How to reset Xiaomi Redmi 5A: a full guide with photos and videos

Why Xiaomi Redmi 5A should be reset and when to do it

Resetting the Redmi 5A to factory settings is a radical but effective way to bring the smartphone back to its previous performance.This budget device, released in 2017, eventually begins to “brake” due to filled memory, fragmented files and accumulated OS errors.

First, if the phone has become unbearably slow — apps take a long time to open, animations twitch, and multitasking has become anguish. Second, resetting helps with system failures: endless reboots, application installation errors or sudden MIUI crashes. The third common situation is preparing the device for sale. Without a complete reset, your personal data (photos, messages, passwords) can remain in memory and be restored by a new owner.

But there are some hidden nuances, too: For example, if you reset your Recovery on a Redmi 5A, you might need to re-authorize your Mi Account, without it, your phone will turn into a brick. And if you forget your Xiaomi account password, it takes up to 72 hours to unlock, so make sure you check the email and phone number bindings to your Mi Account before reset, which will save you nerves.

Preparing for resetting: what to save and how not to lose data

The rule is, reset wipes everything. On Redmi 5A, that means delete:

• 📸 Photos and videos (including hidden folders) DCIM/.thumbnails)
• 💬 Communications in SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram and other messengers
• 📱 Contacts (unless synced with Google or Mi Cloud)
• 🎮 Save games (even if the game is tied to an account, progress can reset)
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords, logins saved in the browser, keys VPN

To avoid losses, use cloud services or manual copying:

1. Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable sync for contacts, notes, calendar. Xiaomi Cloud gives 5 GB for free.
2. Google Drive: In Settings → Accounts → Google activate backup of app, contact and Wi-Fi data.
3. Local Copy: Connect Redmi 5A to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode) and copy DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp folders to your hard drive.

Pay special attention to applications with two-factor authentication (such as Telegram or banking programs). SMS-code to an old number that is no longer tied to the phone. untie the device in advance in the security settings of these services.

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

This method is suitable if the phone is turned on and you remember the pattern lock or PIN-The main advantage is the minimum risk of errors, because the process is controlled by the system. MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Tap Reset (on some versions of MIUI, the item is called Erase All Data).
4. The system will prompt you to enter a password from your Mi Account (if it is linked) enter it or skip the step if the account has not been added.
5. Confirm the action by clicking Reset the phone.

It takes 3-5 minutes, and the phone will reboot, and you'll see the initial setup screen, like when you buy it, and if you see a "failed to reset" error at this point, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge (should be) ≥30%).
• 📶 Internet connection stability (reset may require account verification).
• 🔄 Availability of updates MIUI (Sometimes bugs are fixed in new versions).

The battery charge has been checked (≥30%)

Backup of important data is made

Bank cards and accounts are untied

Password from Mi-account is remembered

All off. VPN proxy-->

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

If Redmi 5A is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touches or is blocked after a failed update, Recovery Mode will help.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (squeeze the power for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold for 5-7 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see a menu with English or Chinese text (depending on the MIUI version).

Next:

• 📱 Use Volume buttons for navigation and Power to select.
• 🔍 Find Wipe Data (or Clear Data) and confirm your choice.
• 🔄 Select Wipe All Data and wait until it is completed.
• 🔙 Return to the main menu and select Reboot to reboot.

If you reset your phone with Recovery and you don't remember it, you'll have to contact Xiaomi's support team to unlock it, which can take up to 3 days.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 5A (e.g. Global Stable 10.2.2.0) disappears after resetting via Recovery IMEI. This makes the phone unusable for calls. To avoid a problem, write down before resetting. IMEI (Type *#06# and save it in a safe place.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is used if:

• 🔧 You need to delete user data without resetting the firmware.
• 🛠️ The phone doesn’t even load in Recovery.
• 📦 You need to install custom firmware after resetting.

The work will require:

• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot (You can download it on the Android website).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
• 📄 Fastboot.exe file (included in Android) SDK Platform Tools).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off Redmi 5A and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (screen with a hare in a hat-eared).
2. Connect the phone to the PC.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and check the connection command: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
4. Run the reset command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

Warning: Fastboot commands can damage the bootloader if entered incorrectly. For example, the fastboot erase system will remove the firmware and the phone will stop turning on. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions.

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If the phone is stuck on the Mi logo after reset via Fastboot, try pinching Volume Up + Power for 20 seconds for a forced reboot.

Frequent mistakes after resetting and how to fix them

Even after a successful reset, the Redmi 5A can behave in an unstable way.

1.The phone asks for a password from the Mi Account after the reset

This is the theft protection activated on all Xiaomis with MIUI 8 and newer.

• 📧 Try to restore access via the recovery form (you will need an email or phone number).
• 📞 If the number is tied, ask for it. SMS-code.
• ⏳ If nothing works, contact Xiaomi with a check to buy it – unlocking it will take up to 72 hours.

2. no net after reset (missing IMEI)

Symptoms: no cell signal, settings show IMEI: null.

• 🔧 Damage to the nvram file (responsible for IMEI) when discharged through Recovery.
• 📦 Incorrect firmware (for example, a version for another region is installed).

Decision:

1. Restore the IMEI through the engineering menu (type ##4636## → Phone Information → Select SIM → enter the original IMEI).
2. If the menu is not available, swipe your phone through Mi Flash with the Clean All tick.

3. Rapid discharge of the battery after discharge

This is normal in the first 2-3 days, the system indexes files and optimizes work.

• 🔋 Calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions.
• 🛠️ Enable Power Saving Mode in Battery Settings.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (new firmware optimized energy consumption).

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If the phone overheats after reset, check the processor in the CPU Monitor app. Often the background processes of Google Play Services are to blame - they can be limited in the battery settings.

How to avoid resetting in the future: prevention for Redmi 5A

To avoid resorting to radical measures, follow these tips:

1. Clean the cache regularly: Go to Settings → Storage → Cache data and press Clear. Do this once a month.
2. Turn off app autoload: In Settings → Permissions → Autorun, turn off autoboot for unnecessary programs (especially games and social networks).
3. Use light firmware: Redmi 5A will be suitable custom firmware based on Android Go (for example, LineageOS 16).
4. Control background activity: In Settings → Battery → Battery Use Check which applications are using up charge in the background.

If the phone is still slowing down, try rolling back the firmware to an earlier version of MIUI. For example, MIUI 9 runs on the Redmi 5A more stable than MIUI 11, despite having fewer features.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions