How to restart Xiaomi device correctly: all the ways from reboot to completely reset

Xiaomi devices are some of the most popular on the market because of their combination of price, performance and functionality. However, even the most reliable equipment sometimes fails: it freezes, slows down or behaves unpredictable. In such cases, the first step is to restart the system. But not everyone knows that the term "restart" hides several procedures at once, from a simple reboot to a complete reset to factory settings.

This article will help you understand when a soft reboot is enough and when a hard reset is needed, how to exit the brick after a failed update, and what to do if Xiaomi does not respond to buttons. We will look at all the current methods for smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Mi), tablets and even smartwatches - taking into account the features of MIUI and Android. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances that are not written in the official instructions, such as how to save data before reset or what to do if after the reboot the device requires a password from your Mi Account.

1. Soft reboot: when and how to do it

Soft reboot is the standard way of turning a device off and on through a menu or button, and it helps in 80 percent of freezes when the system is slowing down, but it's still responding to commands, and it doesn't delete data or reset settings.

How to do this:

• 📱 Through the menu: press the power button for 2-3 seconds → Select "Reboot" (or "Restart (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 may need to hold the button longer.
• 🔄 Through the notification panel: swipe down from the top edge of the screen → press the food icon → «Reboot».
• 🔋 If the screen is not responding: press the power button + up volume for 10-15 seconds until the device vibrates and restarts.

Soft reboot is also useful after installing MIUI updates or new applications, helping the system to refresh the cache and avoid minor glitches, for example, if the sound is lost after the update or Bluetooth is not working, try this method first.

2 Hard Reset: An Emergency Method

Hard reboot is a forced power outage that mimics "battery pulling," which is needed when the device is completely frozen: it does not respond to touch, does not turn off through the menu, or the screen shows a black background with the Mi logo endlessly.

How to do this:

1. Press the power button + volume up (or volume down, depending on the model) for 15-20 seconds.
2. Release the buttons when the device vibrates or the screen goes off.
3. Wait 30 seconds, then turn on the smartphone with the power button.

⚠️ Warning: Hard reboot does not delete data, but it can interrupt background processes (e.g. downloading files or updating applications). AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K60) Frequent forced shutdowns reduce the display life.

3. Reset to factory settings: when necessary

Factory Reset is a last resort measure that removes all data from a device, including apps, photos, accounts and settings.

• 🐢 Strong braking of the system, even after restarting.
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern lock or password.
• 📱 Preparation of the device for sale.
• 🛠️ Fixing Errors After Failed Update MIUI.

Resetting methods:

⚠️ Note: after resetting on devices with MIUI 12+ And those who are tied to Mi Accounts will need to log in and log in to your account, even if you reset your phone through Recovery. This is Factory Reset Protection. If you forget your data, restore it in advance on account.xiaomi.com.

Make a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup

Remember the username/password from Mi Account

Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged.

Out. SIM-Memory card and card (if you don’t want to format)

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4. Reset via Recovery Mode: step-by-step instruction

If the smartphone doesn’t turn on or hangs on the screensaver, the only way to bring it back to life is to reset it via Recovery Mode.This mode is available on all Xiaomi devices, but the interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the device (if it doesn’t respond, use a hard reboot).
2. Press the power button + volume up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).

Next:

• 📱 Select Wipe Data (or Chinese firmware) → Wipe All Data.
• 🔍 Confirm the action (you may need to enter a password or select Yes).
• 🔄 After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) after reset via Recovery, an error may appear “No OS installed”, which means that the firmware is damaged – you will need to reflash the device through Fastboot.

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If you don’t have Wipe Data in Recovery, you have custom firmware installed (like LineageOS), in which case you can use Factory Reset or Advanced Wipe (select Dalvik, Cache, Data, System).

5. Restart via Fastboot: for power users

Fastboot is a firmware mode that allows you to control your device through your computer, and you need it if you:

• 🔧 Recovery Unavailable or Damaged.
• 📲 You need to sew official / castom firmware.
• 🔒 Device locked after failed update.

What will be required:

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (official website).
• 🔌 Cable USB (better-than-original).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool or fastboot from Android SDK.

Commands to reset via Fastboot:

fastboot devices # Check the connection


fastboot oem edl # Translation to EDL mode (for firmware)




fastboot erase userdata # Deletion of user data




fastboot erase cache #Cache cleanup




fastboot reboot #Reboot

⚠️ Warning: Quickboot erase system or fastboot flash without the right firmware will turn the device into a brick. If you are not sure, use the Mi Flash Tool with the official firmware for your model.

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Fastboot resets all data without recovery, a method recommended only in case of critical failures or for firmware on a new version of MIUI.

6. Features of the restart on different Xiaomi devices

The restart procedure may vary depending on the type of device. Let’s consider the nuances for different categories of Xiaomi equipment:

📱 Smartphones and tablets (Mi, Redmi, POCO)

Most smartphones (Xiaomi 12, Redmi Note 11, POCO X5) use a power + volume up combination to enter Recovery, except for the dynamic island model (Xiaomi 13 Ultra), where additional confirmation through the fingerprint scanner may be required.

⌚ Smart watches and bracelets (Mi Band, Watch)

For rebooting Mi Band 7 or Xiaomi Watch S3:

1. Disconnect the device from the smartphone.
2. Connect to the charger.
3. Press and hold the touch button for 10-15 seconds until the logo appears.

📺 Televisions and Smart Columns (Mi) TV, Mi Soundbar)

On Xiaomi TVs, reset is done via the menu: Settings → Device → Reset and Recovery → Reset to factory.

For forced reboot, press the power button on the remote for 10 seconds.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even if you do the reset correctly, users are facing problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

💡 Useful tip: if after resetting the device does not turn on, try to pinch the power + volume + Down volume for 30 seconds at the same time, and this will work for some models (Redmi 7, Mi). A3) and will cause the system to go into emergency boot mode.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions