Xiaomi smartphone stopped turning on, stuck on the logo or gives an error This MIUI version cannot be installed on this device? Take it to the service center. In 80% of cases, the device can be brought back to life yourself - even if it turned into a "brick." This article will help you understand the causes of the malfunction and choose the right way to restore: from a simple reset to flashing through Fastboot.
We'll look at all the possible scenarios: recovery from a failed update, unlocking the bootloop, logging out of the bootloop, and even saving data if the phone doesn't respond to buttons. We'll focus on models with Qualcomm and Mediatek processors, which have different firmware algorithms. And for owners of older devices (for example, Redmi Note 3 Pro or Mi 5), we'll give current links to the official Mi Flash Tool and XiaomiTool V2 tools.
Before you start, check whether the battery is charged (minimum) 30%), Do you have any originals? USB-cable and computer running Windows 7/10/11 (If the phone responds to charging but doesn't turn on, it's more of a software problem. If it doesn't respond at all (even if it's holding the power button for a long time), you may need to repair the iron.
1. Diagnostics of the problem: why the smartphone does not work
The first step is to determine what exactly happened to the device, and the method of recovery depends on it, and here are the main symptoms and their possible causes:
- 🔄 Bootloop: The phone is turned on but constantly rebooted on the logo MI or animation MIUI. The reason is damage to system files after updating or incorrect rooting.
- 🚫 Black screen without reaction: the device does not show signs of life, even when connected to a charge.
- ⚠️ "This device is locked" error: appears when you try to flash custom firmware without unlocking the bootloader. Solved by official unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool.
- 📱 The phone turns on but does not load beyond the logo: typical for devices with a damaged boot or system partition.
- 🔋 The device is discharged to zero and does not turn on: sometimes it helps to recharge for 30-60 minutes, followed by holding the power button. + volume-up.
If you don't fit any of these, try connecting your phone to your computer. If Windows makes a connection sound. USB-It's not a device, but it's not a storage device, it's a software problem. If it's not sounding, it's probably damaged. USB-power-port.
2.Soft reset: if the phone turns on but doesn't work properly
If a Xiaomi smartphone turns on but slows down, spontaneously restarts, or gives out app errors, try a soft reset. This method doesn't delete user data, but resets the system settings to factory ones.
For this:
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Find the Reset option (on some firmware - Restore and Reset).
- Choose Resetting (not to be confused with Delete All Data!).
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
If the settings menu is not available (for example, due to the freeze of the interface), try the button combination:
- 🔘 Hold the power button. + Increase volume 10-15 seconds until the phone restarts.
- 🔄 If it doesn’t work, try the power button. + Reduce volume (on some models, for example, POCO F1, It triggers the reboot menu).
⚠️ Note: On devices with Mediatek (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) Long-term button retention can lead to hard reset, and if you're not sure, you'd better plug your phone into charging for 30 minutes before you manipulate.
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If problems persist after a soft reset, check for free memory space. A filled drive (less than 1 GB free) often causes MIUI to crash.
3 Hard Reset via Recovery Mode
If the phone turns on but doesn’t load beyond the logo, or you’ve forgotten the pattern lock, hard resetting via Recovery Mode will help, a method that removes all data from the device, including photos, contacts and apps, so only use it as a last resort.
Instructions for most Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 10 Pro, Mi 11, POCO X3 Pro):
☑️ Preparation for Hard Reset
- Turn off the phone (if it doesn’t respond, hold the power button for 20-30 seconds).
- Press the power button + increase volume and hold until the Mi Recovery logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select the language (usually English and Chinese)
- Go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (on some firmware – Factory Reset).
- Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
- Choose Reboot. → Reboot to System.
If the phone is stuck on the logo after the reset, it means that the problem is deeper - the system partition or boot partition is damaged, in which case you will need to flash it again.
| Xiaomi model | Combination for entering Recovery | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9/10 | Power + Volume Increase | On Note 8 Pro (Mediatek) hold the buttons until vibrations appear. |
| Mi 9/10/11 | Power + Volume Increase | Mi 11 Ultra may require charging connection |
| POCO F1/F2/F3 | Power + Volume Increase | On POCO F1, it sometimes only works after 3-4 attempts. |
| Redmi 4X/5A | Power + Volume Increase | On older models, the Recovery menu in Chinese |
⚠️ Note: On devices with a bootloader, a reset via Recovery may cause this device is locked to fail. This will require official unlocking (see Section 5).
4.Fastboot firmware: saving the brick
If the phone doesn’t load even in Recovery, or if it does, it’s the only option left is Fastboot, a method that works for devices with damaged firmware, looped boots, or Invalid IMEI errors.
You'll need firmware.
- 🖥️ Computer running Windows (7/10/11).
- 🔌 Original. USB-cable (better from the set).
- 📥 Firmware for your model (you can download it on the official website of Xiaomi or Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
- 🛠️ Mi Flash Tool (for firmware) or XiaomiTool V2 (free-floating).
Step-by-step:
- Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
- Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\fastboot_rom).
- Turn off your phone. Press the power button + volume down until the Fastboot screen appears.
