If your MINIX box is not performing the way it used too, or feels like something is wrong (laggy and freezing), please see below to resolve this problem:
- This is a software/firmware issue – and generally caused by performing MINIX updates. In some cases the box may be like this from the get-go, in other cases it can happen over time or directly after performing a MINIX OTA update.
To attempt to fix this issue on your own, Please try the following:
Unplug your box from the power, wait 5 seconds, then plug it back into the power (but DONT turn the unit ON yet!!)
Now on the bottom (or on the side) of your box, you will find a small hole – this is actually a reset pin hole (don’t worry, we’re not going to reset the box and you will not lose any data). What you need to do is insert a pin into this hole (and make sure you feel a click). Sometimes it may take a few times to get this right
Once you are sure you have the pin inside and ‘clicked’ (you will feel it) – keep holding the pin inside, now press the physical ON button on your MINIX box (at the same time while you are holding the pin) – and keep holding the pin for 10 seconds.
If successful, you will enter the ‘android recovery menu’. Inside the android recovery menu, there will be a few options such as ‘wipe data/factory reset’ , ‘wipe cache’ , ‘reboot’ etc.
You need to select the option ‘wipe cache‘, (NOT ‘wipe data’) – Once selected, you will see some yellow text on the bottom of the screen (this is the wiping process). Once complete, select ‘reboot’ from the menu, or simply unplug the box from the power, and turn it back on again.
The issue will now be resolved and your device will perform super snappy once again.
Note: this is also the same process for any other android tv box / kodi box (except for most other devices, you need to place the pin into the reset hole BEFORE plugging in the power – as some boxes turn on instantly when plugged in the power). It’s a good idea to perform this action every couple of months to keep the device running smooth.
If you would like DROIDWORLD to refurbish your MINIX box (or any other box), and install the latest firmware and updates, please purchase the following package: https://droidworld.com.au/product/android-repairsservice-root/
The price includes return postage back to you 🙂
Also note that we can provide refurbishment services for any android box, even if not purchased through us!
What can one do on windows based minix (z64w)?
I tried a few times I definitely hear the click but just get a black screen.
Hi Brian, are you sure that the HDMI cable is plugged in? If yes, then please try the below:
1) After you perform the process (and just have a black screen), unplug the HDMI cable, and plug it back in > check if the screen appears.
2) Remove the HDMI cable before performing the process (perform the steps without the HDMI cable being plugged in) > then after you perform the process, plug in the HDMI cable > check if the screen appears.
3) If all the above fail, (assuming your HDMI cable is working fine) please perform the process using a different TV or computer monitor as it may be a resolution compatibility issue for the android recovery menu
I followed these instructions, like Brian I was getting a black screen so I followed step 2 above ie; Removing HDMI cable and plugging it back in and it worked. Clicked on ‘Wipe Cache’ option and it looked like it did its thing..all this yellow text came up however it says things like “failed to mount /cache (Permission denied” “Can’t open/ cache/recovery/ log”….. etc (I took a screen shot if you needed to see)
When it finished running through the process, I clicked reboot as per your instructions.
I’m not sure if that sounds right? Cheers
Hey Stan! During the wiping process it is normal to see yellow text appear saying things like ‘failed to mount/cache’ etc – this is absolutely normal and is no sign of any concern! You have successfully completed the process. Please let us know your feedback – Can you see any improvements in performance for your device?, was the issue resolved? Cheers
Hey, I tried this and get the recovery menu on the screen but there is a red triangle with an exclamation point on it and I am unable to move to select options. How do I get past this?
Hi there, depending on which model box you have, some of them you need to use the VOLUME UP / VOLUME DOWN buttons to navigate up and down inside the recovery menu. However, if you have a wireless remote, you can use that instead (just make sure that the mini USB receiver for the wireless remote is plugged into the box BEFORE you boot the device into recovery mode)
Hi wat do I do if my x96 mini doesn’t have the small hole at the bottom
What do i do if my x96 mini android box doesn’t have the small hole at the bottom
Hi Droidworld, I have lost my mini usb receiver for the Minix Air2 Lite… do you have any available?
Cheers, Phil
I’ve been having to do this regularly with my Minix U9-h. And experiencing freezes and crashes once to twice a day. What should I be looking into? Thank you in advance
thanks a lot…worked perfect.
I found my x8 box freezing but found that i had put Everyready Advanced batteries in the remote which was obviously too high powered for the remote. Soon as i put normal AAA batteries in the remote all worked five again.
I seems it was the remote freezing not the Minix box.
I made a profile on this site just to tell you that I can’t find the right words to say how thankful I am to you. I bought a Minix NEO U9-H more then a year ago. From the very begging it it was so lagging and freezzing all the time. I was doing factory reset and looking for other solutions on the web but nothing helped until I ran into this. Thank you so much. That Minix shit was expencive and I thought it will never run smooth. PS Minix NEO U9-H doesn’t have reset pin hole, you just need to hold the power button for around 10 seconds until you get to the android recovery menu.
How do I stop that really annoying Droidworld pop-up message telling me how legitimate Droidworld are now. I’ve seen it about one million times.
How about adding an option so that when I select “Dismiss” I never see it again.
Is there any way I can prevent this annoying pop-up message from appearing?
People’s comments really made me hopeful for a minute now that my Minix crashes all the damn time, but then;
“Formatting /cache…
failed to mount /cache (permission denied)
Can’t mount /cache/recovery/log
Can’t open /cache/recovery/log
failed to mount /cache (permission denied)
… “
Am I the only one who gets this message??? 😕
Help much appreciated.