Modern smartphones accumulate a huge amount of temporary files, app cache and system errors, which over time inevitably leads to a decrease in performance. If your Xiaomi Redmi 9 started to run slowly, freeze or refuse to accept updates, the most effective solution is often a complete return to factory condition. This process, known as Hard Reset, allows you to completely delete all user data and return the software to its original appearance.
The need for a reset may arise not only from software failures, but also in the case of selling the device or transferring it to another user. It is important to understand that this procedure is irreversible, so it must be approached with full responsibility and prior preparation. Below we will discuss in detail all available ways to perform this operation.
There are several scenarios in which the user has to resort to radical memory cleanup measures, most often due to critical system errors that cannot be fixed by standard cleaning methods or removing problematic applications, and reset is necessary if you forget the pattern lock or the screen unlock password, although in modern versions of Android this carries certain risks of linking to the account.
⚠️ Before starting any action, make sure that the battery is at least 50-60%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can cause damage to the system partition and the need to flash through the computer.
Preparation of the device for complete reset
Before you start cleaning, it is critical to save all valuable data, as once you have finished the process, it will be lost forever. Backup contacts, photos, messages and application settings can be done through the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud service, which will take time, but will save your important files.
Special attention should be paid to the Google account and Mi Account. If you plan to sell a phone or are simply afraid of activation problems, it is better to log out of all accounts in advance. Otherwise, after a reset, the device may request a password from a previously synchronized account (FRP protection), and without it it it will be impossible to log in.
☑️ Checklist before reset
It is not superfluous to check for important licenses and passwords from banking applications that may require re-authorization or binding of a new device. Some banks perceive the reset as an attempt to hack, so it is better to have a hotline or access to Internet banking from another gadget on hand.
- 📸 Take photos of important screen settings or Wi-Fi configurations if you’re afraid to forget them.
- 🔒 Unlock the device from search services (Find My Device) to avoid blocking.
- 💾 Transfer files to your computer or external drive for reliability.
💡
Before resetting, try simply restarting your smartphone in safe mode. If the problem disappears, then the third-party app is to blame, and a complete reset may not be necessary.
Method 1: Resetting through system settings
The easiest and most secure method available to every user is to use the built-in operating system functionality. It is suitable for situations where the phone is turned on, the screen responds to touch, and you can go to the menu. To do this, go to Settings, then select About Phone or immediately find the category Advanced Settings depending on the version of the MIUI shell.
Next, you need to find the recovery item. In current firmware versions, it is often hidden in the Reset submenu. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted, and prompt you to select the option to erase all data. This action initiates the process of formatting the user partition.
It takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the amount of information that you've accumulated, and the phone can reboot several times, the screen can go out and light up, which is normal behavior, and the key is not to try to speed up the process with the push of buttons.
Once the procedure is complete, the device greets you with a language selection screen, as if you had just taken it out of the box, and you have to reconfigure Wi-Fi, enter account data, and restore applications from backup.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
- 🗑️ Select the option to erase all data.
- 🔒 Enter the screen unlock password to confirm.
Method 2: Hard Reset with Recovery Mode
If your smartphone is stuck, doesn't respond to touch, or doesn't load to your desktop, you have to use Recovery Mode, a low-level interface that allows you to control the system bypassing the main Android interface, and you need to turn the device off completely to enter this mode on Redmi 9.
After turning it off, press the Volume Up and Power 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. The navigation is done with the volume buttons and the power button selects.
⚠️ Attention: The Recovery menu does not have a touchscreen, all actions are done with physical volume and on buttons.
In the menu that opens, select the language (if available), then go to Wipe Data. Inside this section, select Wipe All Data and confirm the action by selecting Confirm, the system will warn about the consequences, and then formatting will begin.
What happens if the Recovery Mode does not open?
When you finish cleaning, select Reboot or Reboot to System. The first download after such a reset can last longer than usual - up to 10 minutes. Don't panic if the logo hangs for a long time, this is the optimization of the system.
- 🔌 Turn off the phone completely.
- 🔊 Hold the volume up. + Nutrition.
- ✅ Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.
Remote reset via Google Find My Device
In situations where the phone is lost or stolen but the internet and geolocation are enabled, you can reset remotely, this is done via Google Find My Device from any other device with Internet access, and you need a Google account that has been synced to the lost smartphone.
Go to the service's official website, log in and select your Redmi 9 from the device list. From the action menu, select Clean Device. The command will be sent to your phone, and the next time you connect to the network, it will automatically erase all data.
This is also useful if the phone's screen is broken and doesn't respond to touch, but the display shows something, and the system works, but it's worth remembering that after such a reset, it will be impossible to track the location of the phone.
| Resetting method | Access required | Data security | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Access to the menu | Backup required. | Low. |
| Recovery Mode | Working buttons | Complete removal | Medium |
| Google Find My Device | Internet on the phone | Complete removal | Low. |
| Mi Account (remotely) | Synchronization enabled | Complete removal | Medium |
Solving the problem: blocking Mi Account and Google FRP
One of the most common problems after a reset is the activation screen, which requires you to enter a password from an account you previously had on your device, which is an FRP (Factory Reset Protection) security mechanism designed to prevent stolen phones from being used, and if you forget your password, it can be a difficult task to restore access.
There is a recovery procedure for a Mi Account through the official website, but it requires access to the linked phone number or email. If the number is lost, you will have to go through the identity verification procedure, sending documents in support of Xiaomi, which takes time.
💡
FRP protection is activated automatically when you have a synchronized account, and Recovery resets do not cancel this protection, but only hides the data before entering the password.
In the case of a Google account, it's the same: you can't log in without the right data, and there are workarounds through the special utilities and testing modes, but they depend on the specific version of Android and the security patch installed at the time of the reset.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a used phone, always ask for a full reset and initial setup to be done with you, which ensures that the device is not tied to other people's accounts and is not wanted.
What to do after resetting settings
Once the procedure is completed and set up, you will have a clean system in front of you, and the first thing you should do is check for security updates and the MIUI shell itself. Often, it is the latest patches that correct the errors that the reset was made to fix.
Restore applications gradually. Don't put dozens of programs from backup right away, because you might lose the very "problematic" application that caused the malfunctions, and you'd better install them one by one, checking the stability of the work.
It is also helpful to set up automatic synchronization of important data so that you do not lose contacts and photos in the future. Go to Settings → Accounts and sync and make sure that all the necessary switches are activated.
- 🔄 Check system updates in About Phone section.
- 🛡️ Install antivirus or use a built-in security scanner.
- ⚙️ Configure power consumption parameters to extend battery life.
Do I need to charge the phone before first turning on after resetting?
Keep in mind that cleaning your cache regularly and removing unused apps will help you avoid having to do a full reset in the near future.