You turned on a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and suddenly saw three white dots on the screen that do not disappear? It is not a random glitch of the display, but a signal of a specific problem, a phenomenon that often causes panic among users, especially if the phone stopped responding to touch or stuck on the logo. In this article, we will analyze in detail what the three dots on the Xiaomi Redmi screen mean, what processes they are associated with, and what to do to return the device to working condition.
The symptoms can manifest themselves in many ways: points appear when you turn on, when you update your firmware, when you reset your settings, or even when youβre in normal operation. Itβs important to understand that this is not a hardware failure (unless the dots are constantly burning in one place like broken pixels), but a software indicator. Most often it signals a system recovery process, a bootloader error, or a failed MIUI update. Next, weβll look at all possible scenarios and solutions, from simple reboots to manual reflashes through Fastboot.
Why do three dots appear on the Xiaomi Redmi screen?
Three dots on a black or color background are a graphical marker of Recovery Mode or emergency download in Xiaomi smartphones, which appears in several cases:
- π Firmware update: points are displayed during installation OTA-updates if the process is interrupted or has failed.
- π§ Resetting: When running Wipe Data via Recovery or Fastboot.
- β οΈ Damage to system files: If the kernel or bootloader is damaged, the phone cannot boot MIUI And it shows the dots as a sign of error.
- π± Unsuccessful firmware: after trying to install custom software or rollback to the old version.
- π Battery discharge: If the charge is below 5%, the system can block the boot by showing dots.
It is important to distinguish three points from other Xiaomi indicators:
- π’ Green robot with red exclamation mark β Bootloop error).
- π΄ The red inscription "This" MIUI Version cannot be installed - incompatible firmware.
- β« Black screen with flashing stripe - damaged loader (EDL Mode).
If the dots appear once and disappear after the reboot, the problem is likely temporary (for example, background optimization of the system), if they hang constantly or the phone is rebooted in a loop, intervention is required.
Three points when updating MIUI: what to do?
If the points appear during installation OTA-It means that the process has been interrupted or there has been a conflict of versions:
- Wait 10-15 minutes. Sometimes the system processes files for a long time, especially on weak models (Redmi 4A, Redmi 5).
- Force the phone to restart by holding Power + Volume up for 10-15 seconds.
- If the points remain after the reset: π± Connect your smartphone to charge and wait for at least 20% charge. π Try to enter the Recovery Mode (Food). + Volume up) and select Reboot β System.
If the phone doesnβt respond to buttons or reboots cyclically:
Check the battery charge (connect to the network)
Press the power button for 20+ seconds to force shutdown
Try to log in to Recovery Mode (Nutrition + Volume Up)
If it doesnβt help, connect to your PC through Mi Flash.-->
Critical error: If after the reboot the words βNo commandβ appears or the phone goes to Bootloop (infinite reboot), you will need manual firmware via Fastboot or EDL.
What is Bootloop and why does it occur?
How to remove three points with Recovery Mode
If your phone is responding to buttons, try to restore the system using standard Recovery.
- Turn off your smartphone (clip the power for 10 seconds).
- Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo and Recovery menu appear.
- Select a language (if available) and go to the Wipe Data section.
- Run Wipe All Data (this will delete all user data!).
- After cleaning, select Reboot β System.
Attention! If the Recovery displays an error called "Can't mount /data" or "E:unknown command," it means that the user data section is corrupted, in which case only a complete Fastboot flashing will help.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The points appear when turned on, then the phone loads. | Background optimization of the system | Wait 5-10 minutes or restart |
| The dots are constantly hanging, the phone is not responding. | Update failure or damage to /system | Log in to Recovery and make Wipe Data |
| The dots flash, then the phone reboots. | Bootloop due to incompatible firmware | Switch through Fastboot or EDL |
| Dots + "No command" | The loader or kernel is damaged. | Install stock firmware through Mi Flash Tool |
π‘
If there is no Wipe Data option in Recovery Mode, try connecting your smartphone to your PC and use the adb reboot fastboot command to go into firmware mode.
Manual firmware through Fastboot: step-by-step instructions
If standard methods don't work, you'll have to go through the phone manually.
- π» Windows computer (Windows recommended) 10/11).
- π Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
- π Firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).
- π οΈ Mi Flash Tool (last version).
Instructions:
- Unpack the firmware (file with.tgz extension) in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
- Install Xiaomi drivers (if they are not available, download through the Mi Flash Tool).
- Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
- In the utility, click Select, specify the path to the folder with the firmware, then Refresh (should appear) COM-port).
- Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
If the firmware is interrupted with an "anti-rollback" error, you're trying to install an older version of MIUI than the one before.
- Download the latest stable firmware for your model.
- Use Clean All and Lock mode in the Mi Flash Tool (this will block the bootloader, but bring the phone back to life).
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Fastboot removes all data, including photos and apps. If your phone had important files, try extracting them first through ADB (if Recovery works).
Three points after resetting: how to recover data?
If the points appeared after resetting to the factory settings (Factory Reset), this may mean:
- π The system was unable to format the section /data.
- π± The file system is damaged (for example, due to a sudden power outage).
- π§ Encryption conflict (if File-Based Encryption was enabled).
To restore the working capacity:
- Try resetting through Recovery (sometimes helps a second time).
- If the phone asks for a password after reset, but you donβt remember it, you will have to flash Fastboot with a complete clean.
- To extract data, connect your smartphone to your PC and use utilities like Dr.Fone or 7-Data Recovery (does not work on all Xiaomi models).
Important: on models with a Snapdragon 8xx chip (e.g. Redmi K50, Xiaomi 12) after reset, you may need to log in to your Mi Account even if the phone was not tied, and this is anti-theft protection, and you can't get around it without a password.
What do you do if nothing helps?
If all of the above methods fail, radical measures remain:
- π§ Firmware through EDL (You will need an authorized Xiaomi account and a special cable (Deep Flash Cable).
- π οΈ Replacement of the motherboard (if the points are related to a hardware fault, such as damage to the eMMC memory).
- π Xiaomiβs official centers can restore the phone even with a damaged bootloader (but this is a paid service).
Before you carry your phone for repair, check:
- π Whether the charging is working (plug into another cable/block).
- π Is the battery swelling (this can block contacts on the board).
- π± Was there any physical damage (impacts, moisture infestation).
Attention! If the phone was bought from hand and was previously flashed by custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), there is a high risk that the bootloader is damaged at the BL level (Bootloader), in which case recovery is possible only through EDL with authorization from Xiaomi.
How can we avoid three points in the future?
To avoid this problem, follow simple rules:
- π Update. MIUI Only through official channels (Settings) β The phone. β Updating the system).
- π± Do not interrupt the update process (even if it lasts more than an hour).
- π Keep an eye on battery charge (do not upgrade if the charge is below 30%).
- π§ Do not install custom firmware without unlocking the bootloader (BL).
- π‘οΈ Make backups regularly through Settings β Additionally. β Backup.
If you like to experiment with the scalp:
- Use only proven sources (e.g. XDA Developers).
- Check the compatibility of the model before the firmware (Redmi Note 10 Pro) β Redmi Note 10 Pro Max).
- Always have a stock firmware on hand for rollbacks.
π‘
On models with Dynamic Partition (for example, Redmi Note 11) it is not recommended to roll back on older versions of MIUI - this can lead to damage to the partition table and "bricking" the phone.