What is fastboot mode for Android?

A strange picture of a rabbit wearing a hat repairing a robot suddenly appeared on your phone screen? No need to worry. It simply means that Fastboot mode has been activated on your smartphone. In this guide, we will understand what to do if Fastboot is enabled on Xiaomi, how to disable it, how to enter it, and what this mode is used for.

If you see a picture of a rabbit repairing a robot, it means that Fastboot mode has been enabled. Fastboot is one of the special modes of a smartphone that can be used to make some changes to the device. For example, you can flash it or install custom programs. These modifications cannot be made in the standard mode and are generally not needed. However, some people like to install unofficial firmware versions, updates of unknown origin, etc., for experimental purposes.

The main feature of Fastboot mode is that it allows you to control your smartphone through a PC using a command line. When the phone is in this mode, the computer recognizes it not as a separate external device but as part of its system.

How to enable Fastboot on Xiaomi

You can activate Fastboot on any Xiaomi device. Usually, you simply need to press two buttons: the power button and the volume down button. Hold the buttons for about 10 seconds. After that, the device will vibrate, and the Fastboot screen will appear.

Another method is to initiate the process of turning off the phone. When the display goes blank, press and hold the volume down button. Immediately after that, press the power button. When the smartphone starts to boot up, you can release the power button. And when the rabbit in a hat appears on the screen, you can release the volume down button.

What to do if Fastboot doesn’t turn on

In some models, this method doesn’t always work. In that case, you need to use another approach.

You need to install a special program called ADB run Fastboot (suitable for Xiaomi and other Android models). The utility is downloaded and installed on your PC. Then, in the smartphone settings, you need to enable “USB debugging.”

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings and select “About phone.”
2. Tap multiple times on “MIUI version” until the phrase “You are now a developer” appears on the screen.
3. Go back to Settings, scroll down to “Additional settings.”
4. Select “Developer options.”
5. Choose “USB debugging.”

After that, connect your smartphone to the computer via USB. The next step is to launch the phone management program (ADB). A prompt for connection will appear on the screen, and you need to confirm it.

In the ADB menu, select “Reboot” followed by “Reboot Bootloader.” The connected device will restart and enter Fastboot mode.

Why Fastboot mode appears on Xiaomi Mi To enter this mode, you need to activate it yourself. However, sometimes users suddenly discover that this mode has been triggered on its own.

What does Fastboot on Xiaomi mean?

1. The firmware got corrupted. It could be an error in Android itself or the installation of custom firmware went wrong.
2. You installed an incompatible program.
3. An attempt to gain root access failed.
4. Some important system files were deleted.
5. You accidentally pressed the buttons that triggered the mode.

How to exit Fastboot mode on Xiaomi

There are three popular methods:

1. Standard method: Simply restart the device. If you can access the battery of your smartphone, you can easily remove it and then insert it back in.
2. Through Recovery mode: For those for whom the first option didn’t work.
3. Through a computer: This method is usually used only if the other methods failed to resolve the situation.

Standard method To remove Fastboot on Xiaomi (Redmi), the simplest method takes less than a minute. All you need to do is press the power button and hold it for a few seconds. The device will vibrate and start to restart (you can release the button).

This method is not suitable if:

1. Xiaomi was in the process of flashing and suddenly froze.
2. The smartphone fell, turned off, and when turned on, entered Fastboot mode.
3. A malicious program with a virus was installed, and the phone stopped turning on, entering Fastboot mode upon startup.

In any of the above cases, you need to resort to the next method, which we will explain below.

How to disable Fastboot on Xiaomi through Recovery menu

How is this method different? It allows you to restore the factory settings of Xiaomi, change the firmware, and delete information from the memory card. To resolve the issue, follow these steps:

1. Simultaneously press both volume buttons. Press and hold them for 15 seconds.
2. The gadget will start to restart. This process may take up to 10 minutes. Do not remove the battery, press any buttons, or try to turn off the phone during the restart.
3. After the restart, the Recovery menu will appear on the screen. You will have three options to choose from: Reboot, Wipe Data, and Connect with MIAssistant. Press Wipe Data. In the window, select Factory Reset. Use the volume buttons to navigate between options.
4. The device will restart again.

This process may take up to 10 minutes. Afterward, the smartphone will turn on again. It will have the initial firmware version that corresponds to the model.

Updating to a new firmware version is simple. Just go to “Settings,” select “About phone,” choose the current MIUI version, and press “Check for updates.” The last step is to install the updates and wait for the device to restart.

Method to exit Fastboot mode via PC For this, you will need:

1. A computer with Windows 7 or higher.
2. USB cable.

Follow these steps:

1. Download the Fastboot boot file suitable for your computer’s operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux) from the official website.
2. Unpack and install the downloaded file.
3. Connect your phone via USB.
4. Launch the command prompt (open the start menu, type “cmd,” and press Enter).
5. In the opened window, type “cd” and press Enter.
6. Enter “cd amd.”
7. Enter “fastboot reboot.”

Confirm each command entry by pressing the Enter key. If done correctly, the device will restart and exit Fastboot mode.

Fastboot Mode on Xiaomi Devices FAQ:

Note: It’s important to follow the instructions specific to your Xiaomi device model and ensure you have the necessary technical knowledge before attempting to exit Fastboot mode or make any changes to your device’s firmware.