Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, are powerful multimedia devices, but even they are not immune to software failures. Sometimes the user is faced with a situation when the device suddenly starts to work slowly, spontaneously restarts or banners appear on the screen that block the interface. In such cases, a standard reboot is often powerless, since a malicious or mistaken application is launched automatically with the system.
The solution is Safe Mode, which is a special diagnostic mode in which the Android operating system starts without downloading any third-party programs installed by the user, in which only system services and basic applications work, which allows you to determine whether third-party software is causing the malfunction. If the phone is stable in safe mode, then one of the newly installed applications is the culprit.
In this article, we will discuss how to enter this mode correctly on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, as well as how to exit it, returning the gadget to normal operation. We will examine various methods, including the use of physical buttons and system settings, and answer frequently asked questions.
What is Safe Mode and Why You Need It on Xiaomi
Safe Mode is an Android operating system diagnostic environment designed to troubleshoot. When booting in this state, the system blocks the launch of all apps that are not part of the standard set of Google and Xiaomi.This means that your instant messengers, games, launchers and widgets will not be active while you are in this mode.
The main purpose of this mode is to isolate the problem. If your Xiaomi smartphone starts to warm up, quickly discharge or freeze immediately after turning on, Safe Mode will help you understand the nature of the failure. If in this mode the device is fast and error-free, then the problem lies in the conflict application. If problems persist, then probably the system files are damaged or there is a hardware malfunction.
⚠️ Warning: If you are in Safe Mode, you will not be able to use the usual applications, such as WhatsApp, Telegram or banking clients.
It is also useful in removing miner viruses or adware, which are often disguised as system processes. In normal mode, they can have administrator rights or protect themselves from deletion, but in safe mode their protection is not activated, which allows you to safely remove the malicious file through settings.
Preparation of the device before restarting
Before you start restarting your Xiaomi phone in Safe Mode, it is recommended to perform several preparatory steps.Although this process is considered safe for user data, interrupting the boot or errors in the process can lead to malfunctioning of the system. Make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%, So that the device does not turn off at the most inopportune moment.
It's also worth saving all open documents or game progress, as all unsaved data will be lost when you reboot. If you have important files that aren't synced to the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud, it's best to back up in advance. While logging into Safe Mode doesn't delete personal files, reinsurance never hurts.
☑️ Preparation of the smartphone for diagnosis
It's important to understand the difference between a normal setup reset and a safe mode entry. Safe mode doesn't delete your photos, contacts, and installed apps, it only temporarily shuts down your running. This is a key difference from Factory Reset, which completely cleans the device's memory. So this is the first step in solving software problems that should be addressed before more radical measures.
Method 1: Classic method through the off menu
The most common and safe way to get into safe mode on Xiaomi smartphones with current versions of MIUI and Android is to use the standard shutdown menu. This method does not require knowledge of button combinations and is available to any user. The algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same.
First, you need to unlock the screen and call the power management menu, and you need to press the power button on the side of the device, and a window will appear on the screen with options: "Switch off", "Reset" and sometimes "Flight mode" or "SOS." You need to press and hold your finger on the icon or the text "Power Off".
After 2-3 seconds of holding, a pop-up will appear on the screen asking if you want to go to Safe Mode. The system will warn that all third-party applications will be disabled. You need to confirm the action by pressing OK. After that, the phone will turn off and restart itself. On the lock screen or in the lower corner of the desktop, you will see the inscription "Safe Mode".
- 📱 Press and hold the power button until the menu appears on the screen.
- 👆 Touch and do not release your finger on the “Switch off” icon».
- ✅ In the confirmation window that appears, select “OK” to go to Safe Mode.
- 🔄 Wait for the full reboot of the device and the appearance of the inscription in the corner of the screen.
If you don't see the sign after the reboot, it doesn't work the first time. Try repeating the procedure, making sure you hold the touch long enough until the system notification appears. On some Redmi or POCO models, you need to hold the "Reset" option instead of "Switch off."
