How to make a restart Xiaomi: from a soft reboot to a complete reset

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) sometimes require a forced reboot — whether it’s a system freeze, preparation for sale or fixing software failures. But not everyone knows that the term “restart” can hide several procedures at once, from a simple reboot to a complete reset to factory settings with deleting all data.

In this article, we will discuss 5 The working ways of restarting Xiaomi devices are from safe to radical, including entering Fastboot and Recovery modes. You'll learn how to properly restart your phone if it doesn't respond to buttons, how to reset through settings or hardware keys, and how a soft restart differs from a hard one. MIUI 14/15.

What is the difference between the types of restarts on Xiaomi

Before you start, it’s important to understand what type of reboot you want, and it depends on whether your data, apps, and settings are saved.

• 🔄 Soft reboot is a standard restart through a menu or power button. All data is saved, the system restarts "clean." Suitable for eliminating small lags.
• 🛠️ Hard reboot – forced shutdown (hold) of the power button on 10+ It's used if the phone is getting stuck and not responding, and the risk of losing unsaved data is minimal, but it's possible.
• ⚙️ Recovery Reset – Reboot to Restore Mode with Factory Reset option. Deletes all user data but does not affect firmware.
• 🔧 Fastboot restart: reboot to engineering mode to firmware or unlock the bootloader. Requires a PC and knowledge of commands ADB.
• 🧹 Hard Reset: Resetting your phone out of the box, removing everything, including accounts, photos and apps.

If your Xiaomi is just slowing down, start with a soft reboot. If the phone doesn't turn on or needs to be ready to sell, you'll need a hard reset. For experienced users working with custom firmware, Fastboot and Recovery modes are relevant.

Method 1: Soft reboot via menu

The safest and most recommended method is to reboot through the system menu, suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older devices on the MIUI 12-15.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Click on Reboot (or Reboot system in new versions of MIUI).
4. Confirm the action by clicking Reboot.

Alternative path (for some firmware):

• Hold the power button for 2-3 seconds.
• In the menu that appears, select Reboot (or Restart).

If your phone is still slowing down after restarting, try manually clearing the cache: Go to Settings → Storage → Clear the cache. This won’t delete personal data, but it can speed up the system.

Method 2: Hard reboot (when getting stuck)

If Xiaomi is completely frozen — does not respond to touch, does not turn off through the power button — you will need a forced restart, this method works even on locked devices (for example, if you forgot the pattern lock).

Instructions for most models:

1. Hold the power button and the volume button at the same time.
2. Hold them for at least 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the phone vibrates.
3. Release the buttons and wait for the switch on (may take up to 1 minute).

Older models (e.g. Redmi 4X, Mi A1) sometimes require a power + volume combination. If it doesn't work, try holding the power button for 20+ seconds.

⚠️ Attention: Frequent hard reboots can damage the file system, especially on devices with eMMC memory (found in budget models until 2020).If the phone freezes regularly, check the health of the drive through the application AIDA64.

Method 3: Resetting through Recovery Mode

Recovery mode allows you to reset, clean the cache, or install updates manually, which is useful if:

• 📱 The phone does not load beyond the logo. MI.
• 🔒 Forgot a password or pattern lock.
• 🐌 The system is very slow even after restarting.

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (when you freeze – use a hard restart from the previous method).
2. Hold the power button and increase the volume at the same time.
3. Release the buttons when the Mi Recovery logo appears (a robot with an exclamation mark or menu in English/Chinese).

Further action depends on the purpose:

To navigate the Recovery menu, use the volume buttons (up/down) and the power button (select). On new models (such as the Xiaomi 13), the menu can be touch-sensitive.

💡

If you need to enter a password in Recovery, but you forgot it, select Wipe All Data - this will remove the lock, but all data too.

Method 4: Restart via Fastboot (for advanced)

Fastboot mode is designed for low-level operations: unlocking the bootloader, firmware custom Recovery (TWRP) or restoring "bricks." Not recommended for beginners - the wrong commands can turn the phone into a "brick."

How to reboot Xiaomi in Fastboot:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the power button and reduce the volume for 5-10 seconds.
3. Let go when the hare in the hat-eared hat appears on the screen (the Fastboot logo).

To work with Fastboot, you will need a PC with ADB and Fastboot drivers installed.

fastboot devices # Check the connection


fastboot reboot # Normal reboot




fastboot reboot recovery




fastboot oem unlock # Unlock the bootloader (requires confirmation in Mi Account)

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader on new Xiaomi models (released after 2021) requires binding the Mi Account to the device and waiting 7-168 hours.

If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to contact the service center. The wrong command (for example, fastboot erase userdata) can erase all data without the possibility of recovery.

Method 5: Complete Hard Reset before factory settings

Hard Reset is an extreme measure that returns the phone to a store-like state: All data (photos, messages, apps) will be deleted, including linked Google and Mi accounts.

• 📲 Prepare the phone for sale or transfer.
• 🦠 The device is infected with a virus that is not removed by the antivirus.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI critical errors have been made.

How to make a Hard Reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (fabricated recovery).
3. Enter the password (if installed) and confirm the action.
4. Wait until it is completed (it will take 5-15 minutes).

If the phone doesn’t turn on, reset via Recovery (see Method 3) by selecting Wipe All Data.

💡

After Hard Reset, the phone will require reconfiguration, including linking your Mi Account (if it was previously) without which some features (such as themes or cloud backup) won’t work.

For models with MIUI 14+, you may need to confirm through your old Google account (FRP protection) after reset. If you forget your account details, restore them in advance on Google.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a simple reboot can go wrong, unless you take into account the nuances: Here are the typical mistakes of Xiaomi users and how to prevent them:

• ⚡ Battery discharge during reset - if the phone turns off during the Wipe Data phase, the risk of damaging the firmware increases.Always charge the device to 50%+ before restart.
• 🔌 Interrupting the upgrade process – if you run the firmware installation through Recovery, do not remove the battery (on models with a removable battery.
• 🔒 Forgotten Mi Account after Hard Reset – if you haven’t untied your device from your Xiaomi account before resetting, you may need to enter your login/password.
• 📱 Use of informal firmware - installation of custom ROM Using Fastboot without unlocking the bootloader leads to an anti-rollback error (on new models).

If after restarting the phone behaves unstable (spontaneously reboots, warms), check:

• Battery status (via AccuBattery app).
• Firmware integrity (in Settings → About Phone → The MIUI version should not be marked “Unstable”).
• Physical injuries (for example, after a fall)

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions