Recovery mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a utility tool for restoring the system, resetting settings or installing updates. However, sometimes users are faced with a situation when the device “hangs” in this mode: the screen does not respond to commands, buttons do not work, and the phone refuses to turn off in the standard way. The reasons may be different: a failed firmware, a failure when updating MIUI, or even accidentally pressing a combination of buttons.
Unlike a conventional shutdown, leaving Recovery Mode requires caution. Mistakes — such as forcing power out in the midst of system operations — can lead to data loss, damage to the /data partition, or even “bricking” the device. This article will help you understand how to correctly exit the recovery mode on any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, including models with a locked bootloader.
We'll look at both standard methods (via the Recovery menu) and alternative methods for cases where the screen isn't responding, and what to do if the phone stops turning on after it's turned off from Recovery.
Why Xiaomi is not leaving Recovery mode?
Before you start, it’s important to understand why the device got stuck in Recovery, and here are the most common reasons:
- 🔄 Interrupted update MIUI. If the firmware installation process has been interrupted (for example, the battery is down or the user has forced the phone to turn off), the system can automatically boot into Recovery every time you try to turn on.
- 📱 Factory Reset Failure: The Wipe Data or Factory Reset command sometimes leads to a reboot cycle in Recovery, especially if it was not mounted before the reset. SD-map.
- 🔧 Incompatible firmware: Install custom Recovery (e.g., custom recovery, TWRP) or firmware not intended for your model may cause a loader conflict.
- 🔋 If the charge dropped below 5% while working with Recovery, the system can freeze before connecting to the charger.
- 🛠️ Hardware malfunctions: Damage to the power button or battery contacts sometimes mimics "hang" in Recovery.
If your Xiaomi got into Recovery after a failed firmware or reset, don’t try to turn it off immediately with the power button.In some cases, the system itself tries to recover – this can be prevented by a forced shutdown.
Method 1: Standard shutdown via Recovery Menu
If the screen responds to touch or volume buttons, the safest way is to use the built-in Recovery options.Instructions are suitable for stock Recovery MIUI (on Chinese and global firmware) and most custom recyclers (TWRP, OrangeFox).
Steps:
- In the Recovery menu, select Reboot or Power Off with the volume buttons (up/down).
- Confirm the choice of the power button (on some models - long retention).
- If Power Off is not available, select Reboot to System. If the system does not boot, the phone will shut down automatically after several attempts.
On some versions of MIUI Recovery, the menu may look different, for example, in the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the path will be: Reboot → Power Off.
The Recovery menu (not black screen) is displayed on the screen.
Volume and power buttons respond to pressing
No active processes (e.g. firmware installation)
Charger connected (if charge is below 20%)
-->
⚠️ Warning: If a process is in progress in the Recovery menu (e.g. Installing update... or Wiping data...), do not turn off your phone until the end of the operation message appears on the screen.
Method 2: Forced button shutdown (if the screen is unresponsive)
If the Recovery menu doesn’t respond to taps and the phone is getting stuck on one screen, you’ll have to use hardware shutdown, a technique that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO X3, Mi 11, and others.
Instructions:
- Hold the power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
- If the phone vibrates but the screen remains on, try the combination: Power button + volume increase (hold 10-20 seconds).
- Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T) may need to hold the power button + volume down.
After turning off, wait 30 seconds before trying to turn the phone on again, which will allow the capacitors to discharge and reset temporary errors.
| Xiaomi model | Combination for forced shutdown | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9/10 | Food (10 sec) | Some firmware requires 15 seconds. |
| POCO F3/X3 | Power + Volume Up (12 seconds) | Vibration confirms shutdown |
| Mi 11/12 Series | Power + Volume Down (15 seconds) | It may take 2-3 attempts. |
| Xiaomi Pad 5 | Food (20 seconds) | Due to the large battery, the retention time is longer |
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is turned off but re-enters Recovery the next time it is turned on, it indicates damage to the bootloader or system partition. EDL.
Method 3: Shutting down via PC Connection (ADB)
If the buttons don’t work and the Recovery menu is displayed on the screen, you can try turning the phone off via the ADB command line. This method requires pre-configuring debugging over USB, but is suitable for power users.
Steps:
- Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
- Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), perform: adb reboot poweroff
If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:
adb shell reboot -pOn some firmware MIUI debugging USB It's disabled in Recovery by default. ADB-method will not work.
💡
If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi USB Drivers or using a USB 2.0 port (on some PCs, USB 3.0 causes connection issues).
Method 4: Removal of the battery (for collapsible models)
On older Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 3S, Redmi 4X) or removable battery devices, you can physically turn off power, a method that is highly discouraged for today’s non-shattered smartphones, as it breaks the tightness and can damage the plumes.
If you're still up to it,
- 🔧 Carefully remove the back cover (need a mediator or plastic shoulder blade).
- 🔋 Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard (do not pull the wires!).
- ⏱️ Wait 1-2 minutes, then plug the battery back in.
On models with a non-removable battery (for example, Xiaomi Mi A2, POCO F2 Pro) this method is not applicable without disassembly of the body, which cancels the warranty.
What happens if you remove the battery often?
Method 5: Discharge the battery to 0%
If no method works, and the phone doesn't respond to buttons or PC connections, the last option is to completely discharge, which takes a long time (from a few hours to a day), but is guaranteed to turn off the device.
How to speed up the process:
- 🔌 Connect your phone to charge and wait until it starts charging (if the charging indicator is on).
- 📵 Turn off the charger and leave the phone alone. Periodically (every 2-3 hours) try to turn it on with the power button to check the level of charge.
- 🔋 If the screen turns on and shows the charge level, wait until it drops to 0.
After full discharge, connect the phone to charge and try turning it on in 10-15 minutes. If the device loads again in Recovery, this indicates a software failure that requires flashing.
💡
Discharge to 0% is the only method that works even when the power controller is “hanging”, but it can take up to 24 hours on modern 5,000+ mAh batteries.
What if Xiaomi does not turn on after turning off Recovery?
If the phone is turned off, but when you press the power button does not give signs of life (no vibration, no indicator lights), the following scenarios are possible:
- Hardware failure: damage to the power button, the charging controller or the battery, the solution is diagnostics at the service center.
- Loader damage: If you had a firmware installation or reset before you shut down, you might have damaged your critical partitions (boot, recovery). EDL.
- Deep discharge: If the battery is discharged to 0% and does not take charge, try to leave it on charging for 1-2 hours, and then hold the power button for 20-30 seconds.
For diagnostics, connect the phone to a PC and check if it is detected in Device Manager (e.g., as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 is a sign of EDL mode). If so, the device can be restored using the Mi Flash Tool.
If the phone vibrates when charging is connected but does not turn on, try the combination:
power button + volume increaseHold it for 10-15 seconds to force the bootloader to start.