“Wait for the reboot” on Xiaomi: why there is a bug and how to fix the hanging of applications

You turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, but instead of the usual desktop, you see the inscription: “Before opening applications, wait for the complete reboot of the device,” and the system froze for minutes (or even hours)? This problem is familiar to many owners of devices on MIUI – from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 13. Most often the error occurs after updating the firmware, resetting or incorrectly turning off the gadget.

Unlike typical freezes, where the screen simply doesn't respond to touch, the system works in part: system notifications can open, charging indicator can burn, but the launch of any applications is blocked, the reasons lie in conflicts of background optimization of MIUI, corrupted cache files or incomplete initialization of Android components. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to bring the smartphone back to life, from simple reboots to deep firmware diagnostics.

Spoiler: In 80% of cases, forced cache resetting via Recovery or rollback of updates helps. But if the problem occurs after manual intervention (for example, obtaining root rights), you may need to flash it.

Why Xiaomi is “hanging” on the reboot: 5 main reasons

The message of waiting for the reboot to complete is not just an interface glitch, but a signal of a system failure.

• 🔄 Incomplete update MIUI: The firmware has been downloaded but not installed to the end (for example, due to a dead battery or an interrupted Internet connection), as a result, the system tries to “prove” files every time it turns on.
• 🗑️ Damaged cache. Dalvik/ART: These files are responsible for fast downloading of applications. If they are corrupted, Android cannot initialize programs.
• 🛠️ Conflict with optimization MIUI: Autostart or Background Activity Limitation can block critical processes.
• 🔋 Lack of power: If the battery is discharged below 15%, the system pauses background tasks, which leads to "hang" during the boot phase.
• 📱 Hardware problems: Wearing flash memory (especially on older Redmis) 4/5) or controller failure NAND.

Interesting fact: on devices with MIUI 14+ The problem is more likely to occur due to dynamic memory optimization (memory extension function), which aggressively cleanses background processes, while at the same time on old firmware (for example, on old firmware, MIUI 12) faulty /data/partition.

⚠️ Warning: If the inscription appears after a failed unlock of the bootloader or install custom firmware, do not try to solve the problem through Fastboot without backup! this can lead to a "brick" (complete inoperability) of the device.

Method 1: Forced reboot (if the system is not responding)

If the screen is more than a message 10 If you have a sensor that doesn't respond, try a hardware reset. 90% device Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:

1. Press the power button for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. Wait 30 seconds (even if the device appears to be off).
3. Press the power button again to turn on the smartphone.

If you have a problem after that, move on to the next step. Importantly, don't confuse the hardware reset with the Hard Reset, which is just rebooting the device without losing data.

Method 2: Clearing the cache with Recovery Mode

The most effective method to fix the error is to reset the Dalvik cache and system through the recovery menu, which will not delete your data, but requires care:

Turn off the device (press the power button for 10 seconds)

Connect the charger (the battery must be charged at least 30%)

Make sure that there are no important unsaved data on the device (photos, messages)

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1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Power + Volume up. For POCO F1/F2/F3: Power + Volume down. For Xiaomi 12/13 series: Power + both volume buttons.

Recovery

Wipe & Reset

Wipe Cache

Wipe Data

Confirm the action and wait until the completion (usually 1-3 minutes).

Reboot → System

If the system freezes on the same message again after cleaning the cache, this indicates damage to the /data partition - a factory reset or flashing will be required.

Method 3: Reverse MIUI updates (if the problem started after the update)

If the error occurs immediately after the update is installed, the version conflict or corrupted firmware files are to blame.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slap the icon «⋮» (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Remove downloaded update.
3. If the update is already installed, try returning the previous version via Recovery: Download the full firmware for your model from MIUI Download (choose stable, not beta!). Place the.zip file in the device's memory root (not in folders!). In Recovery, select Install update and specify the downloaded file.

Warning: rollback to old firmware can result in data loss if the Android version is lower than the current one (e.g. from Android 13 to Android 12).In this case, make a backup through Mi Cloud or Google Account.

Method 4: Resetting MIUI Optimization Settings

Auto Start, Background Limitation and Battery and Performance features in MIUI often block critical processes.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap it on «⋮» (three dots) and select Reset application settings.
3. Confirm the action. It will bring back all permits and restrictions to the factory.
4. Reset the device.

If the problem persists, turn off aggressive optimization:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance Mode.
2. Choose Balanced (not Energy Saving!)
3. In the section “Restricting background activity”, disable restrictions for system applications (Google Play Services, MIUI System).

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After resetting optimization, add frequently used applications (messengers, banking programs) to No Limits via Settings → Battery → Application Selection.

Method 5: Checking the integrity of system files through ADB

If previous methods didn't help, it's possible critical Android files are corrupted.Diagnostics will need a PC and a tool to diagnose ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your computer.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times on the build number, then return to Additional → For Developers).
3. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type: adb shell su fsck /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/userdata (if requesting root access, allow on the phone).
4. If the command returns errors (e.g. File system errors found), execute: adb shell su wipe cache reboot

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
2. Connect to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Select the downloaded firmware and press Refresh – the program must determine the device.
4. At the bottom, select Clean All (full clean) and click Flash.
5. Wait for the end (5-10 minutes). The phone will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi) 13T Before the firmware, you need to unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool, which takes up to 72 hours and requires an account to be linked to the Mi Unlock Tool!

What do you do if nothing helps?

If after all the manipulations the device still gives an error, hardware problems are possible:

• 🔋 Flash memory failure: Typical for older devices 3–4 years 5/6, Mi A1/A2). Symptoms – frequent reboots, data loss.
• 🔌 Power controller problems: If the battery runs out too quickly or the phone shuts down at 20–30% charge.
• 📱 Damage to the motherboard: For example, after falling or getting moisture.

In these cases:

1. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center (check the IMEI warranty on mi.com).
2. If the warranty is over, find a proven service with diagnostic equipment NAND-memory (e.g. EasyJTAG).
3. For older models (Redmi 4X, Mi 5) it is sometimes cheaper to buy a new phone than to repair it.

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If the error occurred after physical impact (impact, water), do not try to sew the device - this can aggravate the damage!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi hanging out on reboot