The situation of a modern smartphone turning into a useless piece of plastic and glass often scares users, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is a solvable problem: the device can hang on the Mi logo, endlessly reboot or simply demonstrate a black screen when connected to power. This condition, which is called a “brick” among enthusiasts, usually occurs after a failed system update, interrupted boot or experiment with superuser rights.
Restoring the gadget requires composure and strict adherence to technical instructions, as any wrong actions can lead to complete loss of warranty or irreversible damage to the hardware. Before proceeding with radical measures, you need to accurately determine the type of “bricking”, since the choice of resuscitation method depends on it. In this article, we will discuss in detail the software methods for returning to life your Redmi or Poco.
It's important to understand that the flashing process is not magic, but a strict sequence of commands that make the device's processor reread system code. The software brick means that the hardware is intact, and the problem lies solely in the damage to the logical partitions of memory. In most cases, the user is able to cope with this on their own, having a computer and USB-cable.
Diagnostics of the device state: determine the type of problem
The first step on the road to recovery is to accurately identify the mode in which the smartphone is located. Fastboot is a low-level diagnostic mode that the device falls into when the bootloader is damaged or you try to flash it back. If you see an image of a hare repairing an android on the screen, or the FASTBOOT label in orange, then you are the luckiest.
A more complicated case is EDL (Emergency Download Mode), often referred to as the “deep brick” mode, in which the screen may remain black, but when connected to a PC in Windows Device Manager, the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 will appear in the Ports (COM and LPT) section. This indicates that the bootloader is critically damaged and the system cannot even start the basic communication protocols.
There is also a bootloop state where the phone is constantly rebooting, showing the brand logo, which is often when you try to install a custom recavator without unlocking the bootloader or when you install firmware from another model, in which case the device may display a Recovery menu where you can try to reset the data, but often it requires a complete firmware reflash.
- 🐰 Fastboot Mode: On the screen, a hare or the word Fastboot, the device is defined by the PC as Android Bootloader Interface.
- 🔌 Regime. EDL: Screen black, Device Manager displays Qualcomm 9008, requires an authorized Mi Account for firmware.
- 🔄 Bootloop: Endless reboot on the Mi logo, sometimes manages to log into the Recovery menu.
⚠️ Attention: If your device shows a black screen and does not vibrate when connecting to a charge, it may be the hardware problem - the battery is discharged to zero or the board is damaged. 2-3 One hour before the start of the program manipulation.
Tools and work environment preparation
To successfully perform the recovery operation, you will need a personal computer running the Windows operating system, since most utilities from Xiaomi and Qualcomm are optimized for this platform. USB-A cable that can transmit data, not just charge current, and cheap charging-only cables will be an insurmountable obstacle to communication with your phone.
The main software for running in Fastboot mode is the Mi Flash Tool.This is the official tool that allows you to pour firmware images into the memory sections of a smartphone. EDL mode may require more specialized software such as QFIL or Qualcomm QDLoader, but the standard Mi Flash also supports work with the 9008 port with the right drivers.
Don't forget to set up relevant ones. USB-driver ADB Without them, the computer simply will not see the connected device in the desired mode, and you will need a firmware file in.tgz format (for Fastboot), which can be downloaded from official resources or trusted forums. It is important that the firmware version is regionally appropriate or global if you are changing region.
☑️ Preparations for recovery
The process of preparing the file system also requires attention: the archive with the firmware must be unpacked into the root of the disk so that the path to the files does not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces, C:\mi_flash\rom, Long paths can cause errors when writing data to the phone's memory.
Step-by-step instructions for flashing through Fastboot
If your device is successfully entering Fastboot mode, the recovery process is relatively simple and requires no deep programming knowledge. First, connect the phone turned off to your computer by holding the Volume Down Volume Down button. Hold it until the image of the hare appears on the screen. Make sure that the Android Bootloader Interface device appears in Windows Device Manager.
Run the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Press the Refresh button to detect the connected device. If your phone's serial number appears in the list, the connection is established correctly. Next, click the Select button and specify the path to the unpacked firmware folder where the image file is located.
