A suspended Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user has faced. Sometimes a simple restart is enough, but in critical cases (for example, with an endless boot or a black screen), forced restart is required. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to reboot Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from standard to emergency, including methods through Recovery and ADB.
Xiaomi smartphones feature hidden button combinations and a specific Fastboot mode that can help and complicate things when you do something wrong. We will explain in detail when to use each method, and warn against the typical errors that lead to a device blink, such as why you can not hold the power button for longer than 20 seconds on some models, and how to properly exit EDL mode.
This article is relevant for all modern Xiaomi devices (2018-2026), including the Mi 11/12/13 series, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5 and others. If your model is older, check the compatibility of methods in the table section.
1. Soft reboot: the standard method
The safest method, which does not affect data and settings, is suitable if the smartphone responds to touch, but works unstable (for example, slows down or does not open applications).
How to do this:
- 🔄 Press and hold the power button (usually located on the right) for 2-3 seconds.
- 📱 On the screen will appear menu with options to Turn off, Reboot and Emergency mode.
- 🔄 Select Reboot and confirm the action.
If the menu doesn't appear, try pressing the power button for 5-7 seconds, which will force the device to turn off.
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On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro), the power button is sensitive to the duration of the press.A short tap blocks the screen, and holding for 3+ seconds causes the reboot menu.
⚠️ Note: If the smartphone is stuck on the logo MI After a soft reboot, don't repeat the action many times, it can lead to a boot cycle. №3 (hard restart).
2. Forced reset (hard restart)
Used when the smartphone is not fully responsive, such as a black screen, endless boot animations, or a logo hover, this technique simulates battery extraction (even on non-removable batteries).
Instructions for most Xiaomi models:
- Press the power button and the volume button at the same time.
- Hold them no longer than 15-20 seconds until the MI logo appears or vibrates.
- Release the buttons and wait for the system to boot up fully (it can take up to 2-3 minutes).
On some devices (e.g., the POCO X3 Pro), the combination may differ:
- 🔋 Nutrition + Volume reduction – for models with Qualcomm processor.
- 🔋 Nutrition + both volume buttons for MediaTek devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A).
Make sure your smartphone is at least 20 times charged%|
Turn off the charger (if connected)|
Remember the start time of button retention (no more than 20 seconds) |
After restart, check the operability of the touch screen
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| Xiaomi model | Button combination | Retention time | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | Power + Volume Up | 10-15 sec. | Vibration upon activation |
| POCO F3/F4/F5 | Power + Volume Down | 12-18 sec. | POCO logo flashes 2 times |
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro | Power + both volume buttons | 8-12 sec. | It only works when the loader is unlocked. |
| Redmi 9/9A/9C | Power + Volume Up | 15-20 sec. | Re-pressing may be required. |
⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Holding buttons longer than 20 seconds can activate Meta Mode, which requires special software to exit!
3.Reboot via Recovery Mode
If the smartphone is turned on but not loaded beyond the logo, rebooting via Recovery will help.This method also allows you to reset to factory settings if other methods have not helped.
How to log in to Recovery:
- Turn off the device (use a hard restart from Section 2 if necessary).
- Press the power button and the volume button at the same time.
- Hold on until the MI logo and Recovery menu appear (usually 5-10 seconds).
In the Recovery menu (in English or Chinese):
- 🔄 Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System for a regular reboot.
- 🧹 If you need to reset your settings: Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (delete all files!).
- 🔧 To correct errors: Repair → Repair System (not always available).
Recovery is controlled by volume buttons (up/down) and power button (select). On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi A2), the menu is touch-sensitive.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
4.Reboot via Fastboot (for advanced)
The method for users familiar with ADB and Fastboot. Allows you to restart your device even if it doesn't respond to buttons. Requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and platform-tools tool.
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
- Press the power button + volume down for 5-7 seconds to enter the Fastboot (a screen with a rabbit and the inscription Fastboot).
- On your computer, open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
- Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (serial number will appear), type: fastboot reboot
Additional Fastboot commands:
- 🔄 Recovery: Fastboot Reboot Recovery
- 📱 Reboot to the system: fastboot reboot system
- 🔋 Reboot to Bootloader (for unlocking): fastboot reboot bootloader
⚠️ Warning: Fastboot erase or fastboot flash commands without understanding their actions can lead to data loss or device blink!
