Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are famous for their speed and optimization, but even they are not immune to software failures, freezes or accumulation of system debris. Often the only surefire solution to restore the device to working capacity is a complete reset to factory state. This procedure, known as Hard Reset, returns the gadget to the state “out of the box” by removing all user data and applications.
This can be done for a variety of reasons: you forgot the pattern lock, the system started to work unstable after the upgrade, or you just want to sell the phone and clean it of personal information. It is important to understand that this process is irreversible, so it should be approached with full responsibility and understanding of all the steps. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to return Redmi to factory parameters.
Before you take drastic action, make sure that the problem really requires such a radical intervention, sometimes it helps to simply clean the cache or remove recently installed applications. However, if you firmly believe that resetting is the only way out, then carefully follow the instructions below so as not to damage the device's software.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
The first and most critical step is to back up your data. Because Wipe Data completely destroys the information in your internal memory, photos, contacts and documents can be lost forever, it is recommended that you use the Mi Cloud cloud service or sync with your Google account to save important files.
Be sure to check the battery level. The reset process can take 10 to 30 minutes, and if the device turns off in the middle, it can damage system files and inability to boot further.
⚠️ Note: If your Mi Account has enabled the “Find Device” function, be sure to untie your account before resetting or remember your login and password. Otherwise, after turning on, the phone will require authorization and you will not be able to use it.
It’s also worth removing the SD card and Sim card if you don’t plan on formatting them. Although modern versions of MIUI typically ask for confirmation before erasing external drives, physical extraction will give you a 100% guarantee of security for your archives.
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Before resetting, take screenshots of important settings (APN access points, email settings) to quickly restore them to a clean system.
Method 1: Reset via the Settings Menu (Soft Reset)
This is the easiest and safest method available if you can unlock the screen and get into the smartphone menu, perfect for preparing your device for sale or fixing minor software bugs.
Next, scroll to the bottom and select About Phone. In the menu that opens, find the Settings Reset section (sometimes called Factory Reset or in the Advanced Settings sub-menu depending on the version of MIUI).
You will be given the choice of erasing all data or simply removing downloaded applications. To return to full factory state, you must select the option to erase all data, the system will warn you that all files will be destroyed, and ask you to enter the screen unlock password or Google/Mi Account to confirm the operation.
☑️ Checklist before pressing the reset button
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and the cleaning process will begin, and the screen can go out and light up several times — that's normal behavior. When you're done, you'll see a welcome screen, just like when you first turn on a new device.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is frozen, does not turn on or you can not get into the menu because of a forgotten password, Recovery Mode will help. This method allows you to run Wipe Data at the system level, bypassing the Android interface. To enter this mode, you need to turn off the device completely.
Press both the Volume Up and the Turn on button at the same time, hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up until the Recovery menu appears, and the volume buttons navigate the menu, and the power button selects.
Select the language (usually English and Chinese), then go to Wipe Data, and you will be offered two options: Wipe All Data (full reset) and Wipe All Data (Keep SMS, Contacts and Photos) (reset with data storage).
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with an updated security version may need to enter a screen unlock password after selecting a reset in Recovery.
Once the action is confirmed (usually you need to select Confirm), the memory partitions will be formatted. Progress will be displayed as a percentage. After the process, select Back to Main Menu and then Reboot -> Reboot to System.
What to do if the Recovery menu doesn’t appear?
Method 3: Reset via Mi Assistant and ADB
For more advanced users, there is a method of resetting via a computer using USB debugging (ADB), which is useful if the touch screen is partially not working, but the system responds to commands, and for this, the phone must have debugging mode on the Developer Menu.
Connect your smartphone to a PC that has Android SDK Platform Tools installed. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can proceed to the reset command.
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.FACTORY_RESETThis command initiates a standard reset process, similar to what happens through the settings menu. The phone will request on-screen confirmation (if it works) or reboot itself. It's a powerful tool, but it requires pre-prepared workspace.
There is also a Fastboot mode, which is triggered by pressing the power and volume down button (Volume Down). Although it is more difficult to directly reset data from there without firmware, the mere fact of logging into Fastboot confirms that the device's memory controller is intact, which is important in diagnosing "bricks."
What to do if your phone requires an account after a reset
Modern security systems Android and MIUI are equipped with protection against theft, if before reset on the device was entered Google account or Mi Account and turned on the Internet, after formatting the system will require the password from this account, this is done so that the thief could not use the stolen phone after reset.
If you forget your password, you can restore access through standard restore procedures on Google or Xiaomi sites, you need access to a linked phone number or backup email, without which it is almost impossible to unlock the device legally.
| Type of protection | What is required | Where to rebuild | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Account | Password from Mi-account | i.mi.com | High (without a password, the phone turns into a brick) |
| Google FRP | Password from Google | accounts.google.com | Medium (you can get around complex methods, but it is difficult) |
| Screen password | pattern lock/PIN | Only the dump. | Complete (data deleted upon reset) |
It's important to understand the difference between a screen password and an account password. Reset removes the screen password but activates account verification, so remembering passwords from cloud services is more important than remembering the screen unlock pin.
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Resetting via Recovery does not delete the anchor accounts, it only deletes user files and system settings.
Frequent problems and their solution
In the process of resetting, users often experience a freeze on the Mi or Android logo. If the phone is hanging on the screensaver for more than 15-20 minutes, try to perform a forced reboot by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. If that doesn't help, the system partition may be damaged.
Another common problem is the cyclic reboot, which is that the device turns on, shows the logo, and shuts down again, and in this case, simply resetting the menu won't help because you can't get into it, and the only way out is to recover the Mode or flash it through the computer.
- 📱 Touchscreen doesn't respond: Use USB-mouse-over OTG, to press buttons in the Recovery menu or when you first set up.
- 🔋 Phone turns off when reset: Connect the original charger. The formatting process is energy-intensive, and the old battery may not be able to withstand peak loads.
- 💾 The "Can't mount" error /data»: This indicates file system corruption. Requires formatting the Data partition via Recovery (Wipe Data -> Format Data).
If none of the software methods work and the phone continues to behave inadequately, there is a high probability of hardware malfunction, memory or motherboard problems are not solved by resetting, in which case Redmi requires a service center to diagnose hardware.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the reset process, even if you think that the phone is frozen. Interrupting the recording of system files can lead to complete failure of the device, which can only be fixed in the service.
Initial adjustment after reset
Once you have successfully completed the procedure and restarted, you will see a welcome screen. Select a language and connect to Wi-Fi. The system will offer to restore data from the backup. If you have used Mi Cloud or Google Drive, you will be able to return contacts, photos and a list of applications.
Take your time to install all the apps at once. Let the system fully index and update. Go to Settings -> About Phone and check for MIUI updates. Often, after a reset, an old firmware version is installed, which may contain bugs fixed in new releases.
Now your Xiaomi Redmi is running fast and clean again. Regularly cleaning your cache and installing apps only from trusted sources (Google Play, GetApps) will help avoid having to reset again in the future.