You turned on your Xiaomi smartphone, and instead of the usual logo, a black background with the words FASTBOOT and a white Android robot lit up on the screen? Don't panic - this is not a brick, but a special engineering mode that the device could get into for a variety of reasons: from accidentally pressing buttons to a firmware failure. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved without visiting the service center, but it is important to act carefully so as not to aggravate the situation.
Fastboot (or bootloader) is a low-level state of the phone designed to firmware, unlock the bootloader or diagnose. On Xiaomi, it is often activated when you try to upgrade through the Mi Flash Tool, failed rooting or even after a deep battery drain. The main mistake users make is multiple reboots of the power button that only loop the system. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods of exiting the Fastboot, from the simplest to advanced, taking into account the Redmi models, POCO and the flagship Mi series.
Why Xiaomi’s phone is getting stuck in Fastboot mode: 5 main reasons
Before we get to the solution, it's important to understand what caused the freeze, which will help you choose the right recovery method and avoid recurring problems.
- 🔄 Interrupted Software Update: Phone Shut Down During Installation OTA-updates (for example, due to battery discharge or forced reboot).
- 🔓 Unlocking bootloader: attempt to unlock bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool ended in error.
- 📱 Failure after firmware: install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) or modified Recovery (TWRP) slipped.
- 🔋 Critical battery discharge: if the phone is completely depleted when it is off, the Fastboot can automatically start when charging.
- 🎯 Random button pressing: Volume down combination + Power when turned on loads the phone into Fastboot (relevant to Redmi Note) 10/11, POCO X3/X4).
On Xiaomi models with Qualcomm processors (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Mi 11), Fastboot mode can appear due to driver conflict when connecting to a PC. Devices on MediaTek (such as the Redmi 10C or POCO M4 Pro) are more likely to stick in this mode after a failed reset via Hard Reset.
Method 1: Forced reset (works in 60% of cases)
The simplest and safest method is a hard restart, which will work if the Fastboot is caused by an accidental failure, not a hardware problem.
- Press the power button for 15-20 seconds (on some models - up to 30 seconds).
- If the screen is out but the phone is not restarted, release the button and press it again once.
- Wait 1-2 minutes – the device should boot in normal mode.
On non-removable models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or Redmi K50), hold the Volume Up + Power combination for 10 seconds. If the Mi logo appears after that, the system is restored.
💡
If the phone doesn't respond to the buttons, plug it into the charger for 10 to 15 minutes, and sometimes low battery power blocks the reboot.
⚠️ Note: Do not use this method if you were flashing your phone through the Mi Flash Tool or before the Fastboot came along. TWRP. Abrupt reboot could lead to data loss or a ‘brick».
Method 2: Exit via button combination (for unlocked bootloader)
If the forced reboot didn’t work, try resetting to Recovery mode, where you can reset or reboot.This method works on most Xiaomi models, including the POCO F3, Redmi Note 11 Pro and Mi 11 Lite.
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone (hold power until vibration).
- Press Volume Up + Power and hold until the Mi logo appears.
- Release the buttons – the Recovery menu (blue screen with Android robot and the inscription No command) should open.
- Press Volume Up + Nutrition again to confirm entry.
- From the menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System (use volume buttons for navigation and Power for confirmation).
If Fastboot appears again instead of Recovery, the bootloader is blocked or the firmware is damaged, in which case a connection to the PC will be required (see methods 4-7).
What to do if the Recovery menu is in Chinese?
Method 3: Connect to charging and waiting (for discharged devices)
If the phone is stuck in the Fastboot after full discharge, the system may not respond to the buttons due to insufficient voltage.
- 🔌 Connect the original cable and charger (at least power) 18W).
- ⏳ Leave your phone charging for at least 30 minutes (even if the indicator doesn't burn).
- 🔄 Try pressing Power once – if the battery is recharged, the device should exit the Fastboot.
On Xiaomi models with fast charging support (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G or Xiaomi 12T), USB connection sometimes helps: USB 3.0 ports (blue) give more current than standard charging.
⚠️ Note: Do not use wireless charging to exit Fastboot – it may not provide enough current to initialize the system.
Method 4: Exit through the Mi Flash Tool (for a locked bootloader)
If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons and freezes in the Fastboot after a failed firmware, you will need to connect to a computer, a method suitable for devices with a locked bootloader (for example, new Redmi or POCO, bought in official stores).
What you need:
- 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (MacOS or Linux Mi Flash Tool does not work).
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably from the set).
- 📥 Firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).
- 🛠 The Mi Flash Tool.
Step-by-step:
- Install drivers for Fastboot (download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack).
- Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (the screen should display the Android robot).
- Open the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and select the folder with the unpacked firmware (.tgz format).
- At the bottom, select Clean all mode (saves data) or Clean all and lock (full reset + lock bootloader).
- Press Refresh – Your device should appear in the list (e.g., com9).
- Click Flash and wait until it is completed (the process will take 5-10 minutes).
| Firmware mode | Is the data preserved? | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Clean all | ✅ Yes. | If the phone freezes after the OTA update |
| Clean all and lock | ❌ No. | If the firmware was damaged or the phone was “bricked” |
| Save user data | ✅ Yes. | Only for experienced users (may cause errors) |
Once the firmware is successful, the phone will automatically restart. If the process ends with a critical partition flashing error is not allowed, then the bootloader is locked - you will need an official unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.
Install drivers ADB/Fastboot|Download the firmware for your model|Unpack the firmware archive in a folder without Cyrillic|Disable the antivirus (can block the Mi Flash Tool)|Charge your phone at least to 50%-->
Method 5: ADB commands for power users
If you have an unlocked bootloader and ADB drivers installed, you can exit Fastboot via the command line, which is suitable for POCO F1, Xiaomi Mi A2 and other fastboot-enabled devices.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the Command Prompt in the folder with the platform-tools.
- Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices Must appear serial number of the device.
- Run the reboot command: fastboot reboot
- If the phone doesn’t respond, try resetting the cache: fastboot erase cache then fastboot reboot again.
On some models (e.g. Redmi K40) the team can help:
fastboot continueIt keeps on loading the system, ignoring errors.
⚠️ Note: The fastboot erase userdata or fastboot erase system will delete all data from the phone!
Method 6: Flashing through TWRP (for unlocked devices)
If you have a custom TWRP recap on your phone, you can try to reflash the system through it, a method that is suitable for users who have previously modified their device (for example, installing Magisk or custom cores).
What needs to be done:
- Download the appropriate firmware (such as MIUI or LineageOS) in.zip format.
- Move the firmware file to SD-card or internal memory (if the phone is defined as a storage device).
- Press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
- From the menu, select Wipe → Advanced Wipe and select Dalvik/ART Cache, Cache.
- Return to the main menu, click Install and select the downloaded firmware.
- After installation, run the Reboot System.
If the TWRP doesn't start and the Fastboot reappears instead, the recavator is damaged, in which case only a complete flashing through the Mi Flash Tool (see Method 4) will help.
💡
Use TWRP only if you are confident in your actions. Incorrect firmware can lead to loss of IMEI or "brick".
Method 7: Contact a service center (if nothing helps)
If all of the above methods fail, the problem may be hardware:
- 🔋 Battery malfunction (no charge, phone shuts down at 20-30%).
- 🔌 Damage to the charging connector or power controller.
- 💾 Memory chip error (for example, after falling or getting moisture).
In such cases, self-repair is fraught with the problem. Official service centers Xiaomi in Russia and the CIS offer diagnostics from 500-1000 rubles.
| Type of malfunction | Cost (₽) | Duration of repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | 1 500–3 000 | 1-2 days |
| Firmware recovery | 1 000–2 500 | 2-4 hours |
| Repair of the power controller | 3 000–6 000 | 3-5 days |
| Replacement of memory chips | 5 000–10 000+ | 5-7 days |
Before the service visit:
- 📋 Write it down. IMEI phone (on a box or under a battery).
- 🔐 Save the warranty details (if the phone is warranty, repairs can be free of charge).
- 📱 Check if the service center has experience with your model (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro Speed).