The Redmi series has proven to be reliable devices that can last for years, but even the most stable system sometimes requires a complete cleanup.The Redmi Note 4X model, built on the Snapdragon 625 processor, remains popular, and owners often face the need to return it to its original state.
The back-to-back procedure removes all user data, including contacts, photos, installed apps and account settings. Hard Reset is a radical method that helps solve problems with freezes, cyclical reboots or slow operating system operation. It is important to understand that once the process is complete, it will be impossible to recover deleted information without prior backup.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to clean up your device memory, including the standard settings menu and Recovery mode. We will also focus on bypassing Mi and Google account security, and look at the typical errors that occur in the process.
Preparing the device for a complete data reset
Before you start taking action, you need to complete a number of preparatory steps that will secure your data and ensure that the procedure is completed successfully. The first step is to back up all important information, you can use cloud services such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud, or transfer files to your computer or external drive.
Be sure to check the battery level. The process of formatting the system partition may take from 5 before 15 A sudden power outage at this point could damage the bootloader or operating system. 60-70%.
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Before the procedure begins, remove SIM-microSD card and memory card, if installed, to avoid accidental formatting of external media or loss of contacts.
You should also make sure you remember your Google account and Mi Account. Once reset, Android security will require authorization from an account that was previously synced to the device. If you forget your password, the phone will turn into a FRP-blocked (Factory Reset Protection) brick.
- 📱 Backup your contacts and photos to the cloud or PC.
- 🔋 Charge the smartphone battery to at least 70%.
- 🔑 Remember or write down passwords from Google and Mi accounts.
- 💾 Remove the memory card and SIM-pre-op.
Reset via the standard Android settings menu
The easiest and safest way to bring the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X back to factory status is to use the built-in operating system functionality, which is suitable for those cases where you have access to the desktop and the phone menu. It does not require a computer or special utilities.
To start, open the Settings app and look for Advanced Settings. In some versions of the MIUI shell, this item may be simply called "Advanced." Then select Recovery and Reset, where the system will warn you that all data will be deleted.
☑️ Check before reset via menu
You'll see a list of options on the screen, you'll need to select Settings Reset or Clear all data, and the system will request confirmation again, and possibly require you to enter a pattern lock or a digital pin code installed on the lock screen, and after confirmation, the cleaning process will begin, which will take a few minutes, after which the phone will restart.
⚠️ Note: If the phone has two-factor authorization enabled or specific enterprise security settings, the system may request additional verification before performing a reset.
Use Recovery Mode for Hard Reset
If the smartphone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo or doesn't respond to touches, the only way out is to use Recovery mode, a special diagnostic interface sewn into the device's memory that allows you to control the system at a low level, and enter this mode with a combination of physical buttons.
To get into the recovery menu, turn the device off completely. Then simultaneously press the Volume+ button and the Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, after which the power button can be released, continuing to hold the volume swing. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu opens.
In this mode, the touch screen is not working. Navigation is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system can offer two options: Wipe All Data (complete cleaning) and Reset Password (password reset).
| Action. | Control button | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Moving on the menu | Volume Up/Down | The cursor moves between points |
| Confirmation of choice | Power (Power) | Transition to the chosen submenu |
| Going back | Food (sometimes) | Getting up the level |
| Getting out of the regime | Reboot (on the menu) | Phone reboot |
After selecting the cleaning option, the system will ask you to confirm the action, often requiring you to select Confirm or enter the current year/month if it is a new version of MIUI. The formatting process will start, the progress of which will be displayed as a percentage.
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Resetting a forgotten password and locking the screen
One of the common reasons Redmi Note 4X users are looking for reset information is a forgotten pattern lock or pin code. Unfortunately, modern versions of Android don't allow you to just bypass security without losing data. Recovery is the only regular way to unlock the device, but it will inevitably lead to the deletion of all files.
There's a nuance about Google's Find Device feature, which is that if you activated it before you block it, then when you reset it will require you to enter a login and password from a Google account that you synced with earlier, which is FRP, which is not something that you can get around with simple formatting.
In some cases, if you have Mi Cloud enabled and Xiaomi’s Find Device feature enabled, you can try to remotely reset your password or clear the data via the i.mi.com web interface.
- 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock can only be removed by a complete reset.
- ☁️ Google or Mi Accounts are Required to Unblock After Reset.
- 🌐 Remote reset is possible only with an active connection to the network.
- ⚠️ Data when unlocked through reset will be irretrievably lost.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to bypass the lock FRP with the help of third-party software can lead to the final locking of the device IMEI Use only official methods of access recovery.
Deleting your Mi and Google account before the procedure
To avoid locking problems after a reset, it is strongly recommended to manually unplug all accounts before the procedure begins.This is especially true for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X owners who plan to sell or gift a smartphone. Ignoring this step can make the device useless for the new owner.
To delete your Google account, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync (or just Accounts). Select your email address and click Delete or Sign Out. Similar steps should be taken with your Mi Account: go to your Mi Account settings, enter your confirmation password, and select Log Out.
If you don't do this, the first time you set up after you reset, the phone will ask for a password. In the case of a Mi Account, the device can be remotely locked by the account owner at any time, even after you reset, if it connects to the Internet. Account binding is a powerful security tool, but also a source of headache when selling.
The table below shows the main differences between the types of locks that can be encountered:
| Type of lockdown | Cause of occurrence | Elimination |
|---|---|---|
| Lock screen | Forgotten PIN/pattern lock | Hard Reset via Recovery |
| Google FRP | Google account active before reset | Entering Google Account Data |
| Mi Account Lock | The "Find the device" function is enabled | Entering the Mi Account password |
| Bootloader (Bootloader) | Trying to reflash without unlocking | Official Unlocking through Mi Unlock |
Frequent problems and error solving in resetting
Owners of the Redmi Note 4X can experience various errors in the process of returning to factory settings. One common problem is the message "failed to reset" or the endless reboot cycle after the procedure. Often this is due to damage to the system partition or lack of space for temporary files when the crash.
If the phone goes to Bootloop after reset, try cleaning the Cache partition in Recovery mode. Select Wipe Cache (not to be confused with Wipe Data if you want to save data, but in our case the data is no longer important).
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If a standard reset via Recovery doesn’t help and the phone continues to freeze, the problem may lie in the physical wear and tear of flash memory, which requires a replacement of the memory module or board at the service center.
Another situation is that the phone is reset, but immediately after downloading again requires a password that you allegedly erased.This indicates that the reset was incorrect or FRP protection was activated. In such cases, sometimes repeated reset procedure (2-3 times in a row), which forcibly clears the protected memory areas.
And don't forget the hardware buttons. On older models like the Note 4X, the volume buttons can go off or oxidize. If the phone doesn't respond to the buttons pressing to enter Recovery, try changing the angle of the phone slightly or pressing the buttons at different forces. Sometimes it helps to connect the charger when the buttons are pressed.