How to hard reboot the Xiaomi smartphone if it freezes and does not react

Xiaomi's suspended smartphone is a situation that almost every owner of this brand's devices has faced: the screen does not respond to touch, the buttons do not work, and the phone turns into a brick? Hard reset is the only way to bring it back to life without losing data. But how do you do it correctly so as not to aggravate the problem?

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods of forced reboot for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from the classic button combination to hidden MIUI functions. You will learn which methods are safe for data and which can lead to a reset, why some models require unique combinations, and what to do if the phone does not respond even to a hard reboot. We will also provide a table of methods compatibility with popular models and answers to frequent questions.

What is a hard reboot and when you need it

Hard reboot is a forced switching off and on of a smartphone without using a software interface, which works even when the system is completely locked.

When a hard requisition is required:

• 📱 The screen is stuck on the logo. MI or download animation.
• 🔄 The phone does not respond to touches and buttons (including Power and Volume).
• 🔋 The battery is discharged to zero, and after charging the device does not turn on.
• 🤖 The system is a critical error (Android system has stopped).
• 🔄 App or game caused 'eternal' hanging.

It is important to understand that hard reboot does not delete data from internal memory, but can interrupt background processes (for example, the MIUI update). If the phone is getting stuck while firmware is not recommended, this method is not recommended (for more details in the section "What can not be done").

⚠️ Warning: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, frequent hard reboots can cause a crash TWRP Or custom recapvery. If you're using unofficial software, try rebooting through the system first. ADB.

Method 1: Classic button combination (works on 90% of models)

The most versatile method is the use of hardware buttons, which is suitable for most Xiaomi smartphones released after 2016, including the Redmi Note, POCO, Mi and Black Shark series.

Instructions:

1. Press the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time.
2. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the phone vibrates.
3. Release the buttons and the device will start restarting.

If the screen stays black for more than 30 seconds, try plugging in the charger (even if the battery is charged), which sometimes helps wake up the power controller.

Make sure your phone is not connected to your PC (risk of MTP failure)

Disconnect all accessories (earphones, memory cards)

Try holding the buttons for up to 20 seconds (on some models longer)

If you have a case, remove it (can block the buttons)-->

Some models (such as the Xiaomi Mi A1/A2 with pure Android One) have a different combination:

Power + Volume Down button – hold for 10 seconds

Method 2: Reboot with Recovery Mode (if the buttons don’t work)

If the classic combination doesn't work, you can try to enter Recovery Mode and initialize the rebut from there, a method that's a little more complicated, but it's effective at deep freezes.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone (if it is still responding, hold the Power for 5-7 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume Up and hold until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will see the Recovery menu (in Chinese firmware it can be in Chinese).
4. Use volume buttons to navigate and select Reboot (or Chinese).
5. Confirm the choice with the Power button.

If the menu is in Chinese, focus on the icons:

• 🔄 — reboot (Reboot).
• 📱 — exit from the Recovery (Exit).
• ⚠️ — Resetting settings (Wipe Data – do not select this item!).

⚠️ Note: DO NOT select Wipe Data or Factory Reset options from the Recovery menu, this will result in total data loss.

Method 3: Reboot through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to a computer and debugging is enabled USB (USB Debugging, you can restart your phone via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method is useful if the screen is working, but the system is getting stuck.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB developer-setting.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Enter the command: adb devices If the device is defined, execute: adb reboot

If the team doesn’t work, try:

adb shell reboot -p

(Forced shutdown followed by activation).

1. whether Xiaomi drivers are installed (download from the official website).

2. Is USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → For Developers → USB debugging)

3. Try another one. USB-port.-->

Method 4: Battery Removal (Old Models Only)

On Xiaomi smartphones before 2017 (e.g. Redmi 3S, Redmi Note 3), the battery was removable, at least it could be removed for forced shutdown, but on modern models the battery is soldered, and this method does not apply.

If you have an old model with a removable battery:

1. Remove the back cover (a plastic shoulder blade or mediator will be required).
2. Carefully slap the battery and disconnect it for 10-15 seconds.
3. Install it back and turn on the phone.

⚠️ Note: On non-removable models (Redmi Note 4 and later), trying to remove the battery will damage the plumes and lose warranty!

Method 5: Forced power outage (if nothing helps)

If the phone doesn't respond to any combination of buttons, the last way to do that is to empty the battery to zero, which will take time, but it's guaranteed to turn the device off.

How to do this:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to charge and wait until it’s completely discharged (may take hours).
• 🕒 After turning off, wait 5-10 minutes and plug the charger back in.
• 🔄 The phone must turn on automatically or after pressing Power.

This method works in 99% of cases, but has disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long (from 2 to 12 hours, depending on the level of charge).
• 🔋 May have a negative impact on battery health (not recommended to repeat often).

💡

If the phone doesn't turn on after it's completely discharged, the problem could be the power controller or the firmware, which requires a diagnosis at the service center.

Table of compatibility of methods with popular models Xiaomi

Not all methods work on all devices, and the table below shows the proven combinations for popular models:

If your model isn’t in the table, try the Power + Volume Up universal combination – it works on 90% of Xiaomi devices.

What not to do with a hard reboot

Some actions may make the problem worse or cause data loss, and avoid the following mistakes:

• 🚫 Don't take it out. SIM-card or memory card during reboot – this can damage the file system.
• 🚫 Do not press buttons randomly (e.g., Power) + Vol Up + Vol Down at the same time – this can run a Fastboot or EDL, which will cause the discharge.
• 🚫 Don't interrupt the update. MIUI Hard reboot is the “brick” phone (you need firmware through Mi Flash).
• 🚫 Do not use unofficial utilities like Mi Unlock or TWRP without understanding the consequences – the risk of blocking the loader.

If the phone is stuck during the upgrade, wait at least 30 to 40 minutes – sometimes the process seems frozen, but actually goes in the background.

1. Enter Recovery Mode.

2. Select Wipe Cache (not Wipe Data!).

3. Reset the device.-->

Frequent Questions (FAQ)