How to get out of Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: the full guide

Have you accidentally stumbled into the hidden Main Menu engineering menu on your Xiaomi Redmi and don't know how to get out of there? Or after a failed attempt to unlock the bootloader, the phone loads only into this menu? This situation is familiar to many users, especially those who are experimenting with system settings or trying to gain root access. Unlike standard Recovery mode, Main Menu (aka EDL Mode or Fastboot) has no obvious exit button, and improper actions can lead to complete data loss or "bricking" of the device.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to exit Main Menu on all Xiaomi Redmi models, from the budget Redmi A1 to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro. You’ll learn how to return the phone to working state without losing data, what buttons to press if the sensor does not respond, and what to do if the menu appears cyclically after each reboot. We’ll also explain why the smartphone can spontaneously boot into Main Menu and how to avoid this in the future.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi and why does the phone get into it?

Main Menu (or Engineering Mode) is a service menu designed for Xiaomi engineers and developers, which allows you to test hardware components, change low-level settings and even refashion the device to bypass standard restrictions. Under normal conditions, the user should not go there, but there are several scenarios when this happens:

• 🔧 Incorrect combination of buttons when turned on (for example, clamped Volume)+ and power for more than 10 seconds).
• 📱 Firmware failure after unsuccessful update through MIUI Updater or custom Recovery.
• 🔓 Attempt to unlock the bootloader via Fastboot with errors.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunctions: damaged power button or contacts on the motherboard.

It's important to understand that Main Menu is not the same as Recovery Mode. In the first case, you see a text menu with items like Reboot, Fastboot, Recovery and EDL, and in the second case, a graphical interface with resetting capabilities. If your Redmi loads into a black screen with white text, it's definitely Main Menu.

⚠️ Note: If you see a menu item EDL Mode (Emergency Download Mode), don't choose it unnecessarily! This mode is designed to flash through the Mi Flash Tool and can result in loss of IMEI or locking the device if you use an inappropriate firmware.

Method 1: Standard output through the power button

The simplest method, which works on most Xiaomi Redmi models (including Redmi Note 11/12/13, Redmi 10/10A/10C and POCO M/X).

1. In the Main Menu, look for Reboot or Reboot System (usually the first item on the list).
2. Select it with the volume buttons (Loudness + - up, Volume - down).
3. Confirm the choice of the power button.
4. If you have an additional window with a selection of boot mode, select Normal Boot again.

If the phone is back in Main Menu after the reboot, it means that:

• 🔄 Incorrect loader settings are saved in the system (often after manual intervention).
• 📱 The firmware is damaged and requires restoration.
• 🛠️ There is a hardware problem (such as a sticky button Volume-).

Remember the current menu settings (take a picture of the screen)

Make sure that the battery charge is > 30%

Turn off the USB cable (if connected)

Do not press other buttons during the reboot.-->

Method 2: Forced Reset (Hard Reset)

If the sensor doesn't work or the menu doesn't respond to taps, you can perform a hardware reboot, which will work even on a "hang" Redmi, but will not delete data (unlike a reset via Recovery).

Instructions:

1. Press the Power button for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. If the phone vibrates and the screen blinks, but is back on Main Menu, repeat the action by holding Power + Volume+.
3. After a complete shutdown, wait 30 seconds and turn on the device in the standard way (Power button).

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A/9C) You may need to remove and insert back SIM-map before turning on – this resets the temporary settings of the communication module, which sometimes blocks normal loading.

Method 3: Exit via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try rebooting your phone to Fastboot mode and then to the regular system, which requires a connection to your computer and installed Xiaomi drivers.

Step-by-step:

1. In Main Menu, select Fastboot (or Download Mode) with volume buttons and confirm Power button.
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. On your computer, open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and execute the command: fastboot reboot
4. If the team doesn’t work, try: fastboot continue.

If the phone is then loaded back into Main Menu, the system has the forced boot settings saved to the engineering menu, in which case only a full reset or flashing will help.

Standard exit via Reboot

Forced reset

Transition to Fastboot

Reset via Recovery

It didn't work, the phone's still on the menu.-->

Method 4: Resetting settings via Recovery Mode

If the phone loads cyclically into Main Menu, it's likely that the firmware or bootloader settings are damaged, and then resetting to factory settings via Recovery Mode will help.

How to reset:

1. In Main Menu, select Recovery (if you have one). If you don't, do a forced reboot (see Method 2) and immediately press Power + Volume+ to get into Recovery.
2. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (navigation with volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
3. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

If the phone is still loaded into Main Menu after reset, it means that:

• 📱 The firmware is damaged at the bootloader level (requires flashing via Fastboot or EDL).
• 🔧 The device has a custom loader (for example, TWRP), system-mate.

💡

If after resetting the phone requires you to enter a password from your Mi Account, and you do not remember it, use the official unlock service: account.xiaomi.com. Do not use third-party programs to bypass the lock - this can lead to permanent locking of the device.

Method 5: Flashing through the Mi Flash Tool (extremely)

If none of the previous methods worked, all that remains is a complete flashing of the device, which will bring the phone back to life even after serious crashes, but will require a computer, a USB cable and official firmware for your model.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware for your Redmi model from the official Xiaomi Firmware website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your computer (you can download it here).
3. In Main Menu, select Fastboot and connect your phone to your PC.
4. In the Mi Flash Tool, click Select, specify the path to the downloaded firmware, then Refresh (the device should appear).
5. Select Clean All (delete all data) or Clean All and Lock (if you want to block the bootloader).
6. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the firmware process! If you turn off the phone while you're recording data, it can turn into a hard brick, and you can only restore it through the use of a hard brick. EDL Mode with an authorized Xiaomi account.

Once the firmware is successful, the phone will boot as standard. If that doesn't work, contact the service center - the problem may be hardware (for example, damaged eMMC memory).

💡

Flashing through the Mi Flash Tool is the only way to bring back to life Xiaomi Redmi, which does not leave the Main Menu after reset.

How to avoid getting into Main Menu in the future?

To avoid the problem of accidentally logging into an engineering menu, follow these tips:

• 🔧 Do not accidentally press the buttons Volume and Power at the same time when turning on / off the phone.
• 📱 Do not install custom firmware or modified downloaders (for example, TWRP) without a clear understanding of the consequences.
• 🔄 Before the update MIUI Check with Updater to see if the battery is charged. > 50% and Internet connection stable.
• 🛡️ Do not use programs to unlock the bootloader from third-party developers – they can damage system files.

If you often have to work with engineering menus (for example, for hardware testing), install the Quick Reboot app from Google Play.It allows you to reboot to Fastboot or Recovery in one click without risking getting stuck in Main Menu.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi