Fastboot Mode on Xiaomi: How to Sign In and What to Do Next

Fastboot mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a special state of the device that allows you to perform low-level operations, from unlocking the bootloader to firmware custom recavers or restoring the brick. Without this mode, you can not conduct most service manipulations, but many users face difficulties when trying to log in.

In this article, you will find the most current ways to log in to Fastboot for all modern Xiaomi models (2026), including devices with a locked bootloader, and also analyze the typical errors that prevent users from successfully activating the mode. We will not limit ourselves to basic instructions – here you will learn how to bypass common MIUI locks and what to do if the smartphone does not respond to standard button combinations.

Important: the Fastboot login procedure on Xiaomi is different from other brands (such as Samsung or Google Pixel), so the instructions for them will not work. If you plan to unlock the bootloader or flash the device, prepare a PC with MiFlash drivers and utility installed in advance. ADB/Fastboot.

What is Fastboot Mode and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Fastboot mode (not to be confused with Recovery!) is a protocol for interaction between a smartphone and a computer at the bootloader level, in which the device does not load the operating system, but waits for commands from the user via the fastboot interface (part of the Android SDK Platform-Tools package).

On Xiaomi smartphones, Fastboot mode is used to:

• 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader Unlock) – a mandatory step before firmware custom software;
• 📥 Install official and unofficial firmware via MiFlash or fastboot;
• 🛠️ Recovery of the device after failures ("bricking");
• 🔄 Reflashing the boot, recovery or system partitions;
• 📡 Check the status of the bootloader (fastboot oem device-info command).

Unlike Recovery Mode: In Recovery, you interact with the menu on your smartphone screen (for example, to reset settings), whereas Fastboot requires a PC connection and the use of the command line. On Xiaomi, these modes are logged in with different combinations of buttons.

⚠️ Note: On new Xiaomi models (released after 2022), Fastboot entry can be blocked before unlocking the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock app. FASTBOOT: error: Failed to boot into fastbootd.

The standard way to log into Fastboot on Xiaomi

For most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (including 2023-2026 models), there is a universal combination:

1. Turn off your smartphone completely (press the power button and select "Switch off")

2. Press the Power + Volume Down button at the same time

3. Hold both buttons for 8-10 seconds until the Fastboot logo appears (the Mi Bunny robot labeled FASTBOOT)

4. connect the device to the PC via USB-cable USB 2.0 is preferable)

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If the screen remains black or the MI logo appears with the subsequent booting of the system, it means:

• 🔋 Battery discharged (charge the device to at least 30%);
• 🔌 It's not original. USB-cable (try the cable from the kit);
• 🖥️ MiFlash drivers are not installed on the PC (download them from the official Xiaomi website).

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the button combination can only work after pre-enabled OEM Unlock option in the developer settings.

Xiaomi (11/12/13) series

Redmi (Note, K-series)

POCO (F/X/M-series)

Black Shark

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Alternative methods of logging into Fastboot

If the standard combination doesn’t work, try one of these methods:

TestPoint requires disassembly of the device and is used only in extreme cases (for example, if the smartphone does not turn on at all). ADB or a standard button combination.

Unlock the bootloader via Fastboot

Logging into Fastboot is just the first step on the way to unlock the bootloader. To fully unlock the device, you need to:

1. Link your Mi Account to your device in settings (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud);
2. Enable OEM Unlock in the developer settings;
3. Download the official Mi Unlock Tool app from Xiaomi website;
4. Connect the smartphone in Fastboot mode to the PC and start Mi Unlock;
5. Follow the instructions of the program (the waiting time for unlocking is from 72 to 720 hours).

On new models (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), Xiaomi has tightened its unlock policy, which now requires:

• 📱 Tethering SIM-Mi card account (at least 30 days of active use);
• 🔒 Confirmation of identity through sending supporting documents;
• ⏳ Wait up to 30 days after the application is submitted.

⚠️ Attention: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data on the device, including files in internal memory. Backup will not help - once unlocked, data recovery is impossible.

Frequent Fastboot login errors and their solutions

Even experienced users have trouble trying to activate Fastboot, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If after all the manipulations, the entrance to Fastboot is not possible, check:

• 🔌 Correction USB-cable (try another cable, preferably original);
• 🔋 Battery level (less than 20% can block entry);
• 🖥️ Port capacity USB On PC (try another port or computer).

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If the Xiaomi smartphone doesn’t respond to buttons but the screen is turned on, try logging into Fastboot via the ADB terminal by sending an adb reboot bootloader command.This method works even with faulty physical buttons if USB debugging is enabled.

Security: What You Can and Can't Do in Fastboot

Fastboot mode provides low-level access to the device, which is fraught with risks.

You can:

• ✅ Check the status of the bootloader with the fastboot oem device-info command;
• ✅ Install official firmware through MiFlash;
• ✅ Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool;
• ✅ Stripping custom Recovery (TWRP, OrangeFox) after unlocking.

You can't:

• ❌ Switching unofficial firmware to a blocked bootloader;
• ❌ Use fastboot erase commands without backup;
• ❌ Interrupt the firmware process (risk of turning the device into a brick");
• ❌ Install firmware from other models (even if they are on the same chipset).

Fastboot: error: Cannot generate image for this anti version means you are trying to flash the firmware with a lower version of Anti-Rollback than the current one.This can cause the device to fail.Always check the firmware compatibility with your model through the Xiaomi Firmware Updater tool.

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Before any operation in Fastboot, back up the persist partition with the fastboot backup persist command. This section contains unique communication module data (IMEI, MAC-address, and its damage may make the device unsuitable for calls.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Fastboot on Xiaomi