How to turn on Xiaomi Redmi 5: 5 ways and solve common mistakes

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2017. Despite its considerable age, the device is still actively used due to reliable “stuffing” and the ability to install custom firmware. However, even such proven models sometimes have problems with turning on: the phone does not respond to the power button, hung on the MI logo, or died in zero. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on Redmi 5, including forced reboot, charging in a dead state and recovering through Fastboot.

It's important to understand that the reasons for not turning on can be software (firmware failure, system freeze) and hardware (battery battery, damaged board). We'll focus on solutions that can be applied independently without going to the service center. If after all the manipulations the phone does not work, this is an occasion to check the hardware or consult specialists.

1. Standard turn on: what to do if the phone does not respond to the button

Start with the simplest, check if the battery is not dead. Even if you are sure that you have charged the device, the Redmi 5 can die due to a failure of the power controller. Connect the original cable and power supply (preferably on 5V/2A) and leave on charging for at least 30 minutes.

• 🔋 The battery indicator appears on the screen (even if the phone is turned off).
• 🔄 Burning red/orange LED on the front panel.
• 🔌 The phone is slightly heated in the area of the micro-USB connector.

If there is no indication, try:

1. Use a different cable and charger (preferably from Xiaomi or with Quick Charge 2.0 support).
2. Connect the phone to USB-port of the computer – sometimes it helps to wake the controller.
3. Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds (forced reboot).

Attention! If the phone was discharged to 0% and lay uncharged for a long time, the battery could go into a “deep discharge”, in which case the standard charging may not work – you will need a “booster” (a device for starting lithium-ion batteries) or a replacement battery.

2. Forced reset (Hard Reset) when getting stuck

If Redmi 5 is stuck on the MI logo, black screen or Fastboot mode, a forced rebuke will help.This method resets the current state of the system without losing data (if the problem is not the firmware).

Press the Power + Volume button for 10-15 seconds

Release the buttons when the screen goes out or the MI logo appears

Wait 1-2 minutes – the phone should boot in normal mode

If the freeze is repeated, proceed to reset via Recovery-->

On the Redmi 5 (as well as on other Xiaomi smartphones) there are three types of reset:

Critical error: if after Hard Reset the phone is again stuck on the logo - this is a sign of damage to system files, in this case you will need to flash through Fastboot or Recovery.

3. Enable via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't boot)

If standard methods don't work, try booting into Recovery Mode, a service menu where you can reset, clear your cache, or install an update, to log into Recovery on Redmi 5:

1. Turn off your phone (if it freezes, do Hard Reset).
2. Press Power + Volume Up until the MI logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see a menu with the Mi Bunny icon in the cap.

In Recovery, the volume buttons (up/down) and the power button (select) are controlled.

• 🔄 Reboot - a normal reboot.
• 🧹 Wipe Data – reset to factory settings (deletes all data!).
• 🗃️ Wipe Cache – Cache Clearance (Secure for Data).
• 📥 Install update – installing firmware with SD-map.

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If the Recovery menu is in Chinese, select the first item with the phone icon and arrow – this is a reboot.

⚠️ Attention! Wipe Data removes all user data, including photos, contacts and apps. Try other methods or extract before using it. SD-map/SIM, If they have important information.

4.Pc connection and diagnostics via Mi Flash Tool

If the phone doesn't turn on even after resetting via Recovery, the firmware may be damaged, and then flashing through Fastboot using the official Mi Flash Tool will help.

• 🖥️ Windows computer (7/10/11).
• 🔌 Micro-USB cable (preferably original).
• 📁 Firmware for Redmi 5 (download from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (last version).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone (when you freeze, do Hard Reset).
2. Press Power + Volume down before the screen with a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot Mode) appears.
3. Connect your phone to your PC. Install the drivers (if Windows doesn't find them automatically, download Mi USB Driver).
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware (file with the extension.tgz) and press Refresh – the program must detect the device.
5. Press Flash and wait for the process to end (5-10 minutes).

Important: Fastboot removes all the data on your phone, and if you have backups of Mi Cloud enabled, you can restore contacts and some of the settings after you log in.

5. Battery check and hardware malfunctions

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware, and it's often the fault of:

• 🔋 Battery – bloating, deep discharge or failure of the controller.
• 🔌 Charging connector – contact oxidation or mechanical damage.
• 📱 Power button – sticking or breaking contacts.
• 🔧 Motherboard – damage to power chains or chips.

How to diagnose:

1. Visual inspection: Remove the back cover (if it is removable) and check the battery for bloating. If the battery is deformed, don't turn on the phone!
2. Multimeter test: Measure the voltage at the battery terminals. Norm for Redmi 5 is 3.7-4.2V. If less than 3.0V, the battery is in deep discharge.
3. Charging test: Connect a known working battery (for example, from another Redmi 5). If the phone is turned on, the problem is in your battery.

⚠️ If you don't have any experience in disassembling phones, don't try to replace the battery or solder the board yourself.

Alternative Incorporation Methods (for Power Users)

If the standard methods didn’t work, you can try the non-obvious solutions that sometimes help to “reanimate” Redmi 5:

• 🔥 «Hot Start: Put your phone on a warm battery (not hot!) or under a lamp for 5-10 minutes. Sometimes it helps trigger the chemical processes in a discharged battery.
• ⚡ Pulse current: Use a Boost Charge charger (such as from OnePlus or Oppo). Sometimes high current helps to "pull through" a deep discharge.
• 🔄 Flip-through EDL: Emergency Download Mode allows you to flash your phone even in a brick, requiring an authorized Xiaomi account and boxing (such as UFi or EasyJTAG).

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Techniques like hot start or pulse current are extreme measures, they can either help or kill your phone, and only use them if other methods are exhausted.

If you decide to flash your phone through EDL, consider:

• This is a violation of the warranty (if it is still valid).
• The wrong firmware can turn the device into a “brick”.
• Some regions (e.g. China) require unlocking the bootloader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about incorporating Xiaomi Redmi 5