Redmi 9 smartphones, including the Note, 9C, 9A and 9S, often become reliable companions in everyday life. However, over time, the MIUI operating system may become unstable, accumulate software errors or require complete deletion of personal data before selling. In such situations, the only effective solution is a factory reset (Hard Reset), which returns the device to its original state, as it was at the time of purchase.
This operation requires care, as the process permanently deletes all user data from the internal memory of the phone, this applies to photos, contacts, installed applications and saved passwords. Before starting any actions, you need to make sure that your steps are correct and you have a backup of important information. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods for restoring the health of your gadget.
There are several scenarios where an emergency system restart may be required, most often users encounter a forgotten pattern lock or a lost pattern lock. PIN-In other cases, the system can be endlessly rebooted or got stuck on the brand logo, and understanding the cause of the problem will help you choose the most appropriate method of solving the problem.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to take a number of preparatory steps to secure your data and prevent possible problems with activating the device after you reboot, and ignoring these steps can lead to the phone becoming a brick or blocked by your Google account.
First of all, back up all the important information. You can use Mi Cloud or Google Drive to save contacts, calendar and notes. Photos and videos are best copied to a computer or external drive, since the internal memory will be completely cleared.
- 📱 Charge the battery of the device to a minimum 50-60%, So that the process is not interrupted due to battery discharge.
- 🔑 Remember or write down the username and password from your Mi Account and Google account linked to your phone.
- 💾 Extract. SIM-microSD card and memory card, if installed so as not to accidentally damage their contents.
And you have to pay special attention to accounts. Android has a security mechanism called FRP. If you reset your settings without deleting your accounts, the phone will require you to enter a password from the last synchronized Google account the next time you turn on, and without that data, unlocking your device will be extremely difficult.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Method 1: Reset via the Settings Menu (Soft Reset)
The safest and easiest method is available to users who have access to the desktop and smartphone menu, which is suitable for routine cleaning of the system or preparing the gadget for transfer to another owner. MIUI.
To start, open the main menu and find the Settings icon. In the list that opens, you need to scroll down to the About Phone section. This is where the basic system management tools are located. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the Reset or Erase all data button.
Once you click, the system will alert you to the consequences, and you will be asked to enter the screen unlock password to confirm the operation, a security mechanism that prevents unauthorized users from accidentally deleting data, and the cleanup process will begin after confirmation, which can take from 5 to 15 minutes.
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Before resetting through the settings menu, perform forced data synchronization by clicking the “Sync” button in the Mi Account profile.
It's important to note that some versions of the firmware may have slightly different paths. Sometimes the option is in the Additional → Recovery and Reset menu. If you can't find the right item, search by settings by typing the word "reset" into the search bar at the top of the screen.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If your smartphone is not turning on, stuck on the logo, or you forgot your lock password, you will need to use Recovery Mode, a method that allows you to perform a hard reset even when the touch screen or system is not working.
Turn the device off completely first. If the phone is getting stuck and doesn't respond to commands, press the power button for 10-15 seconds to force the shutdown. Once the screen goes out, simultaneously press the Volume Up (+) and Power button. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume.
You'll be taken to the main Recovery menu, and the touch screen doesn't work, so you can control it by the buttons: Volume Up/down moves the cursor, and the Power button confirms the choice. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it.
⚠️ Warning: You may see a request for cleanup confirmation on the Recovery menu. Select Wipe All Data and then Confirm. Be careful, there's no going back without losing data.
Once the cleaning process is complete, the screen will show the message "Data wiped successfully." Press the return button or select Back to Main Menu, then Reboot → Reboot to System. The first system start after a reset will take longer than usual - this is normal.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
Method 3: Delete Data through Find My Device
The third option is if the phone is on, connected to the Internet, but you can't physically access it or the touch screen doesn't respond, which requires that the device activate Internet access and Find the Device.
You'll need a computer or another smartphone. Go to the official Google Find My Device website and log in to the same Google account used on the blocked Redmi 9. The system will automatically determine the location of the gadget and offer options.
Select the option Clean the device. Once confirmed, the command will be sent to the phone. Once the smartphone is online, it will receive a reset signal. This method also deletes all data completely and requires you to enter a Google password at the next authorization.
| Parameter | Through Settings. | Through Recovery. | Through Find My Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| I need access to the menu. | Yes. | No. | No. |
| We need the Internet. | Not necessarily. | No. | I'll be sure. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
| Risk of error | Minimum | Medium. | Minimum |
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Users may encounter various difficulties during the reset process, most often with account blocking or interruption, and understanding the nature of these errors will help to avoid panic and respond correctly to the situation.
One of the common problems is asking for a password after a reset that the user does not remember, which is FRP (Factory Reset Protection), the only legal way to get around it is to recall your account details or contact the service center with a purchase check confirming ownership.
If the phone is stuck in the cleaning process (the process takes more than 1 hour), try to perform a forced reboot by holding the power button for 15-20 seconds. In some cases, you may need to reflash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the recording process if the progress indicator is moving, this can damage partitions of memory and make it impossible to boot the system.
Also worth mentioning is the Mi Account issue: If you don't log out of your Xiaomi account before you reset, the phone will require you to enter your password when you first set it up, which is an additional measure of protection against theft, make sure you remember the login details, or untie the device through i.mi.com in advance.
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The most common mistake is ignoring Google and Mi accounts before resetting, which leads to a complicated unlocking procedure.
Primary adjustment after reset
Once the procedure is completed, the phone will restart and greet you with the language selection screen, and from now on, the device will be clean as new, and you will have to go through the standard procedure of initial setup of the Android operating system.
Follow the instructions on the screen: select a language, connect to a Wi-Fi network, check for updates and suggest that you restore data from a backup if you've created it before, and it's a great way to quickly bring your contacts and apps back to their place.
You'll be asked to log in to your Google account and Mi Account, enter the data you used before, and if you're planning to sell your phone, you don't have to go through this step, just turn off the device after you've selected the language.
- 🌐 Connect your smartphone to a stable Wi-Fi network for fast loading of system components.
- 🔐 Create a new strong password or set up fingerprint unlock.
- 📲 Install the necessary security updates through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
After the setup is completed, it is recommended to immediately check the operation of the main functions: the camera, speakers, microphone and touch screen, this will make sure that the reset was successful and no hardware malfunctions are detected.