How to open Recovery Menu on Xiaomi: official and hidden ways

The Android Recovery menu on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a hidden tool for system recovery, resetting or custom firmware installation. Without access, you canโ€™t perform a hard reset, roll back an update or unlock the bootloader. The problem is that the manufacturer deliberately complicates the login to this menu: on new models, standard button combinations often donโ€™t work, and in some cases, Recovery is replaced with Fastboot altogether.

This article provides current ways to log in to Recovery Mode for all Xiaomi devices (including models from 2023-2026), as well as solutions for situations where:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ The smartphone does not respond to the combination of buttons
  • ๐Ÿ”’ The screen is locked and Find My Device is disabled.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ The device hung on the Mi logo or bootloop
  • ๐Ÿ”ง I need to install. TWRP custom-made

All methods have been tested on devices with MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS. If your model is older than 2018, some methods may not work โ€“ see FAQ at the end of the article.

1. Standard method: combination of power and volume buttons

The most common method is the use of hardware buttons, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, but there are some nuances:

  • โšก On new models (for example, Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) You can open Fastboot instead of Recovery. That's OK -- see the Fastboot section.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ If the battery is under 5%, the combination will not work%.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5) You need to hold the buttons for more than 10 seconds.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the smartphone (if it freezes โ€“ hold the power button for 15-20 seconds).
  2. Press Power + Volume up and hold for 8-12 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
  3. Release the buttons when you see the Recovery menu (usually in English or Chinese).

โ˜‘๏ธ Checking before entering Recovery

Done: 0 / 4

If instead of Recovery, a Fastboot (black screen with a rabbit and a sign) opens. FASTBOOT), So your model uses a simplified recovery menu, and then you go to the Fastboot method.

โš ๏ธ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi K70) The standard Recovery can be replaced with Mi-Assistant, in which case, use Settings to reset your settings. โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Resetting settings.

2. login via Fastboot (if the standard method doesn't work)

If the button combination opens Fastboot instead of Recovery, it's not a mistake, because that's what the manufacturer intended.

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot to Recovery via the fastboot command.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฅ Install custom Recovery (TWRP) full access.

For the first option, you will need a computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot and the debugging included USB (if the device is still on).

Step-by-step:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC in Fastboot mode (black screen with a rabbit).
  2. Open the command line (Win + R โ†’ cmd) and type:
fastboot reboot recovery
  1. If the team doesnโ€™t work, try:
fastboot oem reboot-recovery

If the device is rebooted back to Fastboot, then Recovery is disabled at the firmware level, in which case only the installation of TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader) remains.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the fastboot device command doesnโ€™t show your device, install the Mi Flash Tool drivers and try again.

3. Entry into Recovery via ADB (if the smartphone is turned on)

If the device works but you need to get into Recovery (for example, to install the update manually), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all models, including new ones, but requires:

  • โšก Included Debugging by USB (Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Version. MIUI โ†’ 7 times to tap โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ For developers โ†’ Debugging by USB).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Computers with installed ADB-driver.

Instructions:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
  2. Open the command line and enter:
adb reboot recovery

If the team doesnโ€™t work, try:

adb shell reboot recovery

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), you may need to reboot to Fastboot first and then to Recovery:

adb reboot bootloader


fastboot reboot recovery

โš ๏ธ Note: On HyperOS devices, the adb reboot recovery command can reboot your phone to Mi-Assistant instead of the standard Recovery.

4.How to log in to Recovery if your smartphone is locked

If the screen is locked and Find My Device is disabled, standard unlocking methods (via Mi Account) won't help. In this case, Recovery is the only way to reset the password, but there are limitations:

SituationCan I enter Recovery?Decision
Device is off.โœ… Yes.Use a button combination or Fastboot
The device is on but lockedโŒ No, no. ADB)Turn off forcibly (hold power for 20 seconds), then use the buttons
Mi Account protection enabledโš ๏ธ Partially.After reset, you will need to enter a login / password from the Xiaomi account
Device in bootloop (cyclical reboot)โœ… Yes.Keep Power + Volume Up When the Logo Appears

If the smartphone is on but locked:

  1. Hold the power button for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
  2. Immediately after turning off, press Power + Volume up.
  3. If the device starts vibrating, donโ€™t release the buttons until the menu appears.

On models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 chips (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro) a forced shutdown can take up to 30 seconds - don't release the button ahead of time.

