Owners of Xiaomi Yi action cameras often face situations where the device stops responding to commands or freezes at the most inopportune moment, this can be due to a memory buffer overflow, a microSD card file system failure or software conflict, in which case the standard shutdown through the menu becomes unavailable and forced intervention is required.
There are several proven methods to reanimate your gadget: Reboot can be soft, saving user data, or hard, completely cleansing settings. Choosing the right algorithm of actions depends on the current problem and model of your device, whether it is a classic Yi 1 or more advanced Yi 4K+.
In this article, we will look at all the ways you can restore your camera to work, learn how to safely perform Hard Reset if the screen is not responding, and what nuances exist when working with different versions of firmware, and follow the instructions to avoid losing important video footage.
Soft reboot via the camera menu
The safest and easiest way to get your device back to normal is to use a regular software menu, which doesn't delete your files or your Wi-Fi settings, so it should be used at the first sign of instability. If the touch screen or control buttons are working, try this option.
To do this, you need to activate the camera display with a short press of the power button, then go to the main settings menu, scroll through the options list to the end, and there is a power control item for the system.
- 📱 Press the on button to activate the screen.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings menu (cog icon).
- 🔄 Select "Switch off" or "Reboot».
- ✅ Confirm the action by pressing on the screen.
Once confirmed, the camera will start shutdown, which takes about 10-15 seconds, and the indicators will blink and go out, indicating that the work is done correctly, and it will take a little longer to turn on again, since the system needs to check the file system.
💡
Before turning off, make sure the recording indicator doesn’t turn red – interrupting the recording can damage the video file.
It's important to note that soft resets don't fix deep firmware errors, and if the camera freezes right after you turn on, this method won't help, and you'll have to resort to more drastic measures.
Forced resetting of the power button
When the interface is completely locked and the touch screen is not responsive to touch, only the hardware method remains. Forced reboot simulates a battery shutdown and allows the operating system to bypass the suspended processes.
On most Xiaomi Yi models, this requires a long-term hold on the power button. The mechanism of action is simple: the system ignores short presses, but responds to a long clamping by a forced break in the power chain of the processor.
⚠️ Note: Do not use this method regularly. Frequent forced shutdowns can damage the memory card file system.
The algorithm is this: find the power button on the device body. Press and hold it for a period of time. 10-15 The camera may vibrate or make sounds in the process, but hold the button until all the indicators are completely extinguished.
☑️ Hard Reset algorithm
If the button is released, the device immediately starts to turn on itself, then the auto-start mechanism has been triggered, in which case the procedure should be repeated, but hold the button even longer until the screen is completely turned off.
Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If software failures are permanent, a full Hard Reset may be required.This procedure returns the camera to a "store-like" state, removing all user settings, connected Wi-Fi networks, and personal data.
Resets can be done via a hidden menu or button combination, depending on the firmware version. Before starting the procedure, it is strongly recommended to remove the memory card to save the footage, as in some cases, formatting can affect the external drive.
To enter recovery mode, a combination of buttons is often used on a camera that is turned off, for example, on some models you need to press the Mode button and the on button at the same time.
- 🔌 Make sure the battery is at least 50 times charged%.
- 💾 Remove the microSD card for data security.
- 🔘 Use the button combination to log in to Recovery Mode.
- 🗑️ Select the "Wipe" option. Data/Factory Reset».
The cleaning process takes a few minutes, and once it's done, the camera will automatically reboot, and you'll need to reconfigure the language, the time and the connectivity settings of the smartphone.
What happens when you reset your settings?
Factory settings recovery often solves problems with the endless bootloop cycle, where the camera turns on, shows the logo, and turns off again.
Reboot via Yi Action mobile app
Remote camera control provides additional diagnostic and reboot capabilities. If the camera is stuck but the Wi-Fi module is still running, you can use the smartphone to force the system to restart.
To do this, you need to open the Yi Action app on your smartphone and connect to the camera. In the application interface, a switch off or reboot button is often available, which sends a program signal to the device.
| Action. | Method of implementation | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|
| Soft discharge | Camera menu | No. |
| Forced discharge | Power button (15 seconds) | Low. |
| Hard Reset | Recovery Mode | High (settings) |
| Through the app | Remote team | No. |
The application is particularly useful if the buttons on the camera body are damaged or crashed, but the stability of this method depends on the quality of the wireless connection.
If the app shows a connection error but the camera is buzzing, try first reconnecting to the camera's Wi-Fi network in the phone settings. Only after a successful ping of the device should you try to control it remotely.
💡
Remote reboot is only possible if the camera’s Wi-Fi module is functioning correctly, even if the main processor is getting stuck.
Diagnostics of memory card problems
A common reason Xiaomi Yi freezes is a faulty or incompatible memory card.The camera may try to write a file, bump into a broken sector and go into an endless waiting cycle, which looks like a complete zipper.
To rule out this factor, reboot without a microSD card installed. Remove the drive, turn on the camera and check its operation for 5-10 minutes. If the device is stable, the problem lies in the card.
It is recommended to format the memory card on your computer using the FAT32 file system for cards up to 32 GB or exFAT for larger cards.
- 💿 Remove the memory card from the camera.
- 🖥️ Connect the card to the computer through the card reader.
- 🛠️ Perform formatting in FAT32/exFAT.
- 📥 Put the card back in and check the work.
Low-quality memory cards with low write speeds (below Class 10) can cause delays when recording high-resolution video, which also leads to crashes. Use only manufacturer-recommended drives.
Firmware and system updates
If none of these methods worked, there may have been a lot of critical errors in the camera's operating system, so reinstallation or firmware updates can help, which is a more complex procedure that requires careful attention.
Up-to-date versions of the software can be found on the official website of the manufacturer or in the application. The firmware file is downloaded to the memory card, after which the camera itself detects the update and starts the installation process when turned on.
⚠️ Warning: During a firmware update, you should not remove the battery or memory card. Interrupting the process can turn the camera into a brick».
For Yi series models 4K There is a possibility of connecting via USB-cable to the computer and use special utilities for flashing, which allows you to restore the device even in the event of a serious software failure.
After successful installation of the new version of the system, it is recommended to perform a complete reset to avoid conflicts between the old configuration files and the new program code.