Your Xiaomi stopped turning on after a firmware update or a failed reset? The screen only shows the Mi logo and does not go on? Or the device does not respond to charging and buttons at all? In this case, they say that the smartphone has turned into a “brick” — a state where the software is damaged so much that the system can not boot. But do not rush to carry the phone to the service center: in 80% of cases, you can restore Xiaomi from a brick yourself, even without a soldering iron and special skills.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from mild failure (when the phone is turned on but not loaded) to hard brick (no reaction at all), and learn what tools you’ll need, how to determine the type of failure and what actions to take for each Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO model. Importantly, recovery methods differ depending on whether the bootloader is unlocked and whether you have access to Fastboot or Recovery mode.
We warn you right away, if you've never worked with firmware through ADB or MiFlash, it can be a tricky process, but following our instructions Step-by-step, you can bring your smartphone back to life, and if something goes wrong, there's an FAQ at the end of this article that answers frequent bugs.
1.Diagnostics: What type of “brick” does your Xiaomi have?
Before you start rebuilding, you need to understand how badly the system is damaged, and that's what you choose, and all the bricks fall into three categories:
- 🟢 Soft brick – the phone turns on, but hovers on the logo Mi/Redmi, Cyclically reboots or goes to Recovery.
- 🟡 Middle brick - the device responds to buttons (vibrates, lights up), but does not load.Fastboot mode is available.
- 🔴 Hard bricks – complete lack of response to charging, buttons or PC connection, often caused by damage to the bootloader.
How do you determine the type?
| Sign. | Soft brick | Middle brick | Hard brick. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reaction to a long press of the power button | Vibration, logo, reboot | Vibration, available on Fastboot | No reaction. |
| Connection to PC | Defined as MediaTek Preloader or Qualcomm 9008 | Defined in Fastboot | Not defined |
| Charging indicator | Burning or flashing | Burns when connected to a PC | It's not burning. |
| Reason. | Failure to update, reset, delete system files | Damage to the boot or recovery section | Loader damage, hardware breakdown |
If your Xiaomi doesn’t respond to buttons and isn’t determined by a computer, check first:
- 🔌 Cable and power supply (try another one) USB-cable).
- 🔋 Battery (if the phone was discharged for a long time, it could go into deep discharge).
- 🖥️ Port port USB PC (it is better to use the back ports on the system unit).
⚠️ Attention, if a smartphone has fallen into water or been physically damaged, it may be a hardware problem, and in this case, software recovery methods will not help, but a diagnosis at a service center is required.
2.Tool preparation: what will be needed for recovery
To restore Xiaomi from brick, prepare:
- 💻 Computer on Windows 7/10/11 (MiFlash is best avoided macOS/Linux).
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably from the set).
- 📱 Firmware for your model (official or custom).
- 🛠️ Programs: MiFlash, ADB/Fastboot Tools, Qualcomm drivers or MediaTek drivers.
- 🔋 Charged battery (minimum 50%).
Where can I get firmware?
Official firmware for Xiaomi is downloaded from the sites:
- 🌍 Official website MIUI (Choose Fastboot. ROM Recovery through MiFlash).
- 🔧 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (archive of old and new versions).
- 📦 XDA Developers (Castom firmware and patches).
⚠️ Never download firmware from questionable sources! Fake files may contain viruses or incompatible components that will ultimately kill your smartphone.
Installation of drivers
To work with Fastboot and EDL (Emergency Mode), you need drivers:
- Qualcomm processors: QDLoader HS-USB Driver.
- For MediaTek processors: MTK USB Driver.
- Xiaomi Universal Drivers: Mi PC Suite
After installing the drivers, check the connection:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press Volume Down + Power to Enter Fastboot.
- Connect to the PC and execute in the command line: fastboot devices If the serial number appears - the drivers are installed correctly.
3. Method 1: Fastboot Recovery (for soft and medium bricks)
If your Xiaomi is detected in Fastboot mode, the most reliable way to restore is through the official MiFlash utility, which works even if the bootloader is locked, but requires the right firmware for your model.
Step-by-step:
- Download firmware in.tgz or.zip format (for example, tissot_global_images_V12.0.3.0.PDHMIXM_20210312.0000.00_10.0_global_1234567890.tgz).
- Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MiFlash\rom).
- Install the MiFlash Tool (you can download it here).
- Run MiFlash on behalf of the administrator.
- Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
- In MiFlash, press Refresh – the device should appear.
Flash
If MiFlash is giving you a “cannot receive hello packet” error, try it.
- 🔌 Reconnect. USB-cable.
