You turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, but instead of booting the system, it persistently reboots over and over again? The screen flashes the MIUI logo, the boot animation appears and everything repeats itself? Congratulations, you've encountered a bootloop. This is one of the most common problems on Xiaomi devices, especially after failed updates, firmware experiments or physical damage.
In this article, we will not only explain what a bootloop is and why it happens, but also give step-by-step instructions for getting out of the reboot cycle, from the simplest ways (which will work in 70% of cases) to radical ones (like flashing through Fastboot). Importantly, the methods are different for different Xiaomi models, so we will point out the nuances for Redmi, POCO and flagship series.
What is a bootloop and how to recognize it
Bootloop is a looped reboot of a device in which the smartphone cannot fully boot the operating system.
- 🔄 The screen goes off and lights up again in 5–30 seconds.
- 📱 The logo appears MIUI Xiaomi, but no further downloads.
- 🔋 The charging indicator can flash or burn constantly.
- 🚫 No button combinations (except Power) + Volume Down is down.
To distinguish the bootloop from other problems is simple: if the smartphone responds to charging (showing battery animation), but does not load beyond the logo - it is exactly him. If the screen is black and there are no signs of life, most likely the problem is in the hardware (for example, the battery failed or the motherboard).
Bottleups can be software (90% of cases) or hardware (10%): the first is caused by firmware errors, module conflicts or system files; the second is caused by physical damage (for example, after a fall or moisture).
Causes of bootloop on Xiaomi: from updates to “curved” firmware
Most bootloops are caused by software failures, and here are the main reasons, ranked by frequency:
- Misfitting MIUI updates (via OTA or manually) are especially dangerous to interrupt the upgrade process or install firmware not for your model.
- Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) without unlocking the bootloader or with errors.
- Conflict of Magisk modules or other system modifications (e.g., after rooting).
- Damage to /system or /boot partition due to viruses, file system failures or incorrect factory resets.
- Hardware problems: wear of flash memory, damage to the contacts of the battery or motherboard.
Interesting fact: on Xiaomi devices with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F3), the bootloop often occurs due to a failure in the modem section, which is responsible for communication, and on models with MediaTek (for example, Redmi 9A) - due to errors in lk.bin (first-level bootloader).
| The cause of the bootloop | Frequency of occurrence | Can I correct myself? |
|---|---|---|
| Failure OTA-update | 60% | Yes (via Recovery or Fastboot) |
| Incorrect firmware (castom or stock) | 25% | Yeah (flashing) |
| Conflict Magisk/Xposed | 10% | Yes (remove modules via TWRP) |
| Hardware failure (memory, fee) | 5% | No (repair needed) |
If the bootloop happened after an automatic update, it's probably a failure in the installation process, and in this case, forced reboot to Recovery and cache cleaning helps, and if you manually flashed the device, the problem may be incompatibility of the firmware or damage to the bootloader.
💡
Before any firmware manipulation, check the device model in documents or on the box. Installing the firmware from Redmi Note 11 on the POCO X4 Pro is guaranteed to lead to a bootloom!
Next Next post: What to do if Xiaomi is stuck in a bootloom
Don't panic! 70 percent of the time, the bootloop fixes without losing data.
Wait 10-15 minutes (sometimes the system boots up after a long pause)|Connect charging (a discharged battery can block the loading)|Press and hold the Power + Volume Up for 10-20 seconds (forced reboot)|Try to download in Recovery Mode (Power) + Volume Up)-->
If your smartphone is responsive to buttons, try Recovery Mode:
- Turn off the device (hold the Power for 10-15 seconds).
- Press the Power + Volume Up and hold it until the MIUI logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (this won’t delete your data!).
- Restart the device (Reboot) → Reboot to System).
If the bootloops continue after cleaning the cache, try resetting to factory settings (Wipe & Reset → Factory Reset).Warning: this will delete all the data on the device, but often helps to return to work. If this does not work, move to more radical methods.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to “discharge” the battery to 0% in the hope that the smartphone will “reboot”.On some Xiaomi models (for example, the Redmi Note 8 Pro), this can lead to a complete lockdown of the bootloader!
Advanced methods: flashing through Fastboot and EDL
If the standard methods didn't work, you'll have to refashion the device.
- 💻 Windows computer (or Mac/Linux driverless ADB/Fastboot).
