How to go to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi Mi5: all working ways

The Xiaomi Mi5, released in 2016, is still popular with Android enthusiasts for its performance and customization capabilities. However, working with Recovery mode on this device has nuances: standard button combinations may not work due to locking the bootloader, and informal firmware sometimes breaks access to the drain Recovery. In this article, current methods of logging into Recovery Mode for Mi5 (including gemini and Mi5s models), as well as solutions to typical problems: black screen after boot, No command error and lack of response to the button.

It is important to understand the difference between the types of recovery on Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Stock Recovery (Mi-Recovery) – the official menu from Xiaomi with basic functions (reset, update via the app). ZIP). Supports only signed firmware.
• 🛠️ Custom recovery (TWRP) — Extended menu for unofficial firmware, backups and root rights. Requires unlocked bootloader.

If your Mi5 has never been leaked, you probably have a stock recavator. Custom will require additional steps (unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool).

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge not lower than 50% (when discharged during the process, the device can "fill up").
• 🔌 Use the original. USB-cable (cheap cables often do not transmit data to the ADB).
• 🖥️ The PC has Mi Phone Manager drivers installed or ADB/Fastboot.

1. Standard method: button combination

The simplest method is a hardware keyboard combination, which works on a drain Recovery and most custom firmware (unless the kernel settings have changed).

1. Turn off Mi5 (click Power → select "Switch off").
2. Hold it together: 🔘 Power button (Power) 🔼 The button is called Volume Up (Volume Up)

Mi

Recovery Mode

If the screen flashes or Mi Bunny appears, you're in the Fastboot, not the recavator.

• 🚫 bootloader is locked (you need to unlock through Mi Unlock).
• 🔄 The firmware is modified (try Volume Down) + Power instead of Volume Up).

2. Entrance through ADB (buttonless)

If the hardware buttons don't work (for example, after a phone drops), you can log into the receptacles via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

• 🖥️ Included Debugging by USB developer-setting.
• 🔌 Connections Mi5 PC-only USB.
• 📥 Established ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the command line (Windows: Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Check the device connection: Adb devices The answer should be something like a ZX1G42345678 device.
3. Reboot Recovery Command: Adb Reboot Recovery

If the screen goes out after the command, but the recaveri does not start, the problem may be:

• 🔌 Faulty. USB-Port (Try another cable or port on PC).
• 🔒 Locked loader (ADB Cannot initialize reboot to non-castom recaverie).
• 🛠️ Damaged recovery section (you need to flash through Fastboot).

💡

If the adb reboot recovery command returns the “no devices/emulators found” error, make sure that the “Debug by USB (Request for permission)” option is enabled in Settings → For Developers and you have confirmed trust in this PC on your phone.

3. via Fastboot (if the standard method does not work)

If the combination of buttons leads to a Fastboot instead of a recavator, you can force the recavator to load via Fastboot commands, a method that is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader.

Instructions:

1. Download the Mi5 to Fastboot (press Volume Down + Power).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line.
3. Check the connection: fastboot devices must display the serial number of the device.
4. Download the recavities: fastboot boot recovery.img Where recovery.img is a custom recavery file (e.g. TWRP) pre-downloaded for your model (gemini).

For stock recavery, the team will be different:

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

But it only works on unlocked devices!

4 Unlocking the loader to access the Recovery

If all previous methods lead to a Fastboot or black screen, it is likely that your Mi5 has a bootloader locked. Xiaomi blocks it by default for security, but this limits customization options. Unlocking the official way requires:

• 📱 Linked Mi Account (with a confirmed phone number).
• 🖥️ Mi Unlock Tool (download from the official website).
• ⏳ Wait 72–168 hours after your account is linked to your device (Xiaomi introduces a security delay).

Step-by-step:

1. Enable OEM Unlock in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For Developers).
2. Link your Mi Account to your device (Settings → Mi Account → Link your device).
3. Download the Mi5 to Fastboot (Volume Down + Power).
4. Connect to your PC and start the Mi Unlock Tool. Log in to the same Mi Account.
5. Press Unlock and wait until it is completed (it may take several attempts).

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader erases all data on the device, including photos, messages and apps. Make a backup via Mi Cloud or ADB Backup in advance. Also, once unlocked, Find Device may stop working).

5. Solving problems at the entrance to the river

Even after unlocking the bootloader, Mi5 users are faced with typical errors, and here are the most common solutions:

If after entering the recavery phone is stuck on the Mi logo, try:

• 🔌 Connect to charging (sometimes helps with low battery charge).
• 🔄 Forced reboot (press the Power for 15 seconds).
• 🛠️ Reflash the recavers via Fastboot (if the bootloader is unlocked).

💡

If the recovery still doesn't start after unlocking the bootloader, it's likely that the device has an anti-rollback patch installed on it, in which case you need to flash a newer version of MIUI through the Mi Flash Tool in clean all mode.

6. Alternative methods for experienced users

If standard methods don't work, you can use advanced tools, which require technical knowledge and can lead to a device blinking when it fails.

Method 1: Through the Mi Flash Tool (Full ROM firmware)

If the Recovery is damaged, you can flash the full Fastboot ROM from Xiaomi's official website, which will return the stock Recovery, but erase all data:

1. Download Fastboot ROM for Mi5 (gemini) from the official portal.

Method 2: Through the Custom Core (Magisk)

If you have Magisk installed on the device, you can download the recaps through the MagiskBoot module:

1. Install the MagiskBoot Recovery module from the Magisk repository.
2. At Magisk terminal, run su magiskboot --recovery twrp.img
3. Reboot to Recavére via the command: reboot recovery

⚠️ Note: Firmware for unofficial cores or modified cores boot.img on Mi5 With a locked bootloader, you will end up with a hard brick (the device won't even turn on in the Fastboot!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Recovery on Xiaomi Mi5