Rebooting a Xiaomi smartphone is a standard procedure that helps solve most software failures, from the hanging interface to network connectivity issues. However, not everyone knows that there are several types of reboots, each of which applies in different situations, for example, soft reboot keeps all open applications, and hard reset can lead to the loss of unsaved data.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to reboot for Xiaomi smartphones from 2020 to 2026, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others. You will learn how to make a reboot through menus, power buttons, Recovery mode, as well as using your computer and ADB. Separately, we will dwell on the nuances for devices with a locked bootloader and tell you what to do if the phone does not respond to commands.
1.Soft Reboot is the safest way
Soft reboot is a standard reboot that can be done through the phone menu, and it's good for fixing small lags, cleaning RAM, and updating system processes, and it saves all the data and reboots the phone normally.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → About the phone (or Settings) → System system → Reboot on new versions MIUI).
- 🔄 Click the “Reset” button and confirm the action.
- ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (usually 30-60 seconds).
This method works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 10, POCO F4 and Mi 13. If the reboot button is not in the menu, try holding the power button - in most cases, a context menu with the Restart option will appear.
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If the phone is hanging when you reboot, try turning off the developer’s quick boot (Settings → Additional → Developer → Quick boot).
2. Forced reboot (Hard Reboot) - if the phone freezes
If Xiaomi’s smartphone has completely stopped responding to touches or buttons, a forced rebuke will be required, a technique that simulates battery extraction (which is not possible on current non-removable battery models) and resets all current processes.
Instructions for most models:
- 🔋 Hold the power button (and the volume button if the screen is not responding) for 10-15 seconds.
- 📵 When the screen goes out, release the buttons – the phone will start to reboot.
- 🔄 If the logo MI No more than a minute, repeat the procedure.
Some devices (such as the POCO X3 Pro) may require a Power + Volume combination, and if the phone doesn’t respond to even that, the battery may have run out or hardware has broken down.
What if the phone doesn’t turn on after Hard Reboot?
3.Reboot through Recovery Mode – for power users
Recovery mode allows you to restart your phone at a low level, which is useful for system failures, inability to load MIUI or after a failed update. However, this method requires caution: improper actions can lead to a reset.
Step-by-step:
- 🔄 Turn off your phone (forced if it freezes).
- 🔧 Keep your food on. + Increase the volume before the Mi Recovery logo appears.
- 📱 In the recovery menu, select Reboot. → Reboot to System (use volume buttons for navigation and power to confirm).
- ⚠️ Do not choose Wipe Data or Factory Reset options unless you are planning a reset!
On newer models (such as Xiaomi 13), the recovery menu can be in Chinese, in which case look for characters (reboot) or (return to the system).
4.Reboot through ADB – for developers and advanced users
If you have access to your computer and USB Debugging is enabled, you can reboot Xiaomi via ADB Command Prompt. This method is useful when the phone is responding to a PC connection but the screen is not working or the system is getting stuck.
Instructions:
- 🖥️ Connect your phone to your computer through USB (Use the original cable).
- 📂 Open the command line (Win) + R → cmd) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (serial number should appear).
- 🔄 Run the reboot command: adb reboot For forced reboot (similar to Hard Reboot): adb reboot -p
If ADB does not recognize the device, check:
- 🔌 Quality. USB-cable (try another one).
- 🔧 Is the debugging mode on? USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
- 🖥️ Are Xiaomi drivers installed on PC (download Mi) PC Suite from the official website).
☑️ Preparation for ADB-restart
5. Features of the reboot on locked Xiaomi phones
If your Xiaomi has a Bootloader blocked, some reboot methods may work differently or not at all. For example, when you try to log into Fastboot or Recovery, your phone may display a lock warning.
What to do in such cases:
| Situation | Decision | The models on which it is found |
|---|---|---|
| Phone not included in Recovery, shows This device is locked | Use only soft reboot or forced button reboot | Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro, new models with MIUI 14+ |
| After Hard Reboot, the phone asks for a password, even though it wasn’t there. | Connect to charging for 10-15 minutes, then reboot | Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50 |
| ADB is not working, although debugging is enabled | Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires Mi Account) | All models with a blocked Bootloader |
If you bought the phone with your hands and don’t know if the bootloader is locked, check this with the command:
fastboot oem device-infoIn the answer, look for the line Device unlocked: false – this means that the bootloader is locked.
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On phones with a locked bootloader, avoid fastboot reboot commands – this can lead to a brick (complete inoperability) device.
6. Frequent Mistakes When Rebooting Xiaomi and How to Avoid Them
Even a simple procedure like a rebut can go wrong, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:
- ⚡ The phone will not turn on after restarting. → Check the battery (connect to the network for 10-15 minutes) or try another socket/cable.
- 🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop) → Maybe the firmware is damaged. Try logging in to Recovery and select Wipe Cache.
- 📵 The screen does not respond to touches after reboot → Perform a forced reboot (Food) + Volume up for 15 seconds).
- 🔌 The phone is not determined by the PC after ADB-reboot → Reinstall drivers or try another one USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
If after the reboot data is missing (photos, contacts), check:
- 📱 Synchronization settings with Mi Cloud (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Cloud).
- 🔍 folder MIUI/Backup In internal memory, sometimes the system backs up automatically.
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Before any reboot (especially through Recovery or ADB), back up your important data. In MIUI, you can do this in Settings → System → Backup.
7.When rebooting doesn't help - alternative solutions
If you've tried all the reboot methods, but the problem persists (the phone still brakes, doesn't turn on or gives out errors), it may not be a software failure.
- 🔋 Battery discharged → Connect to the original charger at 30+ minutes, even if the indicator does not burn.
- 📱 Damaged by → Try to reflash your phone via Fastboot (instructions are on the forum) 4PDA Xiaomi Community).
- 🛠️ Hardware malfunction → If the phone does not respond to charging, overheats or makes unusual sounds, contact the service.
- 📲 Failure after update → Reverse to the previous version MIUI Recovery (requires a backup copy).
On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi) K60) The black screen after rebooting can be associated with burning out pixels or detachment of the plume, in which case only repair will help.
⚠️ Note: If the phone after restart shows an error MIUI version cannot be installed on this device, so you are trying to install firmware not for your model.