When your Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone suddenly stops turning on and gets stuck on the logo, this phenomenon, known as bootloop, can occur for a variety of reasons, from a system update failure to hardware issues. In a moment of panic, it is important to remain cool, as chaotic button presses can only make things worse.
There are several proven methods to bring the device back to life without going to the service center. 80% of the time, the problem is solved by software resetting or cleaning the cache through Recovery. However, before starting any manipulation, you need to clearly understand what kind of malfunction you are facing, so as not to delete important data without needing.
What you do next depends on whether the touch screen is responding and the vibration is working. If the phone just reboots endlessly, showing the Mi or Android logo, then the system can't complete the initialization process, in which case you'll need to intervene in the bootloader or restore mode.
The main reasons for the endless reboot
Understanding the root of the problem is half the success of solving it, and most often, Xiaomi devices get into a cyclical reboot due to software conflicts, which can be a failed firmware update when the installation is interrupted halfway, or damage to system files after installing dubious applications.
Hardware problems can also be ignored, especially if the phone falls or is exposed to moisture. In such cases, the contact group of the display plume or the power button can be disrupted. Sometimes the phone "thinks" that the power button is pinched constantly, which causes it to endlessly try to turn on and off.
- 📱 Damage to system files after failed update MIUI or hyperos.
- 🔋 Critical battery wear or voltage surges when charging.
- 🛠 Mechanical damage to volume or power buttons (sticking).
- 🦠 Presence of malware blocking the boot of the operating system.
Special attention should be paid to the overflow of internal memory. If there is no free space on the disk, the Android operating system cannot create temporary files necessary for operation, which leads to an emergency termination of processes, in which case a simple reset will be the only way out.
How to distinguish software failure from hardware?
Forced reset as the first step
The easiest and safest method to try is forced reboot, which simulates battery extraction, which breaks the cycle of the hanging process, and this requires holding and holding the power button for a long time.
On most Xiaomi and Redmi models, the algorithm is the same: press the power button and hold it for about 10-15 seconds. The screen should go out, after which the device will vibrate and show the logo again. If the phone boots normally after that, the problem was one-time and requires no further intervention.
In some cases, standard retention may not work. Then try a combination of power buttons and volume reduction. Hold both buttons at the same time until you feel the vibration. This action force the device to Fastboot mode or simply restarts it, bypassing standard procedures.
💡
If the phone responds to touches while hanging, try quickly tapping 7-10 times on the build number in the About Phone section to activate the developer mode, and then clear the Dalvik cache if menus are available.
It's important not to let go of the buttons too early. The power-reset process takes time for the control controller to completely shut down. If you release the button in 3 seconds, the phone can just vibrate but not turn off. Patience here is a key success factor.
Entering Recovery Mode and Cleaning Cache
If a simple reboot doesn't work, you need to go to Recovery Mode, which is a special part of the system that boots regardless of the main operating system, and this is where you can clean up temporary files that may have caused the conflict.
To enter this mode, the device must be completely turned off. If it is constantly rebooting, wait until the screen goes out, and immediately press the button combination. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is usually a power button and a volume button.
When the Mi logo appears, you can release the power button, but you need to keep the volume until the menu appears, and the navigation in this menu is done with the volume buttons (up/down), and the selection is done with a short press of the power button. You need to find the Wipe Data or Wipe Cache item.
☑️ Action in Recovery
Select Wipe Cache, which is safe for your personal data: photos, contacts and apps stay in place, only temporary system files are deleted, and after cleaning, select Reboot or Reboot to System.
💡
Cache cleaning (Wipe Cache) does not delete the user’s personal files, unlike a full reset (Wipe All Data), so you need to start the diagnosis with this step.
Full reset to factory settings
When the cache is not cleaned, you have to resort to more drastic measures: a full reset will return the phone to the state it was in immediately after purchase, guaranteed to eliminate software errors, but requires sacrifice.
⚠️ Attention: All data stored in the internal memory of the smartphone (photos, contacts, correspondence in messengers) will be irretrievably deleted.
The procedure is also done via the Recovery menu. After entering the recovery mode (power and volume buttons up), select Wipe Data. The system will ask for confirmation, often requiring you to enter the word "yes" or select Confirm. This is protection against accidental pressing.
The formatting process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of memory. Don't interrupt it or remove the battery if it's removable. Once completed, a successful reset message will appear on the screen. Select Reboot to start the system.
| Action. | Data retention | Risk of data loss | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forced reset | Complete. | No. | 15-30 sec. |
| Wipe Cache (Recovery) | Complete. | No. | 1-2 minutes |
| Wipe All Data (Hard Reset) | No. | High (100%) | 5-10 minutes |
| Flashing over PC | Depends on the method. | Medium. | 20-40 minutes. |
Once turned on, the system will take longer than usual to boot, as it needs to re-index files and adjust basic settings. This is normal behavior for Android after a reset. Don't panic if the phone is slow for the first 10-15 minutes.
Use of Fastboot Mode and PC
If the Recovery menu is not available or the phone is not responsive to buttons, you can try Fastboot mode. This is a low-level protocol that allows you to interact with the device through a computer, you need a USB cable and, preferably, the original, since third-party cables may not be transmitting data.
To log into the Fastboot on the device that is turned off, press the volume button and connect the USB cable to the computer. There should be a bunny in an orange cap repairing Android on the screen. If this image appears, then the phone controller is alive and the problem can be solved software.
You'll need Mi Flash Tool or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools to do the next thing. Once you've connected your phone, you can try sending a reboot command or rewrite the system partition if you have a firmware file.
fastboot rebootIf the phone goes into reboot right after leaving the Fastboot, the bootloader may be damaged, in which case only the flashing will help. However, if the bootloader status is changed (unlocked) and you tried to install the custom recovery, the error could arise precisely from version incompatibility.
What if your computer doesn’t see your phone in Fastboot?
When a visit to the service center is required
Not all problems are solved at home. If none of the software methods worked, there is a high probability of physical malfunction. Often Xiaomi has a plume dump or failure of memory chips (eMMC or UFS), especially on models that have been in active use for several years.
Also worth paying attention to is the power button, if it's physically locked or doesn't have a clear click, the phone can constantly send a signal to restart, in which case even a functioning system won't be able to start, try tapping your finger gently on the button area or pressing it slightly at different points.
- 🔥 The phone is very hot in the upper part even when turned off.
- 🔌 The device does not respond to the charger connection (no indication).
- 💥 Artifacts, stripes or “broken” pixels appeared on the screen before hanging.
- 💧 The device recently got moisture or it was in high humidity conditions.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to disassemble a modern Xiaomi smartphone without experience can lead to damage to the plumes or violation of the tightness of the case.
In hardware breakdowns, you need to be diagnosed with special equipment, so that the wizards can ring the power circuit and determine which component is blocking the start, sometimes it helps to replace the battery or solder the power controller, which is impossible to do with software methods.