How to get out of Main Menu Xiaomi and Redmi: all ways to unlock

Getting a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone into what users often call the “main menu” mode can cause panic, especially if the screen is locked and the device does not respond to standard touches. Most often, this term means either Fastboot Mode (fast boot mode with a picture of a rabbit) or Recovery Mode (recovery menu with a text interface).

In most cases, this behavior is not a sign of a fatal breakdown. The system could have gone into this mode due to accidental button clamping in your pocket, a failure when updating your firmware or damaging system files. MIUI, like any complex Android operating system, has several levels of access for diagnosis and repair, and exiting them requires specific combinations of actions.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to identify the current state of your gadget and what steps you need to take to return to normal operation. We will look at both standard methods and advanced methods through the computer if the software failure is serious.

Mode Identification: Fastboot or Recovery?

Before you start taking action, you need to clearly define what screen is displayed on your device, and users often confuse these concepts, calling any non-standard screen “main menu”, which leads to the use of incorrect exit methods.

If on the screen you see an image of a hare in an ušanka that is repairing an android, and the inscription FASTBOOT In orange or blue, you're in low-level firmware mode, and this mode is for engineers and advanced users to flash the device through the computer, and in this state, the touch screen is completely disabled, and you can only control it through the computer. USB-cable.

If you see a menu with items in English (Reboot, Wipe Data, Connect with MIAssistant) and control is done by volume buttons, it's Recovery Mode. It's a recovery menu that lets you reset your device to factory settings or update your system manually, and it's usually easier to exit this mode, but requires a precise hit on the buttons.

⚠️ Warning: Being in Fastboot mode for a long time (more than 30 minutes) without connecting to a power source can lead to a deep discharge of the battery, which will complicate further resuscitation of the device.

It is important not to confuse these modes with the “Main Menu” of the MIUI launcher. If you see application icons but can’t get out of an app to the full screen, it’s a software problem, not a system boot mode, in which case it helps to reboot or clear the app cache.

Ways to exit Fastboot mode

Fastboot mode on Xiaomi and Redmi devices is most often activated by randomly simultaneously pressing the power button and the volume button when turned on. Fortunately, it is the easiest to exit it, and in 90% of cases, you do not need to connect to a computer.

The most effective and safest method is forced reboot, and you need to hold the Power button for a long time, and a standard short press here won't work, because the system blocks the usual interrupts.

• 🔘 Press the power button and hold it near. 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
• 📳 As soon as the device vibrates and the screen goes out, immediately release the button so as not to provoke a re-entry into mode.
• 🔄 Wait for the Mi or Redmi logo to appear, which will indicate a regular load of the operating system.

If holding the power button doesn't help, it might be stuck or physically damaged, so you can try to empty the battery to zero, leave the device on in Fastboot mode for a few hours or days until it turns off itself, then put it on charge and turn it on in the usual way.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to disassemble the back cover of your smartphone to disable the battery plume if you have no experience.This instantly voids the warranty and can damage the internal components.

There is also a software method for exiting the computer if the buttons don't respond, which requires installing ADB and Fastboot drivers on the PC, connecting the phone with a cable to the computer, opening the command line, and entering a command to reboot.

adb reboot

This command sends a signal to the system to restart, and if the drivers are installed correctly and the device is determined by the computer, exit from the Fastboot will occur instantly.

Exit from Recovery Mode (Recovery Menu)

The Recovery menu is more intimidating because of the text interface, but navigation is intuitive if you know how it works, with volume buttons (up and down) and power buttons.

To exit this mode and start the system normally, you need to find the Reboot or Reboot to system. Depending on the version of MIUI, this item can be located in the main menu or inside the submenu.

• 🔽 Use the volume button to move the cursor (usually yellow) down to Reboot.
• 🔼 If the cursor “flew” too far, the volume button will bring it back upwards.
• ⏻ Press the power button to confirm the selection and start the reboot.

In some versions of MIUI Recovery (especially the new Redmi Note models), the menu can be touch-sensitive, so just tap the Reboot and then Reboot to System. The sensor in this mode works with less sensitivity, so the touch should be sure.

If the device returns to the Recovery menu after selecting Reboot, it is a sign of system files being damaged or an unsuccessful update, in which case a simple reboot is not enough and a data reset may be required.

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If the sensor in Recovery doesn't respond, try to wipe the screen with a dry soft cloth.Static electricity or greasy traces can interfere with the touchscreen in this mode.

What to do if the buttons do not respond or get stuck

A frequent cause of the endless cycle in the main menu is a physical malfunction of the buttons. The volume button, which is often located in the side of the case, can be triggered due to dust, moisture or mechanical impact.

You can check the sticking of the button visually and tactilely. Swipe your finger over the button, it should have a clear stroke and click. If the button feels "cotton" or does not return to its original position, it is the one that holds the phone in boot mode.

A temporary solution might be to gently press the problem button repeatedly to try to get its spring mechanism back, and you might also try tapping your hand slightly on the side of the smartphone in the button area to move any debris inside.

⚠️ Note: The use of sharp objects (needles, pins) to pick buttons is strictly prohibited.You risk damaging the moisture membrane or punching the button itself, which will lead to expensive repairs.

If the software methods don't help and the buttons are correct, the problem may be a software conflict, in which case it will help to enter Recovery mode through a combination of buttons (usually Power + Volume Up) and perform a reset.

Reset to factory settings (Wipe Data)

If you can’t access the Reboot menu or the device is in a reboot cycle, the only option is a complete reset, which will delete all user data, photos and contacts, but will restore the system to work.

To do the reset, you need to go to the Recovery menu, find Wipe Data or Clear Data, and within this menu, select the Wipe All Data option, and the system will ask for confirmation, as this action is irreversible.

Once the reset is confirmed, the device will start the cleaning process, the progress bar can be displayed on the screen, wait until the process is complete, and then the phone automatically restarts.

This is a protection against theft (FRP lock).

Using ADB for Advanced Users

For those who are not afraid of the command line, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit provides powerful device management capabilities.This method is effective when physical buttons do not work, but the computer sees the phone.

You first need to download and install Platform Tools from the official Android developer site. After unpacking the archive, open the command line in the tool folder. Connect your smartphone with a cable.

If the phone is identified, you can use the following commands to control boot modes:

adb reboot recovery

This command will force the device to Recovery mode, where you can try to exit in a regular way. If the phone is in Fastboot, the command is:

fastboot reboot

This method is particularly useful when the power button is damaged and it is not physically possible to turn off or restart the device.

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ADB is a bridge between your computer and Android, allowing you to bypass broken physical control buttons, but requiring pre-installing drivers.

It is worth noting that ADB may require USB debugging on the phone before, but Fastboot commands often work without that permission, as they run at the bootloader level.

Prevention and frequent questions

To avoid a repeat of the main menu situation, you should follow simple rules of operation: do not allow moisture to enter the button area, use protective covers that do not press the keys, and avoid hitting.

Update your system regularly through the regular Settings menu → About Phone → System Update. This helps to eliminate software errors that can cause boot failures.

If the problem occurs constantly after installing a particular application, remove it. Conflicting software is a common reason for the system to go into protective modes.