Why did Xiaomi phone have a hare in a hat-eared star and what to do with it?

Who is this rabbit and why is it on your Xiaomi?

You turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, and instead of the usual MIUI logo, you have a cartoon hare in a red star hat on the screen? Don't panic, it's not a virus or a developer joke. It signals that your phone is in Fastboot mode (aka EDL Mode or Download Mode), which is a service mode that is used to run the firmware, unlock the bootloader or restore the system after a crash.

In 90% of cases, the appearance of a rabbit is due to one of three reasons: a failed firmware update, accidental pressing of the button combination when you turn on or software failure; less often, hardware problems (for example, damage to the charging connector or battery); In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios for the appearance of a rabbit on Xiaomi, including the Redmi, POCO and Mi models, and also give step-by-step instructions for exiting Fastboot mode – from the simplest to advanced methods.

Important: If the rabbit appeared after trying to unlock the bootloader or install custom firmware (for example, through TWRP), immediately go to the section about unlocking the bootloader.

What does the hare in the hat mean on the Xiaomi screen?

The red-star hare (sometimes referred to as the “Soviet rabbit”) was invented by Xiaomi engineers as a visual marker for the Fastboot mode.

🔧 You accidentally pinched the button combination Volume down + Power on-set.
📱 Phone tries to upgrade, but firmware is damaged or incompatible with model.
🔄 There was a failure when unlocking the bootloader or installing custom software.
🔋 The battery was discharged to 0% during a critical operation (e.g. updates).
🛠️ The phone has a damaged charging connector or power controller (in this case, the rabbit may appear cyclically).

In Fastboot mode, the phone does not load the operating system (MIUI or Android), but waits for commands from the user via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or Mi Flash Tool. The rabbit itself is not a bug, but a status indicator. The problem begins if the phone gets stuck in this mode and does not respond to standard exit methods.

📊 How often do you have technical problems with Xiaomi?

Often, once a month.

Sometimes, every six months.

Rarely, once a year.

Never.

I remember.

Simple Ways to Remove a Rabbit from the Screen (No PC)

If the rabbit is the first time and the phone has been stable, try these methods without connecting to your computer:

Hard reboot. Press the Power button for 15 to 20 seconds until the screen goes out. Then turn on the phone as usual. Works 60 percent of the time if the failure was temporary.
Button combination: Hold Volume up + Power for 10 seconds. If the phone vibrates, let go. This method simulates exiting the Fastboot.
Charging connection. Sometimes the rabbit comes from a dead battery. Connect the original cable and charger, wait 10-15 minutes, then try to reboot the phone.

If none of these methods worked, then the problem is deeper, perhaps the firmware is damaged or the bootloader is blocked, in which case you will need a computer and special utilities (more on this below).

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If the phone responds to the push of the buttons (vibrates, the screen blinks), but the rabbit does not disappear - try holding the combination Volume up + Volume down + Power simultaneously for 30 seconds. This will forcefully reset the bootloader state on some Redmi Note models.

Exit from Fastboot via Mi Flash Tool (for Windows)

If simple methods don't work, you'll have to connect your phone to your PC.

💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux instruction).
🔌 Original. USB-cable (better the one that came with the phone).
📥 Mi Flash Tool (official website of Xiaomi).
📂 Firmware for your model (you can download it on Xiaomi Firmware Updater).

Step-by-step:

Install the Mi Flash Tool and drivers for your model (usually they are installed automatically when you first connect your phone in Fastboot mode).
Unpack the downloaded firmware into a folder without Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Xiaomi\firmware).
Connect your phone to your PC via USB. Make sure that the Android Bootloader Interface is in Device Manager.
Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and specify the path to the firmware folder.
At the bottom, select Clean all (if you want to save data) or Clean all and lock (if the phone has been unlocked and you need to return the stock firmware).
Press Flash and wait until the process is complete (usually 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If you choose Clean all and lock, the phone will return to factory settings and the bootloader will lock, which can result in a loss of warranty if it is still valid.

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If the rabbit appeared after unlocking the loader

If you have tried to unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool or installed custom software (like LineageOS), the rabbit may signal:

🔓 Incomplete unlocking (repeat the procedure in the Mi Unlock Tool).
📦 Incompatibility of firmware with the phone model.
🔧 Damage to the boot or recovery section.

