How to get out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi Redmi: All the working methods

Safe Mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a diagnostic tool that is automatically activated when a system or application crashes. In this mode, the device loads only with basic functions, disabling all third-party programs, most often users encounter it after a failed update, application conflict or mechanical damage (for example, a phone crash).

The problem is that the way out of Safe Mode isn’t always obvious: on some Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Redmi 9A), standard power button retention doesn’t work. Moreover, if the phone is stuck in safe mode after resetting or firmware, a comprehensive approach may be needed – from rebooting to manually deleting system files. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, including hidden MIUI features that are rarely mentioned in official documentation.

Why does Redmi phone boot in Safe Mode?

There are several reasons why Xiaomi has activated Safe Mode, and understanding them will help you avoid repeated failures:

• 🔄 Application Conflict: Installation of Incompatible APK Update of system software (e.g. Google Play Services) may cause automatic reboot in safe mode.
• 📱 Mechanical damage: A phone drop or moisture sometimes leads to the power button contacts being closed, which the system perceives as a command to enter Safe Mode.
• ⚡ Failed Update: If the firmware MIUI interrupted (for example, due to battery discharge), the phone may freeze in diagnostic mode.
• 🔧 Manual turn on: On some Redmi models (for example, Redmi 8) long-term hold of the power button + Volume down force activates Safe Mode.

It is important to distinguish safe mode from other problems: if the screen displays the message Safe Mode in the lower left corner, this is it. If the phone just slows down or does not respond to touch, the cause may be different (for example, overheating of the Snapdragon or Mediatek processor).

Method 1: Standard Reboot (works 80% of the time)

The simplest method is a regular reboot, and most Redmi models (including the Redmi Note 11, Redmi 10, Redmi 9T) work the first time:

1. Hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. Wait 30 seconds (don’t turn on your phone right away!)
3. Press Power again for normal download.

If the Safe Mode label is still there after the reboot, try the alternative:

• 🔋 Turn off the phone completely (hold power). + Volume up 20 seconds).
• 📴 Extract. SIM-Memory card (if any) for 1 minute.
• 🔄 Turn on the device without cards – sometimes a conflict with the communication module causes a freeze in Safe Mode.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn’t respond to the power button holding, don’t try to disassemble it yourself – on Redmi models with a non-removable battery (for example, Redmi). K50) This can damage the display plume. Instead, try the way with a PC connection (described below).

Method 2: Disable via the notification menu (for MIUI 12-14)

The latest versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) have the ability to exit Safe Mode via the notification panel, which works even if the phone doesn't respond to the power button:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the Safe Mode notification enabled (usually at the top of the list).
3. Slip it and select Disable it.

If there is no notification, try an alternative path:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search box enter Safe Mode.
• 🚫 Select the option to Disable (if active).

Some firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro with MIUI 11) may not have this item, so move on to the next method.

💡

If the notification bar doesn’t open, try swiping from the top right corner of the screen – on some Redmi models, the gesture is different from the standard one.

Method 3: Reset your settings via Recovery Mode (if the phone is getting stuck)

If Redmi does not leave Safe Mode after the reboot and the standard methods do not work, it will require a Recovery Mode boot, which is suitable for all models, including the Redmi 7, Redmi 8A and newer ones.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (hold Power + Volume up 15 seconds).
2. Press the Power + Volume combination up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. Confirm the reset, wait for the process to be completed and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Recovery removes all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. If your device is synced to Mi Account, some of the data (contacts, notes) can be restored after you log in. However, media files (photos, videos) will be lost irretrievably if there was no backup.

Method 4: Remove the problem application via ADB (advanced method)

If Safe Mode is activated because of a conflict with a particular application, but you don't know which one, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to diagnose, a technique that requires a PC and a little bit of technical skill, but allows you to save data on the phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Connect Redmi to the PC via USB-Cable (use the original cable from Xiaomi!).
3. Turn on USB Debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Tap the MIUI Version 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

adb devices

If the phone is determined, do:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "/data/app"

This command will display a list of all installed applications.

adb uninstall com.example.app

Replace com.example.app with a real application package.

adb reboot

If Safe Mode turned off after removing the apps, the problem was that they were there. To avoid repeated crashes, install the apps again from an official source (Google Play or Mi App Store).

Method 5: Manual deletion of file safe_mode (power-user)

In rare cases, Safe Mode remains active because of a corrupted system file, and some MIUI firmwares allow you to manually delete the file via ADB or root file manager.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate ADB (as in the previous method).
2. Enter the command to check for the presence of the file: adb shell ls /data/property/persist.sys.safemode If the file exists, delete it: adb shell rm /data/property/persist.sys.safemode
3. Reboot the device: adb reboot

In such cases, it is recommended that:

1. Contact the official Xiaomi service center (warranty repair is possible if the phone is not unlocked or has not undergone self-repair).
2. If the warranty is over, find a proven service with good reviews (for example, on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS).
3. Before visiting the service, make a backup copy of data via Mi PC Suite (if the phone is turned on at least somehow).

The cost of repairs in informal services varies:

FAQ: Frequent questions about safe mode on Xiaomi Redmi