Xiaomi’s reboot is familiar to many Android smartphone owners: The device can display the Mi or Redmi logo endlessly, go out and turn on again, preventing the user from getting into the menu, a phenomenon called bootloop, and it can be caused by both a software glitch and a hardware malfunction.
You don't have to panic at this point. Most of the time, a cyclical reboot is caused by an application conflict, a memory overflow, or a failed system update. There are proven methods to bring a gadget back to life without going to a service center. Below, we'll go through the algorithms for different scenarios in detail.
The main reasons for the infinite cycle
Before you start restoring a system, you need to understand what caused the failure, and often the problem lies in recent user actions, such as installing dubious software or trying to get root rights, and the cause can be a trivial overflow of internal storage, when the operating system does not have enough space for temporary files.
Hardware problems are less common, but they cannot be ruled out. Damage to the plume, battery contacts or a malfunction of the power button can simulate a software failure. If the phone falls or comes into contact with moisture, the likelihood of physical damage to the motherboard increases many times over.
System updates are worth special attention: If a new MIUI or HyperOS version is powered out during the download and installation process, the firmware files may have been damaged, in which case the bootloader cannot find the necessary components to start up and resets the device.
⚠️ Note: If the smartphone was recently purchased from hand or in an untested store, the reason may be poor quality Chinese firmware, re-flashed for the global region without the appropriate certificates.
Diagnostics should start with prior events, whether you have installed new applications, connected the device to a computer to modify system files, and understanding the source of the problem will help you choose the right resuscitation method and avoid data loss.
Forced reboot and battery retrieval
The easiest and safest way to try to get out of a cycle is to perform a forced reboot, which helps to relieve static voltage and forcefully complete the hanging processes that prevent a normal start. Most modern models with a fixed battery are standard.
You need to hold the power button for a long time, and it usually lasts from 10 to 20 seconds. If the screen goes out and the logo comes back, release the button. In some cases, you need a combination of buttons: press both Volume Down and Power until the vibration occurs.
If your device is an older model with a removable battery, the best solution is to completely shut down the battery, take the battery out, wait 10-15 seconds and insert it back in, and this is guaranteed to discharge the residual charge from the motherboard capacitors.
💡
Try connecting your phone to the original charger for 10-15 minutes before you try to turn on, and sometimes low battery power prevents the system from starting, causing a cyclical start.
After you do this, keep a close eye on your device's behavior. If it's booted, back up your critical data immediately. If the cycle continues, move on to deeper diagnostics through recovery mode.
Diagnostics through the Recovery menu
Recovery mode is a special partition in the memory of a smartphone designed to service the system, which is possible to log in even when the main operating system is not booting, and is a key tool for eliminating software errors.
To get on the menu, turn off the device (or wait until the screen goes out in the loop) and press the combination Volume Up + Power. Hold the buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, continuing to keep the volume. A menu with several items in English or Chinese should appear on the screen.
Navigation in this menu is done with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button. We are interested in the Wipe Data item. However, before performing a reset, you should try Reboot or Reboot to system. Sometimes a simple reboot from the Recovery state helps to avoid the boot error.
- 📱 Main Menu – Main Menu – Return to Menu.
- 🔄 Reboot – a normal reboot of the device.
- 🗑️ Wipe Data – Resetting data (deleting all information).
- 🔗 Connect with Assistant – Connect to a PC for firmware.
It's important to distinguish between versions of Recovery. On global versions, menus are often in English, Chinese menus are in Chinese. If you see only three items (Reboot, Wipe Data, Connect with Assistant), that's the standard stock menu. The extended menu has more options, but the way it works is the same.
⚠️ Note: Selecting Wipe Data will delete all photos, contacts and applications completely. Use this option only if the data is not important or is already stored in the cloud.
☑️ Action in Recovery
Full reset (Hard Reset)
If a simple reboot from Recovery mode doesn't work, the radical but effective method is Hard Reset, which returns the phone to factory status by removing all user data and settings, which often solves the problem if the cause was a system file conflict or a memory overflow.
From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data. The system will ask you to confirm the action because the consequences are irreversible. Select Wipe All Data and confirm the selection. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will prompt you to reboot to System.
The first start-up after a reset can take longer than usual, from 5 to 10 minutes. Don't worry if the phone hangs on the logo. It's a normal process of initializing the system and creating new memory partitions. If the phone then loads into the language selection menu, the problem is solved.
Even after a full reset, Xiaomi continues to go into reboot, it is a more serious problem, perhaps a damaged system partition that cannot be restored by standard means, or a hardware malfunction.
💡
Hard Reset eliminates 90% of the software errors that cause bootloop, but requires you to have a backup or be prepared to lose your data.
Recovery via Fastboot and Mi Flash
When a software failure is too deep, you use Fastboot, which is a low-level protocol that allows you to reflash the device through the computer, USB-cable, Mi Flash Tool program and firmware file in.tgz format (Fastboot) ROM), Not zip.
Enter Fastboot mode by holding Volume Down + Power. The screen will show a picture of a hare repairing an android or saying "FASTBOOT." Connect your phone to your computer. Make sure that the Windows Device Manager identifies your phone as Android Bootloader Interface.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool on behalf of the administrator. Press the "Select" button and specify the folder with the unpacked firmware. Importantly, there should be no Cyrillic characters on the way to the folder. At the bottom of the window, select Clean all or Clean all and lock.
flash_all.batPress Flash and wait until the process is over. A green bar that says "success" means successful firmware. The phone will automatically restart. This method completely replaces the system partition, eliminating any software errors.
| Parameter | Clean all | Clean all and lock | Save user data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data retention | No. | No. | Yes. |
| Locking the loader | No. | Yes. | No. |
| Risk of error | Low. | Middle (region) | High-pitched |
| Recommendation | Recommended | For global versions | Only if the data is critical. |
Clean all and lock mode is recommended only for global firmware devices. If you lock the bootloader on the Chinese version with global firmware, the phone will turn into a brick, and it will officially be impossible to unlock it.
What to do if Mi Flash is making an error?
Hardware problems and the switch button
If the software is powerless, there's a high probability of physical failure, and the most common cause is sticking on the power button, and mechanical wear, dust, or moisture causes the contact to be permanently closed, and the phone perceives this as a command to reboot.
You can check this by gently pressing a button or tapping the body slightly in the key area. If the cycle pattern changes or the phone responds to presses, the problem is mechanical. In some cases, it helps to repeatedly quickly press the button to "stir up" the mechanism.
Another common cause is battery bloating, and the battery can push the board or plumes to short circuits, and it can also cause the display plume or the screen itself to drift away, causing power failures, requiring disassembly and multimeter diagnostics.
- 🔋 Bloating of the battery - requires immediate replacement to avoid fire.
- 🔌 Trains - check the connection of the display and buttons.
- 💧 Oxidation – cleaning the board with ultrasound after contact with water.
Self-repairing hardware requires skills and tools. If you're not confident, you should contact the service. Trying to disassemble the phone without experience can damage the plumes or body, making the device unfit for repair.
⚠️ Attention: Opening the case of Xiaomi smartphone often leads to loss of warranty. If the device is warranty, immediately carry it to an authorized center, without trying to reflash yourself.
💡
If you suspect a button sticking, try to carefully (without bigotry) develop it with presses, sometimes it helps to temporarily return contact to make a backup.