Safe Mode on Xiaomi: How to Enable, Use and Disable

Safe Mode on Xiaomi devices is a diagnostic tool that helps identify problems caused by third-party applications or conflicts in the system. When a smartphone starts to slow down, spontaneously restart or issue errors, the first step is to check its operation without the influence of installed programs. In this mode, only the basic system components are loaded, and all user applications are temporarily disabled.

Many Redmi, POCO, or Mi owners don’t know how to activate this mode, although it can save data when critical crashes occur. For example, if a new app starts flickering or the battery runs out in an hour, Safe Mode can help confirm that it’s the fault, but it’s important to understand that this mode doesn’t solve hardware problems — it only isolates software problems.

In this article, you will find the current ways to run Safe Mode on all modern Xiaomi devices (including models from 2023-2026), as well as learn how to get out of it and what to do if the smartphone is stuck in diagnostic mode. MIUI And we warn against typical mistakes.

What is a Safe Mode and Why You Need It

Safe Mode is a simplified version of the operating system booting, where all third-party apps and services are disabled. On the Xiaomi screen, this mode usually displays the "Safe Mode" watermark in the bottom corner.

• 🔍 Diagnosing failures: If problems disappear in Safe Mode, the cause is in one of the installed applications.
• 🛠️ Malware Removal: Viruses or incorrect programs do not start, allowing them to be uninstalled.
• 🔄 Recovery after updates: if after update MIUI The system is unstable, the regime helps to roll back changes.
• 📱 Testing of hardware components: checking the screen, speakers or sensors without the influence of software.

For example, if your Redmi Note 12 started to overheat after installing the game, running in Safe Mode will show whether the app is to blame or a battery problem.

• 🚫 Widgets on the main screen
• 🚫 Automatic account synchronization
• 🚫 Some system settings (e.g. Application Permissions)

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14+, safe mode automatically disables background activity of all applications except system ones, which allows you to more accurately diagnose conflicts with Google services or proprietary utilities (for example, Mi Share or Game Turbo).

⚠️ Warning: If problems persist in Safe Mode (e.g., the smartphone is still restarting), this indicates a hardware defect, such as a motherboard, battery or screen malfunction.

How to run a safe mode on Xiaomi

There are three main methods of activating Safe Mode on Xiaomi devices, and their availability depends on the model and version of MIUI.

1. Through the power and volume buttons (universal method)

This is the most reliable way to work on 90% of Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO devices, including the old models on MIUI 10-12 and the new ones on MIUI 14-15.

1. Turn off your smartphone (click the power → turn off).
2. After completely turning off the screen, press and hold the Power button.
3. When the Mi or Redmi logo appears without releasing Power, press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. Hold both buttons until the download is complete (usually 10-20 seconds).

A sign of success is the "Safe Mode" sign in the bottom left corner of the screen. If nothing happens, try again, holding the buttons longer.

2. via the off menu (for MIUI 13-15)

On new firmware versions, you can enable Safe Mode without button combinations:

1. Press the power button for 2-3 seconds to appear menu.
2. Press and hold your finger on the Turn Off option (or Reboot on some models).
3. After 3-5 seconds, a proposal will appear to go to safe mode - confirm the choice.

This method works on Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and other flagships, and on budget models (for example, POCO M6) it may not be available.

3. via ADB (for advanced users)

If the smartphone does not respond to buttons or you need to remotely activate the mode, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge). You will need a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and USB debugging on the phone is enabled.

Launch command:

adb shell reboot safe-mode

Once completed, the device will reboot to Safe Mode, which is suitable for models with unlocked bootloader or root rights.

How to get out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi

Most of the time, you're automatically logging out of Safe Mode after you've rebooted normally, but sometimes you get stuck in that mode.

1. Standard way: press the Power button → select Reboot.
2. Forced Reboot: If the screen doesn’t respond, hold Power + Volume 10-15 seconds until the device turns off and switches on again.
3. Through notification: on some models, the button “Exit Safe Mode” appears in the notification curtain.

If the mode is activated again after the reboot, this may indicate:

• 🔋 Volume button problems (stick or damage).
• 📱 Failure in the system partition (reflashing required).
• 🦠 Virus software that blocks normal loading.

💡

If the smartphone is cyclically back in Safe Mode, try booting into Fastboot (Power + Volume Down buttons) and resetting via the Mi Flash Tool.

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, multiple forced reboots can lead to activation of the Anti-Rollback protection. EDL-regime.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When using Safe Mode, users often make mistakes that can make problems worse.

• ❌ Interrupt boot: If you release the buttons too early, the smartphone will boot as normal.
• ❌ Ignoring the watermark: Some don't notice the "Safe Mode" sign and think nothing has worked!
• ❌ Removal of system applications: Safe Mode can only uninstall user programs, and removing MiuiDaemon or Security will cause system failure.

Another common problem is that the smartphone doesn't leave Safe Mode after a few reboots.

Diagnosing problems in safe mode

Once you've successfully booted into Safe Mode, it's time to do a diagnostic.

1. Check the performance: if the lags are gone, one of the apps is to blame.
2. Test the hardware components: 🔊 Speakers: Play the sound through the built-in player. 📸 Camera: Take a photo in the standard Camera app. 📶 Network: Check Wi-Fi and mobile internet connection.

Review the error logs

Mi Log Viewer

Safe Mode

If the problem is related to automatic updates (for example, after the MIUI update, the sound disappeared), in Safe Mode you can roll back the firmware version through Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Select the service pack.

💡

If your smartphone is stable in safe mode and not in normal mode, it’s one of the user apps that is to blame. Start removing the latest installed programs, especially if they require root or special permissions.

Safe Mode Features on Different Versions of MIUI

Safe mode functionality may vary depending on the firmware version, and here are the key differences:

• MIUI 12 and older: 🔹 Navigation gestures are disabled (only buttons are activated). 🔹 The watermark "Safe Mode" is displayed on all screens.

On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), Safe Mode can automatically turn off background activity even for system applications, making it easier to find conflicts.

For models with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the process of launching Safe Mode may be different.

adb shell setprop persist.sys.safemode 1

with subsequent reboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about safe mode on Xiaomi