How to upgrade to Fastboot on Xiaomi: All the ways to new and old models

Fastboot mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a special bootloader state that allows you to perform low-level operations: firmware, unlocking the bootloader, restoring the system or installing custom recavators. Without this mode, you can not deep-tuning the device, bypass factory restrictions or bring back the brick after a failed update. However, many users face difficulties when trying to log into the Fastboot - especially if the phone does not turn on or the buttons do not respond.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transition to Fastboot to Xiaomi in 2026, including methods for working and dead devices, the nuances of unlocking the bootloader and typical errors. Instructions will be suitable for most models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. If you plan to sew your phone, install TWRP or restore the system after a crash, this guide will become your navigation map.

What is Fastboot and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Fastboot (or bootloader) mode is an intermediate step in the booting of a smartphone that is activated before the Android operating system starts, in which the device waits for commands from the computer via the USB interface, which allows:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (bootloader) for installing custom firmware;
• 📥 Stripping official or informal system images
• 🔧 Install custom Recovery (TWRP, OrangeFox);
• 🛠️ Restore the device after software failures ("brick");
• 📡 Update radio modules or modify memory partitions.

On Xiaomi, Fastboot is often confused with Recovery Mode, but these are fundamentally different things. In Recovery, you can reset or update the memory card, whereas Fastboot gives access to hardware at the firmware level. Without it, you can't, for example, unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool or flash the Global ROM to the Chinese version of the smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Signing into Fastboot on some Xiaomi models (e.g., Redmi K50 or POCO F5) can automatically reset user data if the bootloader is locked.Be sure to back up important files before going into this mode.

Method 1: Sign in to Fastboot from a working phone

If your Xiaomi is switched on and responsive to touch, the easiest way to navigate to Fastboot is through a button combination or command line, a method that works for most models including the Redmi 13C, POCO X6 Pro and Xiaomi 13T.

Method 1: Use of hardware buttons

1. Turn off your smartphone via the power menu or hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds.
2. Press the Volume down button (-) + Power at the same time.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Bunny logo (rabbit in a hat-eared) with the inscription FASTBOOT appears on the screen.

Some devices (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra) may display a black screen with a white inscription instead of the logo. This is normal – as long as the computer identifies the phone in Fastboot mode (checked through Device Manager in Windows).

Method 2: Through ADB command (without turning off)

If you have USB debugging enabled, you can go to Fastboot directly from the system:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (use the original cable!).
2. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command: adb reboot bootloader

Once the command is executed, the phone will automatically reboot to Fastboot mode, which is especially convenient if the hardware buttons are faulty.

Method 2: Sign in to Fastboot on the switched off or "brick"

If the smartphone does not turn on (for example, after a failed firmware) but reacts to charging, you can try the “emergency” methods of transitioning to Fastboot. They work even on devices with a discharged battery (when connected to charging).

Method 1: Forced resetting

For models with a non-removable battery (most modern Xiaomi):

1. Connect your phone to a charger or PC.
2. Press Volume Down (-) + Power for 20-30 seconds.
3. If the screen is still black, release the buttons and try again in 10 seconds.

On some devices (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) It can be a combination of volume up (+) + Power, but it's more of an exception. If the phone vibrates but doesn't load, it's a sign that it "sees" the command but can't output the image.

Method 2: Test Menu (EDL Mode)

If Fastboot is not available, you can try to switch the device to EDL (Emergency Download Mode) and from there to Fastboot.

1. Turn off your phone (if it reacts).
2. Press Volume Up (+) + Volume Down (-) at the same time.
3. Without letting them go, connect the USB cable to the PC.
4. Hold the buttons for another 10-15 seconds.

In EDL mode, the screen will remain black, but the computer will define the device as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008. From here you can flash the phone through the Mi Flash Tool or transfer it to Fastboot command:

fastboot oem edl

⚠️ Warning: EDL mode gives full access to the device's memory, which can result in loss of all data if you do not perform the correct actions. Use it only if other methods have failed.

