Safe Mode on Xiaomi: How to Launch and What to Do Next

Safe Mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a diagnostic tool that helps identify problems caused by third-party apps, viruses or conflicts in the system. In this mode, the device boots with a minimum set of drivers and services, disabling all user programs. If the phone starts to slow down, spontaneously reboot or show suspicious activity, safe mode will be the first step for diagnosis.

Unlike Factory Reset, which deletes all data, Safe Mode does not affect personal files, but allows you to temporarily deactivate malware or conflicting applications. However, not all users know how to activate it correctly — especially on new models with MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods for different versions of the firmware, and also tell you what to do if the mode does not turn on.

Why you need a safe mode on Xiaomi

The main task of safe mode is to isolate the system from third-party factors that can cause failures.

• 🛡️ Suspicion of viruses: the phone shows ads in the status bar, sends SMS to pay rooms or warmed up for no reason.
• 🐢 Strong brakes: The device slows down even after cleaning the cache and rebooting.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot: smartphone turns on, shows logo MI and off again.
• 📱 Broken touchscreen: the screen reacts to touches with a delay or incorrectly (for example, after installing a new launcher).
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: battery goes down in a few hours without active use.

If the problems disappear in safe mode, one of the installed applications is to blame. If the failures persist, the cause lies in the system software (may need to flash it).

⚠️ Warning: In Safe Mode, all widgets, live wallpaper and some system features (such as Game Turbo or Second Space) are turned off. Don't be alarmed if the interface looks simplified - that's okay.

Method 1: Power buttons (for all models)

It’s a versatile method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, including older models on MIUI 8-12 and new ones with HyperOS. The algorithm is the same for Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and other smartphones:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (or through the menu Power → Turn off).
2. After completely turning off the screen, press and hold the power button.
3. As soon as the MI logo (or POCO/Redmi) appears on the screen, immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. Do not release the volume button until you see the Safe Mode sign in the lower left corner of the screen.

If done correctly, the watermark Safe Mode will appear at the bottom of the display. Now you can release the buttons.

The word "Safe Mode" appears in the corner of the screen.|

No widgets on the main screen |

Navigation gestures are not working (standard buttons only)|

App icons look dull-->

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or Redmi K60), you may need to hold the volume button until the recovery menu appears, then select Safe Mode using volume keys and confirm with the power button.

Method 2: Activate via the reboot menu (MIUI 13 and later)

On devices with MIUI 13/14 or HyperOS, a simpler way to enable safe mode right from the system interface is now available, which is suitable if the phone is still touch-sensitive:

1. Press and hold the power button to call the off menu.
2. In the window that appears, tap and hold your finger on the "Switch off" (or "Reboot", depending on the firmware version).
3. In 2-3 seconds, a pop-up will appear asking you to go to Safe Mode. Press OK.
4. Wait for the device to restart (can take up to 1-2 minutes).

If this method doesn’t work, check the firmware version in the settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version). On some custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu), the function may be disabled.

Redmi (Series Note, K, A)|

POCO (F, X, M)|

Mi (11, 12, 13 series) |

Black Shark|

Other-->

Method 3: Through ADB (for advanced users)

If the hardware buttons do not work or the phone is stuck on the logo, you can turn on safe mode using the help of the ADB-Android Debug Bridge, which requires you to pre-configure the Debugging. USB and computer connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

If the device is determined (its serial number will appear), execute the command to reboot to Safe Mode:

adb shell reboot safe

Once you restart, your phone will log in to Safe Mode. To return normal mode, use:

adb shell reboot normal

⚠️ Attention: If debugging is USB It wasn't activated in advance, it won't work) ADB It may also be limited.

What to do after entering safe mode

When you have successfully activated Safe Mode, follow this algorithm to diagnose and fix problems:

1. Check the phone: if the lags, overheating or errors have disappeared, one of the installed applications is to blame.
2. Remove suspicious software: 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management. 🔍 Sort the list by installation date (new apps are more likely to cause conflicts). 🗑️ Remove programs that were installed before the problem occurred.

Check autoboot.

Settings → Battery → Auto-Start

Scan for viruses.

Google Play Protect

Malwarebytes

If the problem persists, it may be the firmware that's damaged, and then you can only reset to factory settings or flash it through Fastboot.

💡

Back up important data before resetting! In safe mode, you can copy files to your PC or to the cloud (for example, via Mi Cloud or Google Drive).

How to get out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi

To deactivate Safe Mode, a normal restart is usually sufficient:

1. Press and hold the power button.
2. Choose Reboot (or Restart).
3. Wait for the system to be fully loaded.

If the phone turns on again in safe mode after restarting, try:

• 🔄 Forced exit: Turn off the phone, remove SIM-card and memory card, then turn on again.
• 📵 Cache reset: clamping down on Power + Volume up when phone is off to get into Recovery, then select Wipe Cache.
• 🔧 Button check: If the volume button gets stuck, the phone may be loading in Safe Mode by mistake.

⚠️ Warning: If Safe Mode is activated spontaneously after each reboot, this may indicate partition damage /data or conflict in the file build.prop. In this case, only the flashing will help.

Table: Compatibility of methods with different models Xiaomi

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

It's not always safe mode to turn on the first try, but here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 Phone doesn't respond to buttons: If the screen doesn't turn on or buttons don't work, try plugging the charger in for 30 minutes - sometimes a discharged battery blocks the Safe Mode entrance.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot in Safe Mode: This indicates a critical error in the system partition.Try resetting via Recovery + Loudness up → Wipe Data).
• 📱 The caption "Safe Mode" doesn't appear: Make sure you hold the volume button right after the logo appears, not sooner or later.
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock: In safe mode, you can delete the key through Settings → Security → Lock the screen, but you will need to enter a password from your Mi Account.

💡

If the Safe Mode is not enabled by either method, it could mean a hardware malfunction (such as damage to the motherboard) or a bootloader lockdown.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions