Restore bootloader (Boot) on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi stopped turning on after a failed firmware, reset or experiment with unlocking the boot? The likely cause is damage to the boot partition, which is responsible for the initial boot of the system. Without it, the device cannot run Android, stuck on the Mi logo, black screen or cyclic reboot. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved on its own — without going to the service center.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for restoring boot for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (including the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9000+ chips). You will learn how to determine the type of damage, choose the right tool (Fastboot, MiFlash or EDL), and avoid common errors that turn the phone into a “brick.”

Signs of a damaged bootloader (boot) on Xiaomi

Before you start to restore, it is important to make sure that the problem is in the boot section, and not in a hardware malfunction (for example, damage to the motherboard).

• 🔄 Cyclical reboot - phone turns on, shows logo Mi/Redmi/POCO, fade out and re-start.
• 🖥️ Black screen after vibration or backlighting (charging indicator may burn).
• ⚠️ “No command” error or recumbent robot with exclamation mark in Recovery mode.
• 🔌 No response to charging or connecting to a PC (but the computer makes a connection sound) USB-device).
• 📱 Hanging on the label "Fastboot" or EDL (9008 mode when attempting to switch on.

If your device behaves differently — for example, does not respond to the power button at all or overheats — the problem may be in the hardware (battery, display plume, processor), in which case restoring the boot will not help.

⚠️ Note: If you have installed custom recovery before the breakdown (TWRP, OrangeFox or firmware from third-party developers, it is likely that not only the boot, but also other critical partitions (dtbo, vbmeta) are damaged. EDL.

Preparation for Recovery: What You Will Need

To restore the boot on Xiaomi, prepare:

• 💻 Computer running Windows 10/11 (for MiFlash and EDL) or Linux/macOS (for Fastboot).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably from the kit) – cheap cables may not transmit data to Fastboot.
• 🔋 Charge at least 30% – if the battery runs out during the procedure, the device can finally “fill up».
• 📁 Firmware for your model – download it from the official Xiaomi website or verified sources (Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🛠️ Tools: MiFlash Tool (for Fastboot firmware), ADB & Fastboot (universal drivers), QFil or MiFlashPro (for the first time) EDL-regime).

For models with a MediaTek processor (Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro, etc.) additionally require an authorization file (auth.ini), which can be obtained through the official Mi Account. EDL will be impossible.

💡

If your device is not detected by your computer in Fastboot mode, try connecting it to another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC or disable all others USB-The devices. ADB They may be in conflict with the periphery.

Method 1: Recover boot via Fastboot (without data loss)

This method is suitable if:

• 📱 The device is enabled in Fastboot mode (click Volume down) + 10 seconds power).
• 🔧 You did not block the bootloader after unlocking it.
• 📁 You have a stock firmware for your model.

The advantage of this method is to save user data (photos, messages, applications), since only the boot partition is reflashed, but if other system partitions are damaged, this method may not work.

Install ADB/Fastboot drivers | Download the firmware and unpack it | Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot | Check that the device is determined by the fastboot device command-->

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website and unpack it into a folder.
2. Open Command Prompt (cmd) in this folder (click Shift + right mouse button → Open PowerShell window here).
3. Check the device connection: fastboot devices If the list is empty, install drivers or change USB-port.
4. You can also download the boot section: fastboot flash boot boot.img fastboot reboot.

If the phone doesn’t turn on again after restarting, try flashing additional sections:

fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img


fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50) After the boot firmware may need to be reset via Recovery (Loudness up) + Nutrition → Wipe Data. Otherwise, the system will be loaded into a loop.

Method 2: Complete firmware through MiFlash (if Fastboot doesn't help)

If the recovery of the boot partition alone fails, you'll have to flash the device completely, delete all data, but return the phone to a working state, and this works for all Xiaomi models except those with a locked boot loader (unlock required).

What you need:

• 📄 Firmware in.tgz format (download the Fastboot version for your model).
• 🖥️ MiFlash (last version - download here).
• 🔑 Unlocked loader (if previously blocked).