Method 2: Using hardware buttons (for older models)
On older Xiaomi smartphones or custom firmware devices, icon retention may not work, and in these cases, the classic method of using physical volume buttons requires a certain amount of dexterity and timing, as you have to press the button at the right time to boot the system.
First, turn off your smartphone completely. If the device is stuck and does not respond to touch, press the power button for 10-15 seconds to force the switch off. Once the screen is turned off, start the process of turning on by holding the power button. Once the Mi or Android logo appears on the screen, you quickly press the Volume Down button several times.
Some users recommend clamping down the volume button before turning on and holding it until the logo appears, but Xiaomi often uses the method of “interrupting” the boot. If done correctly, the system will boot with a minimalist interface, and the corresponding indicator will burn in the corner of the screen.
What to do if the volume buttons do not work?
It is worth noting that on modern devices with Android 11 and above, this method works less often, as manufacturers gradually abandon hardware combinations in favor of software solutions.
How to determine if your phone is working in safe mode
After a successful reboot, it's important to make sure that the device has actually entered diagnostic mode, and visual confirmation is a watermark called "Safe Mode" or "Safe Mode," which is usually located in the lower left or right corner of the lock screen and desktop, which is semi-transparent and does not interfere with view, but is clearly readable.
You will also notice changes in interface behavior: All third-party app icons you installed from Google Play or other sources will disappear from the desktop or become translucent and will not start when you click. The settings menu may look simplified, and some features that depend on third-party services (such as weather widgets from third-party developers) will cease to update.
You can also check the system status through settings. Go to Settings → About Phone. In some versions of MIUI, it may display the status of the current download, and trying to run any third-party application will lead to an error or a message that the application cannot be launched in this mode.
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The main sign of a successful transition is the presence of the label “Safe Mode” in the corner of the screen and the lack of ability to run the applications you installed.
It's important not to panic if your phone looks empty. It's normal behavior. All your data, photos and contacts are in place, just access to them through the usual applications is temporarily limited. To return to full operation, just restart the device in the usual way.
Diagnostics and removal of problematic applications
When you're in Safe Mode, you get a unique opportunity to remove an app that's causing crashes. If the phone stops bugging after you log in to Safe Mode, the culprit is found among the software installed, most often caused by memory cleaners, questionable antiviruses, interface change apps, or newly installed games.
To remove, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Carefully review the list. Look for apps you installed shortly before problems arose. Look for apps without icons or with strange names — viruses are so often masked. Click on a suspicious app and select Delete.
If the delete button is inactive, the application may have device administrator rights, in which case you need to go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Device administrators (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI) and uncheck the problem application.
| Type of application | Probability of problem | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Memory cleaners (Cleaners) | Tall. | Remove the built-in MIUI tools is enough |
| Third-party launchers | Medium | Disable or remove, check stability |
| Applications from unknown sources | Critical | Immediately remove and check the antivirus |
| Banking applications | Low. | They usually don’t, but they can be updated. |
After removing suspicious programs, it is recommended to restart the phone again in normal mode and check the system. If the problem disappears, then you successfully coped with the task. If not, several applications may conflict or system files are corrupted.
How to get out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi
Getting out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi devices is as simple as possible. Unlike some other brands, there is no need to perform complex manipulations. The standard exit procedure is a normal device reboot. The system does not remember the safe mode state after turning off, so the next time it is turned on, it will boot in normal mode.
Press the power button and select Reboot. If the menu doesn't appear because the interface freezes, press the power button 10-15 seconds before the vibration and the Mi logo appears. After full boot, check the bottom corner of the screen: the "Safe Mode" should disappear, and all your apps will return to their places.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone boots again after a normal restart in Safe Mode, check if the volume button is stuck.
In the rare cases where a standard reboot doesn’t help and the phone gets stuck in diagnostic mode, you can try clearing the system bootloader cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, click on three dots at the top, select Show System Processes, find bootloader (or Loader) and click Clear Cache. After that, reboot again.
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If the volume button is stuck because of the case, remove the security accessory before turning on the phone so that the system boots normally.