Xiaomi’s Forced Reboot: A Complete Guide to All Devices (2026)

When is a forced reset needed and how is it dangerous?

Owners of Xiaomi equipment sooner or later face a situation where the device ceases to respond to presses, the screen freezes or the system freezes completely. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by a forced reboot - a hardware power reset that resets the current processes of the OS. But why is it not enough to simply turn off the button?

The fact is that when you switch off from a menu or hold a power button long enough, the MIUI operating system (or HyperOS on new models) tries to complete all the background tasks correctly. If the gadget freezes, this mechanism does not work, the system “gets stuck” on one process. The rigid reboot bypasses software restrictions, instantly turning off power from the motherboard, as if you took out the battery (which is impossible on modern Xiaomi with non-removable batteries).

However, the method has risks:

• 🔴 Loss of unsaved data – open documents, draft messages or game progress will not be recorded in memory.
• 🔴 Damage to the file system – if the reboot occurs while writing data to the drive (for example, when updating the software).
• 🔴 Application malfunction – some programs may start to work incorrectly after a sudden shutdown.

⚠️ Attention: If your Xiaomi reboots spontaneously (without pressing buttons) is a sign of hardware failure, not software failure. In this case, a forced rebuke will not help, but may aggravate the problem.

Method 1: Classic button combination (for smartphones and tablets)

The most versatile method, which works on 99% of Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older series, is suitable even if the screen is completely black or does not respond to touch.

Instructions:

1. Hold the power button and the volume button at the same time.
2. Keep them clamped for at least 10-15 seconds until the Xiaomi logo or vibrations appear.
3. Release the buttons and wait for the system to boot up fully (it can take up to 2-3 minutes).

If the combination doesn't work:

• 🔹 Try replacing the volume button with volume reduction (on some models, for example, Redmi). 9A, use of this combination).
• 🔹 Make sure the buttons are not blocked by a cover or protective film.
• 🔹 On devices with the battery off (for example, after full discharge), the combination will not work – first connect the charging for 5-10 minutes.

The buttons are not stuck and are freely pressed |

The device is not connected to charging (if it freezes during charging)|

The screen has no physical damage (cracks, dents) |

Try to wait 1-2 minutes (sometimes the system “slows down” itself)

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Method 2: Reboot with Recovery Mode (if the buttons don’t work)

If the standard combination doesn’t work and the device is still showing signs of life (hot housing, flashing indicator), you can try to enter Recovery Mode, which is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the device (if it is still reacting, hold the power button until vibration occurs).
2. Press Power + Volume up and hold until the Recovery menu appears (usually 5-10 seconds).
3. In the menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System (manage by volume and power buttons).

If the menu is in Chinese:

• 🔹 The first item (with hieroglyphs) is Reboot.
• 🔹 The second item is Wipe Data (do not select it so as not to reset your settings!).

⚠️ Note: On bootloader devices, logging into Recovery Mode can cause a factory reset. This is true for models purchased in China (global versions usually don't have this problem). fastboot oem device-info If the answer is Device unlocked: false, the risk of resetting is high.

Method 3: Forced reboot of Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets

The Mi Watch, Redmi Watch or Mi Band fitness bracelets can also “hang” because of the lack of physical buttons (or minimization of them), the reboot process is different from smartphones.

For the Mi Band 5/6/7/8 and Redmi Band:

1. Connect the bracelet to charge (even if the battery is not discharged).
2. Press and hold the touch button (on the Mi Band 7 Pro – side mechanical) for 20-30 seconds.
3. Release after the Xiaomi logo or vibration appears.

For Mi Watch/Redmi Watch 2/3:

• 🔹 Hold the side button (on the Mi Watch) S1 — upper) 15-20 seconds.
• 🔹 If the screen doesn’t respond, place the clock on charge and try again.
• 🔹 On models with Wear OS (Like the Mi Watch. S3) Use the combination: hold the side button + press the screen for 10 seconds.

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If after the reboot, Xiaomi’s smartwatch doesn’t sync with your phone, remove it from the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app and add it again.

Method 4: Reboot through ADB (for advanced users)

If the device is responsive to a PC connection but does not go out of hover, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method requires pre-configuring debugging over USB, so it is only suitable for those who have previously activated Developer Mode.

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable (preferably original).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices If the device is determined (its serial number will appear), proceed to the next step.
3. Follow the command to force reboot: adb reboot If the device doesn’t respond, try: adb shell reboot -p (this simulates “battery pulling”).

If adb devices returns an empty list:

• 🔹 Install Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers (you can download it on the official website).
• 🔹 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 🔹 In some models (POCO F4 GT, Black Shark 5 requires you to enable debugging USB in charge mode in the developer settings.

⚠️ Note: Adb reboot bootloader or fastboot reboot commands can lock a device if it activates Anti-Rollback protection (on 2019 models)+ Use them only if you are sure of the action.

What to do if the forced reset does not help

If after a hard reboot the device:

• 🔴 Not turned on (black screen, no vibration).
• 🔴 Obsess over Xiaomi logo or download animation.
• 🔴 Overheats and turns off after a few seconds.

These are signs of a serious failure that requires additional action.

Diagnostics of the problem:

If the device does not turn on at all:

1. Connect to the original charger for 1-2 hours (even if there is no charging indication).
2. Try to pinch Power + Volume down for 30 to 40 seconds – sometimes this helps to “wake up” the power controller.
3. If you have access to another Xiaomi, try connecting the battery (on removable battery models like the Redmi 4X).

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If after all the manipulations the device does not show signs of life, do not try to disassemble it yourself - modern Xiaomi have adhesive joints and fragile plumes.

How to avoid frequent hanging Xiaomi: prevention

Regular crashes are a signal that something is wrong with the device, and in 60% of cases, the problem is solved by software:

Checklist for stable operation:

• 🔹 Update. MIUI/HyperOS Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔹 Clear the cache of system applications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → (three-point) → Clear the cache of all applications.
• 🔹 Turn off auto-run of unnecessary apps: Settings → Battery and productivity → Autostart control.
• 🔹 Check the battery health: enter in the dial number ##4636## → Battery information.
• 🔹 Delete junk files via Security App (embedded Security app).

If the hanging occurs with specific actions:

• 🔸 When the camera is launched → Clean the Camera app cache or reinstall it.
• 🔸 During games → Activate Game Mode in Settings or lower graphical settings.
• 🔸 When connecting to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth → Reset network settings (Settings) → Wi-Fi → (three-point) → Additionally. → Resetting network settings).

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On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), enable Smart Optimization in your battery settings. It automatically closes the background processes, reducing the risk of freezes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's forced reboot