How to restart the system on Xiaomi devices: from reset to firmware recovery

A suspended smartphone, a boot-error TV, or a tablet that has stopped responding to commands — one in five Xiaomi users experience similar problems, ranging from software failures after an upgrade to hardware conflicts after installing third-party apps — but 90 percent of the time, the solution lies on the surface: restarting the system correctly.

Not all reboots are equally useful, however, such as forcing a power outage on Mi TVs to damage the file system, and resetting a smartphone without a backup can cause data loss. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven restart methods (from safest to radical) relevant for 2018-2026 devices, taking into account the features of MIUI and HyperOS firmware.

We'll focus on critical errors where the standard methods don't work: black screen after an update, cyclic reboot or lockdown due to incorrect password entry, and for each scenario, a separate action algorithm explaining why it will work.

1.Soft reboot: when a standard restart is sufficient

Soft restart is a hardware command to restart, initialized through the system interface, and it stores all data and settings, but closes the background processes that may have caused the freeze.

• 🐢 Slowing down the interface (lags when scrolling, opening applications).
• 🔄 Freezing of individual programs (for example, YouTube or Google Play).
• 📶 Problems connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile network (signal icon flashes or disappears).

On Xiaomi smartphones and tablets, a soft reboot is done via the power menu. Press the Power button for 2-3 seconds until the option window appears. Select Reboot (or Restart on English firmware). If the screen doesn't respond to touch, but the buttons work, try the Power + Volume Up combination (hold 10 seconds).

For Mi TVs, the algorithm is different: on the remote, press the Home button for 5-7 seconds. The menu with the option Reboot will appear on the screen. Importantly, if the TV is getting stuck on the Xiaomi logo when you turn on, a soft reboot will not help - you will need a hard reset (see section 3).

⚠️ Warning: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, frequent soft reboots can cause the module to crash TWRP. If you have installed custom recovery, use the command fastboot reboot recovery no more than 1 time per day.

Forced reboot: what to do if the device does not respond

If the screen is black, the sensor is not working, and the Power button is not calling the menu, a hardware reset will be required, a technique that simulates battery extraction, but on modern Xiaomi devices (where the battery is not removable) is implemented through prolonged button retention.

For smartphones and tablets:

1. Press the Power + Volume Down for 15-20 seconds.
2. Release the buttons when the Mi logo or vibration appears on the screen.
3. If the device does not respond, connect it to the charger and try again.

For Mi TV and Redmi TV:

• 🔌 Turn off power from the socket for 30 seconds.
• 🔄 Press and hold the Power button on the TV body (not on the remote!) for 10-15 seconds.
• 🔌 Connect the power back - the TV should start in normal mode.

Why it works: Forced reboot resets the power controller (PMIC) state, which can get locked due to overheating or a power surge. However, on devices with damaged firmware (for example, after a failed update), this method can cause a cyclical reboot.

3. Reset to factory settings: when and how to apply

Factory Reset is an extreme measure that is used in:

• 🔒 Locking the device due to a forgotten password/pattern lock.
• 🦠 Viruses that are not removed by antiviruses.
• 🔄 Persistent crashes after a firmware update (e.g., com.android.phone error).
• 📱 Selling or transferring the device to another user.

There are two ways to reset: through system settings (if the device is working) and through recovery mode (Recovery Mode) for locked or faulty gadgets.

Method 1: Through the settings menu (without data loss if backup is made)

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Erase All Data (on HyperOS - Restore Factory Settings).
3. Enter the password from your Mi Account if requested.
4. Confirm the action – the device will restart and begin the cleaning process.

Method 2: Recovery Mode (for locked devices)

If the smartphone is not turned on or locked:

1. Turn off the device (forced if necessary).
2. Press Power + Volume Up before the Mi Recovery logo appears.
3. Select the language (volume buttons) and the Wipe Data option.
4. Confirm the reset - the process will take 3-5 minutes.

⚠️ Note: Devices with Mi Account Reference (Find Device) will require login and password entry after reset. If you forget your data, use account.xiaomi.com to restore access.

Backup in Mi Cloud| Record username/password from Mi Account| Check battery (minimum 50%)|Delete Google account if you plan to sell-->

4. Fastboot firmware recovery: for power users

If soft reset and reboot didn’t help, and the device got stuck on the logo or gave an error This MIUI version cannot be installed on this device, you’ll need to flash it through Fastboot mode.

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphones with unlocked bootloader.
• 🖥️ Devices that have a system partition (system partition).
• 🔧 Mi TVs TV, which are not launched after the update.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot (You can download it on the Android Studio website).
• 🔌 Cable USB (Original, for stable connection).
• 📁 Firmware for your model (download only from the official Xiaomi website).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack the firmware archive in the C:\platform-tools folder (where fastboot and adb are installed).
2. Connect the device to the PC by holding Volume Down.
3. In the command line (on behalf of the administrator), run: fastboot devices If the device is determined, continue. If not, check the driver.
4. Run the firmware script: fastboot flash all or for TVs: fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot flash boot.img fastboot reboot

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If the firmware is interrupted with the remote: partition table doesn't exist error, download the full firmware package (marked "Fastboot" in the title) and use the fastboot flash all lock command to unlock the bootloader.

5. Features of the restart on Xiaomi TVs

Mi TV and Redmi TV are based on Android TV, so the ways to reboot are different from mobile.

• 📺 Hanging on Xiaomi logo after update.
• 🔊 Lack of sound when working image.
• 🕹️ Disabled remote control (does not respond to buttons).

Rebooting methods:

1. Software restart: Press Settings → Device → Reboot.
2. Hardware Reset: Turn off power for 1 minute, then hold the Power button on the case for 10 seconds.
3. Reset via service menu: On the TV turned off, press Menu + Volume Down on the remote, then plug in the power. From the menu, select Wipe Data.

For TVs with a No Command error or cyclic boot, USB firmware will help. Download the official firmware for your model (such as the Mi TV 4A or Redmi Smart TV X), unpack the archive and copy the files to a FAT32 flash drive, paste it into a USB 2.0 port (usually marked as Service) and follow the instructions on the screen.

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On Xiaomi TVs from 2022 to 2026 (such as the Mi TV Q2), a reset via the service menu may require you to enter a 1234 or 0000 code – these are standard passwords for recovery mode.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users make mistakes when restarting the system, and consider the most common ways to prevent them:

How to minimize the risks:

• 🔋 Before any manipulations charge the device to at least 70%.
• 📋 Create a backup in Mi Cloud or through ADB Backup.
• 🔍 Check firmware compatibility with your model (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max have different firmware!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions