Reset Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro to factory settings: a complete guide with problem solutions

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but even it is not immune to system failures, slowdowns or the need to transfer the device to a new owner. Hard reset solves most problems, but requires accuracy: wrong actions can lead to data loss or lock the bootloader. In this guide, we will discuss all the working methods of reset (through settings, Recovery and Fastboot), explain how to avoid typical errors, and what to do if the smartphone does not turn on after the procedure.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on a Mediatek Helio G90T processor, which means that some standard reset methods (for example, through ADB) do not work here. We will focus on reliable methods tested on current versions of MIUI 12-14. If your device is locked with a password or does not respond to touch, the article has solutions for such cases.

Before you start, answer the key question: should you save data? If so, first study the backup section. If not (for example, when selling a phone), you can immediately go to the reset instructions.

📊 Why you are resetting the Redmi Note 8 Pro?

Removing the leg and brakes

Preparing for sale/transfer

Forgot the pattern lock

The smartphone is off.

Other

1.Resetting preparation: what to do before the start

Factory reset erases all user information: contacts, messages, photos, installed apps and even some system settings (for example, data on connected Mi Band devices).

📱 Create a backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup or manually copy files to your PC. Cloud services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) will only store some of the data.
🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50%. Interrupting the reset process due to discharge can make it impossible to turn on the phone without firmware through SP Flash Tool.
🔐 Make sure you know the username/password from your Mi Account. After the reset, proof of ownership may be required (especially if Find Device was enabled).
📡 Disable all accounts (Google, Mi Account, Samsung Account, if any) in Settings → Accounts to avoid problems with FRP (discharge-proof).

If you drop your phone before selling, additionally:

💳 Extract. SIM-card and memory card (if installed).
🔄 Log out of all messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) so that the new owner does not get access to your chats.

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI Global may request a link to a Mi Account after a reset, even if it didn't exist before, due to Xiaomi's anti-theft policy. If you forget your account details, restore them in advance.

This is a good method if your smartphone is turned on and reacts to touch, and you remember the unlock password, and the main advantage is the minimum risk of errors, since the process is controlled by the system.

Instructions:

Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
Go to the About Phone section. → Backup and reset.
Select Settings Reset.
The system will tell you which data to clear: 📱 All data (including applications and settings). 📁 Internal memory (if you need to erase photos, music, etc.).

graphical key/PIN-code

Wait for the reboot (it will take 3-7 minutes).

Once you reboot, the phone will start with the initial setup wizard, like after you buy it. If you see a request to enter your Mi Account data on the screen, use the same logins you had before the reset.

⚠️ Note: If after reset, the phone asks for a password from a previous Google account (FRP), So you didn't disable your account before the procedure.

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If your smartphone is slowing down and you can't open your settings, try running Safe Mode: Hold the Power button → Long tap on "Stop" → "Reboot Safe Mode." In it, turn off unnecessary apps, and then reset.

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

If the Redmi Note 8 Pro doesn’t respond to touch, freezes on the logo or reboots cyclically, a Recovery reset will help, which is triggered before the system boots and allows you to perform a hard reset even without access to the menu.

Instructions:

Turn off the phone (hold the power button for 10-15 seconds).
Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time and hold until the Mi logo appears.
Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (black screen with English text).
Use Volume Down for navigation and Power button for selection. Select: Wipe Data → Wipe All Data
Confirm the action by choosing Confirm.
Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

It takes 5-10 minutes to process, and if the phone freezes on the logo again after the reboot, repeat the procedure or move to method 3 (via Fastboot).

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Recovery doesn't open	Wrong button combination or damaged bootloader	Repeat the steps, holding the buttons longer (up to 20 seconds). If it doesn't work, use Fastboot.
E:unknown command error in Recovery	Damaged firmware or incompatible version of Recovery	Recovery via Fastboot (Section 4).
After reset, asks for a Mi Account password	Reset Protection (Anti-Theft) is activated	Enter the account that was linked before the reset, and if you forget, restore it through the Xiaomi website.

What if there is no Wipe Data in Recovery?

On some custom firmware, the Recovery menu may be different, in which case, look for Factory Reset, Format Data, or Clear eMMC. If the menu is in Chinese, select the first or second item on top (usually a reset).

Method 3: Reset via Fastboot (for power users)

Fastboot is the most reliable method, but it requires a computer with drivers installed and basic command line knowledge.

🔄 The phone does not turn on or freeze in bootloop (cyclical reboot).
🔧 Recovery Recovery or Resolve Errors After a Failed Reset.
🔒 Password is forgotten and Recovery is not available.

The work will require:

💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (or Mac/Linux fixed ADB).
🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original or quality).
📦 Firmware archive for Redmi Note 8 Pro (select the Fastboot version).
🛠️ Platform Tools utility (ADB & Fastboot).

Step-by-step:

Install drivers for Mediatek (download here).
Unpack Platform Tools in the C:\platform-tools folder.
Turn off the phone and press Volume Down + Power to enter the Fastboot (a screen with a rabbit in a hat-eared).
Connect your phone to your PC. Open the command line in the Platform Tools folder (press Shift + right mouse button → Open command window).
Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, check the drivers.
Run reset: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If you have problems after the reboot (for example, the phone still doesn’t turn on), you will have to completely reflash the device through Fastboot using the official firmware. You will find the instructions for firmware in our Xiaomi firmware guide.

