How to turn off Xiaomi phone if it’s stuck in a reboot cycle: emergency techniques

The situation is familiar to many: Xiaomi smartphone suddenly starts to reboot over and over again, not even allowing you to walk to the lock screen. Trying to hold the power button does not help, and the battery goes down. What to do if the phone has turned into a “brick”? The reasons for this behavior can be different — from a firmware failure to hardware malfunctions, but the first thing to do is to turn off the device correctly so as not to aggravate the problem.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods of forced shutdown for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, including devices with a non-removable battery. You will also learn how to determine the cause of the reboot cycle and what to do after a successful shutdown to bring the phone back to life. Importantly, the wrong actions can lead to data loss or complete failure of the device – follow the instructions carefully!

If your Xiaomi reboots every 5 to 30 seconds, doesn’t respond to presses or is stuck on the MIUI logo, don’t panic. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without going to the service center. The main thing is not to try to “pull out” the battery (on most modern models this is impossible without disassembling the case) and not to connect the phone to charging until completely shut down.

Why Xiaomi is constantly rebooting: 5 main reasons

The bootloop is not a self-failure, but a symptom. To effectively fix a problem, you need to understand the source of the problem. Here are the most common reasons for Xiaomi smartphones:

• 🔄 Firmware failure: Failed update MIUI, interrupted custom firmware installation or damage to system files (for example, after rooting).
• 🔋 Battery problems: Bloating, deep discharge or failure of the power controller.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunctions: Damage to the motherboard, chip failure of memory or processor (especially after falls or moisture hits).
• 📱 Application Conflict: Viruses, Incompatible Programs, or Failures in Google Play Services.
• 🔌 Faulty Charger: Using poor-quality cables or adapters can cause voltage surges.

Typically, software failures (the first two points) can be fixed independently, while hardware failures (3-5 points) require diagnosis in the service center. If the phone began to restart after a fall, water hit or disassembly on its own, it is most likely due to hardware.

Note that if you installed a MIUI update or custom firmware before the reboot cycle, the problem is almost certainly caused by damage to the boot partition, in which case turning off your phone is only the first step on the road to recovery.

Method 1: Forced button-off (for most models)

The easiest and safest way is to reset hardware using a combination of buttons. It works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and other models with a non-removable battery.

Instructions:

1. Hold the power button and the volume button at the same time.
2. Hold them for at least 10-15 seconds (even if the screen goes out earlier).
3. Release the buttons when the phone is completely off (the screen is black, the vibration stops).

If this method doesn’t work, try an alternative combination:

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Instead of increasing volume, you should hold the volume button. If you're not sure, try both.

After a successful shutdown, don't turn your phone on right away. Wait at least 1-2 minutes to avoid a re-failure. If the device starts to reboot again, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Removal of the battery (only for older models)

On Xiaomi smartphones until 2018 (for example, Redmi 4X, Mi A1, Redmi Note 3), the battery can be removed independently. This is guaranteed to interrupt the reboot cycle, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone (if possible) or wait until it is empty.
2. Remove the back cover with a plastic shoulder blade or mediator (some models will require a hairdryer to unstick the panel).
3. Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard (usually it is fixed by a connector).
4. Wait 5-10 minutes, then plug the battery back in and collect the phone.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to remove the battery on models with non-removable battery (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or Xiaomi). 12T)! This can damage the plumes or cause a short circuit.

If the phone turns on normally after the battery is removed, the problem was most likely a deep discharge or failure of the power controller. If the reboot cycle repeats, the reasons are deeper (firmware or hardware malfunction).

Method 3: Battery discharge to 0%

If the phone doesn't respond to the buttons and the battery is fixed, you can wait until it's completely discharged. This method takes time (2 to 12 hours), but often helps when other methods are not available.

How to speed up the discharge:

• 🔌 Connect the phone to a non-functioning charger (e.g., to a USB-This creates a parasitic load.
• 📱 Turn on the maximum brightness of the screen (if the phone sometimes wakes up for a second).
• 🎵 Run music or video playback in the loop (if you have access to the menu).

After you're fully discharged, wait 10 to 15 minutes, then plug in the original charger. If the phone turns on, the problem was that the power controller failed. If the reboot cycle continues, move on to the following methods.

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If the phone is running out for too long, put it in a cool place (but not in the fridge!).The low temperature will speed up the process a little without damaging the battery.

Method 4: Use Fastboot Mode (for advanced users)

If the phone wakes up for a second and displays the MIUI or Fastboot logo, you can try turning it off via bootloader mode, which requires a connection to your computer and the ADB/Fastboot drivers installed.

Instructions:

1. Install Google’s Platform Tools on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Enter the command: fastboot devices If the phone is determined, run: fastboot reboot -p or (for complete shutdown): fastboot oem off-mode-charge 0

⚠️ Attention: fastboot commands can erase data or block the bootloader if used incorrectly!

If the phone is not detected in fastboot, try holding the power button + volume reduction when connecting to a PC. On some models (POCO F3, Xiaomi 11T), this force the device to EDL mode, but you need special tools to work with it (for example, Mi Flash Tool).

Method 5: Hardware Resetting through Recovery Mode

If the phone ever boots to the Recovery Mode screen, you can try turning it off or resetting it, which will help if the reason for the reboot cycle is in damaged user data.

How to log in to Recovery Mode:

• Turn off your phone (if possible) or wait for a reboot.
• Hold the power button + increase the volume until the Mi Recovery logo appears.
• Select Reboot → Power Off (or Shutdown) from the menu.

If the phone doesn't turn off through the menu, try doing Wipe Cache Partition (does not erase user data) or Factory Reset (full reset).The latter option will delete all files, but often solves the bootloop problem.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO X2) Recovery Mode can be blocked. In this case, you will need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Method 6: Power outage through test points (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked and the phone continues to reboot, you can try to force the power out of test points on the motherboard.This is a risky method that requires disassembling the device, but sometimes it is the only way to “reanimate” Xiaomi.

How it works:

• 🔧 On the motherboard of most Xiaomi smartphones have contacts GND (land KCOL (or PS_HOLD).
• 📍 Their short-term closure with tweezers or screwdriver simulates a command to turn off.
• ⚡ Important: Incorrect circuiting can burn the board! Use this method only if you are confident in your skills.

For popular models, the coordinates of the points can be found on thematic forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

If you are not sure about the location of the points, it is better to contact the service center, this method should be used only in desperate situations where other methods have not worked.

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Forced shutdown through test points is a last resort, and in 90% of cases, the problem can be solved by software (reset, flashing) or replacing the battery.

What to do after turning off the phone?

When you finally managed to turn off Xiaomi, don't rush to turn it on.The following steps depend on the reason for the reboot cycle:

• 🔄 If the problem is firmware: Try logging into Fastboot and reflashing your phone with the official version MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔋 If the battery is to blame: Replace it with a new (original or certified) replacement cost in the service - from 1,500 to 4000 rubles.
• 🛠️ If you suspect a hardware malfunction: Don't turn your phone on, get it to the service immediately. Repeated launch attempts can aggravate the damage.
• 📱 If the reboot cycle has stopped: Back up your data and reset your settings via Settings → About phone → Factory reset.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after it's turned off at all (no vibration, no charge indicator), don't try to charge it or disassemble it yourself.

Xiaomi test modes can be used to diagnose hardware problems, such as checking battery status:

1. Turn the phone on in Fastboot (power button + volume reduction).
2. Connect to the PC and type the command: fastboot oem diag
3. In the menu that opens, select Battery Test to check voltage and capacity.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi reboot cycle