You turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, and instead of the usual logo, a black background with the words Fastboot and a white Android robot on the screen? The device does not respond to buttons, does not load further and seems to finally βlockβ? Donβt panic: in 90% of cases this problem can be solved independently without contacting the service center. But it is important to act correctly β ill-considered actions (for example, interrupting the process or using inappropriate firmware) can turn the phone into a useless βbrickβ.
Fastboot mode is a low-level firmware and restore tool for Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, but sometimes the smartphone gets stuck in it due to software failures, failed updates or hardware problems.
- π Why Xiaomi is Hanging in Fastboot (5 Main Reasons) + rare)
- π οΈ 7 Ways to Get Out of Mode β From the Simplest to Advanced (with Photos and Videos)
- β οΈ What not to do to avoid making the problem worse (list of critical errors)
- π± How to recover data if the smartphone still had to reset
All instructions are valid for 2018-2026 models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13, etc.), including devices with a locked bootloader. If your model is older, check firmware compatibility in the section "Firmware via Mi Flash".
Why Xiaomi is hanging in Fastboot: top-5 causes and how to avoid them
Fastboot is not a bug, it's an engineering tool for running firmware, but if a smartphone gets stuck in it, it's a signal of a problem.
| Reason. | How it manifests | Can I correct myself? |
|---|---|---|
| Misfire of MIUI Update | Hanged after installation OTA-updates (e.g. with MIUI 13 β MIUI The screen is black with the words Fastboot and a progress bar that doesn't move. | β Yes, method 2 or 3) |
| Wrong firmware | Attempt to install custom software (for example, LineageOS) or firmware from another model (Redmi Note 10 Pro instead of Note 10). | β Yes, method 4 or 5) |
| Damaged Memory (eMMC) | The smartphone spontaneously goes into the Fastboot, even if there was no manipulation of the software. | β No (chip replacement required) |
| Unlocking the loader | It is used to unlock fastboot oem or Mi Unlock Tool. | β Yes, method 6) |
| Hardware malfunction | Problems with the power button, battery or motherboard, often accompanied by overheating. | β No (repair needed) |
Critical point: if the smartphone is stuck in the Fastboot after trying to flash unofficial software (for example, through TWRP), never pull the USB cable and do not press the power button for more than 10 seconds - this can damage the boot partition and make recovery impossible without a soldering iron.
If the problem occurred after the update, most likely, the fault in the MIUI Updater. In this case, rebooting in Recovery (method 1) or re-installing the firmware (method 3) will help. If you unlock the bootloader and the phone freezes, read the section on recovery after anlock.
Method 1β3: The simplest ways to exit Fastboot (without PC)
Before you connect your smartphone to your computer and look for firmware, try these three methods. They work 60 percent of the time and don't require any special knowledge.
1. Forced reset
Sometimes Xiaomi gets stuck in the Fastboot because of a temporary failure.
- Press the power button for 15-20 seconds (before the vibration or switch off the screen).
- If the screen is gone, wait 30 seconds and turn on the smartphone with the power button.
- If the screen is still in Fastboot mode, move on to the next method.
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On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) to force the reboot you need to press the power + volume up for 10 seconds.
2. Entrance to Recovery Mode
If the forced reboot didnβt work, try logging into Recovery, Xiaomiβs recovery menu.
- Turn off the smartphone (clip the power for 15 seconds).
- Press the power + volume up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Reboot β System (use volume buttons for navigation and power for confirmation).
If Recovery displays a No command error or a menu in Chinese, it means the recovery section is corrupted, in which case only the firmware through Fastboot (method 4) will help.
3. reset to factory settings (if no important data)
If the smartphone loads into Recovery but doesn't log in, you can do a hard reset.Warning: this will delete all the data from the internal memory!
βοΈ Reset via Recovery
Once reset, the smartphone should boot into the clean system, and if that didn't work, the problem is deeper, and you'll need firmware.
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If the smartphone responds to buttons and enters Recovery, the problem is software, and if it doesn't, it may be the motherboard or memory that's damaged.
Method 4: Firmware via Mi Flash Tool (for power users)
If simple methods don't work, you'll have to flash your smartphone through Fastboot, which is a way to:
- π± Devices that donβt leave the Fastboot even after resetting.
- π Smartphones with damaged firmware (for example, after a failed update).
- π Devices with unlocked bootloader (but not always - see the section about the ANLOC).
You'll need firmware.
- π» Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux Possible problems with drivers).
- π Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).
- π Fastboot firmware for your model (you can download it on the official Xiaomi website).
- π οΈ Mi Flash Tool (last version here).
Step-by-step:
- Install drivers: Download and install Xiaomi drivers. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode to your PC (should be defined as Android Bootloader Interface).
- Unpack the firmware: Firmware file (for example, tucana_global_images_V14.0.2.0.TKFMIXM_20230310.0000.00_12.0_global.zip) Unpack into a folder without Cyrillic (for example, C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the program on behalf of the administrator. Press Select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware. Select firmware mode: Clean all (deletes all data); Clean all and lock - clean + lock the bootloader (for official firmware); Save user data - an attempt to save data (does not work always); Press Flash and wait for the end (usually 5-10 minutes).
Note: If flash not done or critical partition error occurs during firmware, then:
- β You did not download the firmware for your model (check the file name!).
- β bootloader is locked (you need to unlock through Mi Unlock Tool).
- β Damaged smartphone memory (requires diagnosis in the service).
What to do if the Mi Flash Tool can't see your phone?
Method 5: Recovery after unlocking the bootloader
If the smartphone has been stuck in the Fastboot after using the Mi Unlock Tool or the fastboot oem unlock command, the problem is incomplete unlocking.
- Check bootloader status: Connect your smartphone to your PC, open Command Prompt (on behalf of the administrator) and type: fastboot oem device-info If the answer has a line Device unlocked: false - the bootloader is still locked.
- Re-unlock: Download the Mi Unlock Tool (the latest version). Log in to your Mi-account (the same as your smartphone!). Connect your phone in Fastboot mode and press Unlock.
If you have a Couldnβt unlock error, wait 72 to 168 hours (such are Xiaomiβs rules for new accounts).
Try custom Recovery (TWRP):
After successful unlocking, install TWRP for your model:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
fastboot boot twrp.imgThen, through TWRP, run the appropriate firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS).
Note: if you unlocked the bootloader, but did not flash custom software, the smartphone may not boot into the system due to the lack of a signed boot.img. In this case, only full firmware through Fastboot (method 4) will help.
Method 6: How to recover data if your smartphone had to be reset
If you have done a hard reset or flashed your smartphone through the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean all option, the data from the internal memory (/data) has been deleted, but there is a chance to recover it:
- π Photo/video on memory card: if files were stored on microSD, they were not affected. Just paste the card into another phone or PC.
- βοΈ Cloud backups: Mi Cloud: check your personal account (Devices section) β Backups. Google Photos/Disk: if synchronization was enabled.
- π§ Recovery software: If your smartphone is turned on sometimes, try DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver (root rights required).
Important: If you plan to carry your smartphone to the data recovery service, do not flash it again and write new files β this reduces the chances of successful recovery.
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If you regularly make backups through Mi Cloud, check your sync settings: some data (such as SMS or notes) is only saved when you manually reserve.
Method 7: Hardware Problems β When to Carry into the Service
If none of these things worked, the problem could be the hardware.
- π₯ Smartphone overheats in Fastboot mode (especially in the processor area).
- π The battery is swollen or the phone turns off when connected to charging.
- π οΈ Artifacts appear on the screen (stripes, flickering, broken pixels).
- π The phone is not detected by the computer even in Fastboot mode.
In these cases, self-repair is not possible. Typical malfunctions and their cost:
| Problem. | Reason. | Cost of repair (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged eMMC memory | Failure of the memory chip (often after flashing). | 3 000β8 000 β½ (chip-swap) |
| Faulty battery | Bloating or short circuit. | 1 500β4 000 β½ (replacement + diagnostics) |
| Problems with the motherboard | Burned out elements after a voltage surge. | 5 000β15 000 β½ (model) |
Note: if the Xiaomi smartphone is warranty, do not try to sew it yourself - this will void the warranty.