Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones have enormous potential, often hidden behind the limitations of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. Enthusiasts and advanced users need access to low-level system commands to unlock the full capabilities of the device. This is where the ADB and Fastboot toolbox comes into play, allowing them to manage the file system, install firmware, and even remove standardized system applications.
The process of setting up a work environment can be intimidating to a beginner because of the abundance of terms and actions on the command line, but if you break it down into logical steps, it becomes clear that there is nothing super complicated about it. You only need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, which is serviceable. USB-The proper preparation of the environment is the foundation without which further manipulation of the phone is impossible or dangerous.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at every step from activating hidden menus on the smartphone itself to the first successful command sent from your computer. We’ll look at not only the basic driver installation, but also the nuances of working with specific utilities like adb.exe and fastboot.exe. Understanding how these tools work will give you complete control over the device.
Activation of the developer mode and debugging via USB
Before a computer can “see” your smartphone in debugging mode, it is necessary to allow this at the Android operating system level. By default, this feature is hidden from the eyes of the average user for security purposes. To access the hidden menu, you need to find the system build number. It is usually on the Settings path → About the phone, where you need to quickly click 7-10 times on the “MIUI Version” or “OS Version”.
When the "You're a developer" notification appears, a new "Additional" or "Extended Settings" section will appear in the settings menu, and that's where the "Developers" item is hidden. When you enter this menu, find the "Debug USB" switch and activate it, and the system will alert you to the potential risks, but it's a must-do for ADB.
⚠️ Warning: Never turn on the debugging on USB, If you are in public places with an open screen, do not connect your phone to suspicious charging stations.In active debugging mode, the device may be more vulnerable to unauthorized access to data.
It's also important to note that when you first connect to a new computer, you'll see a request on your smartphone screen to confirm debugging, and you'll need to tick "Always Allow from this computer" and click "OK." Without that confirmation, the command prompt won't be able to do a single action to return the authorization error.
Download and Prepare Platform Tools
Google’s official toolkit, known as Platform Tools, is an industry standard that includes adb and fastboot executables, which should be downloaded exclusively from the official Android Developers website to avoid introducing malicious code or using outdated versions that may not work properly with new versions of Android 13 or 14.
Once the archive is loaded, it should be unpacked into a convenient folder on the disk, such as C:\platform-tools. It is recommended not to place files too deep in the folder structure and avoid Cyrillic characters along the way, since Windows command line sometimes incorrectly processes such paths when calling executable files.
For ease of use, many users add a path to the tool folder to the system variables of the environment, which will allow you to run ADB commands from any directory without going to the utility folder every time. However, for one-time operations, it is enough to simply open the command line or PowerShell directly in the tool folder, clamping Shift and right clicking, selecting “Open PowerShell window here”.
☑️ Checking readiness for work
Installation of Xiaomi and ADB Interface drivers
The most common problem with the first setup is the lack of the right drivers. Windows can automatically install the basic MTP driver to transfer files, but debugging requires a specific Android ADB Interface driver. If the Device Manager displays “Unknown Device” or “Android” instead of your smartphone name, then the driver is not installed.
Xiaomi devices often require manual driver search. In Device Manager, right-click on an unknown device, select Update Driver → Search for drivers on this computer → Select a driver from the list of available drivers. From the manufacturer list, find Google USB or Xiaomi, and from the model list, select Android ADB Interface.
If the standard method doesn’t work, you can use the universal Google USB Driver, which is distributed through the SDK Manager, or specialized driver assemblies for Xiaomi. Successful installation is confirmed by the device appearing in the list of connected equipment without warning signs.
⚠️ Warning: When installing drivers manually, always check the digital signature. Using drivers from unverified sources can lead to unstable operation USB-port or conflict in the system.
Connection check and basic commands
When all the drivers are installed, there comes a moment of truth -- checking the connection between your computer and your smartphone. Open the command line in the tool folder and type in a command to check the visibility of the device. If done correctly, you'll see your gadget's serial number.
adb devicesThe system then has to display a list of connected devices with device status, and instead, if you see unauthorized status, look at the phone screen, and there should be a confirmation request. RSA-Offline status usually indicates driver problems or damaged USB-cable.
To go into firmware mode, you use the fastboot command, and to get the phone into that mode, it has to be turned off. Press the volume button and plug in. USB-And you'll see a picture of a hare fixing an android on the screen, and now you can check the connection on the command line:
fastboot devicesWhat if your computer doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot?
Using Xiaomi ADB Fastboot Tools to remove Bloatware
One of the main reasons users turn to debugging tools is to remove pre-installed software, or bloatware. By standard methods, many Xiaomi system applications cannot be removed. There is a specialized utility with a graphical interface, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools from developer Szaki, which automates the process.
It automatically identifies the device model, Android version, and region, and offers lists of safe-to-remove apps grouped by category (advertising, analytics, unnecessary services), making life much easier for those who don’t want to manually search for package names and enter commands for each application.
However, even with automated tools, it is important to understand which packets you are removing.Removing critical system components can lead to a device "brickling" or cyclical reboot.Always back up data before you start cleaning the system.
⚠️ Note: It is strongly advised not to remove packets associated with miui.home, com.android.phone, or com.miui.securitycenter unless you are 100% sure of the consequences.
Table of the main commands ADB and Fastboot
For those who prefer manual control or use scripts, knowledge of the basic commands is indispensable. Below is a table with the most commonly used commands for managing a Xiaomi device.
| Team team. | Regime. | Description of action |
|---|---|---|
| adb reboot bootloader | ADB | Reboots the phone to Fastboot mode |
| adb reboot recovery | ADB | Reboots the phone to Recovery mode |
| fastboot flash recovery image.img | Fastboot | Sets up the image of Recovery |
| adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name | ADB | Remove the application for the current user |
| fastboot oem unlock | Fastboot | Unlocks the bootloader (requires code from the site) |
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Knowing the basic ADB commands allows you to restore access to the device even in the event of software failures when the GUI is not loaded.
Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them
During the setup process, users often encounter an error called “daemon not started” or “cannot connect to daemon.” This means that the ADB background process has not started or has been blocked by antivirus. The solution is simple: terminate the adb.exe process in the task manager and run the adb kill-server command, and then adb start-server.
Another common problem is that the device is detected, but the commands are not executed, which often happens when multiple apps are open on the phone at the same time. ADB if USB-The port is going into power saving mode. Try to turn off the phone, restart the command line on behalf of the administrator, and reconnect the cable.
Also worth mentioning is the driver problem in Windows 10 and 11. The system can block the installation of drivers without a digital signature, in which case you need to temporarily disable the driver signature verification when you boot Windows, using special key combinations in the system recovery menu.
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Use it. USB-externally powered hub if your computer cannot provide sufficient current for a stable smartphone operation in debugging mode, especially when firmware is running large amounts of data.
Safety and Return to Factory Settings
There are always risks to working with system tools. If you delete the extra or change the settings that caused the instability, there is always a way back. The surest way to get it back is to do a full reset via the Recovery menu or reflash the device through the Mi Flash Tool.
Before any experiment, always back up your important data to a cloud service or external hard drive. Remember that unlocking the bootloader automatically resets all data on your phone for security reasons.
Owning ADB and Fastboot transforms your smartphone from a closed system into a flexible tool that you customize to suit yourself. The key is to act consistently, read error messages and not be afraid to study documentation. With experience, installing drivers and executing commands will take you no more than a couple of minutes.