How to safely exit Reboot Menu on Xiaomi: All working methods

The Reboot Menu on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can appear after a failed update, firmware failure or accidental clicking of a button combination. On the outside, it looks like a black screen with white words in English: Reboot to System, Recovery Mode, Fastboot and others. The main problem is that the device “hangs” in this menu, without reacting to standard exit methods.

In 80% of cases, leaving Reboot Menu does not require special skills, but it is important to act carefully: the wrong actions (for example, choosing Wipe Data) can lead to complete data loss without the possibility of recovery. In this article, we will analyze all working methods from simple (reboot buttons) to advanced (working through ADB), and explain why the smartphone fell into this menu and how to avoid a repetition of the situation.

Why is Xiaomi’s smartphone stuck in Reboot Menu?

The reasons for the reboot menu fall into two categories: software failures and hardware malfunctions.

• 🔄 Interrupted update MIUI — if the firmware has not completely downloaded or the device has turned off during installation.
• 🔧 Incorrect resetting of settings – through Recovery or third-party utilities (for example, XiaomiTool).
• 🎯 Accidental pressing of a combination of buttons – for example, Power + Volume Up when removing your phone from your pocket.
• 🛠️ Damaged firmware - after manual intervention (unlocking the loader, installing customized hardware) ROM).
• 🔋 Hardware problems – a discharged battery, a damaged power button or a motherboard.

On Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 and newer models, the menu may appear due to a conflict with the Mi Smart Assistant function (if it was activated in the developer settings). In rare cases, a bootloader malfunction is to blame - then you will need to flash through the Fastboot.

Method 1: Standard button reboot

The easiest way is to force the device to restart using hardware buttons, which works if the smartphone responds to physical clicks and the menu appears due to a temporary failure.

1. Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. Wait 30 seconds – the device should automatically boot into the system.
3. If the screen shows Reboot Menu again, repeat the action, but hold the button for 20 to 25 seconds.

Some models (such as the POCO F4 or Xiaomi 13) may require a Power + Volume Down combination. Hold it until the vibration or the MI logo appears.

⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone returns to Reboot Menu after the reboot, do not repeat the action more than 3 times in a row.This may indicate damage to the boot partition - further attempts will only aggravate the problem.

Method 2: Selecting the item "Reboot to System"

If the menu is stable and responsive to touches (or volume buttons), try manually selecting the system return option:

1. Use Volume Up/Down to move your cursor to Reboot to System (or Reboot System Now).
2. Confirm the choice with the Power button.
3. Wait for the reboot (can take up to 5 minutes).

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Redmi K50), the menu may be in Chinese. Look for characters, that's the point. If the screen doesn't respond to buttons, plug the device into charging and try again.

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If the volume buttons don’t work, try connecting. USB-keyboard OTG-Adapter. Keyboard arrows are often recognized even when the sensor fails.

Method 3: Entering Recovery Mode and resetting the cache

If the standard reboot doesn't work, the next step is to clear the cache through Recovery Mode.This method doesn't delete user data, but resets temporary system files that may have caused the crash.

1. In Reboot Menu, select Recovery Mode (use Volume and Power buttons for confirmation).
2. After the MI logo appears, hold the Power + Volume Up for 3 seconds to enter the menu.
3. Select a language (if available), then go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
5. Go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

On devices with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi Mi A3), the Recovery menu may be limited, in which case the Wipe Cache and Wipe Data items will not be available - you will need to use Fastboot (method 4).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache (safe) with Wipe Data (deletes all files!). On some firmware, the Wipe Data item is hidden behind additional confirmation - for example, requiring you to enter Yes manually.

Method 4: Use Fastboot and ADB (for advanced)

If previous methods didn’t work, you’ll need to connect your smartphone to your computer and work through Fastboot or ADB. This method is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or if you’re ready for possible data loss.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and utilities ADB/Fastboot.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 📄 Firmware for your model (download from the official website).

Step-by-step:

1. In Reboot Menu, select Fastboot and connect your smartphone to your PC.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB and type: fastboot devices Make sure the device is determined (serial number should appear).
3. Reboot your smartphone to the system with the command: fastboot reboot If it does not help, use forced reboot: fastboot reboot -p
4. If the device returns to Reboot Menu, go to the boot section: fastboot flash boot.img (the boot.img file must be from your firmware).

For models with a locked bootloader (Xiaomi 13 Lite, Redmi Note 12) it may be necessary to officially unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.The process takes up to 72 hours (due to Xiaomi's security policy).

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If the smartphone does not respond after fastboot commands, check: 1) whether the original cable is connected; 2) whether Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers are installed (depending on the processor); 3) whether the antivirus blocking ADB is disabled.

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

If none of these methods work, you'll have to completely flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool, which will delete all the data, but it will return the smartphone to working condition.

1. Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters (e.g., C:\Xiaomi\ROM).
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode.
4. In the program, click Select, specify the path to the firmware folder, then select Clean All (full clean) or Clean All and Lock (if you want to block the bootloader).
5. Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-15 minutes).

Once flashed, the device will boot as new. To recover data, use a backup of Mi Cloud or Google Account (if sync was enabled).

⚠️ Warning: Fastboot’s Clean All and Lock Firmware will block the bootloader, and you won’t be able to install custom firmware without re-unblocking (which will take another 72 hours).

How to Avoid Getting into Reboot Menu in the Future

To minimize the risk of reappearance of the reboot menu, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Only through official channels – avoid betas and firmware from third-party developers.
• 🔋 Do not interrupt charging or upgrading – if the battery runs out during the process, the boot is at high risk of failure.
• 🛠️ Turn off “Mi Smart Assistant” in the developer settings (path: Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 5 times to tap → Additional settings → Special facilities → Mi Smart Assistant).
• 📱 Use magnet-free cases – they can accidentally press buttons, causing Reboot Menu.
• 🔒 Do not modify system files without a backup (for example, through Magisk or TWRP).

On MediaTek devices (e.g. Redmi 10C), failures are more likely due to conflict with Virtual RAM. Turn it off in settings: Settings → Additional settings → Expand memory.

Frequent questions about Reboot Menu on Xiaomi