How to restart Xiaomi smartphone if it freezes: from simple to complex

Why Xiaomi’s smartphone freezes and when you need a forced reboot

Smartphone freeze is a situation that almost every Xiaomi owner has faced, whether it is the flagship Mi 13 series or the budget Redmi Note 12. The reasons can be different from overloaded RAM to critical errors in the MIUI firmware. But how do you know that the phone really “hangs” and not just slow?

Key signs of freezing: the screen does not respond to touch, the power and volume buttons do not work, the notification indicator is constantly lit or flashing in a non-standard way. In 80% of cases, the forced reboot helps, a procedure that interrupts all processes and starts the system from scratch. However, it is important to distinguish between the usual lag from the hardware freeze at the bootloader level (when the phone does not pass the MIUI loading stage and hangs on the logo).

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to reboot, from the safest (software reset) to the last resort (hard reset through recovery). Each method has been tested on models from 2020 to 2026 and is suitable for most Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi lines. If your smartphone does not respond to buttons, do not panic: 95% of the time the problem is solved without contacting the service center.

Method 1: Software reboot (if the screen is responsive)

If Xiaomi’s smartphone is slowing down but still responds to touch, try the standard menu reboot, which is the safest method, since it does not interrupt the process by force, but initializes the correct termination of the system.

Instructions:

• 📱 Hold the power button (usually located on the right) for 2-3 seconds until the off menu appears.
• 🔄 Click on “Reboot” and confirm the action.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (usually 30-60 seconds).

If the menu doesn’t appear but the screen reacts to touch, try an alternative path:

1. Open the notification panel with a swipe from top to bottom.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ «Settings».
3. Go to About the Phone. → Reboot.

Check the battery level (minimum 15%)

Close all open applications

Disable the charger (if connected)

Wait 5 minutes after rebooting before active use-->

⚠️ Note: If the phone freezes again after a few minutes after restarting, this may indicate file system damage or storage failure, in which case it is recommended to back up the data and perform the reset to factory settings.

Method 2: Forced reset with buttons

When Xiaomi’s smartphone is completely non-touch and non-power menu-respondered, it’s just hardware rebooting, which works on all models, including the POCO F5, Redmi K60 and Mi 11 Ultra, but has nuances depending on the generation of the device.

The standard combination for most Xiaomi smartphones (2018-2026):

1. 🔋 Hold the power button. + volume-boost.
2. 🕒 Keep them clamped for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and reboots.
3. 🚀 Release buttons after logo appears MI or POCO.

Older models (before 2018, for example, the Redmi 4X or Mi A1) may require a different combination:

• 🔋 Power button + Reduce volume (hold 10-20 seconds).
• 🔄 Power button + Both volume buttons (for some versions of the Mi Max).

⚠️ Warning: If after a forced reboot the phone turns on, but immediately hangs on the logo again MI, It's a sign of damage to the section. /system. In this case, you will need to flash through Fastboot or Recovery.

Method 3: Reboot with Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If Xiaomi’s smartphone doesn’t respond to a forced reboot or freezes during the boot phase, the next step is to enter Recovery Mode, a method that allows not only to reboot the device, but also to reset or clear the cache.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone (if it is still on, hold the power button 20).+ seconds).
2. 🔄 Press the power button. + volume-button.
3. 🕒 Hold them until the Mi Recovery logo appears (usually 5-10 seconds).

In the Recovery menu you will see several items (management is carried out by volume buttons, the choice is by the power button):

• 🔄 Reboot - Standard Reboot.
• 🧹 Wipe Data – reset to factory settings (deletes all data!).
• 🗑️ Wipe Cache – Cache Clearance (Secure for Data).
• 📦 Connect with MiAssistant – Connect to a PC for firmware.

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If the touchscreen is not working in Recovery Mode, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button to confirm the selection. On some models (for example, the POCO F3), the sensor may be active even in recovery.

If your phone freezes again after you choose Reboot, try clearing the cache first (Wipe Cache), which often helps with freezes caused by damage to temporary files. But don't choose Wipe Data without a backup - it will delete all your data!

Method 4: Reboot via Fastboot (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, and the phone still doesn't turn on or hangs on the logo, then Fastboot mode remains, which requires a computer connection and minimal knowledge of working with ADB and Fastboot.

Instructions:

1. 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. 🖥️ On your computer, open the command line (cmd in Windows or Terminal in the computer). macOS/Linux).
3. 📋 Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue. If not, check the drivers or cable.
4. 🔄 Enter the reboot command: fastboot reboot

If your phone doesn’t respond to fastboot reboot, try alternative commands:

• 🔋 Fastboot reboot bootloader (sometimes helps wake up your device).
• 📱 Fastboot Continue – Continue downloading MIUI (If the phone is stuck in the initialization phase).

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Fastboot mode is not the same as Recovery. In Fastboot, you interact with the phone's bootloader via a PC, whereas Recovery is a standalone menu on the device itself.

⚠️ If the phone is running after the fastboot reboot command FAILED (remote: unknown command, this may mean that the bootloader is locked or damaged, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (but this will lead to a complete data reset!).

Method 5: Hardware reset (if nothing helps)

If all previous methods have failed and the phone still doesn’t turn on or hangs on the logo, hard reset remains, which removes all data from the device, so you should only use it as a last resort.

How to make a hard reset on Xiaomi:

1. 🔋 Turn off the phone (hold the power button 20)+ seconds).
2. 🔄 Press the power button. + Volume up button to enter Recovery Mode.
3. 🧹 With volume buttons, select Wipe Data (or Wipe All Data).
4. 🔘 Confirm the action (usually you need to select Confirm or enter) PIN-code, if it has been installed).
5. 🔄 After reset, select Reboot to reboot.

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X2), the process may be different:

• 🔧 Wipe Data can be replaced by Factory Reset.
• 🔐 If the security was on. PIN or Mi Account, after reset, you will need to enter Xiaomi account data to unlock.

After a hard reset, the phone will return to factory settings, and all data will be deleted. If you have synced with Mi Cloud, some of the information (contacts, notes, photos) can be restored after you log in to your account.

What to do if the phone hangs regularly: prevention

If your Xiaomi is hanging out more than once a month, it’s a signal of system problems, and here are the main reasons and ways to fix them:

To prevent regular hangings:

• 📱 Update the firmware MIUI Up to the latest version (check the settings). → Updating the system).
• 🧹 Clean the cache once a month (via Settings) → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🔋 Keep the battery healthy (if it wears out) > 80%, replace the battery).
• 🛡️ Install a reliable antivirus (such as Avast or Bitdefender) to check for malware.

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If your Xiaomi has started to freeze after a fall or moisture, the problem may be a disconnected plume or oxidized contacts, in which case a self-reboot will not help - you need repairs in the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi hangouts