The Xiaomi Mi Box S is a popular Android TV set-top box, but even it sometimes hangs or doesn’t work. Rebooting the device solves 90 percent of problems, from interface brakes to video playback errors. However, not everyone knows how to do it correctly without risking damage to the system.
In this article, we have 5 proven ways to reboot (including forced reset), step-by-step photo instructions, and answers to frequent questions: When a soft reboot through the menu is enough, and when hardware reset with a button on the case is required, the only method if the console does not fully respond.
Important: Reboot procedure on Mi Box S (model) MDZ-22-AB) It is different from other Xiaomi devices (e.g. Mi Box 4 or Mi). TV Stick! all instructions below are relevant for Android firmware TV 9.0 and newer.
1. Soft reboot via the settings menu
The safest way is to restart through the system menu, which is suitable if the console responds to remote commands, but runs slowly or gives errors (for example, "App has stopped").
How to do this:
- 📺 Turn on Xiaomi Mi Box S and wait for the main screen to load.
- 🎮 On the remote, press the Settings button (cogs) → Select Device and Preferences.
- 🔄 Go to About. → Reboot.
- ✅ Confirm the action by selecting OK.
The console will turn off and automatically turn on in 10-15 seconds, a method that does not delete user data, but closes all background processes.
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If the Reset button is inactive, check if there are restrictions in parental control settings (Settings → Personal Data → Parental Controls).
2. Forced reboot with a button on the body
If the Mi Box S is getting stuck on the Xiaomi logo, does not respond to the remote or gives a black screen, a hardware reboot will help. To do this, there is a hidden Reset button on the console body (a hole next to the HDMI port).
Instructions:
- 🔌 Turn off the power from the power outlet.
- 📍 Find the Reset hole (near the inscription) AV).
- 🖊️ Take a paper clip or toothpick, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds.
- 🔌 Connect the power without releasing the button, another 5 seconds.
- 🚀 Release the button and the console will start rebooting.
Turn off the HDMI cable from the TV | Check that the indicator on the console is not burning | Prepare a paper clip or toothpick | Make sure that the socket is working
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⚠️ Warning: This method doesn't reset settings, but it can interrupt the firmware update if it was in the background. If the console freezes again after the reboot, a factory reset is required.
3.Reboot via ADB (for power users)
If the console responds to commands, but the settings menu is not available (for example, due to a launcher failure), you can restart it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.
Step-by-step:
- 🖥️ Connect the Mi Box S to your PC via port USB (Use a cable that supports data transmission).
- 🔧 Put the debugging on. USB: Go to Settings. → About the program. Press 7 times the Build Number to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings. → For developers and enable debugging by USB.
Win + R
cmd
adb devices(The MDZ-22-AB device should be displayed).
adb shell rebootThe console will restart in 30 seconds. If the command doesn't work, check the drivers. ADB Or try another one. USB-cable.
Yeah, often.|I tried it once.|No, but I want to learn.|No, and no planning.-->
4. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If the Xiaomi Mi Box S is constantly overheating, slowing down or emitting errors even after a reboot, a complete reset may be required, which removes all installed apps, accounts and settings, returning the console to the “out of the box” state.
How to reset:
- 📱 Method 1 (via the menu): Go to Settings → Device and preferences → Reset. Choose Delete all data. Enter PIN-code (if installed) and confirm.
- Turn the console off the power.
- Press the Reset button and connect the power.
- Hold the button until the Recovery menu appears.
- Select Wipe data/factory reset using the volume buttons on the remote.
| Resetting method | Implementation time | Deleted data | Need a remote? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the settings menu | 2-3 minutes | Applications, accounts, settings | Yes. |
| Through Recovery. | 5-7 minutes | Everything, including the cache | No (buttons on the body are used) |
| Through ADB | 1 minute | Total reset | Yes (for confirmation) |
⚠️ Warning: After the reset, the console will require reconfiguration, including a Wi-Fi connection and login to a Google account. If you forget the data from the account associated with the device, the protection may work FRP (Factory Reset Protection, and you will have to enter the username / password of the previous owner.
5.Reboot after firmware update
Sometimes the Xiaomi Mi Box S automatically installs updates in the background, but does not reboot for use, which can result in the console running unstable, to force the updates:
Steps:
- 📥 Check the current version of the firmware in Settings → About the programme → Android version TV.
- 🔄 If an update is available but the console does not install it, go to Settings → About the programme → Update the system and click Check for updates.
- ⚙️ After downloading files, select Reboot and install.
If the update is stuck during the installation phase (the progress indicator does not move more than 20 minutes), do not pull the power cable - this can cause damage to the system.
- 🕒 Wait another 30 to 40 minutes (sometimes it takes longer).
- 🔌 If no change is made, force reboot with the Reset button.
What if there is no sound after the update?
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
A misboot can make Mi Box S problems worse. Here are the typical user errors and how to prevent them:
- ⚡ Power out during the update → Always wait until the process is complete (the indicator on the console should go out and catch fire again).
- 🔄 Frequent forced resets → You can wear out your flash memory. Use this method only as a last resort.
- 🔌 Use of a non-original power supply unit → Xiaomi Mi Box S requires a block on the 5V/2A.
- 📱 Reset without backup → Before a full reset, save data (for example, playlists in Kodi or Netflix settings).
If the console, after the reboot, gives an error "No Command" (a black screen with a robot lying down), it means that the system cannot boot.
- Perform a forced reboot with the Reset button.
- If it doesn’t work, run the console through the USB Burning Tool (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
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If the Mi Box S doesn’t turn on after several attempts to restart, the problem may be in the power supply or the motherboard, in which case a diagnosis is required at the service center.