Xiaomi phone is constantly rebooting and not turning on: a complete guide to recovery

You turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, and instead of the usual desktop, you saw an endless download cycle: the Mi logo → black screen → logo again? The situation is familiar to many owners of brand devices, especially after unsuccessful updates, drops or experiments with firmware. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved independently without going to the service center.

In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of the cyclic reboot (bootloop) on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, and give step-by-step instructions, from basic actions to complex firmware manipulation. Importantly, if the phone does not respond to charging or warms up above 50 ° C, first cool it to room temperature, this will save you from damage to the board.

Don't rush to carry the machine for repair: 6 out of 10 cases help software recovery, but remember, if the phone reboots after a physical impact or moisture, the problem may be a damaged motherboard, and without diagnosis in the service can not do.

Why Xiaomi is stuck in a reboot cycle: 5 main reasons

Bootloop on Xiaomi rarely happens by itself, usually due to user errors or hardware failures.

• 🔄 Failed software update: interrupted firmware through OTA manually installing an incompatible version MIUI.
• 📱 Post-rooting conflict: improper rooting or deletion of system files (e.g., via Magisk or Magisk) TWRP).
• 🔋 Critical battery discharge: if the battery is discharged to 0% and has been in this state for a long time, the power controller may fail.
• 💥 Physical damage: fall, impact, moisture – even if the external body is intact, the plume could move away or the memory chip damaged.
• 🛠️ EMMC malfunction: degradation of flash memory (relevant to older Redmi Note models) 3/4 or Mi 5).

The most common cause is a software failure (first 3 points). If the phone responds to buttons (vibrates, the screen lights up), the chances of recovery without disassembly are 90%. If the device is completely dead (no indication, does not warm up), the problem is more hardware.

First steps: what to do before resetting or firmware

Before you start taking radical measures, follow these steps: They take 5-10 minutes, but they can save you hours on flashing:

1. Connect charging: even if the indicator is not on, leave the phone charging for 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes the bootloop is caused by a deep discharge, and the battery takes time to collect the minimum charge.
2. Try a forced reboot: press the Power button + Volume Up for 15-20 seconds. On some models (POCO F1, Mi 9), the combination may be different - check for your model.
3. Check your PC connection response: connect your phone to your computer. If a Qualcomm device appears and disappears in Device Manager. HS-USB QDLoader 9008 is a sign of a firmware failure (required) EDL-regime).

If the phone boots once after these manipulations, immediately back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup or Mi Cloud. Otherwise, you will lose all files when you reset.

Method 1: Hard Reset (Hard Reset) through Recovery

If the phone responds to buttons (vibrates, the screen lights up) but doesn't load beyond the logo, try resetting through stock Recovery.This method works on 70% of Xiaomi devices and doesn't require a PC.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it doesn’t respond, press down Power + Volume Up for 20 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Up until the Mi logo appears, then let go.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have a choice) then:

Reboot → Reboot to System

⚠️ Note: this method deletes all data (photos, contacts, messages) If the phone has Mi Account enabled and synced, some of the data can be restored after logging in to the account.

Method 2: Install firmware via Fastboot (for experienced)

If the reset didn’t help or the phone didn’t come into Recovery, the next step is to run the firmware through Fastboot.This method is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but requires a PC and minimal command line skills.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux Possible problems with drivers).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 📁 Fastboot firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (last version).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool and drivers (if the PC doesn’t recognize the phone in Fastboot mode).
3. Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume down until the bunny appears in the hat-eared (Fastboot mode).
4. Connect your phone to your PC, launch the Mi Flash Tool and select the firmware folder.
5. Press Refresh, the program must identify the device. Then select Clean All and press Flash.
6. Wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes) and automatically restart.

⚠️ If the Mi Flash Tool is a “Cannot receive hello packet” error, try it:

• 🔌 Change. USB-port (better to use) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).
• 🔄 Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager.
• 📥 Download a different firmware version (e.g. Global Stable instead of China Stable).

💡

If the phone goes back to bootloop after Fastboot, try flashing the older version of MIUI (1-2 builds back), sometimes caused by a bug in the latest update.

Method 3: Firmware through EDL (for "bricks")

If the phone doesn’t respond fully (it doesn’t go into Fastboot, it doesn’t vibrate), but the PC recognizes it as Qualcomm. HS-USB QDLoader 9008, there is a last chance – firmware through the EDL-This method works on 90% of Xiaomi devices running Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO X3, Mi 9T).

⚠️ Attention: firmware through EDL It resets all data and can lock the device if it's tied to Mi Account. If you don't remember the password from the account, try other ways first.

Instructions:

1. Download the EDL firmware for your model (see 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).
2. Install the Qualcomm QDLoader driver (if the PC does not recognize the device).
3. Connect your phone to your PC in mode EDL: 🔌 For most models: clamping down on power + Volume up. + Reduce the volume and connect the cable. 🔌 For POCO F1: clamp down on power. + Increase volume by 10 seconds, then plug in the cable.

Mi Flash Tool

Flash

Select

flash_all_lock.bat

Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 15 minutes).

If after firmware phone requires the entry of the password Mi Account, but you do not remember it, you will have to contact the service center to unlock through EDL-authorization (paid service).

Method 4: Checking for hardware faults

If all software methods have been tried, but the phone is still restarting, the problem may be the hardware.

• 🔋 Faulty battery: The phone only turns on from charging but turns off when the cable disconnects.The battery is swollen (check if the back cover is lifted).
• 💾 Damaged flash memory (eMMC): The phone is not detected by the PC, but warms up. When you run through Fastboot, you get a "flash write failure" error".
• 🔌 Pipe plume or chip dump: Reboots started after falling or hitting.The screen flashes but the image is distorted.
• 🌡️ CPU overheating: The phone shuts down 1-2 minutes after turning on. case hot even without load.

For diagnosis:

1. Try to connect another (knowingly working) battery.
2. Check the phone with a different charger and cable.
3. If you have soldering skills, check the integrity of the plumes and contacts on the board.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone is over 60°C or smells of a burn, immediately disconnect it from charging and do not turn it on - this may be a short circuit.

💡

If the phone reboots after the battery is replaced, check the battery compatibility with the model. Unoriginal low-quality batteries can cause malfunctions in the power controller.

When do I contact the service center?

Not all problems can be solved by yourself. Contact the service if:

• 🔧 You tried every way in the article, but the phone still doesn’t turn on.
• 💦 The phone was in the water or exposed to severe humidity (even if it was dry).
• 🔥 On the board, darkening, burnt elements or traces of oxidation are visible.
• 🔒 After firmware, the phone requires a Mi Account, but you don’t remember the password.
• 📉 The diagnosis shows eMMC errors or UFSH (memory-damaged).

The cost of repair in official Xiaomi services:

Before the service visit:

• 📋 Write down the phone model and serial number (on the box or under the battery).
• 💳 Check whether a warranty for repair is provided (in informal services it may not be available).
• 📦 If the phone is warranty - do not open it yourself, otherwise the warranty will burn down.

FAQ: Frequent questions about bootloop on Xiaomi