How to Reset Xiaomi Redmi to Factory Settings: The Complete Guide

Did you buy a used Xiaomi Redmi and want to start with a clean slate? Or did your smartphone slow down and your apps spontaneously open? Factory reset solves 90% of software problems, but it's important to get it right. In this article, 5 proven ways to get Redmi back to the "out of the box" state, including hidden MIUI features and bypassing Mi-account lock.

We'll take a look at not only the standard menu reset, but also alternative methods for cases where the phone is not turned on, locked or "hang" on the logo. All instructions are relevant for the Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, POCO X5 and other devices on MIUI 14/15 with Android 13/14. If you're afraid of losing data, at the end of this article there is a list of backup programs.

1. Standard reset via settings (the safest way)

This is a good method if the phone is turned on, you remember the password and you just want to "reset" all settings. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes and does not require a connection to the PC.

Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Some firmware may have different paths: Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset. The system will offer two options:

• 🔄 Resetting – only deletes user data (photos, apps, accounts), but saves system updates.
• 🧹 Full reset – returns the phone to factory status, including removing all updates (requires reset after turning on).

Select the right item and confirm the action. The phone will restart and start the cleaning process. On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as the Redmi K60), the reset can take up to 15 minutes - do not interrupt the process, even if the screen goes out.

⚠️ Note: If you used the Find Device feature, after resetting, the phone may require you to enter a password from your previous Mi Account. To avoid blocking, unplug the device from your account in advance in Settings. → Xiaomi account → Devices.

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

If Redmi is stuck on the logo, doesn’t respond to touches, or is locked with a graphical key, Recovery Mode will help, which works even without a password, but requires physical access to the phone’s buttons.

Instructions for all Redmi models (including Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9T):

1. Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu in English or Chinese.
4. Use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to select the Wipe Data (or ) item.
5. Confirm the action by choosing Wipe All Data.

Once completed, the phone will automatically restart. The first launch can take up to 5 minutes - that's normal.

Turn off your phone (not reboot!)

Charge the battery by at least 30%

Prepare. SIM-card (if necessary for activation)

Make sure the volume buttons are working properly-->

3. Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is useful if Recovery Mode is not available or the phone gives a “No command” error, which requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Mi Flash Tool program.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on the C:\ disk (the path should not contain Cyrillic!).
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to enter the Fastboot Mode (a hare in a hat-eared image will appear).
4. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
5. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
6. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.

It takes 5-10 minutes to do this, and when it's done, it'll reboot in factory condition, and it also helps if Redmi stops turning on after a failed update.

⚠️ Note: Using Fastboot with unofficial firmware can lead to hard-brick (total phone failure). XDA Developers.

4. Reset via EDL Mode (to unlock Mi-account)

If the phone requires data entry from the previous Mi Account ("This device is locked"), EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode will help. This is an "emergency" firmware mode that bypasses all locks but requires a special cable or short circuit on the board.

⚠️ Warning: Misconduct in the EDL This method is recommended only for advanced users or in service centers.

Instructions:

1. Download firmware in.tgz format for your model (for example, for Redmi Note). 11 — veux_global_images...).
2. Install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (for Snapdragon chips) or MediaTek Preloader (for Helio/Dimensity chips).
3. Put the phone in. EDL Mode: For Snapdragon: Press Volume Up + Loud down and plug in. USB-For MediaTek: requires short circuit test points on the board (see instructions for a specific model).

Mi Flash Tool

Clean All and Lock

5. Reset via service codes (hidden MIUI functions)

Xiaomi hides a few engineering codes that allow you to make a “soft” reset without losing data or check the condition of the phone before completely cleaning.

Enter the following combinations in the Phone application:

• 🔢 ##7780## - resetting settings to factory without deleting data (photos and files will remain).
• 🔢 ##3646633## - Entrance to the engineering menu (check sensors, batteries, networks).
• 🔢 ##4636## - information about the battery, statistics of use.
• 🔢 ##284## - Camera test (useful before selling a phone).

Once you have entered the code ##7780##, the phone will prompt you to confirm the reset, which is useful if you want to eliminate software bugs without losing personal files.

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Before using service codes, check if they are locked in your firmware. On some models (for example, Redmi for the European market), these codes are disabled.

6.How to prepare for a reset: Data backup

Resetting to factory settings irrevocably removes:

• 📸 Photos and videos (including screenshots).
• 📱 Contacts, SMS, Call log (unless synced with Google or Mi Cloud).
• 🎮 Game saving (if not linked to an account).
• 📁 Downloads, documents, music.

Methods of backup:

For complete data safety, we recommend combining Mi Cloud (for contacts and settings) and manually copying photos to a PC or external drive. Don’t forget about Wi-Fi passwords – they can be exported through the WiFi Password Viewer application (root required).

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Even if you have made a backup, check its integrity before resetting! connect the phone to your PC and make sure all files are copied without errors.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Resetting seems like a simple procedure, but users often face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 "This device is locked after resetting → The phone is linked to the Mi Account. Solution: enter the data of the previous owner or use it. EDL Mode (see section 4).
• 🔴 Phone hangs on logo after reset → Solution: Fastboot phone, section 3).
• 🔴 The sensor does not work after resetting → Solution: Update your firmware through Recovery Mode (download the.zip file and select Apply update).
• 🔴 Loss of loss IMEI post-discharge → A rare problem on models with MediaTek. Solution: Restore IMEI via the engineering menu (#3646633##).

If the phone starts to warm up or discharge quickly after reset, check the settings in Settings → Battery → Battery Use.Perhaps background processes are not optimized – calibrate the battery (discharge to 0% and charge to 100% without interruptions).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions