Xiaomi smartphones are known for their stability, but even they sometimes “hang”: the screen does not respond to touch, applications do not open, and buttons do not work. The reasons can be different from overloading the system to critical firmware errors. The main thing in this situation is not to panic and not to try to immediately remove the battery (which on modern models is physically impossible without disassembling the case). In 90% of cases, the problem can be solved software-based, saving all data.
This article will help you understand how to restart a suspended Xiaomi depending on the type of failure. We will look at safe methods, from a simple restart to a forced reboot via Recovery Mode, and also explain when to contact the service center.
Before you start, check whether the phone is responding to charging (if the indicator lights up), whether you hear vibrations when you press the buttons, whether the screen is at least partially working, these details will help you choose the best way to reboot.
1. Soft reboot: when the phone responds to buttons
If Xiaomi’s smartphone is stuck, but the power and volume buttons are at least somehow responsive (vibration, sound, backlight), try a soft restart. This method is data-safe and works on all models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.
The algorithm is simple:
- 🔄 Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the off menu appears.
- 📱 If the menu doesn't appear, but the screen goes out, release the button and wait 30 seconds.
- 🔋 In some models (for example, POCO F5) You may need to have a simultaneous feeding + Volume up.
A soft reboot helps with:
- 🐢 Slowing down the interface due to overloading RAM.
- 📱 Freezes of individual applications (e.g, MIUI Launcher).
- 🔄 Incorrect display of elements on the screen.
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If the phone freezes again after a soft reboot, check the memory space. On Xiaomi with less than 1 GB of free space, the system starts to slow down.
If the soft restart doesn't work, move on to the next method, but remember: on models with a MediaTek processor (like the Redmi 9A), prolonged button clamping can cause Fastboot mode to start instead of restarting.
Forced reboot: when the screen does not respond
When the smartphone is completely frozen — it doesn't respond to touch, it doesn't display the shutdown menu, and the charging indicator doesn't burn — it requires a hard restart, which simulates battery extraction and works even in critical crashes.
The instructions depend on the model:
| Xiaomi model | Button combination | Retention time |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X4/X5 | Power + Volume Increase | 15-20 seconds |
| Xiaomi 12/13, Mix 4/5 | Power + Volume reduction | 10-15 seconds |
| Redmi 9/10, POCO M3/M4 | Power + Increase + Lower Volume | 10 seconds. |
| Xiaomi Pad 5/6 | Power + Volume Increase (2 times in a row) | 20 seconds. |
After a forced reboot, the phone can:
- 🔄 Boot as normal (success!).
- 📱 Go to Recovery Mode (requires a Reboot option).
- ⚠️ Hang on the logo. MI (need to be reset or reflashed).
⚠️ Attention: On models with AMOLED-With screens (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro), long button clamping can cause Burn-in, which is residual images.
3.Reboot via Recovery Mode: If the phone is turned on but not booted
If after a forced restart, the smartphone hangs on the MI logo or cyclically reboots, Recovery Mode will help.This mode allows you to reset the cache or perform a complete reset (with loss of data).
How to log in to Recovery:
- Turn off your phone (if it’s on, use Forced Reboot).
- Press Power + Volume Up for 5-10 seconds until the MI logo appears.
- Release the buttons when you see the menu with the Android robot.
In the Recovery menu, use volume buttons for navigation and power buttons for selection.
- 🔄 Reboot - a normal reboot.
- 🗑️ Wipe Cache – Cache Clearance (Secure for Data).
- ⚠️ Wipe Data – Complete reset (deleting everything!).
- 📥 Connect with MiAssistant – Connecting to a PC for Recovery.
☑️ Actions in Recovery Mode
If the phone still does not boot after cleaning the cache, try connecting to the Mi PC Suite via the Connect with MiAssistant. The program can restore the firmware without losing data (does not work on all models).
⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, selecting Wipe Data may result in loss of access to your Mi Account due to a reset. DRM-key.
4.Using Fastboot for Advanced Users
If Recovery Mode is not available or helps, Fastboot, a PC-based firmware and recovery mode, requires installation of the Mi Flash Tool and ADB/Fastboot drivers.
Step-by-step:
- Install the Mi Flash Tool and drivers for your model.
- Turn off the phone and press Power + Volume Down to log into Fastboot.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
- In the command line, execute: fastboot devices If the device is determined, type: fastboot reboot
If a simple reboot through Fastboot didn’t help, you can try reflashing only the boot section (without data loss):
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot rebootThe boot.img file can be extracted from the official firmware for your model on the Xiaomi website.
- 📱 Halts after a failed update.
- 🔧 Core failures (Kernel Panic).
- 🛠️ Damage to the boot section.
What if the PC doesn’t see the phone in Fastboot?
5. Hardware reset: when nothing helps
If all software methods are exhausted and the phone is still shut down or rebooted cyclically, the hardware reset remains, which is an extreme measure, since it deletes all data, including photos, contacts and apps.
How to perform the reset:
- Enter Recovery Mode (see Section 3).
- Select the Wipe Data option → Wipe All Data.
- Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter a password from your Mi Account).
- After reset, select Reboot.
After the hardware reset:
- 📱 The phone will load as new (you will need to set up).
- 🔒 You may need to log in to your Mi and Google account again.
- 📲 Restore data from a backup (if it was created in Mi Cloud).
⚠️ Note: On models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi) 13T) After reset, you may need to log in via Mi Account. If you don't remember the password, the phone will become a brick»!
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Hardware reset is the last chance to bring the phone back to life, and if it didn't, the problem is probably hardware (memory, CPU, motherboard).
6. When to contact the service center
If none of these methods worked, it's probably a hardware problem, and here are the signs that you should be carrying your phone for repair:
- 🔥 The phone is still warmed even when it is off.
- 💥 There is a smell of burning or visible bloated elements on the board.
- 🔋 The battery does not hold a charge (discharges in 10-15 minutes).
- 📱 The screen doesn't turn on, but the phone vibrates when charging is connected.
- 🔊 Artifacts appear on the screen (stripes, flickering, broken pixels).
The average cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers:
| Type of malfunction | Cost (₽) | Duration of repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | 1 500–3 000 | 1-2 hours |
| Maternity board repair | 3 000–10 000 | 2-5 days |
| Screen replacement | 5 000–15 000 | 1-3 days |
| Recovery from spillage | 2 000–8 000 | 3-7 days |
Before the service visit:
- 📋 Write it down. IMEI phone (on a box or under a battery).
- 🔐 Make sure to remember the password from your Mi Account (required to unlock after repairs).
- 📱 Take photos of your phone from all sides (to fix external damage).
Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Only use authorized workshops – this guarantees the use of original spare parts.