How to log into Fastboot on Xiaomi via computer: 3 working ways

Fastboot mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a special engineering menu that allows you to perform low-level operations with the device: unlocking the bootloader, firmware custom recoveries, restore the system after crashes or even “resuscitate” a completely broken phone. Unlike the standard Recovery Mode, Fastboot requires a connection to the computer and use the command line, making it a powerful but potentially dangerous tool.

In this article, we will discuss three officially supported ways to log into Fastboot via PC, including methods for devices with a locked bootloader, and also consider common errors (for example, when the phone is not identified in fastboot devices) and how to fix them. The instructions are relevant for all modern models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From budget Redmi Note 12 to flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Important: Fastboot operations can result in data loss, warranty cancellation, or even a device being “bricked.” If your goal is simply to reset or reflash your phone through the Mi Flash Tool, check out the alternative methods first at the end of the article.

1 Preparing your computer and phone before entering the Fastboot

Before you put Xiaomi into Fastboot mode, you need to follow a few critical steps on the PC and the device itself, skipping any of them can lead to the fact that the computer simply does not see the phone or will give an error waiting for the device.

On the computer side:

🖥️ Install Mi Unlock Tool (official software from Xiaomi) or Minimal ADB and Fastboot for working with teams. download from the official website of Xiaomi.
🔌 Connect your phone to the original PC USB-cable (cheap cables often don't transmit data) use the port USB 2.0 on the back of the system unit - it is more stable USB 3.0.
🛡️ Turn off antivirus and firewall while you work – they can block Xiaomi drivers.

On the phone side:

📱 Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI And you tap it 7 times, and you'll get a notification, "You're a developer".
🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB and Unlocking OEM Settings menu → Additionally. → For developers, without this, the PC won't be able to interact with the phone.
🔋 Charge the battery by at least 50% – with a low charge, the device can turn off during operations in the Fastboot.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to unlock the bootloader, link your Mi Account to your phone in advance. Once unlocked, the device will be tied to that account for 72 hours - without it, you will not be able to use the phone!

Install the Mi Unlock Tool or ADB|Activate the Developer Mode|Enable debugging on USB unlock OEM|Charge the phone. >50%|Connect the original USB-cable-->

2. Method 1: Log in to Fastboot via a button combination (without PC)

This method works if the phone is still on, but you want to transfer it to Fastboot for further manipulation via PC.The combination works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13T.

Step-by-step:

Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button (or through the “Switch off” menu).
Press and hold the volume button down (-) and the power button at the same time.
Hold both buttons for 10-15 seconds until the Mi Bunny logo appears on the screen in the Ushanka cap and the words FASTBOOT.
Release the buttons – the phone went to Fastboot mode.

If the screen is black or the Recovery menu appears, you have released the buttons too early. Try again, holding the keys longer. Some models (e.g., POCO F4) may require a charging connection to activate the Fastboot.

What to do if the button combination does not work?

If the phone doesn’t respond to button clamping, check: 1) Connect the charger – some models require power to log into the Fastboot. 2) Try another combination: volume up + power (on older models, such as the Redmi 4X). 3 If the phone was in water or fell, the volume button may have been damaged – in this case, use the method via ADB (see next section).

3. Method 2: Log in to Fastboot via ADB (if the phone turns on)

If the phone is working but you need to transfer it to Fastboot remotely (for example, to automatically unlock the bootloader), use the command ADB. This method requires a preliminary debugging setting for USB.

Instructions:

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the permission to debug via USB (a pop-up window will appear on the phone screen).
Open the command line (Win) + R → cmd or terminal (Ctrl) + Alt + T on Linux/Mac).
Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), move to the next step. If not, check the drivers and cable.
Run the command to go to Fastboot: adb reboot bootloader The phone will automatically reboot to FASTBOOT mode.

If the adb device command returns an empty list, try:

🔄 Reconnect. USB-cable.
🔧 Update Xiaomi drivers with Mi Flash Tool.
📱 Reboot the phone and reconnect.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global Stable) the adb reboot bootloader command may not work due to security limitations, in which case use a button combination (Method 1) or the method via Mi Unlock Tool (Method 3).

Method 3: Log in to Fastboot via Mi Unlock Tool (to unlock the bootloader)

Xiaomi’s official Mi Unlock Tool software not only unlocks the bootloader, but also automatically puts the phone into Fastboot mode, which is suitable if you plan to flash custom software or restore the device via Mi Flash.

Algorithm of action:

Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website and install it on PC.
Start the program and log in under the same Mi Account that is linked to the phone.
Connect your phone to your PC in normal mode (not in Fastboot!). The program will prompt you to transfer the device to the desired mode.
Follow the instructions on the screen. In 1-2 minutes, the phone will reboot to FASTBOOT, and you can start unlocking.

The advantage of this method is automatic compatibility check and install the necessary drivers. However, note that the Mi Unlock Tool only works with official MIUI firmware. If the phone has custom software (for example, LineageOS), use ADB or a combination of buttons.

Fastboot login method	You need a PC?	Is it running on a locked bootloader?	Is it good for bricks?
Button combination	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ Not if the phone doesn't respond)
ADB Team Team	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes (if debugging is on)	❌ No.
Mi Unlock Tool	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes (but requires authorization)	❌ No.
Hardware Testpoint (for "bricks")	✅ Yes.	❌ No (requires rations)	✅ Yes.

Button combination|Team team. ADB|Mi Unlock Tool|Another way.-->

5. Solving Typical Errors When Logining to Fastboot

Even with accurate follow-up, users often face problems, and let's look at the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

Error 1: Phone is not detected in fastboot devices

If the fastboot device team returns an empty list after logging in to Fastboot, the reasons may be as follows:

🔌 Problems with USB-Connection: Try another cable or port. Give preference to original Xiaomi accessories.
🖥️ No drivers: install the Mi Flash Tool, which will automatically install the drivers you want. You can manually download them from XiaomiFlashTool.
🔧 Discussion: Close all programs that use ADB (For example, Scrcpy or Android Studio).

Error 2: FASTBOOT is on the screen, but commands are not executed

This is typical for devices with a locked bootloader.

🔓 Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires waiting 7-14 days for new accounts).
📱 Try to transfer the phone to EDL Mode (emergency mode) using testpoint (requires disassembly of the device).

Error 3: Phone freezes in Fastboot mode

If the device does not respond to commands and does not exit the Fastboot, perform a forced reboot:

Hold the power button for 20-30 seconds.
If it doesn’t help, remove the battery (on models with removable battery) or wait for a full discharge.

💡

If the phone isn't coming out of Fastboot and the commands aren't helping, try connecting it to another PC. Sometimes the problem is the driver conflict on the main computer.

6.Safety and cautions when working in Fastboot

Fastboot mode provides low-level access to system parts of the phone, which can lead to irreversible consequences if you act carelessly.

🔐 Don't follow commands you don't understand, like fastboot erase userdata, which will erase your data completely, and fastboot flash boot with the wrong file will make your phone inoperable.
📄 Backup. Before any manipulation, save important data (photos, contacts) on your PC or in the cloud. In Fastboot, you can backup the userdata partition with the command: fastboot pull /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/userdata userdata.img
🔧 Use official tools. Mi Flash Tool is recommended for firmware, Mi Unlock Tool only for unlocking, SP Flash Tool can damage your device.

Particular care should be taken when working with boot, recovery and modem sections.

📵 Loss of network (calls and mobile internet will not work).
🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop).
🧱 Fully "brick" (the phone does not even include in the Fastboot).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) Incorrect Modem partition firmware can lead to loss IMEI. It can only be restored through EDL Mode with QFil or Mi Flash Pro.

7.Alternative modes for Xiaomi recovery

If the goal is not to unlock the bootloader, but to restore the phone, perhaps Fastboot is not the right tool.

Regime.	How to get in	What is used for	You need a PC?
Recovery Mode	Volume up (+) + power	Resetting, installation OTA-updates, cache cleaning	❌ No.
EDL Mode	Testpoint or command fastboot oem edl	Brick firmware, IMEI restoration	✅ Yes.
Diag Mode	Adb reboot diag or engineering code	Network diagnostics, module testing	❌ No, but you need rights)

For example, if the phone is loading but glitching, try resetting your settings via Recovery first:

Enter Recovery Mode (volume up + power).
Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

If the phone doesn't even turn on in the Fastboot (black screen, no button response), you'll need an EDL Mode.

Take the phone apart and close the testpoint (contacts on the motherboard).
Connect to a PC – the device will be defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.
Sweep the full firmware image through Mi Flash or QFil.

💡

If the phone doesn't respond to any combination of buttons, the bootloader is likely damaged, and only the firmware through EDL Mode using a testpoint will help.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Can I log into Fastboot without a computer?

Yes, with a combination of down volume + power buttons (Method 1 in the article), but you still need a PC to do it (unlock, firmware).

❓ Why Mi Unlock Tool Writes Coldn't Unlock"?

This error occurs for several reasons: Mi Account is not tied to the phone. It has not been 7-14 days since the first account was linked (Xiaomi restriction). The device does not support unlocking (for example, some models for the Chinese market). Solution: check the account's link in Settings → Xiaomi Account and wait for the required time.

❓ How to exit Fastboot if your phone doesn’t respond to commands?

Hold the power button for 20 to 30 seconds to force a reboot. If it doesn't work, remove the battery (on the removable models) or wait for it to run out completely.

❓ Can I sew a custom recavery (TWRP) via Fastboot?

Yes, but only after unlocking the bootloader! Installation commands: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img Note that new Xiaomi models (such as Xiaomi 13) may trigger anti-rollback protection, which blocks rollbacks on older firmware versions.

❓ What to do if the phone does not turn on after Fastboot?

Probable causes: Incorrect partition firmware (e.g. boot or system); interrupted firmware; conflict of MIUI versions (e.g. attempt to install Global on Chinese model); Solution: Sweep your phone through EDL Mode using Mi Flash Tool (requires an authorized developer account).