How to reset Xiaomi Mi 9T to factory settings: a complete guide with photos

Why you need to reset Xiaomi Mi 9T and when to use it

Reset to factory settings on Xiaomi Mi 9T (He's a Redmi. K20 It is a radical but effective solution to many software problems, and the smartphone, launched in 2019, is still popular thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 730, AMOLED-But even this hardware eventually starts to slow down because of clogged memory, application conflicts, or firmware errors.

Main reasons for resetting: (1) The smartphone is severely slowed down, applications spontaneously close or give out errors. (2) After the update MIUI Bugs have appeared (for example, it does not work). NFC, lost sound or Wi-Fi is not activated). (3) The device is locked because of a forgotten pattern lock or PIN-4) Preparing the phone for sale - to delete all personal data without the possibility of recovery. 5) Removing the consequences of a failed rooting or custom firmware installation.

It's important to understand that resetting is not a panacea, and if the problem is hardware related (e.g., a Bluetooth module or a charging connector fails), then going back to factory settings won't help, and in such cases, a diagnosis at a service center is required.

πŸ“Š Why you want to lose Xiaomi Mi 9T?
Remove brakes and lags
Prepare for sale
Remove viruses or malware
Correct errors after updating
Another reason.

Preparation for resetting: what to do in advance

Before you reset the Mi 9T, be sure to follow a few steps to avoid losing important data. Even if the phone is unstable, try connecting it to your computer or cloud storage.

  • πŸ“± Create a backup through Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Backup and reset β†’ Local backup, that'll save the contacts, SMS, call log and some application settings.
  • ☁️ Sync your data with Mi Cloud (if your Xiaomi account is tied). β†’ Xiaomi account β†’ Mi Cloud and enable backup for the right categories.
  • πŸ’Ύ Copy files manually: transfer photos, videos and documents to a computer or external drive. Don't rely on the cloud alone - you may have problems with authorization when resetting.
  • πŸ”‹ Charge the battery to at least 50%. Interrupting the reset process due to discharge can make it impossible to turn on the phone without flashing through the Fastboot.

If you drop your phone before selling, remember to log out of your Xiaomi and Google account. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to use the device due to FRP-locking. To disable it, go to Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Google, select your account and click Delete.

Backup created in Mi Cloud or locally |

Photos and videos copied on PC|

Xiaomi and Google accounts are untied |

Battery level β‰₯50%|

Extracted. SIM-card and memory card if not necessary)-->

Method 1: Reset via the settings menu (the easiest one)

If the phone is turned on and you remember the pattern lock (or PIN-code, this is the best choice. It doesn't require any additional tools, and it only takes 5-10 minutes.

Step instructions:

  1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
  3. Click Backup and Reset.
  4. Select Settings Reset.
  5. The system will tell you what to drop: πŸ“± Erase all data (including apps and settings) πŸ’Ύ Clean internal memory (if you need to delete media files)

Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or PIN-code.

Drop it.

After the reboot, the phone will turn on with factory settings as if you just unpacked it, you only have to go through the initial setup (choosing a language, connecting to Wi-Fi, etc.).

πŸ’‘

If the phone hangs on the Xiaomi logo for a long time after reset (more than 10 minutes), don’t panic. Try forcibly rebooting it by holding the power button for 15-20 seconds. If that doesn’t help, move to the Recovery method.

Method 2: Recovery reset (if the phone is not turned on or locked)

If the Mi 9T does not respond to touch, is locked with a pattern lock or does not load beyond the logo, resetting through Recovery mode will help. This method works even in severe firmware failures, but requires care - improper actions can lead to the loss of the ability to boot the system without flashing.

How to go to Recovery and make a reset:

  1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
  2. Press the Power button and the Volume up simultaneously.
  3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears and vibrations (usually 5-7 seconds).
  4. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu in English or Chinese.
  5. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button to select the item.
  6. Select Wipe Data (or in Chinese version).
  7. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data (or similar).
  8. Once completed, select Reboot to reboot.

Note: Some versions of MIUI Recovery may require you to enter a password from your Xiaomi account, even if you have untied it before. If you don't remember the password, the only way out is through Fastboot (mode 3).

What to do if you recover in Chinese?
If the Recovery menu is displayed in Chinese, focus on the location of the items: 1. The first item (top) is rebooting (.). 2. The second item is turning off (. 3. The third item is Wipe Data (. 4. The fourth item is connecting to a PC (MIAssistant).

Method 3: Fastboot Reset (for power users)

This method is useful if: – the phone does not even turn on in Recovery, – blocked by Xiaomi account and you do not remember the password – you need to reflash the device after an unsuccessful update.

