Xiaomi TV does not turn on – only the screensaver Mi: what to do in 2026

You turned on a Xiaomi TV, but instead of your desktop, you only see the Mi logo on a black screen β€” and it doesn't load anymore? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smart TV owners, especially after firmware updates, power surges or improper shutdowns. In 90% of cases, the TV is not completely dead β€” it can be brought back to life on its own without resorting to a service center.

In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of the screensaver hangout, from software failures to hardware malfunctions, and give step-by-step instructions for diagnostics and repairs. We will focus on the Mi TV 4S/4A/4X/5 Pro and Redmi Smart TV models, because they are the most likely to encounter this problem. If your TV is frozen after updating the firmware through OTA, we have a separate section with a solution for this case.

Before you panic, check if the power indicator is on (usually red or white LED under the logo)? If so, it is more of a software problem. If the indicator is not glowing or flashing out of the box, there may be a malfunction of the power supply or motherboard. Next, we will help you to determine exactly the cause and choose the right way to recover.

Hanging on a screensaver is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the causes can be both harmless (such as a cache failure) and critical (a damaged memory chip).

  • πŸ”„ Failed firmware update – interrupted download or installation of the β€œraw” version of the software through OTA.
  • ⚑ Power surge – even a brief light outage during operation can damage system files.
  • 🧹 Cache overflow – temporary application files and systems accumulate and block download.
  • πŸ”Œ Power problems – a faulty power supply or cable does not provide stable voltage.
  • πŸ› οΈ Hardware malfunctions – damage to flash memory (eMMC), motherboard, or contacts.
  • 🦠 Viral software – rare, but possible when installing third-party APK unverified.

The most common cause (according to service centers statistics) is a firmware failure, which occurs when the TV tries to update over the Internet, but the process is interrupted due to a weak Wi-Fi signal, a power outage or a Xiaomi server error, which leaves the system in a β€œsemi-renewed” state and can not complete the boot.

If your Xiaomi TV has been stuck after installing the update, don’t try to turn it on repeatedly – this can aggravate the problem.

πŸ“Š What model of your Xiaomi TV?
Mi TV 4S/4A
Mi TV 4X/5 Pro
Redmi Smart TV
Mi TV Q1/Q2
Another model

2.The first steps: what to do before resetting or repair

Before you start a radical reset or flash, do these simple steps: They help in 30% of cases and take no more than 10 minutes:

  1. Hard reboot Turn off the TV, wait 1 minute, then turn it on again. Sometimes it's enough to let the system hang. If the Mi logo keeps burning for longer than 5 minutes, move on.
  2. Connect the TV to another outlet (preferably with grounding) and use the original power cable. If you have a Mi TV 5 Pro or newer, check if the DC-IN connector on the back is damaged.
  3. Disable all external devices Remove flash drives, hard drives, sound bars and other devices from HDMI/USB ports. Sometimes hardware conflict blocks boot.
  4. Press and hold the Power button on the TV body (usually under the logo or side) for 15-20 seconds. On some models (Redmi Smart TV X), this forcefully restarts the system.

If you don't turn on the TV after this manipulation, it's a deeper problem. Move on to the next section.

πŸ’‘

On the Mi TV 4S and 4A models, the reset button can be hidden under a stub on the back.Look for a small hole that says RESET - you need to press it with a paper clip.

3. Recovery through Recovery Mode (without data loss)

If the Xiaomi TV responds to the power button (the indicator lights up but hangs on the logo), try to enter Recovery Mode. This is the analogue of Safe Mode on Android smartphones, which allows you to clear the cache or reset settings without completely flashing.

Instructions for most Mi TV and Redmi TV models:

  1. Turn the TV off the socket.
  2. Press and hold the Menu button on the remote (or Volume on the case if the remote is not working).
  3. Without releasing the button, connect the TV to the outlet.
  4. Keep the button pressed until the Recovery menu appears on the screen (usually 10-15 seconds later).

If the menu doesn’t appear, try another combination:

  • πŸ”˜ For Mi. TV 4S/4A: hold on to the power + Volume - on the hull.
  • πŸ”˜ For Mi. TV 5 Pro and newer: Power + Input (signal source button).