Instructions:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
2. Install MiFlash and run it on behalf of the administrator.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
4. In MiFlash, click Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
5. Select firmware mode: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended for serious failures), Clean all and lock – cleaning + lock bootloader (only if you plan to sell the phone), Save user data – an attempt to save data (not always works).

Flash

Once the firmware is in place, the phone will automatically restart. The first run can take up to 15 minutes - don't interrupt the process!

Method 3: Recovery through EDL (for “bricks”)

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency firmware mode that works even if Fastboot is not available. It is suitable for devices that:

• 🔌 Not turned on at all (black screen, no response to buttons),
• 🔄 Hang on the Mi logo without the ability to log in to Fastboot,
• 🚫 Have a locked bootloader and do not run through MiFlash.

For Xiaomi, on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13) use MiFlashPro or QFil. For MediaTek (Redmi 10, POCO M4) – SP Flash Tool + authorization file.

How to log into EDL:

1. Turn off the phone (if it reacts, press Power + Volume up for 20 seconds).
2. Connect. USB-cable to PC, but not to phone.
3. Press Volume up + Volume down on your phone, and don't let go, plug the cable. The screen should stay black.
4. Check if the device is identified as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 in Device Manager.

Firmware via EDL:

1. Download firmware in.mbn format (for Qualcomm) or.bin (for MediaTek).
2. In MiFlashPro, select a firmware file and press Start.
3. For MediaTek, in the SP Flash Tool, download the scatter file and specify the path to the authorization file (auth.ini).
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 20 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware through EDL On devices with MediaTek without an authorization file (auth.ini) will cause an error "SLA Auth Fail. To get a file, sign up at auth.mi.com and link the device to your account.

💡

EDL is the last chance to bring the phone back to life if other methods have not worked, but on new models (released after 2022), Xiaomi blocks this mode without authorization, so you may need to contact a service center.

Method 4: Recovery through Custom Recovery (TWRP)

If you have custom recovery (TWRP, OrangeFox), you can restore boot without a computer, right from your phone, which is suitable for power users, because it requires:

• 📱 Access to Recovery (click Volume Up) + Nutrition).
• 📁 File. boot.img from stock firmware (download it in advance to the memory card).
• 🔧 Unlocked loader (otherwise) TWRP never start).

Instructions:

1. Download the firmware for your model and extract the boot.img file from it.
2. Move it. boot.img on SD-card or internal memory (if the phone is defined as a drive in the TWRP).
3. Load to TWRP (Loudness Up + Nutrition).
4. Go to Install → Install Image and select boot.img.
5. Specify the Boot section and confirm the firmware.
6. After completion, run Wipe → Format Data (if the system is not booting).

If the boot firmware still does not turn on, try flashing dtbo.img and vbmeta.img in the same way.

💡

In TWRP, you can back up your current boot partition before you run the firmware: go to Backup → Select Partitions and just tick Boot, which will help you roll back if the new firmware doesn’t fit.

Method 5: Contact a service center (if nothing helps)

If all of the above methods do not work, it is likely that:

• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction (damage to flash memory, processor, contacts).
• 🔒 Blocking the bootloader with a link to the Mi Account (official unlock required).
• 📱 Damage to several critical partitions (e.g. modem, system).

When to contact the service:

• 🔌 The phone is not defined by the computer in any mode (Fastboot, EDL).
• 🔧 Firmware through EDL The error is called "Firehose fail" or "SLA Auth fail".
• 💥 The device overheats or makes unusual sounds (clicks, squeaks).

Xiaomi’s official service centers in Russia and the CIS can restore boot even on locked devices, but the cost of the service depends on the model:

Before the service visit:

1. Check if they work with your model (some centers don’t take devices older than 3 years).
2. Download and save the stock firmware for your model on the flash drive - this will speed up the process.
3. If you bought your phone abroad, check if you have a Global ROM service in your city.

FAQ: Frequent questions about restoring boot on Xiaomi