How to reset Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 to factory settings if you forgot your password: a detailed guide

Forgot the password from Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and can not unlock the phone? The situation is familiar to many — especially if the device was long idle or password was rarely entered. Fortunately, even without access to the system, you can bring the smartphone back to life, resetting it to factory settings. But here are the nuances: the wrong actions can lead to the loss of all data, locking the Mi Account or even “bricking” the device.

In this article, we will discuss three proven ways to reset Redmi Note 5 (codenamed whyred), including methods through Recovery Mode, Mi Account and Fastboot. Each option is suitable for different scenarios: for example, if you remember the username / password from the Xiaomi account or if the phone does not respond to buttons at all, you will also learn how to avoid typical errors and what to do if the reset fails the first time.

Before you start, remember that factory reset completely deletes all the data on the phone — photos, contacts, messages and installed apps. If the device was enabled sync with Google or Mi Cloud, some of the information can be restored after unlocking, otherwise the data will be lost irretrievably.

1.Resetting preparation: what to do in advance

Before you drop the Redmi Note 5, take a few important steps to avoid additional problems and increase your chances of successfully unlocking.

First, check the battery power. Make sure the charge level is at least 50%. If the phone runs out during reset, it can cause the firmware to fail and you have to refashion the device through EDL Mode (which already requires special knowledge and tools).

Second, prepare your computer with drivers installed (if you plan to use Fastboot). PC Suite or universal ADB/Fastboot You can download them from the Xiaomi website or resources like XDA Developers.

It's also helpful to know if the phone had a Mi Account attached, and if so, and you remember the username/password, it'll make it easier. If not, you may need to bypass FRP (Factory Reset Protection) locks after reset, which Xiaomi has implemented through account binding.

• 🔑 Mi Account data: login and password if the phone is linked to the account.
• 📱 Cable USB: Original or quality (cheap cables may not transmit data to Fastboot).

⚠️ Note: If the Redmi Note 5 enabled the “Find Device” function in the Mi Account settings, after resetting, the phone may require you to enter account data even for initial settings!

2. Method 1: Reset via Recovery Mode (without a computer)

The easiest method is to reset through Recovery Mode, which is suitable if the phone is turned on but does not pass beyond the lock screen, the main advantage is that you do not need a computer or additional programs.

Instructions:

1. Hold the Power Button + Volume up simultaneously for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.

If it goes well, the phone will load into a post-purchase state, you will have to go through the initial setup, but there may be a problem with blocking Mi Account, because if the phone was linked to an account, the system will require you to enter a username and password.

Turned off the phone completely.

Clamped the correct button combination (Power + Volume up)

Waited for the Recovery menu to come out (not releasing buttons early)

I chose English for convenience.

Confirmed data reset (Wipe All Data)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware may call the "Wipe All Data" item differently, such as "Factory Reset" or "Erase All Data." If you don't find the right partition, try updating Recovery using the Mi Flash Tool (but that already requires a computer).

Method 2: Reset via Mi Account (if you remember the data)

If your Redmi Note 5 is linked to a Xiaomi account and you remember the username/password, you can reset the screen lock password via i.mi.com. This method works even if the phone is locked but it has internet access (via Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Step-by-step:

1. Find your phone. In the Devices section, select Redmi Note 5. If the device doesn't show up, check if it's on the Internet.
2. Confirm action. The system will request a re-entering of the Mi Account password for security, and after confirmation, a remote reset will begin.

The advantage of this is that you don't have to plug your phone into your computer or go into Recovery, but it only works if you meet three conditions:

• 🌐 The phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔑 Remember the username and password from Mi Account.
• 📱 The phone has enabled the “Find Device” function in the account settings.

If one of the conditions is not met, this method will not work, in which case move on to the next method - reset via Fastboot.

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

If the first two methods fail (e.g., the phone doesn't respond to buttons or connect to Mi Cloud), then reset via Fastboot mode, USB-It's a cable and basic command line knowledge that's suitable for cases where:

• 🔄 The phone is getting stuck on the Mi logo and does not load.
• 🔐 Mi Account password is forgotten and other methods don’t work.
• 💻 Access to a computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.

Instructions:

1. Install drivers and tools. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot and adb). Install drivers for Xiaomi (for example, via Mi PC Suite).

Fastboot

• Turn off the phone.
• Press the Power button + Volume down for 10-15 seconds until the image of the hare in the eardress cap (Fastboot logo) appears.
• Connect your phone to your computer. Use the original cable, because cheap cables don't have to transfer data to Fastboot.
• Open the command line. In the Platform Tools folder, press Shift + right mouse button → "Open PowerShell window here."
• Check the connection. Type in the command: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (its serial number will appear), you can continue. If not, check the drivers or cable.
• Enter fastboot oem edl fastboot flashing unlock fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp fastboot reboot

Once you have completed the commands, the phone will restart and start setting up from scratch, which bypasses the Mi Account lock (if you have run the fastboot erase frp command), but has risks:

• ⚠️ Wrong commands can lead to loss. IMEI or "bricking" the phone.
• ⚠️ On some firmware, the fastboot oem edl command may not work – in this case, an authorized Xiaomi account will be required to unlock the bootloader.

⚠️ Note: The fastboot erase userdata and fastboot erase frp commands permanently delete all data, including information about the associated Mi Account. If after the reset the phone requires the entry of account data, this means that the lock is not possible. FRP It's not completely removed, and then only the flashing through the EDL Mode (requires special equipment).

💡

If the fastboot oem edl command doesn’t work, try fastboot flashing unlock first, then fastboot flashing. unlock_critical. This will unlock the bootloader, but will reset all the data on the phone.

Possible problems and solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, the Redmi Note 5 may not go as planned.

If none of the methods worked, the bootloader may have been blocked on the phone, which would require official unlocking via Xiaomi’s website (the procedure takes up to 720 hours to wait), and the alternative would be to contact a service center where an authorized account would be used to reset via EDL Mode.

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If after a reset, the phone requires Mi Account data that you don’t remember, the only working solutions are flashing through EDL (requires special equipment) or contacting the Xiaomi service center with proof of ownership of the device.

6.How to recover data after reset

Unfortunately, a factory reset completely removes all data from the Redmi Note 5’s internal memory. However, some of the information can be recovered if backup functions have been enabled in advance.

Here's what you can try:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: If sync is enabled, photos, contacts and notes can be returned via i.mi.com.
• 🤖 Google Account: Contacts, calendar, and some app settings are restored when you first log in to your Google account after you reset.

If you don't have backups, it's almost impossible to get back lost data, which is why you should regularly sync important information with cloud services or create local backups.

For the future: To avoid such situations, configure on the Redmi Note 5:

• Automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• Backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
• Using biometric unlocking (fingerprint or facial recognition) in addition to a password.

7. Alternative Unlocking Methods (if Resetting Has Not Helped)

If a factory reset didn’t solve the problem (for example, the phone still requires a password or is stuck on the logo), consider alternative options:

• 🔓 Bypassing the lock through ADB: If the phone was on USB Debugging, you can try to delete the file with the password through the command: adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key However, this method only works on older versions of Android (up to now). 7.0), And on the Redmi Note. 5 (Android 8/9) It probably won't work.

It's important to understand that bypassing Mi Account locks without official account data is not a trivial task. Since Android 8.0, Xiaomi has tightened protections, and most "folk" methods (like resetting via TWRP or editing frp files) have stopped working. If the phone requires account data after a reset, and you don't remember them, all that remains is flashing through EDL or contacting the service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Redmi Note 5