The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, but even it isn’t immune to system failures, viruses, or “brakes” after a long period of use. Hard Reset (a full factory reset) often becomes the only solution when the phone stops turning on, freezes on the logo, or doesn’t respond to touch. However, an improper procedure can turn the device into a “brick” – especially if it’s a model with a locked bootloader.
In this article, you will find three working methods for resetting the Redmi 5A (including methods for locking the screen), unique nuances for this model (for example, the features of working with Mi Account after reset), as well as instructions for data recovery and solving typical problems. All steps are tested on MIUI firmware 9-12 and are relevant for the Redmi 5A versions with 16/32 GB of memory.
What is Hard Reset and When You Need It
Hard reset (or hard reset) is the complete erasure of all user data and return of the smartphone to the state of “out of the box”.
- 📱 Installed applications and their data
- 📷 Photos, videos and music in internal memory
- 🔑 Settings Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accounts Google/Mi
- 📋 SMS, Call log, contacts (if not synchronized)
Redmi 5A Hard Reset is required in the following cases:
- 🐢 The phone is slowing down, applications are constantly flying out.
- 🔄 Hangs on the Mi logo or in the reboot cycle.
- 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock/PIN-Code and Find Device doesn’t help.
- 🦠 Suspicion of a virus or malware.
- 📦 Preparation for sale/transfer of the device.
⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A firmware MIUI 10+ After reset, you may need to enter the data of the Mi Account associated with the device earlier. If you do not remember the username / password, unlocking through the official Xiaomi service will take up to 7 days.
Preparing for resetting: what to do in advance
Before you drop Redmi 5A, follow the following steps:
- Save your important data. Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or physical backup on your PC. On Redmi 5A, for this:
- Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged - if discharged through Recovery, discharge below 20% can interrupt the process.
- Find out the firmware version. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you choose the right reset method.
- Unplug accounts. Delete Google Account and Mi Account in your settings if you plan to sell the phone.
If the screen is locked and you can’t access the settings, skip this step – but be prepared for the fact that after the reset, proof of ownership through the Mi Account will be required.
I made a backup of contacts and photos.|Battery charge >50%|I got the version. MIUI|Untie accounts (if possible)|Prepared the cable. USB (PC-based)-->
Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (if the phone is working)
The easiest method is through the MIUI interface, which is suitable if the phone turns on and responds to touch.
- Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
- Go to the section Additional → Backup and Reset.
- Select Settings Reset.
- Click Delete all data and confirm the action.
The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process. It will take 3-7 minutes -- don't interrupt it! Once you're done, you'll see the screen of the initial setup, just like after you've bought it.
⚠️ Attention: If on Redmi 5A If you have custom firmware installed (e.g. LineageOS), this method may not work).
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If after reset, the phone asks for a password from Mi Account, but you do not remember it - try to restore access through account.xiaomi.com. You have 5 attempts to enter before completely locking the device.
Method 2: Hard Recovery Mode (for locked phone)
If Redmi 5A doesn't turn on, freezes on the screensaver or the screen is locked, use Recovery, which works even without access to the system.
- Turn off the phone. Press the power button for 10 seconds if it doesn't respond.
- Press the button combination: Volume up + Power. Hold until the Mi logo appears.
- Select a language. Use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation.
- Go to Wipe Data. In some versions of Recovery, this item is called Wipe & Reset.
- Select Wipe All Data. Confirm action.
- Wait until it's finished. Then it says Data wipe complete.
- Reboot your phone. Select Reboot → Reboot to System.
If the phone is again hanging on the logo after the reboot, repeat the procedure or try Method 3 (via Fastboot).
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery won't open | Volume button malfunctions | Use ADB or Fastboot (Method 3) |
| After reset, asks for Mi Account | The phone was tied to the account. | Restor access or contact Xiaomi service |
| Discharge interrupted by 50% | Memory or firmware damaged | Use your phone via the Mi Flash Tool |
What to do if you recover in Chinese?
Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)
If the first two methods didn’t work, try resetting via Fastboot mode.You’ll need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and an ADB/Fastboot utility.
- Install the drivers. Download the Mi USB Driver and install it on your PC.
- Connect the phone to your PC. Turn off Redmi 5A, then press Volume Down + Power until the hare in the ear-headed hat (Fastboot logo) appears.
- Open the command line. In the ADB folder (e.g., C:\platform-tools), press Shift + right mouse button and select Open PowerShell window here.
- Enter commands in turn: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the phone) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot
If the phone still doesn't work after the reboot, the firmware may be damaged, in which case you'll need to completely flash it through the Mi Flash Tool.
⚠️ Attention: fastboot erase commands permanently delete data from the userdata section. If you are not sure about your actions, contact the service center.
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Fastboot reset is the most reliable method for a Redmi 5A with a damaged system, but requires command line skills.
Data recovery after hard reset
If you didn't backup in advance, the chances of getting your data back depend on whether the memory was overwritten after the reset.
- 🔍 Recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver. Connect your phone to your PC MTP And scan your internal memory.
- 📱 Cloud Services: Check Mi Cloud (if sync is enabled) or Google Photos (for media files).
- 💾 Local backups: If you have backed up through MIUI, Backup file can be stored in a folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup memory.
Important: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset, which reduces the chances of recovering old files. If the data is critical, contact a data recovery lab (for example, Hetzner Recovery or ACE Lab).
For Redmi 5A with a corrupted file system (ext4), the chances of recovery are lower than for devices with F2FS. This is due to the features of memory implementation in Xiaomi budget models.
Frequent post-reset problems and their solutions
Even after a successful hard reset, the Redmi 5A can be unstable. Let's look at typical situations and how to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Phone asks for Mi Account after reset | Find Device Protection Activated | Restor your account or wait for automatic unlock (up to 72 hours) |
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth not enabled | Failure in the BCM4339 module (Typical for Redmi 5A) | Reset your network settings or reflash the module via Fastboot |
| The battery goes down fast. | Battery calibration is lost | Completely discharge and charge the phone 2-3 times |
| The camera or speaker is not working. | Damaged drivers after reset | Update your firmware through Updater or flash your phone again |
If the Redmi 5A starts to overheat after reset, check the processor boot in Settings → Battery. Often the fault is background MIUI processes, which can be manually disabled:
Settings → Permissions → Autostart💡
After a hard reset, disable automatic MIUI update in Settings → About Phone → System Update. New firmware versions may contain Redmi 5A-specific bugs (such as sensor issues in MIUI 12).