- Connect your phone to your computer. In the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the firmware folder.
- Select firmware mode: Clean all (recommended when crashes occur); Clean all and lock (clean + lock the bootloader (only if you sell a phone); Save user data (not always working).
Flash
On devices with a Mediatek processor (for example, Redmi 9, POCO M3), an additional tool is required for firmware through Fastboot - SP Flash Tool. You can download it on the Mediatek website, but be careful: the wrong firmware can finally "kill" the phone.
What if the Mi Flash Tool can't see the phone?
5 Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
If you see an error This device is locked or Anti-rollback check fail when you try to flash your phone, then your Xiaomi bootloader is blocked.
- 🔓 Installation of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
- 🛠️ Fastboot Firmware (on some models).
- 📱 Recovery after a failed update.
The official unlock is done through the Mi Unlock Tool utility, but it has limitations:
- ⏳ You need to link your Mi Account to your device and wait 7-15 days (on new models).
- 📱 The phone should be included in the Fastboot at least.
- 🔗 Mi Account must be confirmed by SMS email.
Instructions for unlocking:
- Download the Mi Unlock Tool and install it on your computer.
- Turn on the phone Developer Options (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).
- Activate OEM Unlock and USB Debugging in the Developer Menu.
- Link your Mi Account to your device in Settings → Mi Account → Cloud Services → Find Device.
- Turn off your phone and go to Fastboot (power button + volume reduction).
- Connect to your computer, start the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets the phone to factory settings and may void warranty.On some models (e.g. Redmi) K40 Mi 11 or Widevine will not work after unlocking L1 — This means that Netflix and other services will only show videos on the Internet. 480p.
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Unlocking the bootloader is a must before installing custom firmware, without which the phone will not accept the unofficial software and will give an error.
Recovery of IMEI and serial number
After a failed firmware or reset on some Xiaomi models (especially with Mediatek processors) may disappear IMEI. This leads to network absence, Invalid errors IMEI Or Baseband Unknown. IMEI two ways:
Method 1: Engineering menu (for Mediatek)
- Install the MTK Engineering Mode app on your phone (available on Google Play).
- Open it and go to MTK Settings → Connectivity → CDS Information → Radio Information.
- Select Phone 1 (for the first one) SIM-maps and enter command: AT +EGMR=1.7,"Your_IMEI" (replace yours_IMEI the original number that is listed on the box or under the battery).
- Repeat for Phone 2 (if you have two) SIM-map).
- Reboot the phone.
Method 2: Fastboot (for Qualcomm)
Qualcomm devices (e.g. Redmi Note 7, Mi 9) will require QCN Rebuilder and the original modemst1/modemst2 backup.This method is more complex and requires ADB and Fastboot skills.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect input IMEI Use only the original numbers listed on the box or under the battery. IMEI prohibited by law in most countries.
7. Data recovery after reset
If you've done a Hard Reset or you've searched your phone and you haven't saved important data, you have a chance to recover it, and the less you use your phone after a reset, the more likely you are to succeed.
Reconstruction methods:
- 📁 Through backup. MIUI: If you have enabled cloud reservations (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup, data can be restored after logging into your account.
- 💻 Using a PC: Connect your phone to your computer and use programs like Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver, or DiskDigger to scan your internal memory for deleted files.
- 🔧 Through TWRP Recovery: If you have a custom setup TWRP, You can back up the section. /data And try to extract the data with the help of ADB.
To recover via ADB (if the phone is turned on but the data is erased):
adb shell
su
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0pXX of=/sdcard/backup.img(Replace mmcblk0pXX with the current data partition, which can be found via ls /dev/block/platform/*/by-name).
On File-Based Encryption (FBE) devices, which are used in MIUI 12 and later, passwordless data recovery is almost impossible. Encryption is tied to a hardware key that is reset when Hard Reset is used.
8.When to contact the service center
Not all problems can be solved software, if after all the manipulations of the phone:
- 🔋 Does not respond to charging (no indication, computer does not make connection sound).
- 💥 Overheats or makes extraneous sounds (clicks, squeaks).
- 📵 Doesn't define SIM-mapping even after recovery IMEI.
- 🖥️ Has physical damage (cracks on the board, traces of oxidation).
- so the problem is hardware, and without repair can not do.
Official service centers Xiaomi in Russia and the CIS can be found on the website mi.com/service. the average cost of diagnosis is 500-1000 rubles.
| Type of repair | Cost (₽) | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | 1 500–3 000 | 1 |
| Repairs USB-port | 2 000–4 500 | 1–2 |
| Replacement of the display (with touchscreen) | 3 000–10 000 | 1–3 |
| Diagnosis of the motherboard | 1 000–2 500 | 1–5 |
| Recovery from spillage | 4 000–15 000 | 3–7 |
Before the service visit:
- 📋 Write it down. IMEI (box-and-battery).
- 🔄 Backup your data if the phone is switched on.
- 📄 Take a check or a warranty card (if any).
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If the phone is warranty, do not try to sew it yourself - this will void the warranty obligations.