How to reboot Xiaomi Mi Box S: the full guide

Modern multimedia consoles, such as the Xiaomi Mi Box S, are powerful miniature computers running the Android TV operating system. Like any complex gadget, this device can encounter software errors, accumulation of temporary files or banal freeze of the interface, at which point the user needs to reboot to restore the normal operation of the system.

There are several ways to reanimate the device, from simply turning off the remote to completely resetting to factory settings. The choice of the specific method depends on the current state of the console: whether it responds to commands, whether the interface or device is completely “dead.” In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios in detail and help get Android TV back on track.

Before we go to radical measures, it is worth trying standard methods that do not require deleting your data. Often the problem lies in overflowing RAM or conflict of the running application. Competent diagnosis and consistent actions will help to avoid losing important settings and accounts.

Soft reboot through the system interface

The safest and most appropriate way to restart the Xiaomi Mi Box S is to use the operating system’s regular menu, which ensures that all system processes are completed correctly and the file system is not damaged. First, you need to unlock the TV screen if the power saving feature is enabled and wait for the Android TV desktop to appear.

Using the remote control, find the gear icon that indicates the settings, which is usually located in the upper right corner of the screen. Click on it and in the menu that opens, select Settings of the device (or simply "Settings" depending on the firmware version).

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If the interface is severely slowing down, try to close all running applications before restarting by twice pressing the Home button on the remote and selecting Close All.

Inside the System section, you'll need to find About TV or About Device, and that's where the power control button is hidden. Click on it, and in the window that appears, select Reboot. The system will request confirmation of action. Once agreed, the console will turn off and in a few seconds it will automatically turn on, going through the initial boot procedure.

• 📺 Press the Home button on the remote to access the desktop.
• ⚙️ Go to the Settings section (cog in the corner).
• 🔧 Select the System item → On TV.
• 🔄 Click Reboot and confirm the action.

This method is ideal for a scheduled restart or minor crashes, does not affect your user data, installed apps or logins in Google accounts, and if after this procedure the problem recurs after a short time, a deeper intervention may be required.

Emergency restart when getting stuck

The situation when Xiaomi Mi Box S stops responding to remote commands is rare, but it causes maximum inconvenience. The screen can freeze on one frame, the cursor stops moving, or the image simply goes out, although the indicator is on. In this case, software methods through the menu are not available, and a hardware reset is required.

The easiest way to get the device to react is to physically turn off the power. Find the power supply in the console outlet or pull out. USB-cable (if the console is powered by a TV, which is rare for this model, it is better to remove the plug from the box itself.

⚠️ Attention: It is not recommended to often practice pulling the cord out of the socket during operation, as this can damage the file system if data was being recorded at this time.

There is also a keyboard combination that sometimes helps to wake up the hung interface: Try to press the Home and Back buttons (or the menu, depending on the remote modification) at the same time and hold them for about 5-10 seconds. In some firmware versions, this causes the current application to be forced to close or the system menu to be forced to close.

If after power is turned on, the system boots normally but is unstable, it is worth checking for system updates. Accumulated errors in the cache can cause periodic "freezes." In critical cases, when the device enters a cycle of endless restart, you will need a Hard Reset procedure.

Full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

When software bugs become critical, or you plan to sell a device, a complete reset is required.This operation will return the Xiaomi Mi Box S to the state it was in on the day of purchase. All your accounts, passwords, installed apps and settings will be permanently deleted.

You can reset through the settings menu if the system is responding at all. Go to Settings of the device → System → About TV. At the bottom of the list you will find Reset. The system will warn you that all data will be destroyed. The confirmation may require you to enter a pin code or click the button combination specified on the screen.

If the menu is not available, you can use an alternative method through the Google Home app on your smartphone if the console has previously been associated with it. Find your device in the list, go to the settings and select the reset option. However, the classic method through the console's menu remains the most reliable.

Once the reset is complete, the device will restart and prompt you to go through the initial setup: select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and enter your Google account details, and be prepared to download all the apps from the Google Play store again.

Using Recovery Mode for Deep Cleaning

In cases where the Android TV operating system is damaged so much that it does not boot even to the main screen, the Recovery Mode is used. This is a low-level interface built into the device's memory that allows you to perform administrative functions.

To get into this mode on the Xiaomi Mi Box S, you usually need to disconnect the power from the console from the network. Then you need to press the confirmation button (center button with a circle or the Home button, depending on the revision of the remote) and, holding it, turn on the power. Hold the button until the Android logo or restore menu appears.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery mode is often controlled by volume buttons (if you have them on the remote) or up/down navigation, and the choice is made by the confirmation button. Be careful not to choose the wrong menu item. data/factory Reset. Confirm the action by selecting Yes. Once the cleanup is complete, select Reboot system now.This method is guaranteed to delete all user data and system cache, eliminating software conflicts at a deep level. 📊 How often do you reset your settings on a TV set-top box?Once a month Only when selling Never, just rebooting First time I hear about it Using Recovery Mode is "heavy artillery». If this method does not help to start the system, the problem is likely hardware in nature, and the intervention of service center specialists to flash through UART or replace components. Automatic update and maintenance To prevent the need for frequent reboots and resets, it is important to monitor the relevance of the software. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that contain security fixes and operating system optimization. You can manually check for updates. Go to Settings → About device → System Update. If a new version is available, the system will offer to download and install it. It is recommended to connect the console to the network via Wi-Fi 5GBuser or fast downloading function. You can activate Auto Update in the update menu so that the console can install new versions at night when you're not using it, and this helps maintain stability without you being involved. 📡 Check the “System Update” section regularly». 🗑️ Remove unused applications to free up memory. 🧹 Periodically clean the cache of heavy apps (YouTube, Netflix). 🌡️ Keep your temperature on the device, keep the ventilation on, and it's also important to optimize the storage, and when the space runs out, the system starts to run slower, and remove old movies, TV shows and apps that you don't use. Use external storage devices to store the media library if the internal memory is not enough. After rebooting or resetting, users may encounter a number of specific situations, such as a console that can take a long time to boot while on the Android or Xiaomi logo. This is normal for the first run after a reset, as the system performs application optimization and file integrity checks. Another common problem is the lack of an Internet connection or the inability to log in to a Google account immediately after you turn on. Make sure the date and time on the device are set correctly.A wrong date can block the connection to security servers. 💡The first launch after a complete reset may take up to 10-15 Do not turn off the device during this period, so as not to damage the system files. If you notice that after the reboot, the sound is gone or the image is dim, check the screen resolution and audio output settings in the Settings → Device settings → Preferences. Sometimes after updating the drivers, you need to manually select the correct output format (for example, RGB or YCbCr). In case performance problems persist even after all the manipulations, you should consider installing an alternative launcher or a lighter version of the firmware if you have sufficient technical skills. However, for most users of regular recovery tools, it is enough. Can you reboot the Xiaomi Mi Box S without turning off the TV, since it is not affected by the TV setup? However, if the TV is set to automatically turn on with the console (via HDMI-CEC), The screen can go out and turn on again in the restart process. What if YouTube is lost after reset? When you completely reset, all the apps are deleted. You need to go back to the Google Play store, find the YouTube app and install it. If it's not in search, make sure you select the right region and account. How long does it take to reset your settings? The formatting and installation process takes an average of 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the internal memory speed and the version of the firmware installed. Don't interrupt the power at this time. Do I have to take out the flash drive before rebooting? For a normal reboot, take out the flash drive. USB-storage-free. However, before the procedure of a full reset (Hard Reset) external disks are better to remove, so as not to accidentally format them if the system confuses the memory partitions.