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with a locked bootloader, fastboot commands may not work. In this case, you will need to unlock through the official Xiaomi tool (you need a Mi Account and wait 7-30 days).

💡

Fastboot reset is the only way to bring a phone back to life if it doesn't respond to other methods, but it does require preparation and can lead to a loss of warranty if the device was on service record.

5. Solving problems after discharge

Even after a successful reset, problems can occur, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

5.1 The phone asks for a password from a previous Google account (FRP)

This is Factory Reset Protection, which is activated if your Google account is not disabled before the reset.

🔑 Enter the login and password from the account that was tied before the reset.
📧 If you forget your data, restore it through Google Account Recovery.
🛠️ If your account is not yours (the phone is bought by hand), contact the previous owner. In extreme cases, the firmware through Fastboot will help (but this will delete all data forever).

5.2. After reset, the phone does not turn on or hovers on the logo

Reasons:

🔋 Discharge process interrupted (for example, battery is dead).
📱 The firmware is damaged (especially if the custom ones were put before). ROM).
🔧 Recovery's error.

Decisions:

Try to log back into Recovery and repeat the reset.
If it doesn’t work, run your phone through Fastboot (Section 4).
Use the SP Flash Tool (for Mediatek) as a last resort, but it takes experience.

The sensor or buttons do not work after resetting

This may be related to:

🔧 Incorrect firmware (for example, installed version) MIUI different model).
💧 Moisture or mechanical damage (if the phone fell).

Decisions:

🔄 Sweep through the official firmware for the Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia).
🔧 If the problem is hardware – contact the service center.

How do I find out the code name of my model?

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the code name is begonia. You can specify in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap several times on "Kerole Version").

6. How to avoid data loss during a reset

If you haven't backed up in advance, you have a chance of saving some of the data even after the reset.

Recovery of photos and files

Use programs to recover data from internal memory:

💾 DiskDigger (for Android) – scans memory for deleted files.
💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery (for PC) – connect your phone in mode MTP (if it's on).

Important: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset – this reduces the chances of recovery.

6.2. Restoration of contacts and messages

If you have synced with Google or Mi Cloud:

Sign in to the same account on another device.
Contacts and part of messages (SMS) will be restored automatically.

For WhatsApp:

📱 If the backup was enabled in Google Drive, the messenger will offer to restore chats at the first start.
💾 Without backup, try programs like Dr.Fone (paid but effective).

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with File-Based Encryption, data recovery after reset is almost impossible without knowing the password.

7. Alternatives to resetting: when can you do without it

Sometimes the problems that make users decide to reset their phones can be solved with less radical methods.

🐢 Phone brakes: Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Turn off animation: activate Developer Mode (shap 7 times on "Version") MIUI" in settings) and in settings → Additionally. → For developers, set: Window animation scale: Off. Transition animation scale: Off. Animator duration scale: Off.
🔋 Battery goes down quickly: Check the flow in Settings → Battery → Battery use: Turn off background activity for unnecessary apps.
📵 Network or Wi-Fi not working: Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset network settings. Update firmware to the latest version.

If the problem is viruses or malware, instead of resetting:

Install an antivirus (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light)
Run the scan in Safe Mode.
Remove suspicious applications.

💡

In 80% of cases, lags and errors on the Redmi Note 8 Pro are due to overloaded cache or conflicting apps.Reset is a last resort, not a first resort.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 8 Pro reset

❓ How to Reset Redmi Note 8 Pro if You Forgot Your pattern lock?

If the phone turns on but doesn't unlock the screen: Try entering the key 5 times, you'll see the "Forgot your password?" button. Follow the instructions (require a Mi or Google account). If it doesn't, reset via Recovery (section 3). After reset, you may need to enter the data of the Mi Account that was previously linked.

❓ Can I reset my phone without losing data?

No, a full reset always erases user data. However, you can: Back up in advance (Section 1). Use "easy reset" (some firmware has the option of resetting only settings, without deleting files).

❓ Why does the phone ask for a Mi Account that didn’t exist?

This is a feature of MIUI: even if you didn't explicitly link your account, the system could create it automatically when you first turned on. Solutions: Try entering the logins that you used on other Xiaomi devices. If the account is not yours (the phone is purchased by a used one), contact the previous owner. In extreme cases, swipe the phone through a Fastboot full formatting (fastboot erase all), but this will delete everything irrevocably.

❓ How to reset your network settings on Redmi Note 8 Pro?

It doesn't require a complete reset. Enough: Go to Settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Select Network Reset. Confirm. This will delete stored Wi-Fi networks, passwords and mobile Internet settings, but will not affect personal files.

❓ Can the reset be cancelled after it has started?

No, you can't interrupt the reset process. If you turn off the phone during the procedure: At best, the reset will continue after you turn on; at worst, the phone will stop loading and you'll need to run the firmware through the Fastboot or SP Flash Tool. So never interrupt the process, even if it's longer than usual.