Hard Resets on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: 3 ways to completely reset + reinstatement

Xiaomi Redmi 8T — One of the brand's most popular budget smartphones, even though it's not immune to software failures, viruses or "cluttering" the system. But a wrong reset can turn a phone into a brick or erase important data without the ability to recover it.

In this article – three proven ways to make a hard reset on Redmi 8T (including firmware models MIUI 11/12/13), detailed warnings about the risks, as well as tips on how to prepare for the procedure and what to do if the reset did not work. 8T (Snapdragon processor 665, unlocked).

What is Hard Reset and When You Need It

Hard Reset (or wipe) data/factory reset is a forced return of the smartphone to the state "out of the box:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data (including cache)
• 🔑 Google Accounts, Mi Accounts, Passwords and Graphic Keys
• 📁 Personal files (photos, videos, music) – if they are stored in internal memory
• ⚙️ All system settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, display)

On the Redmi. 8T Hard Reset is used in the following cases:

• 🔄 The smartphone is constantly rebooted or “hangs” on the logo MI
• 🔓 Forgotten pattern lock, PIN-lock-screen code
• 🦠 Suspicion of a virus or malware that is not removed by an antivirus
• 🐢 Strong "brake" system after long use
• 📦 Preparing the phone for sale or transfer to another user

⚠️ Attention: If Redmi 8T was bought from hand and tied to other people's accounts Mi Account or Google, hard reset will not remove the activation lock (FRP). To unlock, you will need the original login / password of the previous owner.

Before you start resetting, check if a more gentle solution will help:

• 🔋 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → «Restart in Safe Mode. If the problem has disappeared, the third-party app is to blame.
• 🧹 Clear the cache through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Preparing for hard reset: 5 mandatory steps

Unprepared resets can cause data loss or firmware damage. Follow this checklist to avoid problems:

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, SMS)

Check the battery level (minimum 50%)

Make sure you know the username/password from Mi Account (if the phone is tied)

Download the original firmware for Redmi 8T (in case of restoration)

Prepare. USB-cable and computer (for methods via Fastboot)-->

1. Data backup

Hard Reset will delete all files from the internal memory.

• 📸 Photos and videos: copy to your computer or to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 📞 Contacts: sync with Google Account or export to.vcf file.
• 💬 SMS And calls: use apps like this SMS Backup & Restore.
• 🎮 Game saves: link accounts to Google Play Games or Mi Game Center.

2. Battery charge check

If the battery runs out during reset, the phone can turn into a "brick." Make sure the charge level is at least 50%. 8T Do not turn on, charge it at least 20-30 minutes.

3.Mi Account data

After a hard reset, the phone may require you to enter a username/password from the Mi Account that was previously linked.

• Try to restore access via account.xiaomi.com.
• If the phone is bought with hands – ask the previous owner to untie the device in Settings → Mi Account → Remove the device.

4. Download firmware (in case of recovery)

If the reset doesn't go as planned, you may need to reflash your phone. 8T (codename willow) from the site MIUI Download. Choose the Stable version, not the Developer).

5. Tools for Fastboot Mode

If you plan to reset via Fastboot, install on your computer:

• 🖥️ ADB Fastboot Tools: Download from the official Android website.
• 🔌 Xiaomi Drivers: Mi Phone Manager for Windows.

💡

If the phone doesn't turn on after a hard reset, try pressing the power button for 20-30 seconds. Sometimes the system "falls asleep" after reset due to a failure in the power controller.

Method 1: Hard Resets via the settings menu (the safest)

This method is suitable if:

• ✅ The phone is turned on and reacts to touch.
• ✅ Remember your password/pattern lock.
• ✅ You need to reset the settings without losing data on the memory card (if it is installed).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Tap on Additional (or Advanced Settings in New Versions) MIUI).
4. Select Restore and Reset → Reset settings.
5. Click Reset your phone settings and confirm the action.
6. If you ask. PIN-code or password - enter it.
7. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the phone will restart.

What to do if the menu is not available?

• 🔒 If you have forgotten your password, use Method 2 (via Recovery).
• 🖱️ If the sensor is not working, connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-adapter.

💡

Resetting through the settings menu is the safest way, but it requires a desktop screen and a known password. If these conditions are not met, proceed to the following methods.

