Rebooting Xiaomi devices is a procedure that every owner of Xiaomi gadgets will face sooner or later, whether it is a banal hang-up of the MIUI interface, a bug after a firmware update or a complete system failure, a proper restart can solve up to 70% of software problems without going to the service center. However, not all methods of rebooting are equally safe: some simply update the OS state, others reset the cache, and others risk erasing user data.
In this article, we will discuss all the current reboot methods for Redmi, POCO, Mi and other Xiaomi ecosystem devices, from classic soft restarts to forced resets through the engineering menu. We will focus on situations where the phone does not respond to buttons, hovers on the logo or gives a Fastboot error. You will also learn how to properly reboot the Mi Band smartwatch, Mi Router routers and even Mi TVs, taking into account their specifics.
Important: If your Xiaomi device doesn’t turn on after a reboot or shows a black screen, immediately go to the section on emergency recovery methods. For owners of devices with an unlocked bootloader, we have prepared a separate unit with the commands ADB and Fastboot.
Soft Reboot: When and How to Use
A soft reboot is the safest way to update your system without losing data.
- 📱 Removes small interface lags MIUI (e.g., when applications are spontaneously closed).
- 🔄 Applying changes after an air-to-air firmware update (OTA).
- 📶 Solving Wi-Fi or mobile network connectivity problems.
- 🔋 Calibration of the battery sensor (if the phone shows an incorrect percentage of charge).
To perform a soft reboot on most Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11), it is enough:
- Press and hold the power button (usually located on the right).
- In the menu that appears, select Reboot (or Restart in English firmware).
- Confirm action if the system requests a password or PIN.
On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60) the power menu can open differently: you need to simultaneously press the power button and increase the volume for 2-3 seconds. If the screen does not respond to touch, but the device turns on, try connecting charging - sometimes this helps to "wake up" the display.
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If the phone brakes again after a soft reboot, check the space in the memory (Settings → About Phone → Memory). MIUI starts to lag when the storage is filled by more than 90%.
Forced Reset: When the Soft Way Doesn't Work
Hard reboot is an emergency power outage followed by power on, and is used when:
- 🚫 The device is completely frozen (no touch or button response).
- 🔄 The screen shows the MI logo or download animation for more than 5 minutes.
- 📵 The phone overheated and turned off (no longer on after cooling).
- 🔋 The battery has run out of charge and the device does not start after charging.
For a forced reboot, use one of the combinations (depending on the model):
| Model of the device | Button combination | Duration of retention |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi 9/10/Note 11, POCO M4/M5 | Power button + volume increase | 10-15 seconds |
| Xiaomi 12/13, Mi 11 Ultra | Power button + volume reduction | 7-10 seconds |
| Redmi K50, POCO F4 | Power button + both volume buttons | 12-20 seconds |
| Smart watch Mi Band 7/8 | Hold the touch button on the body | 20–30 seconds |
Critical information: On devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), prolonged button retention can lead to activation of EDL (Emergency Firmware) mode. If the screen is out and does not turn on for longer than a minute, release the buttons and try again in 30 seconds.
Reboot in Recovery: Reset, Clean Cache and Update
Recovery menu is an engineering mode that allows you to perform deep operations with the system: reset settings, install firmware or clean cache. Recovery is useful if:
- 📲 The phone is cyclically restarted (bootloop).
- 🔧 You need to roll back the MIUI update that broke the system.
- 🧹 Delete the Dalvik and System partition cache (helps with application errors).
- 🔄 You need to install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience).
To boot up to Recovery on Xiaomi smartphones:
- Turn off the device (forced if it is suspended).
- Press the combination: For most models: Power button + volume increase. For POCO F3/F4: Power button + volume decrease.
Mi Bunny
Recovery
Release the buttons and wait for the menu to load (it can take up to 30 seconds).
In the Recovery menu, you can control the volume (move) and power (select) buttons. To reset the cache, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. Not to be confused with Wipe Data, which is a full factory reset!
☑️ Preparing for resetting through Recovery
Reboot via Fastboot and ADB: for advanced users
If the soft and hard methods did not help, and the device still does not turn on or hung on the logo, Fastboot and ADB tools come to the rescue.
- 🔧 Reboot the phone in any mode (Recovery, EDL, Safe Mode).
- 📥 Install firmware manually (if OTA- update has flown).
- 🔄 Unlock the bootloader (for custom firmware installation).
