Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop gaming laptops have earned a reputation for being powerful machines that can run modern projects at high graphics settings. However, like any complex device, they require periodic maintenance, reinstallation of the operating system or fine-tuning of boot parameters. It is at these moments that the user is faced with the question of how to get into the boot menu to select the right media or run diagnostics. Standard methods that work on desktop PCs may not work here due to the peculiarities of the keyboard and firmware.
The process of logging into Boot Menu on laptops in this series has its own nuances related to the dense layout of the case and the specifics of the BIOS. Often users are faced with a situation where the system ignores keystrokes, instantly booting Windows, making it impossible to install a new OS from a flash drive. Understanding the correct sequence of actions and knowing alternative ways of entering is critical to successfully perform maintenance tasks.
In this article, we will take a look at all the known ways to call the download menu on Xiaomi Gaming Laptop 2018, 2019 and Pro versions. We will look not only at the standard keyboard combinations, but also at the methods of setting up through UEFI, and discuss the possible reasons why login can be blocked.
Keys to call Boot Menu
The fastest and most common way to get into the boot device selection menu is to use the function keys on the keyboard immediately after power is turned on. For Xiaomi gaming laptop models, the primary key is the F12. However, due to the multimedia assignment of the top row of buttons, a simple press can adjust the volume or brightness rather than triggering the system menu.
To guarantee the activation of the Boot Manager function, you need to use the combination with the modifier key Fn. Immediately after pressing the power button, start rhythmically and often press the combination Fn + F12. It is important to start doing this before the Mi logo appears on the screen. If you see the logo, and the menu does not appear, then the moment is missed, and the procedure must be repeated by turning off the laptop forcibly or waiting for the OS to boot.
💡
In some keyboard revisions, the combination can only work if you pinch the Fn in advance, before turning on the laptop, and hold it during frequent pressing of F12.
There is also an alternative F2 key that usually leads to the BIOS settings, but in some versions of the firmware can open the download menu under certain conditions, if the BIOS has the appropriate priority. However, you should not count on this, since Fn + F12 is the standard method for Xiaomi Gaming. If the laptop is connected to an external keyboard via USB, try using it, since the built-in keyboard can be initialized later in the POST process.
Set up load priority via BIOS
If direct hitting Boot Menu via hotkeys does not work, the only correct solution is to change the order of boot directly in the UEFI BIOS interface. To enter the BIOS on Xiaomi laptops, the F2 key is used. As in the previous case, on gaming models, the most common thing is to pin the Fn + F2 combination at the start of the system.
After getting into the interface BIOS You need to go to the Boot tab. This shows you a list of all the boot devices available. The interface may vary depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find Boot Option #1 and change it to yours. USB-flash-drive DVD-Some versions. BIOS You can simply drag and drop devices with your mouse if Mouse Support is supported.
☑️ Setting up Boot Priority
When you change your priority, remember to save the changes. This is usually done by using the F10 key or the Save & Exit option in the exit menu. The laptop will reboot and automatically start loading from the selected device, bypassing the need to call Boot Menu in the future until you change the settings again. This is especially useful if you plan to reinstal the system.
⚠️ Attention: Security tab in the BIOS It may contain the Secure Boot option. Installing unofficial Windows or Linux distributions often requires switching to Disabled. 10/11 It is not necessary and not even recommended without necessity.
Downloading through Windows 10 and 11 (Advanced Startup)
Modern Windows operating systems have a built-in fast-boot mechanism that virtually ignores keystrokes at start-up to reduce the time you turn on your laptop. If you have Windows 10 or 11 running, you can get into Boot Menu software without having to dance with a diamond at the keyboard.
To do this, open the Start menu, click the Turn Off button, and, with the Shift key on the keyboard, click Reboot. The system will not turn off immediately, but will go to the diagnostic menu. Select Find and troubleshoot → Additional settings → UEFI boot options or use the device immediately.
In the “Use the device” section, you will be offered a list of available drives. By selecting your flash drive, the Xiaomi Gaming laptop will restart and start the bootloader from the selected media, which is the most reliable method, since it does not depend on the reaction speed of the keyboard or BIOS timings.
Why does the keyboard not work when booting?
Table of keyboard combinations for different models
While the Mi Gaming Laptop lineup is fairly unified, there may have been minor changes to the logic of the keyboard controller in different years of release. Below is a summary table that will help you navigate depending on the specific modification of your device.
| Laptop model | Boot Menu keyboard | BIOS key | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Gaming Laptop 2018 | Fn + F12 | Fn + F2 | It requires a quick rhythmic pressing |
| Mi Gaming Laptop 2019 | F12 or Fn + F12 | F2 | Both options work, depending on the region. |
| Mi Gaming Laptop Pro 15 | Fn + F12 | Fn + F2 | Strict timing, better through Windows |
| Redmi G Gaming | F12 | F2 | Often works without clamping Fn |
Note that the Features column highlights nuances that can affect the success of an operation. For example, on the Pro 15, the download menu login timings can be extremely compressed due to the use of fast NVMe drives, in which case the Shift reboot method in Windows becomes almost unopposed.
💡
There is no universal rule for all laptops, but for Xiaomi Gaming, the priority is always the combination of Fn+F12, and plan B is the login through Windows recovery options.
Problems: If Boot Menu is not open
There are situations where even the right key combinations don't produce the desired result. The screen keeps showing the logo, the boot indicator spins, and the system goes away to Windows. One common reason is the Fast Boot feature enabled in the BIOS. It's designed to speed up the start by skipping some devices' polls and shortening the wait time for keyboard input.
To circumvent this limitation, you can try to completely turn off the laptop (not restart, namely the completion of work), turn off the power cable and press the switch on the laptop. 15-20 Then, when you put the power on, you start to press the key, and sometimes it helps to connect the external key. USB-keyboard, which can be defined by the system before the built-in.
It's also worth checking if Secure Boot mode is on, which in some rare cases can block downloads from uncertified media, although it usually just skips them in the list.If nothing helps, try removing the battery (if the model design allows it to do so without opening the case, as in older versions) and inserting it back in, which is analogous to a CMOS reset.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to open warranty seals or disassemble a laptop if it is on warranty, just for the sake of resetting. BIOS. Use resetting software methods or wait for the warranty period to expire.
Use of bootable flash drives with UEFI and Legacy
An important aspect of successful booting is the compliance of the boot flash drive with the BIOS settings. Xiaomi Gaming laptops use a modern UEFI interface. This means that your installation USB stick must be formatted in the FAT32 file system and have GPT markup for native boot in UEFI mode.
If you try to boot from a flash drive created in Legacy mode (CSM) with MBR markup, the laptop may simply not see it in the Boot Menu list, even if it is physically healthy. In programs for creating bootable media such as Rufus, you need to carefully choose the partition scheme. For Xiaomi Gaming 2018-2019, the best choice will be GPT and the target system UEFI (non CSM).
In Boot Menu, the device can be displayed twice: for example, UEFI: SanDisk and just SanDisk. Always choose the option with the UEFI prefix, as this ensures proper operation with modern versions of Windows and proper integration with secure boot. Choosing an option without UEFI can lead to installation errors or inoperability of some system functions.