Hard Resets Xiaomi Mi 9: 3 working ways to reset to factory settings

The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, remains a popular smartphone due to its powerful hardware and current updates. But even such a reliable device can eventually start to slow down, produce errors or require a complete reboot of the system. Hard Reset is a radical method of returning the phone to a factory state that solves 90% of software problems, from endless reboots to locking the screen.

In this article, three proven ways to make a hard reset on the Mi 9 (including the Mi 9 SE and Mi 9T models), detailed instructions with photos of the stages, as well as answers to key questions: what to do if the smartphone does not respond to buttons, how to avoid data loss and what errors can occur in the process. If you have never performed a reset yourself, do not worry: we will analyze each step so that even a beginner can cope without the risk of “bricking” the device.

What is Hard Reset and When You Need It

Hard reset is a complete reset of all settings and data of the smartphone to the state of "out of the box." Unlike soft reset, which simply restarts the device, hard reset removes:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data (including cache)
• 📁 Personal files: photos, videos, music (if stored in the phone’s memory, not on the phone) SD-map)
• 🔑 Google accounts, Mi Accounts and other linked profiles
• ⚙️ All system settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen brightness, etc.)

When to resort to hard reset:

• 🐢 Phone slows down, apps constantly fly out, and cleaning the cache does not help.
• 🔒 You have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-screen-lock.
• 🤖 Smartphone infected with a virus that is not removed by antivirus.
• 🔄 After a failed update MIUI The device hung on the Xiaomi logo.
• 📦 Before selling or transferring a phone to another user.

⚠️ Note: If your Mi 9 is locked through Mi Account (Xiaomi account), the hard reset will not remove the lock. Once reset, the phone will require you to enter the data of the associated account!

Before you start, make sure that:

Backup of important data (contacts, photos, messages)

Charge your phone at least 50% (optimal – 70-80%)

Found a USB cable (in case of reset via PC)

Memorized data from Google and Mi Account (if the phone is tied)

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Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (if the phone is turned on)

This is the easiest and safest method that works if your smartphone is stable, but you want to get it back to factory settings, like before selling or to eliminate small glitches.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Click Backup and Reset (in some versions of MIUI, the item may be called Additional → Reset).
4. Select Reset (or Reset all settings).
5. The system will be asked to PIN-code or pattern lock (if installed).
6. Confirm the action by clicking Delete Everything or Reset the phone.

It takes 3-5 minutes. When it's done, the phone automatically reboots and suggests that you configure it as new. If you're planning to sell the device, don't enter your accounts at this point, just turn it off.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware may have a “This device is locked” error after a reset, which means that the phone is tied to Mi Account. To unlock it, you will need to enter the username and password from the account that was tied to the reset.

If the settings menu is not available (for example, because of a screen lock), move on to the next method.

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

Recovery Mode is a service menu built into every Android smartphone that allows you to reset even when the system is not booting. The Xiaomi Mi 9 uses MIUI Recovery with a sina-based interface, but it is easy to manage.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press the volume button (+) and the power button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
4. Select a language from the menu (usually English and Chinese) to navigate, use volume buttons, and confirm the power button.
5. Select Wipe Data (or in Chinese version).
6. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data (or similar).
7. Wait until the process is complete (the screen will display the inscription Data wipe complete).
8. Select Reboot → Reboot to System to reboot.

If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of the items:

⚠️ Note: If after reset via Recovery, the phone is stuck on the Xiaomi logo for more than 10 minutes - this is a sign of damaged firmware. In this case, you will need to reflash the device via Fastboot (method 3).

If Recovery Mode is not available (for example, the phone does not respond to buttons), try connecting it to charge for 30 minutes - sometimes a discharged battery blocks the login to the service menu.

Method 3: Fastboot reset (if Recovery doesn't work)

Fastboot is a firmware mode that allows you to control your smartphone from a computer, and you need it if you:

• 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo and does not load.
• 🚫 Recovery Mode is unavailable or gives an error.
• 🔧 Refuse the device after a failed update.

This method will require:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better than the one that came with the kit).
• 📥 Mi Flash Tool (you can download from the official website of Xiaomi).
• 📂 Firmware for Xiaomi Mi 9 (version of Fastboot) ROM).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the volume down button (-) and the power button for 10 seconds at the same time. Release when the hare in the ear hat appears on the screen (Fastboot logo).
3. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
4. Run the Mi Flash Tool on PC.
5. Press Select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware (file with the extension.tgz).
6. At the bottom of the program, select Clean All mode (complete cleaning).
7. Press Flash and wait for the process to complete (10-15 minutes).
8. After successful firmware, the phone will restart automatically.

If the Mi Flash Tool gives an error "Couldn't find fastboot devices", run the command line (on behalf of the administrator):

fastboot devices

If the list of devices is empty – install Xiaomi drivers manually or try another one. USB-port.

If the phone does not turn on after firmware is flashed through Fastboot or if it gives an error "Invalid image", this means that the firmware is not suitable for your model. Download the correct version from the official Xiaomi website (for Mi 9 model code - cepheus).

Frequent mistakes in hard reset and how to avoid them

Even with the correct following of the instructions, problems can arise, and let's look at the most common mistakes and their solutions:

If none of these methods worked, there may be a hardware problem (e.g., a motherboard is damaged), in which case, contact the service center.

💡

Before selling the Xiaomi Mi 9, not only do a hard reset, but untie the device from the Mi Account. To do this, go to account.xiaomi.com, select your phone from the list of devices and click Delete.

How to recover data after a hard reset

If you have not made a backup, the chances of returning deleted data depend on the type of reset that was performed:

• 📱 Reset via the settings menu: Data is deleted programmatically and can be recovered using special utilities (e.g. Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver — 60-70%.
• 🔧 Dumping through Recovery/Fastboot: Data is deleted at a low level and its recovery is unlikely (10-30% chance).

Instructions for recovery (for the first case):

1. Download and install the Dr.Fone (or analogue) program on your PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer via USB (enable debugging over USB in the developer settings if the phone is working).
3. Select the Android Data Recovery mode.
4. Follow the instructions of the program (usually root access is required).
5. After scanning, select files for recovery (photos, messages, contacts).

Important: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset, which reduces the chances of a successful recovery.

💡

The only reliable way to save data is to back up before the reset. Use built-in MIUI tools (Settings → About Phone → Backup) or cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions