Modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the popular model Redmi Note 9, are complex computing devices running the Android operating system with a proprietary shell MIUI. In the process of active operation, users often face situations when the interface ceases to respond to touch, applications close on their own or the device completely ceases to respond to commands. In such cases, the only true solution is to restart the system, which allows you to clean up RAM and restart all system processes.
There are many scenarios that require user intervention, from the banal freeze after installing new software to the need to completely reset the settings before selling the gadget. It is important to understand that rebooting and resetting to factory settings are fundamentally different actions, each of which has its consequences for stored data. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for restarting the Redmi Note 9, including standard procedures, working with the engineering menu and actions in the event of a complete lockdown of the device.
Many smartphone owners are unaware of the existence of hidden features or alternative key combinations that can save a situation when the touch screen fails. We will look not only at the obvious ways through the menu, but also at hardware methods of forced restart, which work even in case of critical errors of the kernel of the system.
Standard Reboot via the Settings Menu
The safest and most recommended way to turn off or restart a smartphone is to use the standard operating system interface, which ensures that all active applications will finish their work correctly, and the file system will not get damaged due to a sharp power outage. To perform this procedure, you need to unlock the device screen and find the Settings application icon, which usually looks like a gear.
Once you log in, you scroll down to the About Phone section, which is often at the very end of the options list. Inside this section, at the top of the screen, you usually have the MIUI logo and a few control buttons. This is where the Reboot button is located, which triggers the normal shutdown and turn on cycle of the device. If you want to turn off completely, you select the adjacent Turn off option.
In some versions of MIUI, you can access power functions faster without going deep into the settings. Just unlock the screen and swipe down to open the notification bar. In the upper right corner of this panel, there are often quick access icons, which can include an off icon. Alternatively, you can hold the power button on the locked screen for a long time, which will cause a menu with a choice of action.
⚠️ Attention: If your smartphone is responding to long-latency presses, don't repeatedly click on the off button. This can create a queue of tasks in the system and slow the process even further.
Forced reboot of buttons when hanging
When the touch screen stops responding to touch and the image freezes, it is one of the most common problems. In this case, the software methods through the menu become unavailable, and the only way out is to use physical control buttons. On the Redmi Note 9 model, the power button located on the right side of the case is responsible. To start the forced restart process, you need to pinch this button and hold it for a long time.
The retention time required is usually 10 to 20 seconds, at which point the device can vibrate, make sounds, or simply turn off the screen. Don't release the button immediately after the first signal, wait for the Redmi or Mi logo to appear on the screen. This method simulates the battery extraction, which allows you to lose static electricity and forcefully stop all processes, including those that caused the freeze.
☑️ Algorithm of actions when hanging
In the rare cases where a standard long press doesn't help, you can try a button combination. Press both the power button and the volume button. Hold them together for about 15 seconds. This method is often used to enter Recovery mode, but on many Xiaomi devices under certain conditions, it can also initiate a reboot if the system is in deep sleep or a critical error.
It is important to note that forced reboot does not delete your personal data, photos or contacts. However, if the data was written to internal memory at the time of the reset, some files may be corrupted.
Reboot through the Engineering Menu and ADB
For advanced users who prefer to control every aspect of their device, there are more sophisticated methods of managing the system. One of them is using an engineering menu that can be accessed through the standard Phone application. This requires dialing a special code that opens the hidden settings section. However, in modern versions of MIUI, direct reboot through the codes is often blocked for security reasons.
A more reliable tool for experts is to debug the USB platform-use ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer via a computer. USB-cable and the presence of the installed device driver. Before starting work, you need to activate the developer mode by going to Settings → About the phone and several times quickly clicking on the build number.
Once the developer mode is activated, a new Developer option appears on the menu to enable the USB Debug option. By connecting the phone to your PC, you can send a command to reboot directly, bypassing the interface. This is especially useful if the touchscreen is broken but the display image is saved, or if the system is unstable, but the kernel remains responsive to external commands.
adb rebootIntroduced in the computer command line, this command will instantly send a signal to reboot the connected device, and if you want to enter recovery mode, the adb reboot recovery command is used, which allows you to perform maintenance even when the touch layer is partially inoperable.
Recovery and Fastboot Mode: Destination and Entry
Any Xiaomi owner should have an understanding of low-level boot modes. Recovery is a separate software environment that loads independently of the main operating system. It is designed to perform service operations such as resetting settings, cleaning the cache or installing updates manually.
Fastboot mode is used primarily to flash the device through the computer. In this mode, an image of a hare repairing an android appears on the screen, which is the trademark logo of Xiaomi debugging. To enter the Fastboot, you need to press the power button and the volume button when the device is turned off.
What is the difference between clean all and Wipe data?
Using these modes requires caution. Accidentally pressing the volume buttons when you turn on your phone can lead to a hit on the Recovery menu, which often scares inexperienced users. Don't panic: if you don't plan to perform a reset, just select Reboot or Reboot to System, navigating the menu using volume buttons and confirming the choice of the power button.
| Regime. | Button combination | Principal appointment | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | Food + Volume Up | Reset, clean up cache, update | High (when choosing Wipe) |
| Fastboot | Food + Volume Down | Firmware through PC, unlock | Medium (depending on the actions) |
| Safe Mode | Power (on the OS menu) | Diagnostics of conflicts | No. |
| Google Assistant | Food (containment) | Voice control | No. |
Automatic reboot on schedule
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 9 has a useful automatic reboot feature that is especially relevant for users who rarely turn off their smartphones. The periodic automatic restart helps the system to reset accumulated errors in RAM, stop suspended background processes and update system services, which ultimately positively affects the speed of the device.
To configure this feature, go to the Settings menu, then select Advanced Settings and find Scheduled On and Off. Here you can activate the Reboot option and set a convenient time, for example, 3:00 a.m. when the phone is guaranteed not to be used. The system will turn off and on at a given hour.
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It is recommended to set an automatic reboot time for a period when the phone is not used for calls or receiving important notifications to avoid missing the call.
Regular use of this feature can be a great prevention of many software failures. If you notice that by the evening the phone starts to run slower or discharge faster, setting up a weekly reboot can solve the problem without having to manually control the process. This is especially useful for older users or those who do not want to dive into technical details.
Solving the Problems of Cyclical Reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the Redmi Note 9 enters the so-called “bootloop” — an endless reboot cycle. The phone turns on, shows the logo, then goes out and turns on again. This can be caused by corrupting system files, a failed update or conflict of a newly installed application, in which case a conventional reboot will not help, since the system cannot boot to the end.
The first step in combating this phenomenon is to try to boot into Safe Mode, so when you see a MIUI logo, you need to quickly press the volume button and keep it up until it's fully loaded, and only system applications are activated in this mode. If the phone is stable in Safe Mode, then there's a problem with third-party software. Remove the recently installed programs and try to reboot in normal mode.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is warming in the lower part of the case during a cyclic reboot, this may indicate a short circuit in the power supply or a malfunction of the battery.
If software methods don’t help, you may need to reset completely through the Recovery menu (Wipe Data).Remember that this action will delete all your data.Before performing any firmware manipulations, make sure that the battery is at least 50-60% so that the device does not turn off at the most inopportune moment, which can damage the bootloader.