suspicious APK, and now banner ads pop up on the screen even in lockdown. In 80% of these cases, hard reset helps restore the device to its former speed and stability.

But it's not that simple. Redmi 6A, released in 2018, has its own features: it does not have an unlocked bootloader out of the box, and some MIUI firmware hides a reset point in the recovery menu. In addition, after a reset, you will have to reconfigure the Mi Account if it was tied, otherwise you risk getting a locked device. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of reset (including emergency), tell you how to prepare to not lose important data, and warn against the typical mistakes that turn a smartphone into a brick.

It's important to understand that reset is not a panacea. If your Redmi 6A overheats because of a bloated battery or doesn't turn on after a fall, software manipulation is powerless. In such cases, replacement of components is required. But if the problem is in the software - welcome!

Preparation for resetting: what to do before the procedure begins

The first rule of any reset is that all user data will be erased forever, not just for photos and videos, but also for:

• 📱 Contacts (if not synced to Google Account or Mi Cloud)
• 🔑 Saved passwords from Wi-Fi and applications
• 🎮 Game states (if no link to the developer account)
• 📝 Notes and SMS (if no backup was used)

There are two regular ways to create a backup on Redmi 6A:

1. Through Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup. Make sure you have enough space (free 5GB).
2. Local copy: in Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local backup. The file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.

Create a backup copy of important data|Remember the username/password from the Mi Account|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Delete SD-card (if any)|Disable Google FRP (if you plan to sell your phone)-->

Pay special attention to Mi Account. Once reset, the phone will require you to enter the account information that was tied to the procedure. If you forget the password, it can take up to 72 hours to unlock (as per Xiaomi policy), in the worst case, the device will remain locked forever.

• 🔓 Remember your email and password from your account
• 📱 The phone is not tied to someone else’s account (for example, if you bought a used one)
• 🌐 There is access to the Internet for authorization after resetting

💡

If you bought the Redmi 6A handheld, ask the previous owner to untie the device from your Mi Account via account.xiaomi.com under Device Management.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the safest way)

This is a good way to turn on your phone and you can log in, and the main advantage is that the device is at a minimal risk of bricking, and the instructions are valid for all MIUI versions on the Redmi 6A (including MIUI 12.5 Enhanced Edition).

Steps for discharge:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select Additional.
3. Slip on backup and reset.
4. Select Settings Reset.
5. Click Delete all data (may be called Reset Settings depending on the firmware version).
6. Enter the pattern lock or PIN-code, if requested.
7. Confirm the action by clicking Reset the phone.

The process will take 3-7 minutes. The phone will reboot and start with the screen of the initial settings, as after purchase. On Redmi 6A with firmware older than MIUI 11, after reset, an error may appear: "Failed to verify the authenticity of the device" - this is treated by re-binding the Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: If you used Device Protection in Mi Account (activated when "Find Device" is activated), after resetting, the phone will require you to enter your account password, even if you have untied it before!

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

This is a good idea if Redmi 6A:

• 🔄 Hangs on the logo. MI loading
• 🖥️ It does not respond to touch (but the screen is working)
• 🔋 It is discharged to zero and does not turn on after charging.

To enter Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the Power button + Volume Up button at the same time.
3. Hold on for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and recovery menu appear.

In the Recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

1. Select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset in newer versions).
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
3. Wait until the end (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
4. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Yeah, through the settings menu.|Yes, through Recovery.|No, but I want to try.|No, I don't plan on.|I don't know what it is.-->

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 6A With an unlocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery can result in a loss TWRP (If it's installed, then after the procedure, you're going to have to re-stitch the custom recaveri.

Method 3: Reset via Mi Account (remote)

This is a good option if you lose your phone or it's stolen, but you have access to your Mi Account, and it only works if you:

• 📶 The device is enabled mobile Internet or Wi-Fi
• 🔄 In the settings activated option Find the device
• 🔋 Battery level above 15%

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Device Management section, select your Redmi 6A.

Remote reset has limitations:

• ❌ It does not work if the phone is off or without the internet.
• ❌ Does not reset Google settings FRP (Google account data will be required after rebooting)
• ❌ It can take up to 24 hours if the device is not online.

💡

Remote reset via Mi Account is the only way to regain control of a stolen phone, but it does not guarantee that data from the memory card (if it was inserted) will be deleted.

What to do if Redmi 6A does not turn on after reset

If after any of the described procedures the phone:

• 🔴 Does not respond to the power button
• 🔄 Hangs on the Mi logo or download animation
• 🖥️ Shows a black screen with the inscription No command

So, something went wrong. Here's the algorithm.

1. Check the battery: plug it into charge for 30 minutes. Sometimes after reset, the power controller resets and shows a false 0%.
2. Try going to Fastboot: press Power + Volume down for 10 seconds. If you have a hare in a hat-eared hat, you have a phone in Fastboot mode, and you can flash it through MiFlash.
3. Check the integrity of the firmware: if before reset you installed custom ZIP-files may have been damaged by a boot or system partition. EDL Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account).

If the phone does not show signs of life at all (it does not vibrate, does not warm up, does not light up the charging indicator), the problem may be:

• 🔋 Fully discharged battery (needs direct run through the LPT-port)
• 🔌 Damaged power plume or power button
• 💾 A broken memory chip (sweeter station required)

How to recover data after reset (if there is no backup)

If you haven't backed up, the chances of returning deleted files depend on whether you've written data to your phone after the reset, and if you haven't, you can try recovery software:

For recovery via PC:

1. Connect Redmi 6A to your computer in MTP mode (if the phone is turned on).
2. Run the program and select the type of files to scan.
3. Wait until it is completed (may take a few hours).
4. Save recovered files to your PC – don’t write them back to your phone so as not to erase the remaining data.

⚠️ Note: Recover data from Redmi's internal memory 6A When you reset, it only works 30 to 40 percent. If you write new files to your phone, you get zero odds. For critical data, use professional services like DriveSavers (but it's expensive. $300).

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Redmi 6A