Method 2: Hard Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on)

This method is used when:

• 🔓 The phone is locked with a pattern lock/PIN-code.
• 🔄 The smartphone “hangs” on the screensaver MI or cyclically reboot.
• ⚙️ You need to reset the settings without logging in.

How to Sign In to Recovery Mode on Redmi 8T:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press and hold the power button + volume button.
3. When the logo will appear MI, Release the power button, but keep holding the Volume Up.
4. After 5-10 seconds, you will see the Recovery Mode menu (in English or Chinese).

How to make a reset in Recovery:

1. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
2. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data)
3. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
4. Wait until the process is completed (the process will take 2-5 minutes).
5. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

Possible problems and solutions:

• 🌐 Menu in Chinese: Look for the characters "" (clear data) and "" (reboot).
• 🔋 Phone turns off in Recovery: charge it to at least 30% or connect to charging before entering mode.
• 🔒 After reset asks Mi Account: enter the account details that were tied before the reset.

⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 8T The Wipe Data item may be called Factory Reset or Format Data. Don't confuse it with Wipe Cache - it's just cache clearing, not a complete reset!

Method 3: Hard Resets via Fastboot (for power users)

This is the most radical method, and it requires a computer.

• 🔧 Recovery Mode is unavailable or damaged.
• 📱 The phone doesn’t respond to buttons or the screen doesn’t work.
• 🔄 You need to re-flash the device after a failed reset.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 🛠️ Established ADB and Fastboot (see section “Preparation»).
• 📄 Firmware for Redmi 8T (Download Fastboot-ROM from the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off Redmi 8T.
2. Press the power button + volume down button to enter Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in the macOS/Linux) and do it:

fastboot devices

(You should have your Redmi serial number. 8T.)

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

If you need to check the phone:

1. Unpack the downloaded firmware (Fastboot-ROM) in the folder.
2. In the command line, go to this folder and do:

fastboot flash all

(The process will take 5-15 minutes. Don't turn off your phone!)

Warnings:

• 🚨 Don't interrupt the process! USB or computer during firmware will cause the phone to break down.
• 🔧 If the fastboot flash all command doesn’t work, try fastboot flash all. -w (data-cleaning).
• 📱 After firmware, the first run can take up to 10 minutes - don't panic.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI for Redmi 8T The fastboot erase userdata command may not work due to dm-verity protection. In this case, use the full firmware via fastboot flash all.

What to do after a hard reset

After a successful reset of Redmi 8T It's going to come on like new:

1. 🌍 Choose a language and region.
2. 🔌 Connect to Wi-Fi.
3. 🔑 Sign in to Mi Account (if the phone was tied).
4. 📱 Set up the lock screen (PIN, graphical key).
5. ☁️ Restore data from backup (if you did backup).

Tips for optimal setting:

• 🔋 Turn off auto-update applications: Settings → Annexes → Auto-update → «Wi-Fi only" or "off.».
• 🧹 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
• 🛡️ Set a strong password: Avoid simple graphic keys (they are easy to pick up).
• 📦 Don’t install unnecessary apps: they eat away at memory and slow down the system.

If there are problems after the reset:

• 🔄 The phone is still glitching: try flashing the latest version MIUI via Fastboot.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: Calibrate (discharge to 0% → charge up to 100% without interruption).
• 📶 No network: check the settings APN In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).

💡

After the hard Redmi reset 8T It works faster, but it can slow down again over time. To avoid this, clean the cache regularly and do not install applications from unverified sources.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when hard resetting, and here are the most common ways to prevent them:

How to recover data after a failed reset?

If you forgot to backup but the files are not overwritten by the new system, try:

• 🔍 Recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (require root rights).
• ☁️ Cloud services: check out Google Photos, Mi Cloud, VK Telegram – the data may have been synchronized automatically.
• 💾 Memory card: if the files were stored on SD-map, they won't be affected.

If the phone is not turned on after reset:

1. Try to press the power button for 30 seconds.
2. Connect to charging for 1-2 hours (possibly the battery is completely discharged).
3. Repeat the reset via Fastboot (Method 3).
4. If nothing helps - contact the service center (maybe damaged motherboard).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions