Safe Mode on Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Include and Solve Problems

Safe Mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a diagnostic tool that helps identify problems caused by third-party applications or conflicts in the system. In this mode, the device boots with a minimum set of drivers and services, disabling all user programs. This is especially useful if the phone starts to slow down, spontaneously restart or issue errors after installing new software.

Unlike the standard mode, Safe Mode blocks application auto-runs, disables widgets, and temporarily deactivates administrative rights for third-party programs. The screen in the lower left corner will display a watermark “Safe Mode” or “Safe Mode.” It is important to understand that this mode does not delete data or reset settings — it only isolates the system from potentially problematic software.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to enable safe mode on Xiaomi devices running MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS), and also consider the nuances for different scenarios: when the phone is working normally, when it hovers on the logo or does not respond to touch.

Why do you need a safe mode on Xiaomi?

Safe Mode's primary job is to diagnose software malfunctions, and here are typical situations where it might be useful:

• 🔄 The phone is cyclically restarted (bootloop) after installing the application or updating.
• 🐢 Xiaomi has become very slow, although previously worked quickly.
• 🚫 System process errors (e.g., "com.android.phone stopped»).
• 📱 The screen does not respond to touch or the sensor is malfunctioning.
• 🔋 The battery is running out too fast for no apparent reason.

In safe mode, you can:

• 📌 Remove the problem application that caused the failure.
• 🔍 Check if the cause is a virus or malware.
• 🛠️ Perform a reset without the risk of interruption of the process by third-party services.
• 📡 Diagnose hardware problems (if the fault persists in Safe Mode, the matter is in the hardware»).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on at all (no reaction to the power button, no charge indicator), safe mode will not help.

Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS have a slightly different Safe Mode than those with pure Android, such as retaining access to Xiaomi Settings and branded services like Mi Cloud, but disabling all third-party launchers (including Nova Launcher or Apex), which is important to consider when diagnosing.

Method 1: Standard button-on (for a working phone)

This is the simplest method that works on 90% of Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T and others.

1. Turn off the phone completely (press the power button and select “Switch off”).
2. After a complete shutdown, press the power button to start downloading.
3. As soon as the MI or Redmi logo appears on the screen, press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. Do not release the button until you see the “Safe Mode” sign in the lower left corner of the screen.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi K50), instead of holding the volume button, you may need to hold the Volume Up button.

Make sure your phone is at least 30% charged | Turn off all cables (charging, headphones) | Remember the button combination for your model | Don't let go of the volume button until the label-->

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If you have Xiaomi with touch buttons (on the screen), use the physical keys to log in to Safe Mode – the sensor can be turned off at this point.

Once you successfully boot in Safe Mode, you'll see a simplified interface with the standard MIUI launcher, all the apps you install will be disabled, but their data will remain in place, and to exit the mode, just restart your phone in the normal way.

Method 2: Turn on via the off menu (for MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS)

On devices with the latest firmware (MIUI 14+ or HyperOS), there is an alternative way to activate Safe Mode right from the interface. This is convenient if the phone is working, but you suspect an application conflict.

1. Press and hold the power button to call the off menu.
2. In the window that appears, press the “Switch Off” icon (or “Power Off”) for 3-5 seconds.
3. There will be an offer to go to safe mode - confirm the action by clicking "OK".
4. The phone will automatically reboot and log in to Safe Mode.

This method works on most modern models, including:

• 📱 Xiaomi 14 / 14 Pro (HyperOS)
• 📱 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (MIUI 15)
• 📱 POCO F5 Pro (MIUI 14)
• 📱 Xiaomi Pad 6 (Tablets also support this method)

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (especially custom ones) may not have this method. If a long press on "Stop" fails, use the button method (Method 1).

The advantage of this method is that it does not require remembering button combinations and works even when the physical keys are turned off (for example, if the volume button breaks). 4X, Xiaomi Mi A1) That option may not be.

Method 3: Activate through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to a failure in the MIUI interface), you can turn on Safe Mode via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and minimal command-line skills.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer menu, then enable debugging in Settings → Additionally. → For developers).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command: adb shell settings put global sys.boot_completed 0 then: adb reboot
4. After restarting, the phone will automatically log into Safe Mode.

To exit Safe Mode via ADB, use the command:

adb shell settings put global sys.boot_completed 1

Then restart the device.

This method is useful if the phone is getting stuck on the screensaver or does not respond to touch, but is determined by the computer, but it requires pre-tuning debugging, so it is not suitable for a clean device without preparation.

Method 4: Enter Safe Mode when stuck on the logo (bootloop)

If Xiaomi doesn’t load beyond the logo (MI or Redmi) but responds to buttons, you can try entering safe blind mode, which works even if the screen isn’t fully turned on.

Algorithm of action:

1. Turn off the phone (if it freezes, press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Press and hold the power button + volume down button at the same time.
3. Once you feel the vibration (usually 5-7 seconds later), release the power button, but keep holding the volume button.
4. Hold it until the vibration reappears (this is a signal for a successful login to Safe Mode).

On some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi K40), instead of vibration, an audible signal may sound. If the screen does not turn on, focus on tactile or audible prompts.

⚠️ Note: If the phone does not vibrate or make noises when holding the buttons, this may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, damage to the button plume or motherboard.

After successfully entering safe mode, you will be able to:

• 🗑️ Remove recently installed apps through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔄 Perform a reset to factory settings (if other methods did not help).
• 📥 Update the firmware through Settings → Updating the system.

Method 5: Forced Safe Mode via Recovery (for power users)

If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons or standard methods don’t work, you can try activating Safe Mode via Recovery Mode, which is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or custom recavator (such as TWRP).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button + volume button before the Mi Recovery logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select “Advanced” (Advanced Settings).
4. Next, look for the option “Reboot to Safe Mode” or “Enable Safe Mode” (the name may vary depending on the version of the recaveri).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

On devices with stock Recovery (MIUI Recovery may not be the option, and in this case the only way out is to use it. ADB (Method 3) or button combination (Method 1 or 4).

On devices with a Qualcomm processor (e.g. Xiaomi 13, POCO F5), the Safe Mode login button combination may differ from the MediaTek models (Redmi 10, POCO M4). If standard methods don't work, check the specifications for your model on Xiaomi's official website.

What to do if the safe mode is not turned on?

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be as follows:

• 🔋 Battery discharge – charge your phone to at least 20-30%.
• 🔧 Damaged buttons – if the volume or power keys are not working, try the method with ADB.
• 📱 Firmware failure – if the phone doesn’t boot even in Safe Mode, you may need to flash it over Fastboot.
• 🛡️ Locking the bootloader – on some models (for example, Xiaomi) 12S Ultra: Safe Mode May Be Disabled Due to Security Policy.

If you suspect a hardware malfunction (for example, the phone does not vibrate, does not warm up when charging, does not burn the indicator), do not try to turn on Safe Mode repeatedly - this can aggravate the problem.

Standard button combination (Method 1)|Through the off menu (Method 2)|With help. ADB (Method 3)|Blind in bootloop (Method 4)|None of them helped.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about safe mode on Xiaomi

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If the phone doesn't turn on even in safe mode, the cause is likely hardware (damage to the motherboard, battery or plumes), in which case professional repair is required.