In the Recovery menu, select items using Volume Β± buttons and confirm the choice with the Power button:

Cache Clearing (Wipe Cache Partition)|Reset the settings (Wipe) Data/Factory Reset)|Reboot System (Reboot System Now)|Install the update with USB (Apply Update from USB)-->

ItemDescriptionEffects of consequences
Wipe Cache PartitionClears temporary files of the system and applications.Safe, the data is not deleted.
Wipe Data/Factory ResetFull reset to factory settings.All apps, accounts and settings are removed.
Apply Update from USBInstallation of the flash drive firmware.A pre-downloaded firmware file is required.
Reboot System NowReboot the TV.Apply changes (if they have been made).

First, select Wipe Cache Partition, which is the most innocuous option. If the problem persists after the reboot, re-enter Recovery and run Wipe. Data/Factory Note: This item will delete all installed applications and settings, but will not affect files on connected USB-accumulator.

πŸ’‘

If the TV freezes on the logo again after the reset, the problem is the firmware or hardware. Go to the firmware or diagnostics section.

4.Reflashing Xiaomi TV over USB

If the reset doesn't work, you'll have to reinstall the firmware manually, and this method works even if the TV doesn't turn on at all, but it responds to the power button (the indicator lights up).

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with Internet access.
  • πŸ’Ύ A flash drive. FAT32 (32GB).
  • ⚑ The original TV power cable.

Step 1. Download the correct firmware

Firmware for Xiaomi TV is divided into two types:

Fastboot - for complete reinstallation (removes everything, including the bootloader).

OTA – to update on top of the existing system (saves data).

It's a good fit for our case. OTA-Download it from the official Xiaomi website or trusted sources (e.g. Xiaomi Firmware) Warning: the firmware must match the exact model of your TV, L43M5-5ARU for Mi TV 4S 43").

Step 2. Prepare the flash drive.

Format the flash drive in FAT32 (not exFAT or NTFS!). Copy the downloaded firmware file (usually with the.zip extension) to the root of the flash drive (not the folder!). Rename the file to update.zip (this is important for some models!).

Step 3. Install the firmware

Put the flash drive in. USB-TV port (preferably to port) USB 2.0 if there are several:

  1. Turn on the TV by holding the Menu button on the remote (or Volume on the case) to enter Recovery.
  2. Select Apply Update from USB.
  3. Confirm the installation and wait until the completion (usually 5-10 minutes).
  4. After restarting, the TV should turn on normally.

If the process is interrupted or the TV freezes again, re-install, but this time select Wipe Data before the firmware.

What to do if the firmware is not installed?
If the TV doesn't see the flash drive or it gives an error "E:footer is wrong", check: 1. The format of the flash drive is FAT32 only! 2. The file name should be update.zip (no spaces and Cyrillic). 3. Archive integrity - download the firmware again, possibly the file is corrupted. 4. USB port - try another port or flash drive. If the error is repeated, download fastboot firmware and contact the service center for flashing through UART or ISP.

5. Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

If neither reset nor flashing helped, the problem is probably hardware, and here are the most common hardware problems that make the Xiaomi TV hover on the logo:

  • πŸ”‹ Faulty power supply - does not give a stable voltage, because of which the system cannot boot.
  • 🧠 Damaged flash memory (eMMC) – a common problem after voltage spikes.

How do you diagnose?

Remove the back cover of the TV (unplug it from the network!) and inspect the boards:

  • πŸ” Check the power supply for bloated capacitors (they look like "inflated" barrels).

If you're not an electronics expert, you might want to take the risk of taking the TV to the service, but you can fix some problems yourself.

πŸ’‘

If the Xiaomi TV turns on only after repeated attempts (5-10 times), the power supply is most likely to blame. TV 4A ce 4S same-size).

⚠️ Warning: If you notice bloated capacitors on the power supply, do not turn on the TV until they are replaced! this can damage the motherboard and increase the cost of repairs.

Cost of repair of hardware malfunctions in service centers:

Type of malfunctionCost of repair (2026)Duration of repairs
Replacement of the power supply1 500 – 3 000 β‚½1-2 days
Flash Memory Interconnection (eMMC)3 000 – 6 000 β‚½3-5 days
Maternity board repair4 000 – 10 000 β‚½5-7 days
Replacement of capacitors1 000 – 2 500 β‚½1 day

6.If nothing helps: extreme measures

If all of the above methods fail, there are two options:

  1. Fastboot or UART is a complex technique that requires special hardware (such as the CH341A programmer) and soldering skills, which is suitable if the TV does not respond to buttons at all, and instructions for such firmware are available on the 4PDA and XDA-Developers forums, but without experience it is better not to take risks.
  2. If the TV is guaranteed, take it to the official Xiaomi service. If the warranty is over, choose a proven workshop. The average cost of diagnosis is 500-1000 β‚½.

Before you take the TV for repair, take a picture:

  • πŸ“Έ Sticker from the back (model, serial number).
  • πŸ“Έ Labels on boards (especially on the power supply and motherboard).
  • πŸ“Έ Checks or warranty card (if any).

This will help the master to quickly pick up spare parts and avoid errors during repair.

⚠️ WARNING: If you bought a Xiaomi TV from AliExpress or other overseas stores, check if the warranty is valid in Russia.Many models sold through AliExpress are warranty only in China!

7. How to avoid problems in the future

To prevent Xiaomi TV from hanging on the logo again, follow these guidelines:

  • ⚑ Use a voltage stabilizer or UPS (uninterruptible power supply.
  • πŸ”„ Do not update the firmware through OTA, If you have an unstable Internet, you'd better download manual updates from the official website.
  • 🧹 Once every 3-6 months, clean the cache using Recovery Mode (wipe cache partition).
  • πŸ”Œ Do not connect to the TV uncertified USB-devices or external hard drives without separate power.
  • πŸ”₯ Provide good ventilation – do not place the TV in closed niches or near heat sources.

If you often encounter problems after updates, you can turn off automatic updates:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ About TV β†’ System Update.
  2. Turn off the option of Automatic Download Updates.
  3. Enable Notification of new updates to install them manually.

It is also useful to create a backup firmware on USB-It's a storage device:

  1. Download the current firmware for your model (see section 4).
  2. Save it to the flash drive under the name backup.zip.
  3. Keep the flash drive in a safe place – it will come in handy for quick recovery.

πŸ’‘

If your Xiaomi TV is older than 3-4 years, consider replacing the power supply with a new one even if it is still working. The capacitors β€œdry out” over time, which leads to unstable operation.

FAQ: Frequent questions

My Xiaomi TV flashes the Mi logo and turns off.
This behavior usually indicates a power supply problem or a damaged firmware. Try: Connect another power supply (if there is a compatible one); reset via Recovery Mode (section 3). If the blinking is repeated cyclically (on and off), it may be a hardware malfunction - carry to the service.
After the reset, the TV asks for a password.
This is Xiaomi's standard post-Factory Reset protection. If you haven't set a password before, try: Leave the field blank and press OK. Enter the standard password: 0000, 1234 or 1111. If it doesn't work, reset again, but before you do so, disconnect the TV from the Internet (take the cable out or turn off Wi-Fi). If the password was set by you but you forgot it, you will have to sew the TV manually (section 4).
Can I restore the TV without a remote?
Yes, but it's less convenient. Use the buttons on the body: Most Mi models. TV volume Β± And Power is located under the logo or sideways. To enter Recovery, hold Volume when you turn it on. In the recovery menu, volume buttons are used for navigation and Power for confirmation. If the buttons don't work, plug in. USB-keyboard to the TV - sometimes it is recognized even in emergency mode.
How much does it cost to repair a Xiaomi TV in the service?
Cost depends on fault and model.Average prices in Russia in 2026: Service Cost (β‚½) Diagnostics 500–1000 Flashing (software reset) 1,500–2,500 Replacement of the power supply 2,000–4,000 Motherboard Repair 3,500–8,000 Replacement of the matrix (if the problem is in the screen) 5,000–15,000 In official Xiaomi service centers, repair costs 20-30% more, but there is a guarantee for work.
Can I use the TV after the power supply is repaired?
Yes, but with reservations: If the entire power supply has been replaced, the TV will work like a new one. If the capacitors are re-sold, the repair is temporary, after 1-2 years the problem may return. After repair, it is recommended to use a UPS or a network filter to protect against voltage surges. The service life of the repaired power supply is 2-5 years, the new one is 5-10 years.