- 🛠 Fix partition errors (e.g., invalid sparse file).
The work will require:
- 💻 Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
- 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
- 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
The main commands for the reboot:
adb reboot recovery #Reboot in Recovery
adb reboot bootloader #Reboot in Fastboot
fastboot reboot # Regular reboot from Fastboot
fastboot reboot edl # Reboot to EDL mode (for firmware only!)Warning: The fastboot reboot edl command puts the device into Emergency Download Mode, only if you are confident in your actions - improper use can lead to "bricking" of the phone (complete loss of performance).
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Emergency methods: if Xiaomi does not turn on at all
Situations where a Xiaomi device is not showing signs of life (it does not vibrate, does not light up the charge indicator, does not respond to buttons) require a special approach.
- 🔋 Complete battery discharge followed by "failure" of the power controller.
- 💥 Firmware damage after a failed update.
- 💧 Moisture or short circuit.
- 🔌 Failure of the power button (mechanical damage).
Algorithm for "resuscitation":
- Check charging: Connect the original cable and power supply. Leave a minimum of 30 minutes on charging (even if the indicator is not on). Try another charger (preferably with Quick Charge 3.0+ support).
- Forced reset: Press the power button + increase volume for 20-30 seconds. If there is no reaction, repeat with a combination of the power button + both volume buttons.
PC connection:
- Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
- In Device Manager, check if the device is identified as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (EDL mode).
- If yes, you will need to use the Mi Flash Tool (instruction below).
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The firmware via EDL erases all data on the device, including photos and apps. If the phone has not previously synced with the Mi Cloud, it will be impossible to recover information.
How to Reboot Other Xiaomi Devices
Xiaomi’s ecosystem includes not only smartphones, but also smartwatches, routers, TVs, and even electric scooters, and the methods of rebooting differ:
Smart watches Mi Band and Xiaomi Watch:
- 🕒 Mi Band 5/6/7/8: Hold the touch button 15–20 seconds before vibration.
- ⚙️ Xiaomi Watch S1/S2: Press the physical button for 10 seconds.
- 🔋 If the watch does not respond, set it on charge and hold the button for 30 seconds.
Mi Router routers:
- 📡 Mi Router 4A/4C/AX3000: Press the Reset button on the back and hold 5–10 seconds (until the lights flash).
- 🔄 To reset completely, hold Reset for 30 seconds (will return factory settings).
Mi TVs:
- 📺 On the remote, hold Menu + Volume Down for 5 seconds.
- 🔌 If the TV is frozen, pull the power cord out of the socket for 1 minute.
Mi Electric Scooter:
- 🛴 Turn off the scooter with the power button, then hold it for 10 seconds to restart.
- 🔋 If it doesn't respond, plug the charger in and try again.
Typical Mistakes When Rebooting Xiaomi (and How to Avoid Them)
Even a simple procedure like a reboot can go wrong if you make one of these mistakes:
1. Interrupting the firmware update process
If the phone is updated over the air (OTA) or through Recovery, you cannot:
- 🔌 Turn off power (even if the process is delayed).
- 📴 Remove SIM- card or memory card.
- 🔄 Forced reboot the device.
The consequences: the phone may be stuck on the MI logo or not at all, and in such cases only the firmware through Fastboot or EDL will help.
2. Use of non-original cables for firmware
Cheap USB- cables often don’t support Fastboot data transfer, resulting in:
- 🚫 Errors of the Waiting for Device type in ADB.
- 🔧 Interrupting the firmware halfway through the process.
- 💥 Boot partition damage (phone stops booting).
⚠️ Warning: If you are flashing your device through the Mi Flash Tool, always choose the Clean All option (not Clean All and Lock), otherwise the bootloader will lock and you will need to wait 720 hours to unlock (by Xiaomi rules).
3. Ignoring backup before resetting
Even a mild reboot can cause data loss in some cases (e.g. if the file system is corrupted).
- 📱 Sync contacts and photos with Mi Cloud.
- 💾 Make a local copy through Settings → System → Backup.
- 📝 Write IMEI (on the box or in Settings → About Phone → General Information).
4. Attempt to unlock the bootloader on an unofficial firmware
If you installed custom firmware (like LineageOS) and then decided to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool, the system can:
- 🚫 Lock the device that requires the Mi Account password.
- 🔧 Delete all data on the internal drive.
- 💥 Put your phone in a hard brick state (Test Point soldering required).