5.Reboot via ADB (no physical access)
If the smartphone is on, but the screen does not respond to touch (for example, due to a failure of the touchscreen driver), you can reboot it via ADB. This method requires pre-activation of debugging over USB in the developer settings.
Instructions:
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB (use a data-enabled cable).
- Open the command line and check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, type: adb reboot
- For forced reboot (similar to hard restart): adb shell reboot -p
If the ADB does not specify the device:
- 🔌 Check if the debugging is included USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
- 🖥️ Install Xiaomi drivers via Mi PC Suite or manually.
- 🔄 Reconnect the cable, try another one. USB-port.
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USB debugging should be enabled before the smartphone is already frozen, it will not be able to activate it, this method is only suitable for preventing or eliminating minor failures.
6. Emergency reboot during the boot cycle (bootloop)
Bootloop is a situation where the smartphone is constantly restarting without reaching the desktop. Common cause: a failed update, damage to system files or conflict of modules Magisk/Xposed.
How to get out of the cycle:
- Method 1: Hard reset 🔄 Hold the power. + up volume for 15-20 seconds until the device is turned off. 📱 Wait 1-2 minutes and turn on your smartphone in the usual way.
- Method 2: Wipe Cache (without data loss) 🔧 Enter Recovery (Power buttons) + volume). 🧹 Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. 🔄 Reboot to System (Reboot to System).
Method 3: Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fast Fastboot Fast Fast Fastboot Fastboot Fast
- 🖥️ Download the official firmware for your model from the site MIUI Downloads.
- 📌 Unpack the archive and launch the script flash_all.bat (for Windows, in Fastboot mode.
If bootloop has been created after the OTA update, try:
- 🔄 Reverse to the previous version MIUI via Recovery (if there is a backup).
- 📡 Connect to Wi-Fi in Recovery (if available) and repeat the update.
Why does bootloop occur after firmware?
7. Features of the reboot on different Xiaomi models
Not all Xiaomi smartphones behave the same way when rebooting.
| Series of devices | Features of the reset | Frequent problems |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 11/12/13 | Support for Fastboot and EDL without unlocking the bootloader | Black screen after update (resolved wipe cache) |
| Redmi Note 10/11 | Long-term button retention (>20 seconds) activates Meta Mode | Hanging on the logo when using custom firmware |
| POCO F3/F4 | The button combination for Recovery is different (power + volume down) | Bootloop after installing GCam (camera driver conflict) |
| Redmi 9/9A | No touch controls in Recovery | Failures after resetting settings (reflashing required) |
| Mi A2/A3 | Uses standard Android Recovery (not MIUI) | Problems with OTG-cable when connected to a PC |
For devices with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi 10C, POCO M4 Pro):
- 🔧 Hard restart can start Meta Mode (purple screen) – to exit use the command: fastboot reboot
- 📡 Recovery updates often require Wi-Fi connectivity.
For Qualcomm devices (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, POCO F3):
- 🔋 Support for the regime EDL (Emergency Firmware via Mi Flash Tool).
- 🔄 Quick reboot with fastboot reboot recovery.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The wrong actions in rebooting can make the problem worse. Consider the typical errors and their solutions:
- 🚫 Holding buttons longer than 30 seconds on some models, this results in activation of Meta Mode (purple screen) or EDL (Output: connect to your PC and use the fastboot reboot command.
- 🚫 Repeated attempts of soft reboot If the smartphone is stuck on the logo, reboots can cause bootloop.
- 🚫 In the Recovery menu, Wipe All Data removes all files, including photos and contacts. Pre-save data via Mi Cloud or ADB backup.
- 🚫 Use of unofficial firmware Installation of custom ROM (For example, LineageOS) without unlocking the bootloader leads to a blink. Check firmware compatibility with the model through the forums. XDA Developers.
If, after rebooting,
- 📵 No network - check the settings IMEI (Maybe they got lost after the wipe).
- 🔋 Battery goes down quickly - reset the cache to Recovery or roll back to a stable version MIUI.
- 🖥️ The touchscreen does not work – try to connect the mouse through OTG and discharge.
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If the smartphone does not turn on after any manipulations, check the battery charge (plug it into charging for 30+ minutes) or contact the service center.