How to check if your phone is in Fastboot mode

Sometimes the screen of the smartphone is black, but the device is actually in the Fastboot.

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the Windows Device Manager or run the command: fastboot devices
3. If the serial number of the device appears in the list (for example, 1a2b3c4d5e6f fastboot), the mode is activated.

On macOS or Linux, you may need to pre-installe drivers for Xiaomi. If the fastboot device team returns a blank list, try:

• 🔌 Reconnect the cable;
• 🔄 Reboot the PC;
• 🛠️ Update drivers via the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔧 Run the command line on behalf of the administrator.

Unlock the bootloader via Fastboot

One of the main scenarios for using Fastboot on Xiaomi is to unlock the bootloader, without which you can not install custom firmware or recoveries.

Step 1: Linking your Mi Account to your device

Since 2026, Xiaomi has tightened the rules for unlocking: now you need to link your Mi Account to your phone 72 hours before the procedure.

1. Sign in to your Mi Account in your phone settings.
2. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud Mi.
3. Activate synchronization and make sure the device appears in the list.

If you've already unlocked the bootloader before, you can skip this step, but after you reset or firmware the official ROM, you'll have to do the binding again.

Step 2: Use the Mi Unlock Tool

The official unlock utility is Mi Unlock Tool. Download it from the Xiaomi website (Unlock section) and follow the instructions:

1. Transfer your phone to Fastboot (by any of the methods described above).
2. Connect it to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool.
3. Sign in to your Mi Account in the program.
4. Press Unlock and wait until the process is completed (usually 1-3 minutes).

Once successfully unlocked, the phone will automatically restart and the bootloader will remain unlocked.Please note: newer models (such as Xiaomi 14) may require additional confirmation via SMS.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device, including photos, messages and apps. If encryption or password protection has been enabled on the phone, it will be impossible to recover data after unlocking.

1. Use another. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).

2. disable the antivirus or firewall on the PC.

3. Reinstall drivers manually through Device Manager (select Android Bootloader Interface driver).-->

Typical Fastboot Login Errors and Their Solutions

Even experienced users sometimes have problems when switching to Fastboot, and let’s look at the most common bugs and how to fix them.

Error 1: Phone does not respond to the button combination

If the clampdown Loudness down + Nutrition does not give the result:

• 🔋 Check battery power – at a level below 5%, the device may not turn on.
• 🔌 Try another cable or charger.
• 🛠️ If the phone falls, the Power button may be damaged - repair is required.
• 🔄 Try holding the buttons for up to 30 seconds (some models have increased latency).

Error 2: Computer can't see the device in Fastboot

If the fastboot device team returns an empty list:

1. Make sure that Xiaomi drivers are installed (download them from the official website).
2. Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
3. Turn off all others. USB-devices (they may conflict).
4. Reinstall ADB and Fastboot (Minimal ADB and Fastboot are recommended).

Error 3: This device is locked

This sign means that the bootloader is locked and you need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool to continue. If you have already unlocked the bootloader, but the message remains:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and re-enter the Fastboot.
• 📱 Check that you are using the same Mi Account that was linked to the device.
• 🔧 Update the Mi Unlock Tool to the latest version.

💡

If the phone is not detected in Fastboot, but is charging, the problem is most likely in the drivers or cable. On modern Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+), you may need to disable the driver signature in Windows.

Fastboot vs Recovery Mode: What's the difference?

Many users confuse Fastboot and Recovery Mode, although these modes solve fundamentally different problems.

For example, if you just need to reset to factory settings, Recovery Mode is enough. But if you want to install TWRP or flash Global ROM on the Chinese version of Xiaomi, you can't do without Fastboot.

On some devices (such as the POCO F4 GT), the following commands can switch to Recovery from Fastboot:

fastboot reboot recovery

But the reverse transition (from Recovery to Fastboot) usually requires a reboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Fastboot on Xiaomi