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📦 Firmware for your model (download only from the official Xiaomi website or proven sources like XDA Developers).
- 🛠 Tools: Mi Flash Tool (for the first time) EDL) or Fastboot (for manual firmware).
The most reliable way is through Fastboot, and here's the step-by-step instructions.
- Download the firmware for your model (for example, for Redmi Note). 10 Pro, it's gonna be a file. sweet_global_images...tgz).
- Unpack the archive in a folder on your computer.
- Download your smartphone to Fastboot mode: Turn it off, then press Power + Volume Down.
- Connect the device to the PC and run the command line in the firmware folder.
- Type commands in turn: fastboot flash boot.img fastboot flash system.img fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot reboot
If Fastboot doesn't work, you have EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, which allows you to flash the device even if the bootloader is damaged.
- Download the Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm drivers.
- Connect the switched off smartphone to the PC, holding Volume Up + Volume Down (on some models you need to close the test points on the board).
- In the Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and click Flash.
⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL It drops all the data and can lock the device if you didn't use firmware for your model. For example, Redmi Note 11 firmware (codename spes) POCO M4 Pro (codename veux) will lead to a brick".
How do I find out the code name of my model?
How to save data if Xiaomi is in a bootloom
If your smartphone stores important files (photos, contacts, documents), and resetting them to factory settings will remove them, try the following methods:
- 🔧 Extracting through TWRP: If you have a custom recap, connect the device to the PC in mode MTP and copy the files.
- 💾 Backup through ADB: Enter the command line: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Backup\ (This will copy all files from internal memory to the computer).
- 🔄 Recovery via Mi Account: If sync with Xiaomi Cloud was enabled, data can be restored after repair.
If the device was enabled BitLocker (on some models with Windows projection) or FBE (File-Based Encryption) encryption, it will be impossible to extract data without a password, in which case it is only necessary to flash the device and accept the loss of information.
For models with MediaTek (like Redmi 9C), there are tools like MTK Client that allow you to drain data even from a locked device, but this requires Python skills and risks finally “killing” the smartphone.
💡
If data is critical and self-recovery seems difficult, contact a service center, and wizards use professional boxes (such as UFi or EasyJTAG) that can pull information even from damaged memory.
Frequent Bootloop Correction Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Many users compound the problem by trying to fix the smartphone in the wrong way, and here are the most common mistakes:
- 🔨 Using firmware is not for your model. For example, the firmware Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (veux on Redmi Note 11 Pro (peux) will lead to a “brick".
- 🔋 Low battery firmware. If the battery runs out during the process, the device can completely fail.
- 🔄 Interrupt the firmware process. Even if nothing seems to be happening, don't turn off the cable until it's done!
- 🛠 Use of informal instruments (e.g, SP Flash Tool for MediaTek without the right scatter files).
Another common mistake is trying to unlock the bootloader on a bootloom device. On most Xiaomi models, unlocking requires confirmation via Mi Account, but in bootloom mode this is impossible, first you need to restore the workflow, and then unlock the bootloader (if necessary for custom firmware).
On models with Dynamic Partition (e.g. Xiaomi 12 or POCO F4), it is not recommended to use older versions of the Mi Flash Tool - this can damage the partition table.
When to contact the service: signs of hardware bootloop
If all software methods have been tried and the smartphone is still fixated on rebooting, the problem may be in the hardware.
- 🔥 Smartphone heats up during bootloop (possibly short circuit on board).
- 🔋 The battery is swollen or the device does not hold the charge.
- 💥 Bootloop started after falling, getting moisture or repairs.
- 📵 The device is not defined by the computer, even in Fastboot/EDL.
In these cases, self-repair is not possible - you need a diagnosis in the service center.
| Type of breakdown | Approximate cost (₽) | Repair time |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement of flash memory (eMMC/UFS) | 3 000–8 000 | 1-3 days |
| Repair/replacement of the motherboard | 5 000–15 000 | 3-7 days |
| Restoration of battery contacts | 1 500–3 000 | 1 day |
| Flashing through JTAG (if EDL doesn't help) | 2 000–5 000 | 2-4 days |
If the smartphone is warranty, do not try to repair it yourself - this will void warranty obligations. In official service centers Xiaomi bootloop caused by a software failure, eliminated free of charge (unless it is associated with rooting or custom firmware).