Recovery Mode on Xiaomi: How to Sign In and Use It Right

Recovery Mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a service environment that allows you to perform critical operations: reset settings to factory, install custom firmware or restore the system after a crash. However, not all users know how to enter it correctly, especially on new models with MIUI 14/15 or devices with a locked bootloader.

In this article, you will find the most current ways to log into stock recovery (standard) and custom recovery (for example, TWRP), and also understand what actions can be performed in each of them. We will pay special attention to the nuances for popular series – Redmi Note, POCO, Xiaomi 12/13/14 and budget models like Redmi A2 or POCO M6 Pro. If you plan to sew your phone or unlock the bootloader, here you will learn how to avoid common mistakes.

What is Recovery Mode and Why You Need It on Xiaomi

Recovery mode is an isolated environment that works independently of the main Android operating system.It is built into every Xiaomi smartphone and runs before MIUI boots.

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (wipe) – deletes all user data, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state".
• 📦 Installation of official updates through ZIP-files (for example, when manually updating) MIUI).
• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (only in combination with Fastboot).
• 🛠️ Diagnosis and recovery after failed firmware or virus attacks.

On Xiaomi smartphones, two types of recovery are used:

1. Stock Recovery – standard, with limited functionality (only reset and install official firmware).
2. Custom Recovery (e.g. TWRP) – Extended, allows you to install unofficial firmware, make backups and restore data.

It is important to understand that the entrance to the recovery on new Xiaomi models (released after 2022) can be blocked by the security system if the bootloader is blocked, in such cases, you will need to pre-unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

How to log in to Recovery Mode on Xiaomi

There are three main methods of entering the recaveri, and their availability depends on the model and condition of the phone:

1. via hardware buttons (works on 90% of models)

This is a versatile method that works even if the phone doesn’t turn on or hovers on the MI logo.

1. Turn off the smartphone completely (if it freezes – press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Click the combination: For most models: Volume up + Power (hold 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo appears). For older devices (until 2018): Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Android

No command

No command

Nutrition

Loudness up

On some models (such as the POCO F4 or Xiaomi 12T), you may need to first clamping Volume Up + Power, and after vibration release Power, continuing to hold Volume Up.

2. via ADB command (if the phone is switched on)

This method is suitable for power users and requires connecting the phone to a computer with ADB drivers installed.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the phone to debug by USB (path: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (original!).
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type:

adb devices

If the device is determined, perform:

adb reboot recovery

The phone will automatically reset to recovery mode.

💡

If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, try changing USB connection mode to File Transfer in the notification curtain.

3. via Fastboot (if the phone doesn't respond to buttons)

If the hardware buttons don’t work (for example, after a fall), you can log in to the recavers via Fastboot:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume down + Power - this will start the Fastboot mode (the image of a hare in a hat-eared).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and enter in the terminal:

fastboot reboot recovery

This method will only work if the bootloader is unlocked. On bootloader locked devices, the command will return the FAILED error (remote: 'Flashing is not allowed').

The difference between Stock Recovery and Custom Recovery (TWRP)

Xiaomi’s standard recovery (Stock Recovery) has a minimalist Chinese/English interface and supports only basic features, while Custom Recovery (such as TWRP) provides access to advanced features.

To install TWRP, you will need to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool and flash the recovers through Fastboot. Official TWRP support is not available for all models - look for current builds on the XDA Developers forum.

⚠️ Warning: Installing a custom recaveri will void the warranty and may cause the device to break if you flash an incompatible version. TWRP with your model and version MIUI.

What to do in Recovery Mode: Step-by-step instructions

After successfully logging into the Recovery, you'll see a menu with volume control (Up/Down for navigation, Select Power) and consider the main scenarios.

1. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

This is a universal way to return the phone to its original state if it brakes, does not turn on or is infected with viruses.

1. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (or Wipe & Reset on newer versions).
2. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data (some models will require you to enter a password from Mi Account if it was tied).
3. After you complete the process, select Reboot to System.

Warning: This process deletes all data, including photos, messages and installed apps. If you need to save files, pre-backup through Mi Cloud or Google Account.

2. Installation of official firmware through Recovery

If the phone is not updated through Settings → Software Update, you can flash MIUI manually:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from en.miui.com (select the Recovery ROM version, not the Fastboot ROM).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root directory of the phone’s internal memory.
3. From the recovery menu, select Install update.zip to System (or similar).
4. Confirm the installation and wait until the end (don’t turn off the phone!).

If the firmware is not installed, check:

• 🔹 Version compatibility MIUI with your model (for example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 11 is not suitable for the Redmi Note 11 Pro).
• 🔹 Integrity ZIP-A damaged file will cause an E:footer is wrong).
• 🔹 Free space (requires a minimum of 3-4 GB on the system partition).

3.Recovery after a failed firmware

If the phone is stuck on the MI logo or has gone to bootloop (cyclic reboot), try the following steps:

1. Enter the Recovery and select Wipe Cache (cleaning the cache).
2. If this doesn’t work, do a full reset (Wipe Data).
3. If the phone still doesn’t boot, run the full MIUI version through Fastboot (instruction below).

⚠️ Note: If after the scaling of the TWRP The phone stopped turning on and shows an Orange State error, which means that the anti-Rollback protection has worked. ROM The Mi Flash Tool with full cleaning (clean all).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When working with recovery, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

1.The phone is not included in the recavery (hang on the logo)

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Battery discharge – connect the charge for 10-15 minutes and try again.
• 🔒 Locked bootloader – unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires Mi Account binding and wait 7–168 hours).
• 🛠️ Damaged Recovery – Sweep the original through Fastboot:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img


fastboot reboot recovery

Error "E:unknown command" or "E:signature verification failed"

These errors occur when trying to establish:

• 📄 Unofficial firmware through stock recovery (it supports only signed Xiaomi) ZIP-file).
• 🔍 Damaged archive (download the firmware and check the hash amount).

Solution: Use TWRP to install custom firmware or check file integrity.

3.After reset, requires a password from the Mi Account

If you ran Wipe Data on a phone with a Mi Account attached, after the reboot, the system will request a username and password.

Ways of circumvention:

• 🔑 Enter the correct details from the account that was linked to the phone.
• 📧 If you forget your password, restore it through account.xiaomi.com.
• 🚫 If the phone is bought from hand and the previous owner did not untie the account – contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase (check).

💡

Never buy Xiaomi off your hands without first resetting and detaching your Mi Account! After being reset over the recavery, the phone can turn into a "brick" if the previous owner hasn't deleted their account.

How to Get Out of Recovery Mode

If you accidentally entered the recavator or completed all the necessary actions, you can return the phone to normal mode in several ways:

• 🔄 Reboot to System – in the recovery menu, select Reboot to System (or Reboot).
• 🔋 Forced reboot – press the Power button for 10-15 seconds (works if the Recovery menu is getting stuck).
• 🖥️ Through ADB (If the phone is connected to the PC):

adb reboot

If the phone does not turn on after leaving the Recovery, try:

1. Connect to charging for 30 minutes (possibly the battery was discharged during operations).
2. Repeat the entrance to the Recovery and select the Wipe Cache.
3. Swipe your phone through Fastboot (if previous steps didn’t help).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions