How to remove safe mode on the phone Xiaomi Redmi: all ways

Why Xiaomi Redmi Phone Is Going Safe and How to Fix It

Safe Mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a diagnostic tool that is automatically activated by the system when software failures or conflicts are detected, most often encountered by users after a failed update, installing questionable applications or physical damage to the device. In this mode, all third-party programs are disabled, and in the lower left corner of the screen a watermark “Safe Mode” appears.

The main problem is that many of the phone’s features are becoming unavailable: widgets are not working, user settings are turned off, and some applications (for example, banking or instant messengers) may not start at all, while on the Redmi Note 10/11/12 and POCO X3/X4 models, safe mode sometimes turns on spontaneously due to an error in the MIUI 13/14 firmware, which requires specific actions to turn off.

In this article, we will discuss all possible causes of activation of Safe Mode, and also provide 5 proven ways to disable it - from basic (reboot) to advanced (working with ADB and resetting).

Reasons to Include Safe Mode on Xiaomi Redmi

Before you try to exit Safe Mode, it's important to understand why it's activated, which will help you avoid re-energizing the mode in the future.

• 📱 Improperly switching off the phone: If the battery is completely drained or the device was forced off during the upgrade, the system can start in Safe Mode for diagnosis.
• 🔄 Failure after update MIUI: Especially important for the Redmi Note 9/10/11 when switching to new versions of the firmware (for example, with MIUI 12 on MIUI 13).
• 📦 Installed Application Conflict: Viruses, pirated software, or programs with incorrect permissions can trigger activation of the mode.
• 🔌 Hardware problems: Damage to the power button, charging connector or motherboard sometimes leads to automatic start of Safe Mode.
• 🛠️ Manual user activation: some button combinations (e.g., holding Volume down) + Power) may accidentally activate the mode.

On Redmi 8/9 and POCO F3 models, safe mode is often turned on due to an error in the work of Google Play Services. In this case, it is enough to update Google services or clear their cache. If the mode is activated after a phone drop or moisture hits, the problem is most likely hardware - you will need a diagnosis at the service center.

⚠️ Note: If Safe Mode is turned on after each reboot, it may indicate that system files are damaged, in which case only a full reset or flashing through Fastboot will help.

Method 1: Standard phone reboot

In 70% of cases, the exit from safe mode on Xiaomi Redmi is a simple reboot. However, there are nuances: if the mode is activated due to a failure in the power button, the usual shutdown may not work.

1. Hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. Wait 30 seconds (this is important – give time to reset temporary files).
3. Turn on the phone in the standard way (power button).

If the mode remains active after the reboot, try an alternative method:

• 🔄 Press and hold the power button. + Volume up simultaneously for 20 seconds.
• 📴 Release the buttons when the Redmi logo appears on the screen.

On some models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro or the POCO X3 NFC), hard reboots are helped by a combination of Power + Volume down. Hold it until the Fastboot menu appears, then select Reboot → System.

Method 2: Removing Problem Applications

If Safe Mode is activated after you install a new app, it's probably the culprit. In Safe Mode, third-party programs are disabled, but system tools (like Settings or Google Play) remain available to find and remove conflicting software:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by installation date (Last).
3. Check the applications installed before the problem occurs, and look for programs with suspicious permissions (such as access to ADB or system files).
4. Click on the suspicious app → Delete (if the button is inactive, select Stop first).

Pay particular attention to:

• 🎮 Cheaters for games (e.g. GameGuardian or Lucky Patcher).
• 🔓 The Unlock Tool (Mi Unlock Tool).
• 📱 Launchers and themes from third-party sources (not from the Mi Theme Store).
• 🔍 Antiviruses from unknown developers.

Once you delete, restart your phone. If the mode is off, the problem is solved. If not, move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: Some viruses are disguised as system applications (e.g. com.android.system) and can only be removed through the use of a system application. ADB or after checking in with VirusTotal.

Method 3: Clearing the cache and data of system applications

If you have a safe mode after you update MIUI or Google Play Services, the problem may be in the damaged cache of the system components. Cleanup helps in 40% of cases when the standard restart does not work.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three points in the upper right corner → Show the system.
3. Find the following apps and do the following for each: Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache + Clear data. Google Play Services (if duplicated) → Repeat the cleanup. Framework (or MIUI Services) → Only Clear the cache (no data to touch!).

Reboot the phone.

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the latest models (Redmi 12, POCO F5), it is additionally recommended to reset the settings of the Google Play Store:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account → Delete your account (don’t worry, your data will be saved in the cloud).
3. Reboot your phone and re-add your account.

Resetting instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons) and confirm the choice with the power button.
4. Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (on some models, the path may be different: Advanced → Wipe Data).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
6. Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.

Once reset, the phone will turn on as standard, and if Safe Mode is activated again, the problem is the firmware or hardware, and then only flashing through Fastboot or contacting the service center will help.

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked loader (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) The reset may require input from the Mi Account tied to the device, without which the phone will become a brick»!

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Resetting is a last resort, and before you do that, try removing system application updates through ADB (mode 5).

Method 5: Advanced Methods (ADB and Fastboot)

If Safe Mode doesn’t turn off even after reset, there are two technical ways to do it: work through ADB (for power users) or flash it through Fastboot. These methods require a PC and special tools.

Method A: Disabling Safe Mode via ADB

Suitable if the mode is activated due to a malfunction of the system application.

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes ADB).
2. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Open the command line in the folder with ADB and type: adb shell su setprop persist.sys.safemode 0 reboot

Method B: Fastboot Flashing

Use this method if the safe mode appears due to damaged firmware.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive and place the firmware folder in the root of the C:\ disk.
3. Start the phone in Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
4. Connect to your PC and execute in the command line: fastboot flash boot.img fastboot flash system.img fastboot reboot

On the Redmi Note 11 and later, you may need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.Be careful: improper actions lead to a blink (complete inoperability) of the device.

What to do if nothing helps

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be hardware, and here are the signs that it's not working.

• 🔋 Safe mode is activated when connecting charging.
• 📱 The phone spontaneously reboots in Safe Mode for no apparent reason.
• 🔊 The power or volume button does not respond to pressing.
• 💧 Artifacts appear on the screen or the device overheats.

In such cases:

1. Contact the official Xiaomi service center, the diagnostics will cost 500-1500 ₽, repairs - from 2000 ₽ (depending on the problem).
2. If the phone is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will void the warranty.
3. For older models (Redmi 4X, Redmi 5), repairs may not be cost-effective, and consider buying a new device.

Before the service visit:

• Make a backup of the data (if the phone is working at all).
• Write down the IMEI (type *#06#) – this will help with recovery after repair.
• Check if there are authorized Xiaomi service centers in your city (list on the official website).

FAQ: Frequent questions about safe mode on Xiaomi Redmi