How to completely reboot the Xiaomi Redmi phone: everything from soft restart to hard reset

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sooner or later face the need to reboot the device. The reasons can be different from the banal “hang” of the interface to serious software failures after the update. But not everyone knows that reboots come in different types — and each of them solves their problems. Some methods just update the system, others completely erase data and return the phone to factory state.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to reboot the Redmi line, from the safest soft restart to radical hard reset through recovery mode. You’ll learn when to apply, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if the phone doesn’t respond to buttons at all. And we’ll also uncover hidden MIUI features that allow you to reboot your device even without physical access to the buttons.

Soft reboot: when a normal restart is sufficient

Soft reboot (or soft reboot) is a standard phone switching off and on that doesn't affect user data, and it helps 80 percent of the time when the phone starts to "glut" -- slowing down the interface, not opening apps, or missing the mobile Internet -- a process that takes less than a minute and requires no special knowledge.

On most Xiaomi Redmi models (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C), the soft reboot is performed in the same way:

• 📱 Hold the power button (usually located on the right) for a period of time. 2-3 seconds.
• 🔄 On the screen will appear menu with options to Turn off, Reboot and Airplane Mode.
• 👆 Select Reboot and Confirm the Action.

If the screen is not responding to the presses, but the phone is still showing signs of life (vibrates, the notification indicator is on), try holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. This will force the device to turn off, after which it can be turned on in the usual way.

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On some models (e.g. Redmi K50) to call the reboot menu, you need to hold the power button + increase the volume at the same time.

⚠️ Warning: If after a soft reboot, the phone boots for longer than 5 minutes or restarts constantly (stuck on the logo) MI), This is a sign of a serious failure, and you're going to need a hard reset or a flashing.

Hard reboot: when the phone is completely got stuck

Hard reboot (or hard reboot) is a forced power outage that works even when the phone is completely frozen and does not respond to touch.This method does not erase data, but can interrupt background processes, so it should only be used in extreme cases:

• 🖥️ The screen is getting stuck on one image (for example, in a game or app).
• 🔄 The phone is constantly restarted in a cycle (bootloop).
• 📵 The touch screen is not working, but the device is turned on.

For a hard reboot on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Hold the power button for 15-20 seconds (on some models – up to 30 seconds).
2. Wait until the screen goes out and the phone vibrates – this is a signal of complete shutdown.
3. Press the power button again to turn the device on.

If after a hard reboot the phone turns on, but continues to work unstable (apps fly out, spontaneously restarts), this may indicate:

• 🔋 Battery problems (blown, wear and tear).
• 🛠️ Damage to system files after update.
• 🦠 Viral software or application conflict.

Reset to factory settings: a complete system reboot

If a soft and hard reboot didn’t help and the phone continues to malfunction, the last option is a factory reset (or hard reset).

• 📱 Installed applications and their data.
• 📸 Photos, videos and music (if not saved) SD-map).
• 🔑 Google Accounts, Mi Accounts and Passwords.
• ⚙️ All personal settings (wallpaper, sounds, labels).

There are two ways to do a reset: through the phone's settings (if it's turned on) or through the recovery mode (if the phone isn't loading).

Method 1: Reset via MIUI settings

If the phone is turned on and reacts to touch:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (reset to factory).
3. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock, if requested.
4. Confirm the action and wait until the completion (usually 5-10 minutes).

After the reset, the phone will reboot and prompt you to set it up as new.

Method 2: Reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone is not turned on)

If your phone is stuck on the MI logo or does not respond to the activation, use the Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off your phone (use a hard reboot if necessary).
2. Press the power buttons and increase the volume simultaneously.
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Recovery logo appears.
4. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage by volume buttons, confirmation by power button).
5. Once you have finished, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

Make a backup copy of important data|Remember the username and password from Mi Account|Make sure the battery is charged > 50%|Get out. SIM-card and memory card (optional)-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro) may require re-assignment of the Mi Account after reset via recovery. If you forget your password, the phone will turn into a brick»!

Hidden Reboot Methods: ADB Commands and Engineering Menu

For power users, there are alternative reboot methods that don't require physical access to the buttons, and they're useful if, for example, a power button or touch screen breaks.

Reboot via ADB (Android Debug Bridge)

If USB debugging is enabled on the phone, you can restart it from your computer:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the command: adb reboot For forced reboot: adb reboot bootloader

If you need to reset to factory settings via ADB:

adb shell recovery --wipe_data

Reboot through the engineering menu (code ##)

Some Xiaomi Redmi models have hidden code to reboot:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##7378423## (not working on all firmware).
3. In the menu that appears, select the reboot option.

These methods require pre-tuning (enable debugging over USB or knowing the codes), so they are not suitable for everyone, but they can save the situation when standard methods are not available.

Reboot in Safe Mode: Diagnosing Problems

If your phone is slowing down or apps are crashing, but you're not sure if it's the system or third-party software that's to blame, safe mode will help, and only standard MIUI apps load in this mode, and all third-party apps are turned off.

To boot in Safe Mode:

1. Hold the power button until the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the option to turn off (or turn off power) for 3-5 seconds.
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode.

In this mode:

• 🔍 Check if problems persist (brakes, departures).
• 🚫 If everything works normally, one of the installed applications is to blame.
• 🔄 To get out of Safe Mode, just restart your phone.

If problems remain in safe mode, this indicates:

• 🔧 Damage to system files (reflashing required).
• 🔋 Iron malfunction (for example, problems with working memory).

What to do if the phone does not restart at all

If none of the methods worked and the phone shows no signs of life (no vibration, no light, no computer detects), it could be:

In the most severe cases (for example, after a failed firmware) it may be necessary to run through EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode, a complex procedure that requires special equipment (Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008) and knowledge of MiFlash commands.

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If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons and charge, never try to disassemble it yourself – this can result in short circuit or loss of warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi reboot