When you need to reboot through Recovery and how it differs from a regular reboot
Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) sometimes freeze so much that a standard power button reboot doesn’t help, and in such cases, the Recovery Mode, the built-in diagnostic and recovery environment, comes to the rescue. But why can’t you just take out the battery like in old phones? The fact is that modern Xiaomi uses non-removable batteries, and a forced power outage can damage the file system.
Recovery Mode allows you to not only reboot your device, but also reset to factory settings, install manual updates, or even restore damaged partitions. However, doing the wrong thing in this mode can lead to data loss or bricking up your phone. For example, choosing Wipe All Data without backup will delete all photos, contacts, and applications. So it's important to understand when to reboot via Recovery, and when a regular reboot is enough.
The main scenarios when this method is required:
- 🔄 The phone is stuck on the logo. Mi/Redmi It does not load any further (so-called bootloop").
- 🚫 The screen does not respond to touch, but the device emits vibrations or sounds.
- 🔋 After updating the firmware smartphone stopped turning on.
- 📱 Applications are constantly crashing and the system is unstable (possibly due to corrupted system files).
If your Xiaomi is just slowing down or warming up, try the usual reboot first: press the power button for 10-15 seconds. Recovery Mode is a "heavy artillery" that should be used only when other methods have not helped.
How to Sign In to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi: A Universal Way for All Models
The process of entering recovery mode on Xiaomi is almost the same for all devices, but there are nuances depending on the model and firmware version. For example, on older smartphones (before 2018) could use a different order of buttons, and on new ones (for example, Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12) – a combination with a volume button.
Here's the step-by-step instruction:
- Turn off the phone. If it's getting stuck and unresponsive, press the power button for 20 to 30 seconds until the screen goes out.
- Hold it together: 🔊 The Volume Up button (Volume Up) 🔋 Power button (Power)
Mi
Redmi
Release the buttons. You're in recovery mode now.
If the combination does not work, try an alternative:
- 🔊 Press the Volume Down button (Volume Down) + power-up.
- 🔄 In some models (for example, POCO F3) First you need to pinch Volume Up, then connect the cable USB Then you can charge and then press the power.
In Recovery Mode on Xiaomi, you'll see menus in English or Chinese (depending on firmware), with volume buttons (moving up/down) and power buttons (selecting an item), and new devices can have touch controls.
Turn off your phone (if necessary)
Keep the battery in charge (minimum 30%)
Prepare. USB-cable (in case of firmware updates)
Make sure there are no important unsaved data on your phone.-->
How to Reboot Xiaomi with Recovery Without Losing Data
If your goal is to simply reboot your phone rather than reset your settings, select Reboot or Reboot to System from the Recovery menu, but some firmware (especially custom ones) may not have this option, so follow the alternative instructions:
Steps to safely reboot:
- In the Recovery menu, find and select Advanced (usually second or third on the list).
- Choose Reboot to Bootloader or Reboot to System.
- Confirm the action (if required).
If there is no Advanced item in the menu, try:
- 🔄 Select Wipe & Reset, then Reboot to System (this won't delete data unless you confirm the reset!).
- 📱 On some models (such as the Redmi 9), it is enough to just press the power button to restart.
Crucially, never choose Wipe Data, Factory Reset or Format Data unless you plan to reset your phone to factory settings.
What if after restarting via Recovery, the phone freezes again?
The difference between Stock Recovery and TWRP: which is better for a reboot
Xiaomi smartphones can be installed two types of Recovery:
- 📦 Stock Recovery – standard recovery from Xiaomi (limited functionality, basic operations only).
- 🛠️ TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) – custom Recovery with advanced features (install firmware, backups, work with partitions).
Stock Recovery is also good for a simple reboot, but if you plan to install custom firmware or backup in the future, you should install TWRP right away.
- ⚠️ Installation TWRP Unlocks the bootloader, which can lead to loss of warranty.
- ⚠️ Some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) can block work on phones with an unlocked bootloader.
- ⚠️ Incorrect installation TWRP can "brick" the device.
Comparison of opportunities:
| Function | Stock Recovery | TWRP |
|---|---|---|
| System restart | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Reset to factory settings | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes (with section selection) |
| Installation of updates (OTA, ZIP) | ✅ Only official. | ✅ Any (including custom) |
| Building backups | ❌ No. | ✅ Full backup (including data) |
| Working with sections (format, mount) | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
If your goal is to just reboot your phone, Stock Recovery is enough. TWRP is only needed for advanced operations, such as installing custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) or recovering data from the backup.
💡
If you accidentally installed TWRP but want to return Stock Recovery, you can do this through the official Mi Flash Tool, but you will need an unlocked bootloader and computer.
Frequent Recovery Reboot Errors and How to Avoid Them
Even a simple operation like rebooting through Recovery can go wrong, and here are some of the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:
1.The phone is not included in Recovery Mode
- 🔋 Reason: Battery discharged (less than 5% charge).
- 🔧 Solution: Connect the charger for 10-15 minutes, then try again.
2.After selecting Reboot, the phone returns to Recovery again
- 📱 Reason: Damaged bootloader or system files.
- 🔧 Solution: Try to select the Wipe Cache Partition, then reboot. If it doesn't work, you need to flash it back.
3. The screen displays a "No command" error or a recumbent robot
- 🤖 Reason: Recovery malfunction or firmware incompatibility.
- 🔧 Solution: Squeeze the Power + Volume Up for 10 seconds to restart Recovery. If it doesn't work, run Stock Recovery through Fastboot.
4.After restarting, the phone requires a password, but the keyboard doesn't appear
- 🔐 Cause: Failure to work MIUI sever /data.
- 🔧 Solution: Connect your phone to your PC and try unlocking it through the Mi Unlock Tool. If it doesn't work, you'll have to reset.
If you encounter an error that isn’t on this list, try taking a screenshot and searching for an error code solution (e.g., E:unknown command) on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.
💡
If after rebooting via Recovery, the phone stopped turning on, do not panic: in 80% of cases, this is solved by firmware via Fastboot. The main thing is not to try to "resuscitate" the device with multiple reboots, so as not to aggravate the problem.
Alternative ways to reboot if Recovery is not available
What if the phone is not included in Recovery Mode or the recovery menu is damaged?
1.Reboot via Fastboot Mode
- 🔌 Hold Volume Down + Power to log into Fastboot.
- 📱 Connect your phone to your PC and use the command: fastboot reboot
2. Forced reset through ADB (if USB-debugging was included)
- 🖥️ Connect your phone to your computer and do: adb reboot recovery or for a normal reboot: adb reboot
3. Battery extraction (only for older models)
- 🔋 Some Xiaomis before 2017 (e.g. Redmi) 3S) You can gently plug the back cover and turn off the battery for 30 seconds.
- ⚠️ Note: New models (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T or POCO X4) The battery is not removable, and trying to remove it will damage the plumes.
4. Use of test codes (for some firmware)
- 📞 Enter in the dial: ##73268### This can run a test menu where there is a reboot option.
If none of the methods worked, the last option is to run the firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in EDL mode. However, this requires special cable and firmware utilities skills.