How to go to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi Mi A2: all working ways

Xiaomi Mi A2 is one of the few smartphones of the brand that runs on a “clean” Android One instead of the proprietary shell MIUI. This feature affects the process of entering recovery mode (Recovery Mode), which may be necessary to reset settings, install custom firmware or fix system errors. Unlike devices on MIUI, where Recovery is often blocked by the manufacturer, Mi A2 access to it is open by default – but only if you know the correct combination of buttons or commands.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to log into Recovery on Xiaomi Mi A2, including hardware (via physical buttons), software (via ADB) and alternative (via Fastboot). We will focus on the nuances associated with unlocking the bootloader - without it, some Recovery functions will not be available, you will also learn how to distinguish stock Recovery from custom (TWRP) and what to do if the smartphone does not respond to standard combinations.

1 What is Recovery Mode and why is it needed on the Mi A2?

Recovery Mode is a separate Android boot environment that works independently of the main operating system. On the Xiaomi Mi A2, it is used to:

• 🔄 Hard reset is useful when selling a device or fixing software failures.
• 📦 Manual update installation (via ZIP- files) is valid if OTA- updates don't come.
• 🔧 Wipe cache partitioning – helps with application brakes and errors.
• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader (bootloader) - a mandatory step before installing custom firmware.
• 🛠️ System recovery after a failed manipulation (e.g., after a brick).

The Mi A2 has Google's stock Recovery installed by default (due to Android One), which has limited functionality, such as not flashing custom software, which requires installing TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), but even standard Recovery allows you to reset or clear the cache without risking damaging data.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to install custom firmware (like LineageOS), be sure to unlock the bootloader first via fastboot oem unlock. Without that, TWRP won't be able to flash, and attempts to bypass the lock can result in complete data loss.

The difference between stock Recovery and TWRP is simple: the first is text (managing volume and power buttons), the second is touch with a graphic menu. If you see a Xiaomi or Android logo with a robot lying down and a red exclamation point, it's stock Recovery.

2. Method 1: Log in to Recovery via hardware buttons (without PC)

The simplest and most versatile method is to use a combination of physical buttons, which works even if the smartphone is not turned on or locked. For the Xiaomi Mi A2, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Turn off your smartphone (press the power button and select “Switch off” or hold it for 10 seconds until vibration).
2. Press the Power button + Volume up at the same time.
3. Hold both buttons for 10-15 seconds until the Xiaomi logo or Recovery menu appears.
4. Release the buttons when you see a screen with a lying Android and an exclamation point (stock Recovery) or the TWRP logo.

If after holding the buttons, the smartphone just vibrates and turns on in normal mode, try:

• 🔹 Press the buttons immediately after the vibration of the shutdown (without waiting for the screen to turn off completely).
• 🔹 Use Power + Volume Reduction – on some versions of the software this leads to the Fastboot menu, from where you can go to Recovery.
• 🔹 Connect your smartphone to charge – sometimes a discharged battery blocks the entrance to Recovery.

⚠️ Warning: If you see the words "No command" with the Android lying down after you log in to Recovery, press Power button + Volume up by 1-2 seconds, this will open the hidden menu of stock Recovery.

In the stock Recovery, the control is carried out by volume buttons (moving to points) and power button (selecting).

• Reboot system now – reboot to normal mode.
• Apply update from ADB – installing updates via a computer.
• Wipe data/factory reset – Resets all data!
• Wipe cache partition – Clearing the cache (safe for data).

3 Method 2: Entry via ADB (from computer)

If the hardware buttons are not working (for example, the volume button is broken), you can log in to Recovery via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

1. Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. 7 times click on Build Number to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → System → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

Mi A2

ADB and Fastboot

Minimal ADB

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB and do:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list (e.g., 1234abcd device), enter:

adb reboot recovery

The smartphone will automatically reboot in Recovery Mode. If the command doesn't work, try:

• 🔹 Reconnect USB- cable (sometimes port change helps).
• 🔹 Run the command line on behalf of the administrator.
• 🔹 Install Xiaomi drivers for ADB.

On the Mi A2 with the bootloader unlocked, the command `adb reboot recovery` can redirect to Fastboot instead of Recovery. In this case, use `adb reboot bootloader`, and then manually select Recovery through the volume buttons.

4. Method 3: Sign in via Fastboot (if ADB doesn't work)

If USB debugging is not enabled or your smartphone is not recognized by ADB, you can use Fastboot Mode, which is suitable even for "bricks" (devices that do not boot).

1. Turn off the Mi A2.
2. Press the Power button + Volume down for 10 seconds until the screen with the hare in the eardress cap (Fastboot logo) appears.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with Fastboot.
4. Check the connection:

fastboot devices

If the device is detected, enter:

fastboot reboot recovery

If the command fails (e.g., returns the error "FAILED (remote: unknown command)," try:

• 🔹 Use fastboot boot recovery.img (if you have a Recovery image file).
• 🔹 Refuse Recovery via fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (requires unlocked bootloader!).
• 🔹 Update the Fastboot to the latest version.

⚠️ Warning: On some versions of the Mi A2, after the fastboot reboot recovery command, the device can boot back into Fastboot. This is due to Xiaomi's security policy, in which case the only way out is to flash TWRP via Fastboot (see next section).

5 How to install TWRP Recovery on Xiaomi Mi A2

Stock Recovery on the Mi A2 is very limited — it does not allow you to install custom firmware or create backups. For advanced features, you need to flash TWRP. Important: this process erases all data and requires an unlocked bootloader!

Steps to install TWRP:

1. Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (can take up to 720 hours to wait on new Xiaomi accounts).
2. Download the official TWRP image for Mi A2 (file with.img extension).
3. Translate your smartphone to Fastboot Mode (Power + Volume Down buttons).
4. Connect to the PC and do:

fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-jasmine_sprout.img


fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-jasmine_sprout.img

Once you've done the firmware, the smartphone will automatically boot into TWRP. Don't reboot right away!

• 🔹 Backup the Data partition (in TWRP: Backup → Select Data).
• 🔹 Switch Disabler (disables data encryption, otherwise the system will not boot).
• 🔹 Reboot to the system.

If you load your smartphone into stock Recovery after installing TWRP, the bootloader automatically reflashes it back, which is standard Xiaomi behavior. To avoid this, after you first download it to TWRP, you can immediately swipe Magisk (for root rights) or custom software.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with Recovery on the Mi A2, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The smartphone is not included in Recovery, but loads into Fastboot

Reason: On some firmware, Xiaomi blocks direct entry to Recovery via buttons, redirecting to Fastboot.

Decision:

• Fastboot is a fastboot reboot recovery.
• If it doesn’t work, go through TWRP (see section 5).

Problem 2: Recovery displays "No command"

Reason: This is the standard stock Recovery screen. You have to call the hidden menu.

Solution: Press Power + Volume Increase for 1-2 seconds.

Problem 3: After TWRP firmware, the smartphone does not boot

Reason: Most likely, the data encryption (forceencrypt) is not disabled.

Decision:

• Sweep Disabler into TWRP.
• Run Format Data (Erase everything, including internal memory!)

Problem 4: ADB can't see the device

Reason: There are no drivers or USB debugging is not enabled.

Decision:

• Install Xiaomi drivers.
• Check if the debugging is included in Settings → For developers.
• Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original).

💡

If after resetting via Recovery, the smartphone asks for a password from a Google account (FRP), and you do not remember it, the only way out is to flash a full stock ROM through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

7 Security: What You Can and Can't Do in Recovery

Recovery Mode is a powerful tool, but doing the wrong thing can permanently damage data or turn your smartphone into a brick.

• ✅ You can: 🔄 Run Wipe cache partition — it's safe and helps in crashes. 📥 Install official updates via Apply update from ADB. 🔄 Do a reset if you have saved important data.
• ❌ You can't: 🚫 Switch informal ZIP- files into a stock Recovery (will cause an error). 🚫 Format a System partition without a backup (the smartphone won't boot). 🚫 Interrupt the firmware or reset process (brick risk).

If you install custom software (for example, LineageOS), you must:

1. Create a full backup in TWRP (Backup → Select All Partitions).
2. Check firmware compatibility with the Mi A2 model (codename - jasmine_sprout).
3. Turn off signature verification in TWRP: Settings → Enable ZIP signature verification.

Important: The Mi A2 with Android 10+ may stop running the NFC module, camera or fingerprint sensor after custom software firmware is installed. This is due to closed Xiaomi drivers. There is no solution yet - consider this risk before installing unofficial firmware.

💡

Stock Recovery on Mi A2 can’t flash ZIP- files – you need TWRP to do that. But even with TWRP, some features (such as NFC) may stop working after installing custom software.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions