How to Reboot Xiaomi Mi 4: Everything from Simple to Complex

The Xiaomi Mi 4, released in 2014, is still popular with users due to its reliability and custom firmware installation. However, even such a time-tested device can fail: hang on the logo, stop responding to clicks or start “glugging” after an update. In 90% of cases, these problems are solved by a banal reboot – but what if the phone does not respond to standard commands?

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to reboot the Xiaomi Mi 4, from a classic soft restart to a forced reset via the engineering menu, focusing on situations where the smartphone freezes on the screensaver of MIUI or does not turn on after a failed update, and learn how to avoid data loss and what to do if the reboot does not help.

1. Standard reboot (soft restart)

If the Xiaomi Mi 4 responds to taps but is unstable (brakes, spontaneously reboots or apps crash), try a soft reboot first.

How to do this:

📱 Hold the Power button on the right side of the smartphone for 3-5 seconds.
🔄 On the screen will appear menu with options to Turn off, Reboot and Emergency mode.
👆 Select Reboot and confirm the action.

If the menu doesn't appear, try to hold the Power button for longer, up to 10-15 seconds. On some firmware (especially custom ones), retention times may vary.

⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone freezes again after a soft reboot, this may indicate damage to system files or a malfunction of the drive.

📊 How often do you reboot your Xiaomi?

Once a week.

Only when it's bugging.

Never.

I remember.

2. Forced reset (hard restart)

When the Xiaomi Mi 4 is completely frozen and does not respond to either the power button or the sensor, a forced restart will help, which simulates battery extraction (although it is not removable in the Mi 4) and resets all temporary processes.

Instructions:

Hold the Power + Volume Up button at the same time.
Hold them for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out and the smartphone vibrates.
After vibration, release the buttons - the device will start loading in normal mode.

If the combination does not work, try an alternative:

🔋 Squeeze the power. + Volume Down (Loudness decrease) by 10-15 seconds.
🔄 If the screen remains black, connect the smartphone to charge and try again.

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On the Xiaomi Mi 4 with the bootloader unlocked, a forced restart can start a Fastboot instead of a regular boot, in which case, select the Reboot System menu using volume buttons.

3.Reboot via Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is turned on but does not load beyond the MI logo or restarts cyclically, Recovery Mode will help. Through it, you can not only reboot the device, but also reset settings or install an update.

How to log in to Recovery:

☑️ Entrance to Recovery on Xiaomi Mi 4

Turn off the phone (hold power for 10 seconds)Press the power + increase the volumeHold until the MI logo appearsRelease the buttons when the menu appears

Done: 0 / 4

🛠️ In the Recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
🔄 Select the Reboot option → Reboot to System (or simply Reboot in sewage recovery).

If the Recovery menu does not have a reboot option (for example, in custom TWRP), select Advanced → Reboot System.

⚠️ Note: Do not press Wipe Data or Factory Reset in Recovery Mode unless you plan to reset your settings! This will result in complete data loss (photos, contacts, messages).

Type Recovery	The path to reboot	Features
Stock (MIUI)	Reboot → Reboot to System	Supports Chinese/English. No touch controls.
TWRP	Reboot → System	Touch control, Russian, may require swipe confirmation.
OrangeFox	Menu → Reboot → System	Support for themes, advanced backup functions.

4.Reboot via Fastboot (for power users)

If the Xiaomi Mi 4 only loads in Fastboot mode (on the screen of the hare in the hat-eared), the reboot can be performed through the ADB command. This method requires a computer with Xiaomi drivers installed and the Fastboot tool.

Step-by-step:

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
Enter the command to check the connection: fastboot devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), continue.
Reboot: Fastboot reboot

If, after the command fastboot reboot, the smartphone returns to Fastboot again, this may indicate:

🔴 Damaged firmware (requires flashing through MiFlash).
🔴 Boot partition malfunction (try fastboot flash boot command) boot.img).
🔴 Hardware problem (e.g. damaged eMMC memory).

What if the Fastboot can’t see the device?

Make sure Xiaomi drivers are installed (download MiFlash). USB-port (preferably) USB Disable the antivirus - it can block ADB. Reinstall. ADB via Android Studio.

5.Reboot when getting stuck on the MI logo

One of the most common problems with the Xiaomi Mi 4 is the endless bootloop, when the smartphone turns on, shows the MI logo and reboots again, and the reasons can range from a failed update to a file system corruption.

Algorithm of action:

Wait 10-15 minutes. Sometimes, after an update, the first download takes a long time.
If the hanging continues: 🔌 Connect charging and try a forced restart (Power) + Volume Up). 🛠️ Log in to Recovery and select Wipe Cache Partition (Doesn't erase data!). 🔄 If it doesn’t work, do Factory Reset (complete reset).

If the reset didn't help, it's likely the firmware is damaged.

📥 Download the official firmware for Mi 4 (cancro model) from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
🖥️ Swipe the device through MiFlash in Fastboot mode.

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If the Xiaomi Mi 4 is stuck on the logo after firmware, never interrupt the process! wait for the battery to drain completely (may take a few hours), then repeat the firmware.

6.Reboot after MIUI update

MIUI updates sometimes go smoothly: the smartphone may get stuck during the application optimization phase or not turn on at all. If the Xiaomi Mi 4 update does not load, follow this plan:

Scenario 1: The phone turns on but slows down.

🔄 Perform a soft reboot (Section 1).
🧹 Clean the cache in Recovery (Wipe Cache Partition).
🔧 Reverse the update to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Remove the update.

Scenario 2: The phone does not turn on or cyclically restarts.

🛠️ Enter Recovery and do Factory Reset.
📦 If the reset doesn’t help, go through the previous version. MIUI via Fastboot.

To avoid problems with future updates:

🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% before the upgrade.
📶 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (do not use mobile internet).
📱 Close all background applications before installation begins.

7 Hardware problems: when a reboot doesn't help

If none of the methods worked, the reason may lie in a hardware malfunction. for Xiaomi Mi 4 typical problems are:

Symptoms.	Possible cause	Decision
Not activated, not responding to charging	Failure of the power controller or battery	Battery replacement or motherboard repair
Hanging on the logo after falling	Memory chip dump (eMMC)	Chip soldering at the service center
Self-recharge during heating	Processor or thermal paste defect	Replacement of thermopaste or cooling pad

Before visiting the service center:

🔋 Check charging with another cable and power supply.
🔍 Check the connector. USB for oxidation or damage.
📱 Try to turn on the smartphone without SIM-memory-cards.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi Mi 4 has previously been subjected to falls or moisture, do not try to sew it - this can aggravate the damage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Mi 4 reboot

My Mi 4 doesn't respond to any buttons. What do I do?

If your smartphone is completely dead (not vibrating, not warming, not showing charging), follow these steps: Connect the original charger and leave it for 1-2 hours (possibly the battery is completely discharged). Try to pinch Power + Volume Up + Volume Down for 30 seconds at a time. If it doesn't work, disassemble the case and turn off the battery for 10 minutes (skills and tools are required).

After the reboot, all the data is gone. Can we recover it?

If you have been running Factory Reset through Recovery, the data (photos, contacts, messages) is permanently deleted: 🔍 Use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (if the phone is defined as a drive). 📱 Restore backup from Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled). 💾 Contact a data recovery lab (for physically healthy memory) and the chances of recovery depend on whether new data was recorded after reset.

How to restart the Mi 4 if the power button breaks?

If the power button is mechanically damaged, use alternative methods: 🔌 Connect charging – sometimes the phone turns on automatically. 📱 Activate the Double Tap to Wake option (if enabled in the settings). 🖥️ Connect to the PC and use it ADB-command: adb reboot For a permanent solution, a button replacement (cost) is required ~500–1000 ₽).

Can I reboot the Mi 4 via SMS or call?

No, the Xiaomi Mi 4 doesn't support SMS reboot or incoming call. However, there's a workaround: Install the Tasker or Automate app (before it breaks!). Set the task to reboot a missed call from a specific number. Call from the second phone, the smartphone will execute a command. If the phone doesn't turn on, this method won't work.

After the reboot, the Mi 4 asks for a password, but I don't remember it.

If you have forgotten the pattern lock or PIN-code, there are several options: 🔑 Enter the password from your Mi Account (if tied). 📱 Run Factory Reset via Recovery (data will be lost). 🖥️ Use MiFlash to flash (requires an unlocked bootloader).If Mi Account is not tied, unlocking your phone without data loss is impossible.