Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Fastboot Mode: Enter, Exit, Stuck

On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, fastboot mode shows an orange "FASTBOOT" label with the Mi bunny repairing an Android robot. It is the bootloader screen a computer uses to flash firmware. Most people land there by accident and only want to get out. This guide covers both directions and what to do if the phone keeps coming back to it.

How to exit fastboot mode

1. Hold the Power button for about 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black and the phone restarts. This works on almost every Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO model.
2. If you have a computer with platform-tools and a cable: run fastboot reboot.
3. If the phone ends up in fastboot again, read the "stuck in fastboot" section below.

How to enter fastboot mode

With the buttons

1. Turn the phone off completely.
2. Hold Volume Down + Power together.
3. Let go when the FASTBOOT screen appears.

With ADB (USB debugging on)

adb reboot bootloader

From your browser with ADBKit: connect the phone, open the power menu next to the screen and choose Boot modes › Bootloader / fastboot.

Why the phone went into fastboot by itself

• Volume Down was pressed while the phone started. A tight case or a stuck volume key can do this. Check the button.
• A failed update or a system problem. If Android cannot start, some phones fall back to fastboot.
• A modification went wrong, for example after unlocking the bootloader or flashing a custom ROM.

Stuck in fastboot: what to try

1. Force a restart: hold Power for 15 seconds. If a case presses Volume Down, take it off first.
2. Charge the phone for 30 minutes, then try again. A nearly empty battery can stop a normal start.
3. Try recovery: with the phone off, hold Volume Up + Power. In the Mi Recovery menu choose Reboot. You can also Wipe data there, but that erases everything on the phone, so use it only as a last step.
4. Reinstall the official firmware: if the phone always returns to fastboot, Android itself is damaged. Xiaomi's official tools and service centers can reinstall MIUI or HyperOS. What is possible depends on whether your bootloader is locked, so check Xiaomi's support pages for your exact model.

Do not flash files from unknown sites. The wrong firmware can leave the phone unable to start at all.

Check that the computer sees the phone

With the phone in fastboot mode and plugged in:

fastboot devices

If this prints nothing or hangs at < waiting for any device >, it is usually a driver or USB port problem on Windows. See fixing fastboot waiting for any device.

Fastboot vs recovery on Xiaomi

Unlocking the bootloader

Fastboot mode is also where the bootloader gets unlocked. On Xiaomi this needs Xiaomi's own unlock process and a waiting period, and unlocking erases the phone and lowers its security. Only do it if you know why you need it.

For other brands, see the general fastboot mode guide. For connecting a Xiaomi phone with ADB, see Xiaomi USB debugging and security settings.