What to do:

Connect the phone to your PC and check the bootloader status with the command: fastboot oem device-info If the answer Device unlocked: false, the bootloader is locked.
Download Mi Unlock Tool, log in under the same Mi Account as on your phone, and re-unblock.
If the unlocking was successful, but the rabbit remains, run the phone through Fastboot using the command: fastboot flash boot.img fastboot flash recovery.img fastboot reboot (boot.img and recovery.img files must be from the firmware for your model).

⚠️ Warning: After unlocking the loader is reset DRM-Keys that may stop Widevine from working L1 (no HD Netflix, wireless charging (on some models), or a full-resolution camera, which is irredeemable without locking the bootloader again.

Table: Frequent causes of hare and solutions

Reason.	Symptoms	Decision
Accidental push of buttons	Rabbit appeared after the restart, the phone responds to the buttons	Hard reset (Eating 20 seconds) or the combination Volume up + Nutrition
Failed update	After the rabbit OTA-Update, the phone does not turn on further	Swipe stock firmware through Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode
Discharged battery	The rabbit appears cyclically, the phone turns off after a few seconds.	Charge 30-60 minutes with the original RAM, then restart
Charging connector damaged	Rabbit + phone is not determined by PC, charging is jerky	Check the connector for physical damage or take to the service
Custom firmware	Rabbit after installing TWRP or unofficial software	Return the stock firmware or reflash through fastboot

What should I do if there is a rabbit on the screen?

Some actions may make the problem worse or cause the phone to fail completely.

🚫 If you're running the Mi Flash Tool or fastboot, don't turn it off. USB before the end (even if nothing seems to be happening).
🚫 Use unofficial firmware. download firmware only from trusted sources (Xiaomi Firmware Updater, 4PDA high-rated topic).
🚫 Reset settings through recovery. If the phone boots into TWRP, But not in the system, a reset (Wipe) can erase critical partitions.
🚫 Connect to faulty ones USB-Use the rear ports of the PC (they are more stable than the front ones) or USB-feed-in.

⚠️ Warning: If you see this device is locked under the image of a hare, it means that the bootloader is blocked, and any attempts to flash custom software will lead to a blink. In this case, you either need to unlock the bootloader officially or return the stock firmware.

What is a “brick” and how to avoid it?

Brick is a condition of the phone in which it is completely inoperable (not turned on, not detected by the PC, not responding to buttons). Most often the bric occurs due to: 1. Interrupted firmware (for example, turned off USB during the process). 2. Install firmware from another phone model. 3. Damage to critical partitions (boot, modem, persist). To avoid a bric, always check the compatibility of the firmware with the phone model and do not interrupt the upgrade process.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can you remove a rabbit without a computer?

Yes, but only if the problem is temporary. Try: Hold the power for 20 to 30 seconds. Plug the charger and wait 15 minutes, then restart. Push Volume up + Power for 10 seconds. If nothing works, you can't do without a PC.

Why is the phone not turned on after running through the Mi Flash Tool?

Probable reasons: You chose the wrong firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 10 instead of Note 10 Pro) The firmware process was interrupted (switched off USB or battery was dead), Clean all and lock mode was selected, but the bootloader was unlocked. Solution: repeat the firmware, make sure firmware is compatible, or try Clean all mode instead of Clean all and lock.

The rabbit appears every time you turn on. What do you do?

This is a sign of a hardware problem or a major firmware failure.Order of action: Try flashing your phone through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode. If it doesn't work, check the charging connector and battery (possibly the phone isn't getting enough power). If firmware and hardware checks don't work, contact the service center (possibly damaged memory chip or power controller).

Can I get my data back if my phone is stuck on a rabbit?

The chances are, but they depend on the reason: If the phone is detected in Fastboot, but does not boot into the system, you can try to extract data through the Fastboot. ADB (If the bootloader is unlocked. If the firmware is damaged, but the userdata partition is intact, the data will be saved when you select the Save userdata mode in the Mi Flash Tool. If the phone is blocked (not determined by the PC), data can be recovered almost without specialized equipment. ADB Use the command: adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Backup\ (You must first load into TWRP temporary ADB-regime).

Why did a rabbit appear after unlocking the bootloader and the phone doesn't turn on?

Chances are you have stitched incompatible software or didn't wait to unlock it. Solution: Sweat the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool in Clean all mode. If the phone is not identified, try EDL mode (you need to close the test points on the board or use Deep Flash Cable). After recovery, repeat unlocking the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool, strictly following the official instructions of Xiaomi.

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If the rabbit on the Xiaomi screen appeared after updating or manipulating the firmware, the first thing you should do is try to flash the stockware through the Mi Flash Tool. In 80% of cases, this solves the problem without losing data (if you choose Clean all mode).