How to reboot Xiaomi phone in Recovery mode: all the ways and nuances

Recovery Mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a service environment that allows you to perform critical operations, from resetting settings to installing custom firmware. However, not all users know how to log in correctly, especially if the phone is locked or does not respond to touch. This article will reveal all the current methods of rebooting in Recovery for devices running MIUI 14/15 and the new HyperOS, and explain which actions are safe and which can lead to irreversible data loss or “brick” of the device.

It is important to understand that Recovery Mode comes in two types: stock (from the manufacturer) and custom (for example, TWRP). The first is limited to basic functions, the second opens up advanced features, but requires an unlocked bootloader. We will focus on working with stock recovery, as it is available on all Xiaomi devices out of the box. If you are looking for information about TWRP or bootloader unlock, go to the relevant sections of our site.

Before you start manipulating, make sure that the battery is charged at least 30%. Otherwise, the device may turn off during operations, which can cause software failures. Also prepare the USB- cable and computer in advance - they may be needed to restore the system in case of errors.

What is Recovery Mode and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Recovery Mode (or "recovery mode") is an isolated environment built into Xiaomi firmware that runs before the main operating system boots.

• 🔄 Resets to factory settings (full wipe or selective).
• 📦 Install official updates via ADB sideload or memory card.
• 🛠️ Diagnostics of hardware problems (e.g., partition integrity checks /system).
• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (in combination with Fastboot).

On Xiaomi devices, stock recavators have limited functionality compared to custom solutions, for example, you can not back up NANDroid or flash unofficial ZIP- files, but the stock environment is guaranteed to be compatible with firmware and will not cause conflicts with updates MIUI.

Important: Recovery Mode is not a magic wand for all problems. If the phone doesn't turn on because of a damaged bootloop, you'll need a Fastboot Mode or specialized hardware to run through EDL.

How to log in to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi

There are three main methods of rebooting in Recovery Mode, and the choice depends on the state of the device.

1. via a button combination (for a working or locked phone)

It’s a versatile way that works on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark.

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button and select Turn off or hold it for 10+ seconds to force shutdown).
2. Press simultaneously: Power button (Volume Up)

Mi

Recovery Mode

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., Xiaomi 12T or POCO F5), the combination may be different. If the screen remains black, try pinching Power + Volume Down, and after the logo appears, quickly replace Volume Down with Volume Up.

2. via the settings menu (if the phone is on)

If the device is stable, you can log into Recovery Mode without turning off:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Version. MIUI.
3. Click 7-10 times on the line with the MIUI version until you become a developer!
4. Go back to the main Settings menu and open a new section for developers.
5. Activate the OEM Unlock switch (if any) and find the Reboot option in Recovery mode.

🔹 Note: The path may differ on HyperOS: Settings → Additional → Special Features → Button Menu. Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) also require a password from your Mi Account to confirm the reboot.

3. via the ADB command (for advanced users)

If you have access to ADB (for example, via a computer), you can send a reboot command:

adb reboot recovery

For this:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (enable USB debugging in the developer settings).
2. Open the command prompt (CMD) or terminal on your computer.
3. Enter the command above and press Enter.

⚠️ Warning: If ADB doesn't recognize the device, update Xiaomi drivers or check the cable. Using unoriginal cables can lead to data transmission errors.

Battery charge ≥30%|Backup copy of important data|Original. USB-cable (when used) ADB)|Disabling the screen password (if the phone is locked)-->

Recovery Mode Interface: What Menu Items Mean

After successful entry, you will see a menu in English or Chinese (depending on the version of MIUI).

🔹 Important: On HyperOS devices, menus may look different — for example, Wipe items are broken down into submenu (Format Data, Wipe Dalvik, etc.). Don't confuse Wipe Cache (safe) with Format Data (removes everything, including internal memory!).

To navigate the menu, use:

• 🔼 Volume buttons – moving up/down.
• 🔘 Power button - selecting the item.

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If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the location of items: the first is Reboot, the second is Wipe Data, the third is Wipe Cache.

What to do if your phone is not included in Recovery Mode

If the phone vibrates after holding the buttons, but the screen remains black or the normal system loads, the problem may be as follows:

• 🔋 Battery discharged (even if the indicator showed 10-20%, the real charge may be lower).
• 🔧 The loader is damaged (for example, after a failed firmware).
• 🖱️ Faulty buttons (especially relevant for older models of Redmi Note 4X or Mi A1).
• 📱 Manufacturer lock (on some HyperOS devices, recavator input is restricted).

Decisions:

1. Connect your phone to charging for 15-20 minutes, then try again.
2. Try an alternative combination: Power + Volume Up + Volume Down (on some models).
3. If the buttons don’t work, use ADB (see section above).
4. For devices with a damaged bootloader, you will need firmware via Fastboot or EDL.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone goes to bootloop after trying to log in to Recovery Mode, don't try to repeat the action. This may indicate damage to the recovery partition. In this case, the only way out is to run the full image MIUI firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

How to Get Out of Recovery Mode on Xiaomi

To leave the Recovery Mode:

1. Select Reboot (or Reboot system now) with the volume buttons.
2. Confirm the choice of the power button.
3. If the menu does not respond, hold the power button for 10-15 seconds for a forced reboot.

🔹 Important: If you log out of Recovery Mode, your phone comes back into it again, it's a sign of a serious system error.

• The /system partition is damaged.
• Incompatible firmware (for example, the Global ROM was stitched onto the Chinese model).
• Conflict after update via OTA.

In such cases, you will need a complete flashing of the device with cleaning of all partitions, instructions for specific models can be found in the section "Xiaomi firmware via Fastboot" of our website.

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Never remove the battery to exit the Recovery Mode – this can damage the power controller on some models (e.g. the POCO X3 Pro).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Recovery Mode requires caution, and let’s look at common user errors and their consequences:

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices, the Wipe All Data can automatically format internal memory (/data), even if you have chosen to reset settings only. Before using this item, remove the SD- card and disable the Google/Mi accounts.

If you accidentally did the wrong thing, don't panic. In most cases, you can fix the situation.

• After Wipe Data, restore the data from the backup.
• After a failed firmware - run the device through Fastboot.
• When bootlooping, use the Mi Flash Tool with the clean all option.

Xiaomi firmware through Recovery Mode: step-by-step instructions

If you need to update or reinstall MIUI/HyperOS via Recovery Mode, follow this algorithm:

1. Firmware preparation

Download the official ZIP-file firmware for your model from the site:

• 🌐 Xiaomi official website: https://new.c.mi.com/global/miuidownload/index
• 🔗 Alternative sources: Xiaomi Firmware Updater or 4PDA (check the hashes of files!).

🔹 Important: The file name should match the device model. For example, for Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, look for firmware codenamed peux.

2. Transfer of firmware to the device

There are two options:

• 📁 Through a memory card: Copy the ZIP- file to the root of the SD- card (not to the folder!).
• 🖥️ Through ADB: Use the command: adb push update.zip /sdcard/

3. Installation of firmware

1. Enter Recovery Mode (see section above).
2. Select Apply update from SD card (or Apply update from ADB).
3. Find the copied ZIP- file and confirm the installation.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-15 minutes).
5. Select Reboot system now.

⚠️ Warning: If the firmware is interrupted with E:footer is wrong, it means that the file is corrupted or not intended for your model. Re-download and check the checksum (MD5).

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Firmware via Recovery Mode saves user data, but can cause conflicts with previous settings. Use Wipe Data BEFORE the firmware for a clean installation.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions