Hanging in the main menu of Xiaomi devices and do not know how to return to normal work? MIUI and Mi TVs. TV/Redmi Smart TV. Most often, users are faced with a situation when after pressing a combination of buttons or randomly selecting a menu item, the screen is “freezed” in the settings, and standard exit methods (Back or Home button) do not work.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to exit the main menu on Xiaomi devices, from basic methods to advanced solutions for “hanged” systems. We will separately focus on the nuances for different types of equipment: smartphones (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11), TVs (Mi TV Q2, Redmi Smart TV X) and even smart watches (Mi Watch).
If your device doesn't respond to the press or if it makes an error when you try to exit, don't panic. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved without a factory reset, the main thing is to follow the algorithm and not miss the steps.
1. Standard output: buttons and gestures
Start with the simplest methods. In most cases, the main menu of Xiaomi is exited by standard interface tools:
- 📱 On smartphones: press the physical or touch button Back (arrow left) once. If the menu is open in full screen mode (for example, Settings) → The system may need to be pressed twice.
- 📺 On TVs: Use the Back (or Return) button on the remote control. TV P1) Holding the Home button for 3 seconds.
- ⌚ On a smartwatch (Mi Band 8, Mi Watch): swipe right to left across the screen or press a physical button (if there is one).
If the standard buttons don’t work, check:
- 🔋 Is the battery discharged (on smartphones at the charge level) < 5% of the system can ignore the pressing).
- 🎮 Is there a gamepad or other peripheral device that could “seize” control (relevant for Mi) connected? TV Stick).
- 🔄 Is the system updated in the background (the load indicator may not appear on the screen).
Important for TVs: if the remote doesn't respond, try rebooting it - take out the batteries for 10 seconds and insert back in. On Mi TV 4S and later, the Menu + Volume Down combination (hold 5 seconds) also works for forced exit.
2. Forced exit via button combinations
If the standard methods don't work, use the "emergency" combinations, which differ depending on the type of device:
| Type of device | Button combination | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi smartphones (all models) | Power + Volume Up (hold 10 seconds) | Forced reboot (works even when MIUI is getting stuck) |
| Mi TV/Redmi TV (2018–2026) | Menu + Volume Down (hold 5 seconds) | Return to the main screen or reboot |
| Mi Box S / Mi TV Stick | Home + Back (hold 3 seconds) | Exit from the developer menu or service settings |
| Smart watch Mi Watch | Holding the physical button 8 seconds | Reboot (analogue of battery extraction) |
Critical information: on Xiaomi TVs 2023-2026 (e.g. Mi TV Q2 75), the Menu + Volume Down combination can only work with a Bluetooth remote. If you use an IR remote, pre-couple it through Settings → Devices → remotes
For smartphones, there is an alternative method:
- Hold the Power button until the off menu appears.
- Without releasing Power, tap on the Reboot option (on some models - Restart).
- The device will restart, bypassing the suspended menu.
Try the standard output (Back button)
Check the battery charge
Disable peripheral devices (keyboards, gamepads)
Write open tabs/applications (if important)
Make sure there is no active system update-->
3. Exit through Recovery Mode (for power users)
If the device is completely frozen and does not respond to the combination of buttons, you can use Recovery mode. This method is suitable for smartphones and TVs on Android TV, but requires caution - wrong actions can lead to a data reset.
Instructions for smartphones:
- Turn off the device with Power + Volume Up (10-15 seconds)
- After the vibration, release Power, but continue holding Volume Up until the Mi logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System (control – volume buttons for navigation, Power buttons for selection).
For Mi TVs:
- Turn off the TV power from the socket for 30 seconds.
- Holding the Menu button on the body (usually located on the side or bottom), connect the power back.
- Release Menu when the Recovery menu appears on the screen.
- Select Reboot System Now.
⚠️ Warning: Do not select Wipe Data or Factory Reset options in Recovery, this will lead to a complete cleanup of the device. If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons: the reboot is usually indicated by a circular arrow.
What if Recovery does not start?
4.Use of ADB-Teams (for advanced users)
If you have access to a computer, you can exit Xiaomi’s main menu using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works for smartphones and TVs with USB debugging enabled.
Step-by-step:
- Connect the device to the PC through USB-cable (use port for TVs) USB (Service)).
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
- Execute the command to exit the current menu: adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_HOME Or for forced closure of settings: adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings
If USB debugging is not enabled, but the device responds to touch, activate it via Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to unlock the developer mode).
⚠️ Note: On the TVs Xiaomi debugging on USB included in the settings → The device → Debugging by USB. After activation, you may need to confirm the connection on the screen TV.
1. Install Xiaomi USB Driver drivers.
2. Use original cable (cheap cables often do not support data transmission).
3.Switch the connection mode USB to “Transfer of files» (MTP) smartphone-light.-->
5. Reset settings without data loss (last chance)
If none of the methods worked, and the device is still stuck in the main menu, the soft reset option remains, which only removes the system settings, without affecting user data (photos, apps, etc.).
For smartphones:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select Reset all settings (not Reset to factory!).
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
For TVs:
- Open Settings → System → Reset and Update.
- Select Resetting (not Resetting to Factory!).
- Enter. PIN-code (default 0000 or 1234).
Once reset, the device will restart and you can use it again in normal mode, which works in 95% of the time the main menu freezes.
💡
Soft resetting is the safest way to get the device back to working if standard exit methods don't work. It doesn't delete personal data, but resets network settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and display settings.
6. Frequent causes of hanging main menu and how to avoid them
To avoid the problem recurring, let’s understand why Xiaomi devices are “stuck” in the main menu:
- 🔄 Interrupted Update: If the system is updated in the background and you have tried to open the settings, there may be a conflict of processes.
- 🎮 Peripheral conflict: Connected gamepads, keyboards, or mice can intercept control, and disable them if the menu is unstable.
- 📱 Failures MIUI: On smartphones, freezes are often associated with memory optimization. Clear cache regularly in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings (annex) → Clear the cache.
- 📺 Remote problems: On Xiaomi TVs, menu freezes are due to discharged remote batteries or interference from other IR devices.
Preventive measures:
- Update your firmware to the latest version (in Settings → System → Software Update).
- Do not install modified themes or launchers from unverified sources.
- For TVs: Use only original remotes or certified replacements.
If freezes occur regularly, check the device for viruses (for example, through Mi Security) or perform system diagnostics in Settings → Special. capabilities → Diagnostics.