Modern Xiaomi laptops, such as the Mi Notebook Air series, Mi Notebook Pro and RedmiBook, often come with or without an operating system preinstalled, requiring the user to install it on their own. Booting from an external drive is the first and most important step to reinstall Windows, install Linux or conduct a system diagnostic. Owners often face difficulties due to the specific UEFI interface and the lack of the usual physical buttons to call the boot menu.
The process of launching the installer from a flash card on the devices of the Chinese manufacturer has its own technical nuances related to the architecture of UEFI and Secure Boot protection. Unlike older computers, it rarely uses the classic Legacy BIOS, which requires a special approach to preparing the media. If you plan to change the software or restore the system to work, you need to strictly follow the algorithm of actions described below to avoid blocking the bootloader.
In this article, we will discuss all the steps in detail: from creating the correct boot image to fine-tuning the parameters in the hidden menu firmware. USB-Proper preparation will save you from unnecessary reboots and potential errors in the work of iron.
Preparation of the boot carrier for UEFI
The first critical step is to create a bootable flash drive that will be compatible with your laptop’s controller. Most modern Xiaomi models work exclusively in UEFI mode, which means they are incompatible with the old MBR disk markup schemes. You will need a drive of at least 8 GB, since modern operating system images take up a significant amount of space.
To record the image, it is recommended to use specialized software such as Rufus or Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. When configuring the program, be sure to select the GPT partition scheme and the non-CSM UEFI target system. Ignoring this requirement will result in the laptop simply not seeing the installation file at start.
- 📀 Download the current one. ISO-Image of the operating system from the official website.
- 💾 Format the flash drive into the file system FAT32 (for UEFI it's a must-have).
- ⚙️ In Rufus, select the partition scheme GPT system UEFI.
- 🚀 Start the recording process and wait for the operation to be completed.
⚠️ Attention: File system NTFS often not recognized by the loader UEFI on Xiaomi laptops without the compatibility mode, so the choice FAT32 priority.
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Use it. USB-port 2.0 (black) if there are errors in the drive recognition when booting, as drivers USB 3.0 may not boot at start time BIOS.
Enter the BIOS and Boot Menu on Xiaomi Notebook
You can get into the firmware settings on Xiaomi laptops in several ways, but the most reliable is the use of a key combination immediately after power is turned on. F12, a to enter the settings BIOS/UEFI keyboard F2. However, due to the fast loading SSD-The window to press can be very short.
If standard combinations don’t work, try pressing the power button and holding it for 10 seconds to shut it down completely, then pressing and holding F2, then briefly pressing the power button without letting go of F2. This “cold start” method often helps to take control of the Windows operating system.
In some cases, especially if you have Windows 10/11 installed with fast boot enabled, it is easier to log into the BIOS through the settings of the OS itself. To do this, go to Settings → Update and Security → Recovery → Special boot options and select Use the device. This is a software method that is guaranteed to put the laptop in the bootloader selection mode.
☑️ Entry algorithm BIOS
Configure security and loading parameters
After successfully logging into the BIOS Setup Utility interface, you will see a concise menu characteristic of Xiaomi devices. The first thing you need to check the status of the Secure Boot parameter. This security feature prevents unauthorized software from running, so it is often necessary to turn it off to install third-party OSes or build Windows.
Find the Security or Boot tab and change the Secure Boot value to Disabled. Also make sure that your Boot Option Priorities are yours. USB-The drive is in the first place or selected explicitly in the Quick Start menu. The interface can be graphical, mouse-controlled, or text-based, where navigation is carried out by the keyboard arrows.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Secure Boot | Disabled | Allows downloading unsigned Microsoft images |
| Boot Mode | UEFI | Modern mode, Legacy (CSM) is often unavailable |
| Fast Boot | Disabled | Increases the time for key response at start |
| USB Configuration | Enabled | Activation of ports at firmware level |
After making the changes, make sure to save the settings. Usually, you use the F10 key or select Save & Exit from the menu, and the laptop will reboot, and if the flash drive is written correctly, the installation process will begin.
What to do if the Secure Boot is not shut down?
Use of Boot Menu (F12)
An alternative to a complete BIOS reconfiguration is to use Boot Menu, which allows you to select a download source one-time. On Xiaomi laptops, this menu is called by repeatedly pressing the F12 key immediately after turning on, which is the fastest way to start the installer without changing the firmware's constant settings.
In the list that opens, you'll see all the devices available. Your drive can be displayed by manufacturer's name (e.g. Kingston, Sandisk) or as UEFI: [Flash Drive Name]. It's important to choose the option with the UEFI prefix, as this ensures the correct mode of operation with the GPT partition table.
If the list is not yours USB-Try to move the flash drive to another port, sometimes it helps to reboot with the drive already plugged in, because BIOS Scan ports only at initialization time.
- 🔌 Insert the flash drive into the port before turning on the laptop.
- ⌨️ Press the power button and immediately start pressing frequently. F12.
- 👀 In the list, select a line that begins with UEFI.
- ✅ Press Enter to confirm the selection.
⚠️ Note: If your laptop ignores the command and loads Windows, you have "Fast Boot" on. Turn it off in Windows power or use the login method through "Special Boot Options".
Solving Common Booting Problems
Even with the right settings, users can encounter situations where a Xiaomi laptop refuses to see the bootable flash drive. One of the common reasons is the incompatibility of the image version. If you try to install an old version of Windows 7 on modern hardware, you will encounter a lack of USB drivers and inability to continue installing.
Another problem is a corrupted image file or the drive itself. If you try to download a black screen with a flashing cursor or a message No bootable device, it is a signal that the boot record is not found. ISO-file and try to overwrite it to another flash drive, preferably using the port USB 2.0.
Sometimes it helps to reset the BIOS settings to factory values. In the BIOS menu, find the Load Optimized Defaults option (often called by the F9 key), confirm the action and save. This will remove possible conflicting settings that may have been changed before.
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90% of the loading problems on Xiaomi are due to the wrong partition scheme (MBR instead of GPT) or the enabled Secure Boot blocking the installer.
Installation of the operating system after booting
Once you start with the flash drive, you'll start the standard installation process. Be especially careful when you select a drive to install Windows. On new laptops, the drive can be marked in the GPT style, and you'll see a few partitions that are reserved by the system.
If you're installing the system clean, it's recommended that you delete all partitions on the target disk to the Unoccupied space state, and then press "Next." The system will create the structure itself. However, if there's important data on the disk, you can't do this step - use formatting only the system partition.
The process of copying files to modern SSD-Xiaomi laptops are very fast, and after the first reboot, the computer may try to start from the flash drive again, at which point it must be removed so that the installation can continue from the hard drive.