The sudden appearance of the logo with a hare fixing an android and the words Fastboot can scare any owner of a Xiaomi smartphone. Most often this happens after accidentally clamping buttons in your pocket or trying to update the device. Don't panic, since in most cases your gadget is fully functional, and the system has simply gone into low-level boot mode.
This mode is designed for developers and engineers, allowing them to flash memory directly, bypassing the operating system. But for the average Redmi or Poco user, it's a dead end that you need to get out of. If you just ignore the screen, the phone can run out of power, but the data tends to stay intact.
There are several proven methods to force a device to restart and return to normal, and in this article we will look at both standard ways to reboot and more complex options using a PC if the software failure is severe.
Why Xiaomi smartphone has moved to Fastboot mode
Before you fix the problem, it’s important to understand why: Fastboot Mode is activated on Xiaomi devices while you press the on and off button, often by accident when the phone is in a tight case or a narrow pocket of jeans.
The second common cause is software failures when you upgrade your system, and if you tried to install custom firmware or upgraded MIUI/HyperOS through Recovery, but the process stopped, your phone might get stuck in that state, and it could also be corrupted system files or bugs in the Bootloader bootloader.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone resets to Fastboot mode on its own and indefinitely every time you try to turn on, it could indicate a physical failure of the volume buttons or a motherboard issue.
Sometimes users inadvertently run this mode themselves, trying to take a screenshot or simply checking the reactions of buttons on a locked screen, and understanding the reason will help to avoid a repeat of the situation in the future.
The easiest way: forced reset
In 90 percent of cases, you just need to do a hard reboot to get out of mode, and it's data-safe, it doesn't require a computer connection, and you'll need to hold the power button and hold it for a long time.
The process is as follows:
- 🐰 Press and hold the Power button (on) for a period of time. 10-15 seconds.
- 📱 The screen will go out and the device will begin to vibrate – this is the signal for the start of the reboot.
- 🔄 Release the button when the logo appears MI Xiaomi.
- ⏳ Wait for the operating system to fully load.
If holding the power button didn't work the first time, try the Power + Volume Up combination. Hold them for about 10 seconds before vibration. This is the standard procedure for forced restart of most Android smartphones.
⚠️ Warning: Don't release the power button immediately after the screen is out. wait for the brand logo to appear, otherwise the phone may return to the Fastboot menu again.
In some rare cases, especially on older Redmi Note models, it may be necessary to hold the button for up to 30 seconds, but the main thing is not to panic and give the device time to react.
Using Recovery Mode to Exit
If the standard reboot fails and the phone cycles back to the hare, you can try to switch to Recovery Mode, which allows you to control the system at a deeper level.
To get there, turn off the phone (squeezing the Power for 15 seconds until the screen goes out completely) and immediately press the Power + Volume Up combination. Hold the buttons until a menu with a few items appears on a black or blue background.
What happens if Recovery does not open?
In the Recovery menu, you navigate with volume buttons and you choose with power buttons, and you have to find Reboot and select Reboot to System, and this action will force the main operating system to start, ignoring previous boot errors.
The table below shows the main Recovery menu items and their purpose:
| Item | Function | Is it data-safe? |
|---|---|---|
| Reboot | Rebooting the device | Yes. |
| Wipe Data | Full reset to factory settings | No (removes everything) |
| Connect with MIAssistant | Connecting to a PC for firmware | Yes. |
| View Log | Viewing system logs | Yes. |
Using Recovery is a reliable way to get around the freeze if the buttons respond correctly, but if the problem is a physical failure of the plume, this method may not help.
Resetting via computer and ADB-team
For advanced users who have Xiaomi drivers and Android SDK tools installed, there is a method of exiting through console commands, which is effective when the buttons on the phone do not respond or work incorrectly.
You will need to connect your smartphone to your PC through the original USB-Make sure the computer recognizes the device. Open the command line (CMD) or PowerShell in a folder with installed ADB.
Enter the following command for forced reboot:
adb rebootIf the device is not defined in ADB mode (since it is in Fastboot), you can use the fastboot utility.
fastboot reboot⚠️ Note: Drivers must be installed to run these commands on the computer. If you see "Unknown Device" in the Device Manager, the method will not work without first installing the drivers.
The good thing about this method is that it programmatically initiates a restart by bypassing physical buttons, and if the command is successful, the phone will immediately jump to the MIUI boot screen.
What to do if your phone buttons don’t work
The situation where the Fastboot sign appeared due to the sticking of the volume button is common.The garbage, moisture or wear of the plume can close the contacts, making the phone think that the button is constantly pressed.
First, look at the connectors and buttons. Carefully, without putting too much pressure, press the volume button several times to try to "clasp" the mechanism, and you can use compressed air to blow the gaps around the buttons.
If the phone is warranty-free, don't try to disassemble it yourself. Take the device to an authorized Xiaomi service center. Mechanical replacement of the button plume is a quick and inexpensive procedure.
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If the volume button goes off, try to gently (without fanaticism) tap the edge of your hand on the side of the phone near the button, sometimes helping the contact to move back into place.
Temporarily solve the problem, if you find a way to lock the button programmatically or physically (for example, putting a thin layer of paper under the cover in the area of the button so that it does not get squeezed), but this is only a temporary measure before repair.
☑️ Checking before going to the service
Firmware of the device through the Mi Flash Tool
If none of the above has worked, the bootloader's system files are probably damaged, which would require a complete flashing of the device, a last resort that is often the only possible option.
You will need the Mi Flash Tool and the official firmware for your model in.tgz format (Fastboot firmware), which can be downloaded from official resources or trusted forums like 4PDA.
The process looks like this:
- 💻 Unpack the firmware archive in the root of the C disk (the path should not contain Cyrillic alphabets).
- 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC by clamping Volume Down + Power (Fastboot mode).
- 🚀 Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Refresh and select the path to the firmware folder.
- 🧹 Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
It takes 200 to 500 seconds. Once completed, the phone will automatically restart with the clean system. Importantly, Clean All mode will completely delete all your data, so it will be impossible to restore it without a backup.
Use this method requires care. Make sure you choose the right model of the device, as firmware from another model can turn the phone into a hard brick.
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Fastboot flashing is a radical method that eliminates software errors of the bootloader, but requires a PC and a stable Internet.