At the bottom of the program window, select firmware mode. The Clean All option will completely delete all data from the phone and install a clean system - this is the best choice for recovering the "brick." Save User Data mode will try to save files, but if critical system errors, it may not work or lead to new crashes. After selecting the mode, press the Flash button and wait for the process to be completed.
- 📂 Path selection: Make sure there are no Russian letters on the way to the firmware, otherwise Mi Flash will give an error.
- 🧹 Clean All: Complete data cleanup, recommended when switching from Chinese to global.
- 🔒 Lock: Lock the bootloader after firmware, use only if you install the official stock firmware.
⚠️ Note: During the firmware process, it is strictly forbidden to turn off USB-Interrupting the writing to the system or boot partition can cause the device to be completely inoperable, which cannot be fixed software.
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If the firmware process has been stuck at a certain percentage (e.g. 50% or 98%) for a long time, try replacing it. USB-cable or connect the phone to another USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, not 3.0.
Recovery through EDL (9008)
EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is the last chance to save the phone if the Fastboot is not working or the bootloader is blocked by an error. Most modern Xiaomi models require disassembling the case and closing certain contacts on the board (Test Point) or using a special “jack” cable, a more complex method that requires accuracy.
After switching the device to 9008 mode (the screen remains black, but the PC makes the device connect sound), the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 port should appear in the Device Manager. Firmware in this mode often requires an authorized Mi Account account with server rights, since Xiaomi has limited free access to this mode for security purposes. However, there are workarounds and special versions of the Mi Flash Tool that allow you to flash devices without authorization if the bootloader has already been unlocked.
The firmware process is similar to Fastboot: you pick a firmware file and you start the process. The only difference is that the phone is in deep sleep and is completely dependent on the computer's commands. Qualcomm drivers must be installed in advance, otherwise the system will not be able to initiate data transfers.
| Parameter | Fastboot Mode | EDL Mode (9008) |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | Volume buttons + power | Disassembly/Closing of contacts |
| Screen. | Rabbit image/text | Black screen |
| Authorization | Not required | Often times a Mi Account is required |
| Difficulty | Low. | Tall. |
Typical errors and methods of their elimination
When you flash the Redmi Note 9 Pro, users often encounter error codes that can be confusing. The Miss matching image and device error indicates that you are trying to flash firmware that is not designed for this model. For example, you can't flash the Redmi Note 9 Pro with the Redmi Note 9S firmware, despite their similarity. Always check the codename of the device, such as curtana or joyeuse.
The Can not find MD5 or Flash All Except Data Storage Error error often occurs due to problems with file paths or antivirus software. The antivirus can block the hardwirer's access to system files or delete key components of the unpacked firmware. It is recommended to temporarily disable protection or add a firmware folder as exceptions.
If the process is interrupted during the writing partition, don't panic. Try restarting your phone to Fastboot and running the firmware again. If the error is repeated, it may be a corrupted firmware file (not downloaded completely) or a faulty one. USB-Use the command of fastboot devices in the command line to check the stability of the connection before starting Mi Flash.
- ❌ Mistake. 0x66: Problem with drivers or port, reinstall drivers ADB.
- 🔒 Anti-Rollback: You can’t lower the Android version below the installed protection (ARB), phone will go hard brick.
- 📉 Storage space insufficient requires Clean All mode.
What is Anti-Rollback (ARB)?
Prevention and important safety advice
To avoid turning your smartphone back into a brick, you should be careful when updating your system. Never interrupt the software update process through your phone's menu if your battery is below 50%, and trust automatic airborne updates (OTAs) that check file integrity before installing.
If you plan to experiment with custom firmware or root rights, always have your model's stock Fastboot firmware on hand, store it on your computer or cloud drive, and it's your lifeline that will allow you to return the device to its original state in case of failure or before you go to a warranty service center.
Backup your important data regularly. Flashing, especially in Clean All mode, permanently removes all information from the internal drive. Photos, contacts, and documents can be lost forever if you don't take care of the backup in advance. Use Mi Cloud or Google Photos cloud services to automatically sync.
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The most reliable way to avoid problems is not to turn off the bootloader (Lock) after installing custom firmware and always have the original stock firmware for your particular model on hand.