How to turn off Fastboot on Xiaomi Redmi 5: 4 working methods

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a popular smartphone with MIUI, but sometimes users face a problem: the device “stuck” in Fastboot mode (black screen with a hare icon and FASTBOOT inscription). This can happen after a failed update, resetting settings or accidentally pressing a combination of buttons. Unlike Recovery Mode, Fastboot does not allow you to control the phone through the touch screen, so exiting it requires special actions.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to disable Fastboot on Redmi 5, from simple (via hardware buttons) to advanced (using ADB and MiFlash).

What is Fastboot and why does Redmi 5 get into it?

Fastboot is a low-level tool for firmware and diagnostics of Android devices, which runs before the operating system, so you can change system partitions even if you damage MIUI. On Redmi 5, Fastboot logs in:

• 🔄 Forced: Holding the buttons Volume down + Meals for 10+ seconds.
• 🔧 Automatic: after an update failure or incorrect firmware rollback.
• 🛠️ Through commands: for example, adb reboot bootloader when connecting to a PC.
• 🔋 When battery is dead: If the charge is below 5%, the system can switch to Fastboot for data protection.

Unlike Recovery Mode, Fastboot doesn’t have a graphical interface, only text output and control via ADB or hardware buttons. Redmi 5 often confuses this mode with a “brick” (complete failure), but in 90% of cases, the device can be brought back to life without data loss.

⚠️ Note: If you unlocked the bootloader via Mi Unlock before you hit Fastboot, standard exit methods may not work. In this case, you will need to flash it through MiFlash (instruction in section 4).

Method 1: Standard button exit (without PC)

The easiest way is to use a combination of hardware buttons, and it works if:

• 📱 The device is not locked by the bootloader (Bootloader Locked).
• 🔋 Battery charge above 10%.
• 🛠️ No hardware damage (such as a flooded motherboard).

Step-by-step:

1. Hold the Power button for 20-30 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. Release the button and immediately press the combination: Volume up + Power.
3. Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the MI logo appears (meaning the phone is trying to load MIUI).
4. If the download does not occur, repeat steps 2–3, holding the buttons longer.

If after a few attempts, the phone still returns to Fastboot, move on to the following method.

• 🔐 bootloader is locked (unlocking is required via Mi Unlock).
• 🗃️ Firmware damaged (needs to flash through MiFlash).
• 🔌 Iron problems (for example, the departed plume of the power button).

Method 2: Exit through Recovery Mode

If the standard button combination doesn’t work, try resetting to Recovery Mode, an alternative recovery mode, and Redmi 5 allows you to reset or restart your device in normal mode.

Instructions:

1. On the phone turned off (if it does not turn off - hold Power until vibration) press Volume up + Power.
2. Hold the buttons until the Recovery menu (blue screen with Android and No command) appears.
3. If the menu is in Chinese, select the language: press Volume Down for scrolling, Meals for confirmation.
4. From the menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System (or similar in Chinese: → ).

If Recovery doesn’t have Reboot to System or your phone is cyclically back in Fastboot, try resetting:

1. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (or →).
2. Confirm the action (usually you need to select Yes and press Power).
3. After reset, select Reboot to System again.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery will delete all data on your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. If you have Mi Cloud enabled, some data can be restored after you log in to your account.

Method 3: Use ADB and Fastboot (for power users)

If hardware methods don’t work, connect Redmi 5 to your computer and use ADB and Fastboot tools.This requires installing drivers and minimal command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📦 Utilities. ADB and Fastboot (download from Android site).
• 🔑 Unlocked bootloader (if previously blocked via Mi Unlock).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the archive from the platform-tools in any folder on the PC.
2. Connect Redmi 5 to your computer in Fastboot mode.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and go to the folder with the platform-tools: cd C:\path\pad\platform-tools
4. Check if the device is detected: fastboot devices If the response shows a serial number (for example, 1234567890abcdef fastboot) – you can continue.
5. Run the reboot command: fastboot reboot

If the fastboot reboot command doesn’t work, try alternatives:

• 🔄 Recovery: Fastboot Reboot Recovery
• 📱 Forced loading MIUI (If the firmware is intact: fastboot boot system.img (file system.img You need to pre-extract from the official firmware for Redmi 5).

1. reconnect the cable to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

2. Install Xiaomi drivers manually through Device Manager (select Mi Flash Tool Driver).

3. Disable driver signatures in Windows (to do this, type in the command line on behalf of the administrator: bcdedit /set nointegritychecks on).-->

Method 4: Flashing through MiFlash (extreme case)

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option is to completely flash the phone through MiFlash, which is guaranteed to take the device out of the Fastboot, but delete all data and return the phone to factory condition.

What will be required:

• 📥 Official firmware for Redmi 5 (download from Xiaomi website; select rosy model - code name Redmi 5).
• 🖥️ MiFlash utility (direct link).
• 🔑 Unlocked loader (if previously blocked).
• 🔋 Battery charge >50%.

Firmware instructions:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware (there should be an image file with the.tgz or.tar extension).
2. Install MiFlash and run the program on behalf of the administrator.
3. Connect Redmi 5 in Fastboot mode to your PC.
4. In MiFlash, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the unpacked firmware.
5. At the bottom, select firmware mode: Clean all – complete cleaning (recommended in case of failures); Clean all and lock – cleaning + locking the bootloader (if you need to return the official status); Save user data – an attempt to save data (does not always work).

Flash

⚠️ Note: After you have firmware through MiFlash, the phone can be booted into activation mode (requires you to enter the data of the Mi Account that was previously linked). If you do not remember the username / password, use the recovery service or contact Xiaomi support.

The bootloader is locked and other methods are not working.

System partitions (boot, system) are damaged.

The phone is cyclically rebooted in Fastboot.

But remember: this will delete all data and can block the bootloader if you select the appropriate mode.-->

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you try to log out of Fastboot, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The phone is not defined in fastboot devices

• 🔌 Check the cable and port USB (Try another cable or port USB 2.0).
• 🖥️ Install drivers manually: Open Device Manager. Find an exclamation point device (usually Android Bootloader Interface). Update the driver by specifying the folder with the platform-tools.

🔄 Restart your PC and phone.

2.Fastboot commands issue FAILED (remote: unknown command) error

This means that the bootloader is locked.

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock tool (it requires a tied Mi Account and a wait of 72 hours on the first unlock).
• 📦 Flip your phone through MiFlash in Clean All and Lock mode (returns official status).

3. After firmware, the phone does not turn on (black screen)

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (plug in to charge at 30)+ minute).
• 🔄 Try to re-sweeten in Clean All mode.
• 🛠️ If it does not help - a hardware malfunction is possible (refer to the service).

4.Recovery does not have a Reboot to System item

That means the system partition is corrupted.

• 📥 Swipe your phone through MiFlash (see section 4).
• 🔧 Try installing custom Recovery (TWRP) and through it to sew the official MIUI.

How to Avoid Getting into Fastboot in the Future

To avoid the problem again, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Don’t interrupt the update process. MIUI (Even if it's more than 20 minutes).
• 🔋 Keep an eye on the battery level (do not drop below 15%).
• 🛠️ Do not use unofficial firmware without unlocking the bootloader.
• 🔐 If you unlock the bootloader, make backup copies through TWRP Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Avoid accidentally pressing buttons when your phone is off (for example, in your pocket).

If you often experiment with firmware, install custom Recovery (such as TWRP) that will allow you to:

• 📁 Backup the whole system.
• 🔧 Install modified firmware without the risk of "brick».
• 🔄 Restore your phone from the backup in 5-10 minutes.