To reset via Fastboot, you will need a computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot, as well as the original USB-cable (preferably from the set:

  1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb).
  2. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: Press the Power Button + Volume down. Hold until the screensaver with a rabbit in a hat-out (Fastboot logo) appears.

Connect your phone to your PC via USB.

cmd

Platform Tools

fastboot devices

(Serial number of your Mi 9T should be displayed)

fastboot erase userdata
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot

If the phone doesn’t turn on or gives an error after these commands, you may need to completely flash through the Mi Flash Tool. You need to download the official firmware for the Mi 9T (codename davinci) from the Xiaomi Firmware website and follow the firmware instructions.

πŸ’‘

Reset via Fastboot only erases user data, but does not delete system files.If the problem is caused by firmware corruption, a complete firmware reflash may be required.

Frequent Mistakes When Resetting Xiaomi Mi 9T and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and consider the most common errors and their solutions:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
The phone will not turn on after resettingData cleanup interrupted or battery drainedConnect to charging for 30 minutes, then try to turn it on. If it doesn't work, run through the Fastboot.
Requires a password from Xiaomi account after resetThe account was not untied before reset (FRP-block)Enter the correct password or run your phone through the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option
I can't get into Recovery.Recovery partition damaged or buttons faultyTry another way of logging in (for example, through ADB). If it doesn't work, only Fastboot.
After the reset, the IMEI is missing or the network is not workingModem partition is damaged (often after unofficial firmware)Restore the IMEI through Engineer Mode or flash the original firmware

If the phone gets worse after the reset (e.g., artifacts appear on the screen or it spontaneously reboots), this may indicate hardware problems, in which cases the reset will not help - you need a diagnosis in the service center.

πŸ’‘

Before selling the Xiaomi Mi 9T, not only reset your settings, but also format your internal memory via Recovery (Wipe Data β†’ Format Data) and this is guaranteed to delete all data without recovery.

What to do after resetting: initial setup and optimization

After a successful reset, the phone will turn on in initial setup mode. Here's what you should do at this stage:

  • 🌐 Connect to Wi-Fi, but don’t rush to log into your Google or Xiaomi account. First, check if there is any β€œjunk” left from the previous firmware.
  • βš™οΈ Turn off unnecessary features: Go to Settings β†’ Battery and performance and disable AutoRun for unnecessary applications. β†’ Annexes β†’ App management remove pre-installed programs (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, if you are not using it).
  • πŸ”„ Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Update the system, which will fix any bugs from the old version MIUI.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Set a strong password (not a pattern lock!) and enable data encryption in Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Encryption and credentials.

If you reset your phone because of the brakes, look at the background processes. MIUI has a lot of autoruns enabled by default that eat up RAM. To optimize work: 1 Go to Settings β†’ Battery and Performance β†’ Battery Management and select Charge Savings (if autonomy is important) or Performance (if speed is needed). 2 In Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Permissions, turn off location and microphone access for unnecessary programs.

πŸ’‘

After reset, don’t restore data from the backup right away β€” first check if old problems are recurring, and they may have been related to specific applications or settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Mi 9T Reset

Can I reset the Mi 9T without losing data?
No, a full factory reset always deletes user data (photos, videos, apps, settings).However, you can choose to partially reset in the Settings menu β†’ About phone β†’ Backup and Reset β†’ Settings Reset, where you can only reset your network settings, applications or fingerprints without affecting media files.
The phone after the reset asks for the old password from the Xiaomi account.
This is FRP-blocking (Factory Reset Protection). If you do not remember the password, there are two options: 1) Restore access to your Xiaomi account through account.xiaomi.com. 2 Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool with the option of clean all and lock. Note: the second way will delete all data without recovery and may lead to loss of warranty.
Recovery reset doesn't work -- the phone just reboots. What's the problem?
Probable reasons: - Recovery partition is damaged (for example, after a failed firmware). - Volume or power buttons are faulty (try another way to log into Recovery via ADB). - Custom firmware is installed without standard Recovery. Solution: use Fastboot reset (method 3) or flash the original Recovery through Mi Flash Tool.
After the reset, the sound is gone or the camera is not working.
This is a typical problem after a reset on unofficial firmware or when system files are damaged. Try: 1) Reset again via Recovery (Wipe Cache Partition). 2 Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings β†’ System Update. 3) Swipe the phone through Fastboot using the official ROM for Mi 9T (codename davinci). If the problem persists, the hardware module (speaker, microphone or camera) may be faulty.
Can I cancel the reset if it has already started?
No, you can't interrupt the reset process, which can damage the system files and make it impossible to turn on the phone. If the reset is stuck during the data cleanup phase: Wait 15-20 minutes (sometimes the process takes longer than usual). If the screen is out, plug the phone into charging and wait for the reboot. If the phone doesn't respond for more than an hour, you'll have to sew it through the Fastboot.