Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 smartphones often face the need to completely clean the device, whether it is due to selling the gadget, transferring it to another user or wanting to eliminate system errors accumulated over a long period of operation.
Deletion requires care, because it's impossible to recover files after the procedure is completed without a copy. Modern versions of the MIUI shell offer multiple layers of protection and different ways to perform cleaning. It's important to understand the difference between simply deleting files and deep formatting memory partitions.
Before any manipulations, you need to make sure that the battery is charged. If the device turns off at the time of writing system files, this can lead to critical boot errors. Below we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from standard settings to hardware reset via Recovery Mode.
Preparing the device for complete removal of information
The first and most important step is to back up, and the permanent deletion affects not only photos and contacts, but also application settings, Wi-Fi passwords and message history, and the user must take care of the safety of important data, because after the procedure, it will disappear forever.
It is recommended to use Google cloud services or the built-in Mi Cloud to synchronize key data. You can also create a local copy on your computer by connecting your smartphone over the Internet. USB-Pay special attention to instant messengers such as WhatsApp or Telegram, where chats are often not saved in the overall synchronization of the system.
- 🔋 Charge the battery to minimum. 60-70% Stable operation during formatting.
- ☁️ Sync your contacts and calendar with your Google account.
- 📸 Copy media files to external media or to cloud storage.
- 🔒 Remember or write down passwords from Google and Mi Accounts.
⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from your Google account linked to your phone, the device may be blocked by the security system after the reset. FRP (Factory Reset Protection is a security measure against theft.
Don't ignore the memory check phase. Sometimes system partitions are cache-filled, which can slow down the reset process. Cleaning temporary files before the procedure takes only a couple of minutes, but will ensure smoother progression. Make sure that the device does not run heavy background processes.
Deleting accounts and disconnecting from services
A critical step before resetting is to exit all authorized profiles. Xiaomi smartphones have a hard-wired binding to the Mi Account. If you just reset without an exit, there will be a digital footprint on the device, and the new owner will not be able to activate the phone without your password.
The unbundling process takes place through the settings menu. You need to follow the Settings → Mi Account path sequentially and click the "Out" button. The system will request a password confirmation. A similar procedure should be repeated for a Google account to avoid blocking activation.
It is also worth checking for active sessions in banking applications and instant messengers. Although a reset will delete application data, some security services (such as Sberbank Online or corporate profiles) may require additional server-side decoupling, which is especially true for enterprise data and remote management.
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Before logging out of your Google account, disable two-factor authentication for that device in your account security settings to avoid problems with confirmation codes for future authorization.
Once you log out, the device may need to reboot. This is a normal security response. Make sure that the "Find Device" status in the Mi Cloud settings is displayed as "Switched Off," which ensures that the phone is not listed as lost after cleaning.
Reset via the standard MIUI settings menu
The safest and easiest way to delete all data is to use the built-in recovery function, which is suitable for most users, since it does not require special knowledge and minimizes the risk of damage to system files. MIUI Intuitive and contains the necessary warnings.
To start the procedure, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Here, the system will offer two options: Reset (saves files) and Clear all data. We are interested in the second option. When selecting this item, the system will show a list of what will be deleted, including photos, music and installed applications.
☑️ Checklist before pressing Reset button
The system will request a pattern lock or screen unlock password to confirm the operation, which is protection against accidental reset if the phone is in the wrong hands while the screen is on, and once the code is entered, the preparation process will begin, which can take several minutes.
| Parameter | Description of action | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Resetting settings | Return of system parameters to the original | Low (files remain) |
| Clear all data | Full formatting of the Userdata section | Tall (all removed) |
| Erasure of device ID | Resetting advertising identifiers | No (settings only) |
| Resetting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Removal of retained networks | Low (Settings only) |
It is important to note that some versions of MIUI include the option “Erase internal storage” which must be activated if you plan to sell the phone, and if this option is not selected, files can remain in memory and be restored by special utilities.
Hard Reset (Hard Reset) via Recovery Mode
If the phone doesn't turn on, freezes on the logo, or the touch screen doesn't respond, you use Hard Reset, which allows you to delete all the data bypassing the operating system through a special Recovery menu, a cruder method that requires you to execute instructions accurately.
To enter recovery mode, turn off your smartphone. Then press both the power button and the Volume Up button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, keep the volume up. In a few seconds, the Recovery menu will appear.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data item and select it. Then the system will suggest you select Wipe All Data. Confirm the action by selecting Confirm.
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen most often doesn't work. All actions are performed exclusively with mechanical buttons on the device body.
The formatting process will take 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of memory filled. Once completed, the screen will show "Data wiped successfully." Select Reboot to reboot. The first on-line after such a reset will last longer than usual, as the system recreates the file structure.
Delete data via computer and ADB
For advanced users, there is a USB debugging and computer cleaning method that is useful if the sensor is partially down but the system is booting, or if you need to perform script cleaning, which requires an installed set of ADB drivers on your PC.
First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging over USB." Connect the phone to your computer with a cable.
Open the command line on your computer in the folder with ADB and enter the command to restart in Restore mode:
adb reboot recoveryOnce you get into the Recovery menu, you can send a command to vape if the menu supports PC input, or just use this method to log in if the volume buttons are faulty. However, the standard command for vape via ADB requires root rights, so this method is more often used to log into Recovery.
- 💻 Install the platform SDK Platform-Tools on the computer.
- 🔌 Use the original. USB-stable-connection.
- ✅ Allow debugging on the smartphone screen at the first connection.
This method is less popular among ordinary users because of the need to install additional software, but it is an indispensable tool in the arsenal of service engineers when the hardware buttons of the device fail. Remember that when you work with ADB, you take responsibility for the commands you enter.
System Restore and Initial Configuration
Once the deletion procedure is completed successfully, the phone will restart, and you will see a welcome screen similar to the one you saw when you first turned the device on out of the box, and the system will prompt you to select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and log in to your account.
If you sell your phone, that's the end of your mission. The new owner will continue the setup. If you keep the device, now is the time to restore the data from the backup. MIUI will offer to restore the applications and settings from the Google cloud or Mi Cloud.
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Once reset, the system can run faster, as temporary files and cache accumulated over the years are deleted, which is especially noticeable on models of past years, such as the Redmi Note 5.
Note that recovering a large number of applications can take time and waste traffic, and connect to Wi-Fi is recommended, and the system may suggest upgrading to the latest available version, which is recommended to do to address security vulnerabilities.
In the process of setting up, system partitions are recreated. In the first minutes of operation, the phone can heat up — that's okay, file indexing and application optimization. 10-15 minutes at rest after the desktop to complete background processes.