Updating your Xiaomi Mi Box S can result in a boot loop and this will need to be fixed. This happened to me when I received an update notification and I proceeded to download as usual. Upon installation, it got stuck in a boot loop. Xiaomi Logo kept flashing and blinking continuously instead of loading Android TV. This took me some time to figure out. All it needed was flashing an older recovery version of Android TV for Xiaomi Mi Box S and running the update to the latest available version in the system update location under settings.
Before you attempt the process below, I would recommend trying this simpler method of manually updating your Android TV software on your Xiaomi Mi Box S though the chances of success are slim. It is still worth trying since you do not need to buy anything nor is it physically involving with the possibility of working. Worth trying before proceeding with the steps below
These are steps to fixing Xiaomi Mi Box S Internation Version. Model: MDZ-22-AB.
Requirements to Fix Xiaomi Mi Box S boot loop
USB-A to USB-A
USB Type A to USB Type A male to male connector allows you to connect your Mi Box S to your computer.
This connector isn’t commonly available so you will likely need to buy it. It is about USD 3.
Opening tool
The opening tool will assist you to quickly open the Mi Box S with no or minimal physical damage. My Mi Box S got some scratches in the process but nothing major.
Tweezers
Tweezers will be crucial in resetting your Mi Box S.
You can use a short wire and it will work perfectly okay.
Windows computer with USB 2.0 port
This process only works with USB 2.0 computers. I tried using a USB 3.0 with no success.
Check your computer’s manual or motherboard specification to accurately identify this port.
Modern computers come equipped with USB 3.0 or higher ports and one or two USB 2.0 ports. Accurately locate this so you can use it to fix your Mi Box S without any glitch. If you cannot locate a USB 2.0 port on your computer, try all the ports with the steps below till you find the one that works. This may be tedious if you have a lot of USB ports.
Recovery firmware for Xiaomi Mi Box S
This is Android TV 8.2 for Xiaomi Mi Box S. It is the software that you are downgrading to. Your Mi Box S likely already had Android 9. You will upgrade it to Android 9 once the recovery firmware is flashed.
Download Xiaomi Mi Box S recovery firmware to your Windows computer. Download, Extract the file and note the location of the .img file.
Amlogic USB Burning Tool
Amlogic USB Burning Tool is software to be installed on your Windows computer that will assist in burning the downloaded recovery firmware to your Xiaomi Mi Box S.
Download the Amlogic USB Burning Tool version 2.1.7.3. I tried other versions with minimal success. They could work for your case but you’re better off with the version that is proven to work. Download then extract and install the software on your computer.
Password
This is the password that you’ll import to your Amlogic burning tool. Download the file then extract the password.bin file and note the location of this file.
I suggest putting the two files in a single location on your computer.
Steps to fix Xiaomi Mi Box S boot loop
Prepare the USB Burning Tool
Launch the USB Burning Tool then navigate to View > InPut Password then navigate to the downloaded password.bin file and select it.
Select the Android TV software to the flashed by navigating to File > Import Image then select the Xiaomi_Mi_Box_S_MDZ-22-AB_oneday_r363_20181012_AndroidPC.img file you downloaded from the steps above.
Ensure that the Erase Flash and Erase Bootloader options are checked under configuration.
Open the Xiaomi Mi Box S
Pry open the Xiaomi Mi Box S using the opening tool. Wiggle your way around the box till the lid pops open.
Pop open the shiny metallic lid covering the middle section to reveal three triangle sections with two black modules and other components.
Connect the Mi Box S to your Computer
Connect your Xiaomi Mi Box S to a USB 2.0 port on your computer with the USB Burning Tool using the USB-A to USB-A cable. USB 3.0 ports on your computer won’t work.
Do not connect the power cord yet.
Reset the Mi Box S
Use the tweezers or a short wire to reset the Xiaomi Mi Box S by shorting the two sections shown below. Connect the shiny metallic frame-looking piece of metal to the copper-looking grey dot on the motherboard as shown below.
Connect the power cord while shorting the box. You will hear a chiming sound from your computer when this is successful.
Put the shorting tweezers or the wire aside and move over to your computer while the Box is still connected to the computer and power.
Flash recovery firmware
Press Start on the USB Burning Tool to flash the recovery software to your Xiaomi Mi Box S.
The progress bar will proceed to 100% and finish successfully. Do not touch the box to cables till it has completed at 100% and shows a green bar.
Flashing the recovery firmware should take about 4 minutes. In the end, you should see the message 100%: Burning Successfully in a gree label.
Unplug your device and connect it to your television set. Connect to Wi-Fi, sign in to your Google account then update your Xiaomi Mi Box S to Android TV 9.0.
Troubleshooting Failed Xiaomi Mi Box S Flashing
- Check that you have plugged in the USB 2.0 port on your computer. It will not work on USB 3.0 or higher.
- Check the connections to make sure that they are appropriately plugged in. Loose connections can cause it it abort and fail.
- Plug in a different USB 2.0 port. Your computers USB 2.0 might be faulty and plugging in to another USB 2.0 port will allow it to work.
- Interchange the procedures above by first resetting the Mi Box S then pluggin in to the computer.
These steps should fix the Xiaomi Mi Box S boot loop and blinking Xiaomi logo for now and any other update that will come along.