5. Alternative methods for old and new models

If none of these methods worked, try these options:

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ By charger: On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Recovery can be opened by connecting charging and holding Volume up + Loudness down when the charging indicator appears.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Through the update menu: In Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Update the system click on the icon โš™๏ธ โ†’ Reboot in Recovery (does not work on all firmware).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Enter the dial number ##4636##, select Equipment Checker โ†’ Battery test โ†’ Menu โ†’ Restart to Recovery.

For devices in 2020 and older (e.g., Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T) the old combination may work:

Food + Volume up + Volume down

On newer models (for example, POCO X6 Pro) sometimes helps to connect to a PC with Mi Flash Tool and select the option Reboot to Recovery in the program interface.

๐Ÿ“Š What kind of model do you have? Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO?
2023 or later
2020โ€“2022
Over 2020
I don't know.

6.What to do if Recovery does not open?

If none of the methods worked, the reasons may be as follows:

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Damaged buttons: Check whether the volume buttons are responding normally.
  • ๐Ÿ“ด bootloader lock: New Xiaomi devices may be activated with anti-Rollback protection, blocking access to Recovery.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Damaged firmware: If the device doesnโ€™t boot even to Fastboot, youโ€™ll need to flash it through EDL-The mode (only for experienced users).

Decisions:

  1. Try connecting the device to another cable/PC โ€“ sometimes the problem is that youโ€™re not connected to the device. USB-port.
  2. If the smartphone responds to charging, but does not turn on โ€“ leave it on charging for 1-2 hours, then try again.
  3. For HyperOS devices, try Power + Volume Down (can open Safe Mode, from where you can reboot to Recovery).
What is it? EDL-regime and when it is needed?
EDL (Emergency Download Mode) is an emergency boot mode used to restore devices with damaged firmware, activated through test points on the board or special cables (for example, Deep Flash Cable). Dangerous for beginners - wrong actions can finally "brick" the device, used only if the smartphone does not respond to the Fastboot and does not turn on.

โš ๏ธ Please note: If you see this error MIUI version cannot be installed on this device when trying to reset via Recovery, this means that the firmware is damaged or blocked. In this case, you will need a complete flashing through the Mi Flash Tool with the unlocked bootloader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Recovery on Xiaomi

Can I log in to Recovery without buttons (if they are broken)?
Yes, but only if the device is turned on and you have access to the ADB Use the commands: adb reboot recovery or (if) ADB Not working: fastboot reboot recovery If the buttons donโ€™t work and the device doesnโ€™t turn on โ€“ youโ€™ll need repair or use EDL-The service (only in the service center).
Why does my Xiaomi open Fastboot instead of Recovery?
This is normal behavior for new models (2022 and later), the manufacturer replaced the standard Recovery with a simplified menu in Fastboot. To get to the full Recovery, you need to: Install TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader); Use fastboot reboot recovery commands (sometimes works); Recover stock Recovery via Mi Flash Tool.
How to reset your settings with Recovery if the menu is in Chinese?
In the Kittarized Firmware (China) ROM) Recovery menu may be in Chinese, but management is intuitive: ๐Ÿ“ฑ (Qฤซngchรบ shรนjรน) โ€” Wipe Data (Resetting settings). ๐Ÿ”„ (Chรณngqว xรฌtว’ng) โ€” Reboot System. ๐Ÿ“ฆ (ฤ€nzhuฤng gฤ“ngxฤซn bฤo) โ€” Install Update: Select the first item to reset, confirm and wait for the reboot.
Can I install TWRP without unlocking the bootloader?
No. On all Xiaomi devices since 2016, installing custom Recovery requires unlocking the bootloader through the official tool. Exceptions: Devices before 2015 (e.g. Mi 3, Redmi Note 2). Some firmware with exploits (e.g. DirtyCOW), but they are extremely unstable. Unlocking the bootloader resets all data and requires an account binding Mi!
Why is it necessary to enter a Xiaomi account after resetting via Recovery?
This is Mi Account Lock protection, which is activated when: Reset settings via Recovery. Install new firmware. Unlock the bootloader. To unblock: Enter the username and password from the account that was linked to the device. If you don't remember the data, restore access via account.xiaomi.com. If the device is purchased from hand, ask the seller to delete the account through i.mi.com. You can't get around this protection without account data (except for exploiting vulnerabilities that Xiaomi quickly closes).

๐Ÿ’ก

If your device is released after 2021, chances are the standard Recovery has been replaced by Fastboot.Use fastboot reboot recovery commands or install TWRP after unlocking the bootloader.