Xiaomi is constantly rebooting and not turning off: a step-by-step guide

The situation where a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone suddenly starts to reboot endlessly, causing panic in the owner, is one of the most common problems in the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem: The screen lights up, the Mi or Redmi logo appears, the device vibrates, but instead of loading the desktop, the process begins anew.This phenomenon is often called a "bootloop" or "cyclical reboot," and it can be caused by both software failure and physical damage to components.

Before you bring your gadget to the service center, it is worth trying to diagnose and fix the malfunction yourself, since in most cases the problem lies in a software conflict or overflow of the system partition. It is important to understand that some solutions will require the complete deletion of user data, so if you have the opportunity to save important information before you start manipulating, be sure to do so.

What you do next depends on whether the touch screen responds to touch and if you can log in to the settings menu. If the phone is stuck on the logo and doesn't respond to clicks, the algorithm will be different from when the device is still starting up but is not running smoothly. In this article, we'll go into all the possible scenarios in detail.

Diagnostics of the causes of an infinite cycle

The first step in solving any technical problem is to understand its source. In the case of Xiaomi devices, cyclical reboots are most often caused by three main factors: a critical error update of the operating system MIUI or HyperOS, overflow of internal memory or mechanical damage to buttons. Software failure can occur after the application is installed from an unverified source or interrupted the firmware update process.

If the internal memory of the smartphone is filled by 98-100%, the operating system physically cannot create temporary files necessary to start correctly, this leads to the fact that the boot process is interrupted during the initialization of system services, and the device goes to restart.

⚠️ Warning: If the device was dropped into water or hit hard, attempts to recharge and turn on can aggravate the situation by causing a short circuit on the motherboard.

For initial diagnosis, try connecting your phone to your computer through USB-If the computer makes a sound of the device connecting, but the screen is black or shows a logo, that's a good sign that the power controller and some of the circuits are in good working order. If the computer does not respond at all, the problem may lie in a deep discharge of the battery or failure of the power controller.

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Try to press the power button carefully, without undue effort, several times. If it goes tight or does not emit a characteristic click, it may be the mechanical sticking of the button that is the problem.

Forced reset and safe mode

If the smartphone is still touch-sensitive or at least showing signs of life, the first thing to do is to try to perform a forced reboot, a method that helps to reset static electricity and forcefully complete the system processes that freeze normal operation. Unlike conventional shutdowns, this method works at the hardware level.

To perform this procedure on most Xiaomi and Redmi models, you need to press the on button and hold it for 10-15 seconds. Some models require simultaneous pressing of the on and off buttons. The device must vibrate and show the brand logo, then you need to release the button. If the phone boots normally, the problem could be a one-time one.

If the device boots up but starts restarting after a while, it's worth trying to enter Safe Mode, which is a system state where only standard applications are running and all third-party software is blocked, which will determine if a newly installed program is the culprit.

To enter Safe Mode, you usually need to call the screen shutdown menu, click on the Turn Off icon, and hold your finger until you are prompted to go to Safe Mode. If the phone is stable in this mode, you need to delete the last installed applications. If the cyclical reboot continues even without third-party software, the problem lies deeper in the system files.

Cleaning data through Recovery Mode

When standard methods fail, the only way to bring a device back to life is often to clean up user data through the Recovery Recovery menu, a low-level mode that loads regardless of the main operating system. Keep in mind: this procedure will completely delete all photos, contacts and applications, so it is resorted to when other methods are exhausted or data is not important.

To enter Recovery mode, you need to turn off the device (if it turns on) and press the on and volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or Redmi logo appears, then release the on button, continuing to keep the volume. In a few seconds, the main Recovery menu will open, where the control is carried out by the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is confirmed by the power button.

You can select Wipe Data from the menu, then you can select Wipe All Data, and you can confirm the action by selecting Confirm. The cleaning process can take a few minutes. Once it's done, you'll see a message about a successful reset, and you'll select Back to Main Menu, and then you'll select Reboot -> Reboot to System.

⚠️ Note: After resetting data via Recovery on modern versions MIUI You may need to enter a password from a Mi Account that was previously synced to the device).

Using Fastboot Mode for Flashing

Even if the data cleanup didn't work and Xiaomi keeps rebooting, it probably damaged the system partitions of the operating system, which requires a complete flashing of the device. This uses Fastboot mode, which allows you to interact with the phone at the bootloader level, which is more complex and requires a Windows computer.

To turn your phone into Fastboot mode, you need to turn off the device and press the on and down button at the same time. The screen will show an image of a rabbit repairing an android and the inscription FASTBOOT. Connect the phone to your computer with the original cable. To work, you will need the Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool utility and the Fastboot ROM file for your model.

The Fastboot firmware process involves unlocking the Bootloader if it hasn’t already been produced. Officially unlocking requires filing an application through Mi Unlock and waiting 7 to 168 hours. Without the unlocked bootloader, installing global firmware on the Chinese version or simply rewriting the system partition won’t work.

If unlocking is not possible, you can try the Emergency Download (EDL) method, but it requires special cables or opening the case to close contacts on the board, as well as an often paid account of an authorized service center.

Problems with memory and storage overflow

One of the most insidious reasons why Redmi or Xiaomi is in a reboot cycle is the banal overflow of internal memory. Android requires free space for virtual memory and temporary files to function. When less than 100-200 MB is free, the system starts to work with critical errors.

In some cases, the phone can boot for a couple of seconds, which allows you to quickly delete the extra. If you can not log in, you can try to connect to the file system through Recovery mode, if it supports connection. USB, use ADB-teams, if debugging is USB was included earlier.

• 📂 Cache Deletion: Try clearing the app cache through the settings if the menu is available.
• 🗑️ Delete heavy files: First of all, remove videos from the gallery and the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), as they take up the most space.
• 📸 Clean up photos: Move photos to your computer or cloud storage, freeing up gigabytes of space.

There is also a method of cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) if the phone has time to connect to the PC. Command adb shell pm clear com.android.phone or clearing the cache of specific system services can temporarily resuscitate the device, allowing you to delete excess files. However, if the memory is overcrowded critically, this method may not work.

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Regularly cleaning up memory and storing files in the cloud is the best prevention of loading problems associated with overflowing storage.

Hardware malfunctions and switching button

And you can't discount the physical damage. If software methods, including flashing, don't work, there's a high probability of hardware failure. The most common culprit in this case is the power button. The button mechanism wears out over time, gets dust, moisture, or oxidizes the contact, causing the button to permanently close the circuit, sending out a reboot signal.

This can be diagnosed by tapping your finger carefully (but hard) on the area of the power button or pressing it slightly at different points. If the nature of the reboots changes or the phone reacts to the position of the body, the problem is mechanical. It is also worth checking the charging connector: a short circuit in the USB contacts can be perceived by the power controller as a signal to action.

Other hardware reasons include:

• 🔋 Battery degradation: If the battery does not hold the voltage under load, the phone may turn off and turn on in a cycle when you try to start the processor.
• 💾 Memory or processor dump: Common after falls, requires professional repairs in service using a soldering station.
• ⚡ Power controller malfunction: The chip responsible for power distribution may have failed due to a voltage surge.

⚠️ Attention: Self-disassembly of modern Xiaomi smartphones without skills can damage the plumes or body. If you are not confident in their abilities, it is better not to open the device, especially if it is on warranty.

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