How to Resolve Poco F5 Recovery Mode & Reboot Loop Issues: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction
When you’re faced with a persistent issue on your Poco F5, sometimes the best solution is to try a fresh start without wiping all your data. In this guide, I share my personal recovery process using an alternative firmware flash with Mi Assistant. Although I initially considered a full wipe, a firmware flash proved to be a successful fix, allowing me to recover my device without losing previous apps or data.

What You’ll Need

• A Poco F5 (12GB/256GB)
• Mi Assistant (download the latest version from the official source)
• An English patch for Mi Assistant
• Firmware package (I used the Europe HyperOS 1.0.4.0.UMREUXM, assuming it is the right option for a phone bought in Italy)
• A Windows PC with Mi Assistant installed

Step-by-Step Recovery Process

1. Downloading the Tools

   • Start by downloading the latest version of Mi Assistant from the official MIUI website.

   • Next, download the English language patch from a reliable source, for example, the patch available at a trusted URL like miuirom.org. This patch converts the default Chinese interface to English.

2. Preparing Mi Assistant

   • Uninstall any previous versions of Mi PC Suite that might have been tried before. These earlier versions could have failed to detect your phone.

   • Once Mi Assistant is unzipped and installed, navigate through the initial setup. Although the interface is initially in Chinese, you can still operate it by selecting the first available option on the first page and clicking on the left-most button. Continue with the default options on subsequent screens.

   • At the accept options screen, ensure that you tick both check boxes and then select the left button to proceed.

3. Applying the English Patch

   • After closing Mi Assistant once, extract the English language patch files.

   • Using Windows File Explorer, navigate to the installation directory (typically: C:\Program Files(x86)\MiPhoneAssistant).

   • Rename the existing folder “mi_phone_assistant.res” to “mi_phone_assistant.res(org)” as a backup.

   • Copy the extracted English patch folder to the same directory. Upon reopening Mi Assistant, the interface should now display in English and recognize your Poco F5 properly.

4. Flashing the Firmware

   • Download the appropriate firmware. In my case, I selected the Europe HyperOS 1.0.4.0.UMREUXM firmware because it suited the Italian market. According to Mi Assistant, the current firmware on the phone was MIUI V14.0.9.0.THREUXM.

   • Open Mi Assistant, click on the blue button at the bottom, and select the downloaded firmware ZIP file.

   • The tool will verify the firmware file for about 30 seconds before starting the flashing process.

   • Notice that the progress might appear inconsistent between the phone and the PC interface. For example, the phone’s display stopped at 4.99%, then jumped to 52.49% as the PC counted further, finally reaching 100%.

5. Completion and Reboot

   • Once Mi Assistant displays 100% completion, the flashing process is complete. The phone will reboot on its own, displaying the Xiaomi HyperOS logo.

   • Disconnect the USB cable and check your device. Despite beginning in Airplane mode, all previous apps and data remain intact even though some layouts may have slightly changed.

   • After turning off Airplane mode and connecting to Wi-Fi, your device is operational with the new firmware successfully installed.

Conclusion
This guide demonstrates that flashing alternative firmware on the Poco F5 with Mi Assistant can serve as an effective recovery method without data loss. The process is simple if you follow each step carefully—from installing the English patch to flashing the firmware and confirming a successful reboot. This workaround might just be the solution you need for similar issues.