- 🔄 Reinstall Qualcomm drivers.
- 🖥️ Run MiFlash in Windows 7 Compatibility Mode.
Make sure the firmware model matches the phone model |
Charge the battery at least 50% |
Disable the antivirus (it can block MiFlash)|
Use the original USB-cable|
Connect the phone to the back port USB PC-only-->
Method 2: Recovery (if the phone is turned on but not loaded)
If your Xiaomi is stuck on the logo but is responsive to buttons and you can log in to Recovery, try resetting or installing firmware via ADB Sideload.This method is suitable for soft brick and does not require unlocking the bootloader.
How do I get into Recovery?
Turn off the phone, then press the combination:
- 📱 Loudness up + Food (for most models).
- 📱 Loudness up + Loudness down + Food (for some) POCO).
From the Recovery menu (English or Chinese) select:
- Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (complete reset).
- Reboot → Reboot to System (Reboot).
If the reset didn’t help, try installing firmware through ADB Sideload:
- Download the firmware in.zip format (for example, miui_BLOCKOTAMiuiBlockota.zip).
- In Recovery, select Connect with MiAssistant (or ADB Sideload).
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb sideload path to firmware.zip Example: adb sideload C:\MiFlash\miui_MI8Global_V12.0.2.0.QEAMIXM_1234567890_10.0.zip
- Wait until the installation is complete (don’t turn off USB!).
⚠️ Attention, if there's no item in Recovery ADB Sideload, so your version of the recovery is outdated, and in this case, only the firmware through Fastboot or the Fastboot will help. EDL.
💡
If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons: 🧹 — discharge, 📱 — restart, 🔗 — PC-connection.
5. Method 3: Recovery through EDL (for hard brick)
If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to buttons and is not detected in Fastboot, then the last chance is to run through Emergency Download Mode (EDL) – a method that requires:
- 🔓 Unblocked bootloader (if it was blocked, you will need an authorized Xiaomi account).
- 💻 Special cable or testpoint (for forced transfer to the EDL).
- 📦 Firmware in.mbn or.elf format.
How do you get in to EDL?
There are two ways:
- Testpoint (requires disassembly): Open the back cover (for non-dismountable models, you will need a hair dryer). EDL (usually signed or marked as TEST POINT). Close the contacts with tweezers and connect USB-cable.
Fastboot
fastboot oem edlAfter logging in to EDL, the phone will be identified as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
- Download firmware for EDL (for example, with Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
- Use MiFlash or QFil for firmware: In MiFlash, select flash_all_lock.bat (If the bootloader has been unlocked. In QFil, download the file prog_emmc_firehose.mbn and sew rawprogram_unsparse.xml.
⚠️ Attention, firmware through EDL without unlocked bootloader can lead to a complete lock of the device (requires authorization through the Xiaomi account.
What if MiFlash doesn’t see the phone in EDL?
Method 4: Alternative methods (if nothing helps)
If the standard methods don’t work, try:
- 🔄 Flip-through SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek): Download SP Flash Tool and firmware in.scatter. Upload the scatter file to the program. Connect the phone turned off (no battery if it's removable). Press Download and wait until it's finished.
Use of Custom Recovery (TWRP)
- Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.
- Please. TWRP Fastboot: Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
- In TWRP, install firmware through Install → Select ZIP.
- 📞 Contacting the service center (if the phone for warranties or methods did not help).
💡
If you have a firmware EDL phone that requires you to log in to your Mi Account and you don't know it, you can't recover without an official unlocker, and only a service center with access to Xiaomi tools will help.
7. Frequent errors and their solutions
When you restore Xiaomi from brick, users often encounter errors.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| MiFlash: "cannot receive hello packet" | Problems with drivers or cable | Reinstall Qualcomm drivers, try another USB-port |
| Fastboot: "device not found" | Phone is not in Fastboot mode or no drivers | Check the button combination, update the drivers |
| EDL: "Sahara Connection Failed" | Wrong firehose file | Download the firmware with the right one prog_emmc_firehose.mbn |
| TWRP: "Failed to mount /data" | Encrypted data section | Run Format Data in TWRP (all data will be deleted!) |
| The phone is stitched but not turned on | Incompatible firmware or battery drained | Check the firmware model, charge the phone 1-2 hours |
Additional advice:
- 🔍 If MiFlash is 4% or 99% down, try disabling the antivirus (it can block the process).
- 🔄 If after firmware the phone goes into a bootloop (cyclical reboot), reset through Recovery.
- 📡 If there is no access to the Fastboot, but the phone warms up when connected to the charge, it may be a problem in the power controller (repair needed).