How to erase all data from Xiaomi Redmi 9: a complete reset without risks

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but sooner or later the owner faces the question of how to completely delete personal information before selling, transferring or fixing system failures. Simply deleting files is not enough – they can be restored by special programs. In this article, we will discuss three official ways to erase data without the possibility of returning, including nuances for different versions of MIUI, and also tell you how to avoid typical errors that can turn a phone into a brick.

It's important to understand that a complete reset is not just a memory cleanup, but a factory reset, and after that, you'll have to reset your Wi-Fi, your Google and Xiaomi accounts, and install your apps, and if you're selling your device, remember to log out of all your accounts beforehand, otherwise the new owner will be able to access your data through sync.

1.Dumping Preparation: What to Do Before Cleaning

Before you erase data, follow a few critical steps, and neglecting them can lead to the loss of important files or locking your phone.

• 📱 Backup. Use the built-in Settings feature. → The phone. → Backup or third-party services like Google Drive. Especially important to save: Contacts (export to.vcf) Photos and videos (transfer to PC or cloud) SMS and call logs (applications like.vcf) SMS Backup & Restore)
• 🔒 Delete the linked accounts. Go to Settings → Accounts and sync and disable: Mi Account (required! otherwise, after reset, you will need to enter a login / password) Google Account (to avoid blocking) FRP) Social networks and messengers
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can damage system files.
• 📡 Turn off the screen lock if you use a pattern lock or PIN, Take it off in Settings. → Lock screen → Password and security, it'll make it easier to access Recovery.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling a phone, do not hand it over to a new owner with a Mi Account tied - this violates Xiaomi's rules and may result in the device being locked through the Find Device service.

2. Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest)

This method is suitable if the phone is turned on and you remember the lock password.It is the most secure and recommended by Xiaomi for most users.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Backup and reset.
3. Select Resetting → Erase all data.
4. The system will prompt you to enter a lock password (if it is set).
5. Confirm the action by clicking Reset Settings.

The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process, which will take 3-10 minutes, and when you complete it, you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after you purchase it.

Make sure your phone is over 50% charged |

Backup of important data |

Sign out of Mi Account and Google Account|

Disable screen lock (optional)|

Remember the login / password from accounts for recovery after reset

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⚠️ Note: If after resetting the phone requires data entry from Mi Account, whom you forgot, you can only restore access through the official Xiaomi website (account.xiaomi.com!

3. Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If Redmi 9 is stuck on the logo, does not respond to clicks or is blocked by a password that you have forgotten, Recovery mode will help. This method works even with corrupted system files, but requires accuracy.

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up at the same time and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data → Confirm.
6. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

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

• 3rd item on top is Wipe Data (data cleanup).
• The last item is Reboot (Reboot).

Method 3: Complete Fastboot Cleanup (for power users)

Fastboot is the most radical method, which deletes all data, including system files, and requires a connection to a PC.

• The phone is not turned on and Recovery is not available.
• You must delete the data without the possibility of recovery (for example, before selling).
• You need to refashion the device.

The work will require:

• Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (official site).
• USB Type-C cable (original to avoid connection breaks)
• Mi Flash Tool or ADB/Fastboot.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down until the image of the hare in the hat-eared (Fastboot mode) appears.
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute the commands: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of the device) fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

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If the fastboot device command does not show the device, install the drivers manually through Device Manager (Other Devices section → update the driver → select from the Android Bootloader Interface list).

⚠️ Attention: fastboot erase commands permanently delete partition data. If you make a mistake with the partition name (for example, enter fastboot erase system), the phone will stop booting and require a flashing!

5 How to verify that data is actually erased

After the reset, many users wonder if everything has actually gone away. Here's how to check it out:

• 🔍 Check through the menu. Go to Settings. → Memory: The space available must match the total amount of internal memory (e.g, 64 GB for Redmi 9 4/64 GB).
• 📂 Check the file manager. Open Explorer or Google Files. DCIM, Downloads, Documents should be empty.
• 🛠️ PC Verification. Connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode. If the folders are empty and the hidden files (turn on display in the Explorer settings) are missing, the data is deleted.
• 🔐 After reset, the phone should not ask for a password from Mi Account or Google (if you logged out correctly before clearing them).

For complete certainty, you can use applications like DiskDigger (available on Google Play), and if it doesn't find deleted files, the data is erased without recovery.

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Even after resetting through the settings menu, you can recover data with specialized programs if you did not use Fastboot or flashing. A combination of methods is recommended for complete cleaning: first reset via settings, then clean through Fastboot.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Reset errors can cause data loss, locking or even breaking your phone, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

• 🚫 Low battery reset: If the phone runs out during the process, there is a high probability of damage to system files. Solution: charge the device to at least 50% or connect to charging during the reset.
• 🔑 Forgotten password from Mi Account. Once reset, the phone may require you to enter the account information that was linked.Solution: restore access through the official website or contact Xiaomi support.
• 📱 Using a non-original cable. When working with Fastboot, connection breaks can interrupt the process. Solution: use Xiaomi's proprietary cable and USB-port on the back of the PC (they are more stable than the front panels).
• 🔄 Stop the process. Don't turn off your phone or remove the battery during the reset. Solution: wait until it's done (even if it's hung on 99%).

7.What to do if the reset did not help (phone does not turn on)

If Redmi 9 doesn’t turn on, hovers on the logo or gives out errors after reset, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔧 The bootloader is damaged, often after a failed reset via Fastboot. Solution: Flash the phone with the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🗜️ Hardware malfunction, like a memory chip dump, so you can go to the service center.
• 🔄 Firmware conflict. If you installed custom software before reset. Solution: return the stock firmware.

For flashing through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 9 (codename Lancelot) from Xiaomi’s website.
2. Uncancel the firmware file into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the folder with the firmware.
4. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (or EDL if Fastboot is not available).
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions