How to exit Boot Menu on Xiaomi devices: 5 proven ways

Boot Menu is a situation that many users face after bad firmware, system crashes or random button combinations. This mode is designed for diagnosis and recovery, but often becomes a trap: the device reboots cyclically without leaving the main system. Unlike Fastboot or Recovery, Boot Menu on Xiaomi does not have a standard "Exit" item - it must be left forcibly using keyboard combinations or software methods.

Complicating the problem, Xiaomi’s different devices — smartphones (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5), tablets (Pad 6) and set-top boxes (Mi Box S) — have different ways of exiting Boot Menu. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, including hardware (power/volume buttons), software (via ADB and Fastboot), and alternative (factory reset).

1.What is Boot Menu on Xiaomi and why does the device get stuck in it

Boot Menu (or Bootloader Menu) is a low-level download menu that appears on Xiaomi devices when:

• 🔄 Interrupted firmware updates (for example, through OTA Or Mi Flash Tool).
• 🔧 Incorrect combination of buttons when turned on (power retention) + Volume up/down).
• 💻 Failure of the system kernel after installing custom recovery (TWRP) fashion.
• 🔋 Critical battery discharge during reboot.

On the outside, Boot Menu on Xiaomi looks like a black screen with white text (less commonly a blue background on TV sets) and a list of items in English or Chinese, and the main danger of this mode is the risk of data reset if you do not do the right thing, for example, selecting Reboot to Fastboot on some models leads to erasing the userdata partition.

⚠️ Note: If your device loads into Boot Menu after falling or getting moisture, the problem may be hardware (damaged motherboard.

2. Method 1: Hardware output (power and volume buttons)

The simplest method that works on 80% of Xiaomi devices is forced reboot via a combination of physical buttons.

• 📱 The device responds to button presses (vibrates or makes sounds).
• 🔋 The battery is charged by more than 10%.
• 🚫 There are no error messages on the screen (e.g. Invalid partition table).

Instructions:

1. Hold the power button for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. If the device vibrates but boots again in Boot Menu, repeat step 1, while holding the volume button.
3. For models with a non-removable battery (Redmi 10, POCO F4), try the combination: Power + Volume up + Loudness down (hold 10 seconds).

⚠️ Note: On MediaTek devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11), long-term button retention can result in a hard brick, which is completely inoperable. If after 3 attempts the screen remains black, stop manipulating and switch to software methods.

Make sure the device is charged (minimum 10%)

Disconnect cables (USB, headphones)

Try the combination without SIM-memory-card

Write down the serial number (on the box or under the battery) to contact the service-->

3. Method 2: Exit through ADB (for unlocked bootloader)

If the hardware reset didn't work and there's a Reboot to ADB or Enter ADB Mode on the Boot Menu screen, you can try to exit through the command line.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (on most new devices it is blocked by default).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the device to your PC and select Reboot to ADB in Boot Menu.
2. Open the command prompt (Win + R → cmd) and type: adb devices If the device is identified (the serial number appears), continue. If not, install the driver or try another cable.
3. Run the reboot command: adb reboot
4. If the device is booted back into Boot Menu, try an alternative command: adb shell reboot -p

For devices with a locked bootloader (Mi 11, Redmi K50), this method will not work – you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool (the procedure takes up to 72 hours).

Method 3: Fastboot Flashing (for power users)

If the device loads cyclically into Boot Menu and does not respond to other methods, then Fastboot flashing remains.

• 📲 Xiaomi smartphones with unlocked bootloader.
• 🖥️ Mi Box TV set-top boxes (e.g. Mi Box) 4S).
• 🔧 Devices after a failed update MIUI.

Important: Firmware erases all data on the device! Check first if there are backups.

Instructions:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Miui Download website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\MiFlash\rom).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and connect the device in Fastboot mode (select the appropriate option in Boot Menu).
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select, specify the firmware folder, then Refresh (the device should appear). Select Clean All method and press Flash.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a Qualcomm processor (e.g, POCO F3) After the firmware may require re-unlocking the bootloader. for this: Load to Fastboot (Power) + Volume down. Connect to your PC and execute: fastboot oem unlock Confirm unlock via Mi Account.

5. Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these methods work, you'll have to hard-dump through Boot Menu, which will delete all the data, but it will return the device to working order.

• 📱 Devices with locked loader.
• 🔄 Smartphones after a failed update OTA.
• 🛠️ Gadgets with a damaged file system.

How to reset:

1. In Boot Menu, find Wipe Data or Factory Reset (navigation with volume buttons, choice - power button).
2. Confirm the action (usually you need to select Yes).
3. After reset, select Reboot System Now.

On some models (Redmi 9, POCO M3), the reset point may be called Clear eMMC - it is analogous to Wipe Data, but with a complete erasure of internal memory.

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If the device boots back to Boot Menu after reset, try flashing it through Fastboot with the Clean All and Lock option in the Mi Flash Tool, which will return the bootloader to a locked state and eliminate firmware conflicts.

6. Features of exiting Boot Menu on Xiaomi TV consoles

Mi Box series devices (such as Mi Box S or Mi Box 4) have a stripped-down Boot Menu without traditional Reboot or ADB points.

Xiaomi also works with USB Burning Tool flashing (for Amlogic processors):

1. Download the firmware in.img format from the Xiaomi support site.
2. Connect the console to the PC through OTG-cable HDMI don't!).
3. Start the USB Burning Tool, select the firmware and press Start.
4. During the process, the console should be determined in the program (if not, check the Amlogic driver).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to log out of Boot Menu, users often make mistakes that make the problem worse.

• ⚡ Use of non-original cables - causes communication to break during firmware. Always use a cable from the kit or a certified USB-TypeC.
• 🔄 Interrupt the firmware process – if the device is “hung” 40% in the Mi Flash Tool, do not turn it off).
• 📱 Ignoring the firmware version – the firmware from Redmi Note 11 Pro is not suitable for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, Even if the devices look the same.
• 🔓 Attempt to unlock the bootloader on unofficial sites – use only the official Mi Unlock Tool.

Another common problem is the cyclical reboot after you leave Boot Menu, which is because of:

• The damaged boot section (solved by flashing).
• Conflict with Magisk or Xposed installed (clean firmware required).
• Incompatible version of MIUI (e.g. Global firmware on a device for the Chinese market).

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If after all the manipulations the device still boots to Boot Menu, check the integrity of the firmware files (compare the MD5 hashes with the official ones) and repeat the procedure on another computer.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions