Reset Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X to factory settings: the full guide

Resetting your smartphone to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (codename mido), released in 2017, is still popular among users due to the reliability and ability to upgrade to modern firmware. However, over time, any gadget begins to slow down: cache files accumulate, updates conflict, and viruses or failed experiments with root rights can make the phone almost unusable.

In this article, you’ll find three proven ways to get the Redmi Note 4X back to its original state, from a simple menu reset to a hard recovery via Fastboot. We’ll go into detail on when each method is needed, how to prepare for the procedure and what to do if something goes wrong. And you’ll also learn how to bypass Mi Account lock after a reset – one of the most common problems Xiaomi owners have.

We warn you right away: the reset deletes all the data from the internal memory, including photos, messages and installed applications. If you do not back up, it will be impossible to restore the information, but don't worry, we will tell you how to save the most important things before starting the procedure.

When you need to reset to factory settings

Resets are not a panacea, but they are necessary in some cases, and these are typical situations where Redmi Note 4X owners resort to this measure:

• 🐢 Strong brakes – the phone freezes for 10–30 seconds, apps open for a long time, and animation twitches even after cleaning the cache.
• 🔒 Forgotten password or pattern lock – if you don’t remember the unlock data and Find My Device doesn’t help.
• 📱 Preparing for the sale – to prevent the new owner from gaining access to your accounts and files.
• 🔄 Failures after an update – for example, after installing custom firmware or an informal patch.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware that is not removed by antiviruses.

But resetting doesn't always solve the problem, for example, if the Redmi Note 4X doesn't turn on at all (no reaction to the power button, no charging indicator), it's likely a hardware malfunction - a discharged battery, a damaged motherboard or a departed plume, in which case you should contact the service center.

Another important point: if the phone is locked with a Mi Account (requires a login and password after reset), you will either need to remember the login details or use official unlock methods through Xiaomi, which we will discuss at the end of this article.

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Before resetting, check if a bank account is linked to the phone (e.g. Sberbank Online or Google Pay). After restoring factory settings, you may need to re-authorize.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

The first and most important thing is to save the data, and even if you're planning to reset because of the brakes, you can back up.

• 📸 Photos and videos – copy to PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 📞 Contacts – sync with Google Account or export to.vcf file.
• 💬 Messages – Use apps like this SMS Backup & Restore.
• 🎮 Game saves – if the game supports cloud backup (e.g. via Google Play Games).
• 📁 Documents and Downloads – Check Download and Documents folders.

Pay special attention to Wi-Fi passwords, which can be exported using applications like WiFi Password Viewer (root rights required) or simply take a picture of the network list in the settings.

Also check if the bootloader is unlocked on your Redmi Note. 4X. If you've ever installed custom firmware, it's probably unlocked, which will make it easier to recover from Fastboot if something goes wrong, and you can find out the status of the bootloader by going to Fastboot mode. + Power – if the screen is labeled Unlocked, it is unlocked.

Lastly, charge your phone to at least 50%. Recovery or Fastboot can take up to 10-15 minutes to reset, and if the battery runs out in the process, you run the risk of getting a brick.

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (soft reset)

This is the easiest and safest method, but it only works if:

• 📱 The phone is turned on and reacts to touch.
• 🔓 You remember the password to unlock the screen.
• ⚙️ Settings menu available (no critical system failures).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Additional Settings → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Click Delete all data and confirm the action.

The phone will reboot and start the cleaning process, which will take 3-5 minutes, and then you will see the screen of the initial setup, as after the purchase.

- Backup copy of the data created

The phone is over 50% charged.

Mi Account is tied (if you plan to use it after resetting)

- All off. SIM-Cards (if the phone is blocked by the operator)

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Possible problems:

• If after resetting the phone asks for a password from Mi Account, you will need to enter data from the account that was tied before the reset.
• If the process is stuck on the Mi logo, wait 10-15 minutes. If nothing has changed, proceed to reset via Recovery.

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Resetting via the menu does not delete data from the memory card (if installed), however, files in the internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/) will be erased irrevocably.

Method 2: Recovery (hard reset)

This method will be useful if:

• 🔐 Phone locked with password/pattern lock.
• 🤖 The system does not boot (hang on the logo, cyclical reboot).
• ⚙️ We need to get around some limitations. MIUI (For example, if the menu is not available).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds if it freezes).
2. Press Volume Up + Power at the same time and hold for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or Clear Data in older versions).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
7. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

It can take up to 10 minutes, and if you reboot your phone and you need a password, you've activated the Mi Account security mechanism, and you've got to enter the username and password from the account that was linked to the device.

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If you don't have Wipe Data on the Recovery menu, you have custom firmware installed, and then look for options like Advanced Wipe or Factory Reset.

What happens if Recovery does not open?

• 🔋 Check the battery power – if it is less than 10%, the menu may not start.
• 🔌 Try to pin the volume up. + Loudness down + Food (on some firmware).
• 🖥️ If nothing helps, go to reset via Fastboot.

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This is the most radical method used if:

• 🚫 Recovery is unavailable or damaged.
• 🔧 You need to reflash your phone (for example, after a failed update).
• 🔓 Requires to unlock the loader before resetting.

For this method, you will need a computer with installed drivers ADB/Fastboot original USB-Importantly, the wrong commands in Fastboot can finally brick your phone. If you're not sure what you're doing, you better go to the service.

Instructions:

1. Install Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with Platform Tools and execute: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, install the drivers.
5. Run the command to reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If you also need to reflash the system, download the official firmware for the Redmi Note 4X (mido code) from Xiaomi's website and use the command:

fastboot flash all [name file firmware.zip]

Possible errors in Fastboot:

• FAILED (remote: unknown command) is an incorrect command or incompatible firmware.
• Device Not Found: Problems with drivers or cables.
• Waiting for a device – try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

What to do after resetting: initial setup

After a successful reset, you have to go through the initial setup process.

• 📶 Wi-Fi connection – without the Internet, you can not log into Mi Account or recover data from the cloud.
• 🔑 Sign in to Mi Account – if the phone was linked to your account, enter the same data. If you forgot your password, restore it on the Xiaomi website.
• ☁️ Restore from backup – if you’ve been backing up through Mi Cloud or Google, the system will offer to restore contacts, apps, and settings.
• 🔒 Setting up the screen lock - select PIN or pattern lock (fingerprint is configured later).

If the phone brakes again after reset, it may be a problem in the hardware:

• 🔋 Check the battery health (via the AccuBattery app).
• 🛠️ Clean the charging connector from dust (brakes can be due to poor contact).
• 🔥 If the phone overheats, reset the processor settings to factory (in the Developer Menu).

If you dropped your phone before selling, remember:

1. Unplug all accounts (Google, Mi Account, Samsung Account, if any).
2. Delete everything SIM-memory-cards.
3. Reset again right before transferring to the buyer (just in case).

How to bypass the Mi Account lock after a reset

One of the most frustrating things about Xiaomi is that it links the device to the Mi Account, and when you reset, the phone may require you to enter a username and password from an account that you previously had on it, and if you forgot the data or bought the phone with your hands and the previous owner didn't untie the account, here's what you can do:

• 📧 Restore password – go to the login page and click “Forgot password.” You will need access to the email or phone associated with the account.
• 📞 Contact the previous owner – if you bought the phone from hand, try to find a seller and ask him to untie the device through Find My Device on the Xiaomi website.
• ⏳ Wait 72 hours – if you have entered the password incorrectly several times, the system may offer to unlock after 3 days (requires). SIM-Card with the same number as the account).

Note: all “circumvent” methods using third-party programs (such as Mi Account Unlock Tool) or firmware through EDL require an unlocked bootloader and can lead to a complete loss of phone performance. Xiaomi does not officially support such methods, and their use may deprive you of warranty.

If nothing helps, contact the official Xiaomi service center with the documents on the phone. in some cases, they can remove the lock after checking the ownership.

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Since 2021, Xiaomi has tightened its security policy, and now unlocking the Mi Account after a reset may require even a purchase check or a warranty card.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when resetting, and here are the most common ones and how to prevent them:

Another common problem is the loss of IMEI after being reset via Fastboot, which happens when partitions with a radio module have been erased, and you can restore the IMEI using an engineering menu.

1. Please dial the phone application ##4636##.
2. Go to Phone Information and check for IMEI status.
3. If you don’t have an IMEI, use the MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek processors) or the QCN Restore Tool (requires root).

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: If you are resetting a custom firmware phone (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), you may need to reset the firmware after resetting via Recovery. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Some versions of the Redmi Note 4X (If you reset the Fastboot, you may lose Russian in the system, in which case you will have to manually install a language pack or flash the global version. MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions