Finding the power button on modern Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but the variety of form factors and design solutions of the company often puts users at a loss. Xiaomi engineers are constantly experimenting with ergonomics, transferring physical controls, integrating them into the screen or completely replacing them with software gestures. In some models, the Power button is built into the end of the case, in others it is combined with a fingerprint scanner, and in others it is replaced with a virtual button on the display.
Understanding the exact location and functionality of this key is critical not only to turn on the device, but also to perform an emergency reboot, enter Recovery mode or activate an emergency call. In this article, we will discuss in detail where to look for the power button on different series of smartphones, how it interacts with the IR port and what hidden opportunities opens up with special combinations.
Particular attention should be paid to models without physical buttons, where power management is completely transferred to the software shell of MIUI or HyperOS. If you just purchased a device or faced with a situation where standard methods do not work, this material will help you quickly navigate your gadget.
Classical location on the side of the face
The most common placement of the power button in Xiaomi smartphones is on the right end of the device. This is an industry standard that allows you to conveniently reach the key with your right thumb. In most cases, the Power button is slightly elongated or different in texture from the volume controllers located nearby. On budget and mid-budget models, such as the Redmi Note series, it is often made as a separate mechanical switch.
However, in flagship lines, such as the Xiaomi 13 or 14 series, designers often integrate the power button directly into the frame of the case, making it flush with the metal surface. This gives the device a monolithic appearance, but requires a clearer press. Sometimes users confuse the on button with the volume buttons, especially if they are all of the same size and texture. To avoid errors, pay attention to the power symbol, which is often engraved next to the key or painted on a protective film.
⚠️ Note: On some models with curved edges of the screen (2.5D or 3D The mechanical button may be "recessed" deeper than usual. If the press seems too tight, do not use excessive force - try pressing closer to the center of the key.
The functionality of the side button is not limited to just turning on and off. Short pressing usually wakes the screen or locks the device. Long-term retention (about 3-5 seconds) causes the shutdown menu or voice assistant, depending on the settings in the Settings → Additional settings → Keyboard Combinations. This is where you can reconfigure the long-press response by returning the classic menu or activating the Google Assistant.
Integration with a fingerprint scanner
Special attention should be paid to models where the Power button is combined with a fingerprint scanner, a solution that is often found in smartphones with screens with cutouts or bangs, where it is technically difficult or expensive to place the sensor under the display, in which case the entire side of the key is a touch pad. To turn on the phone, you just need to touch the button, and to unlock it, you need to press your finger a little harder.
In devices with subscreen scanners, the situation is different: the power button remains purely mechanical, and the biometrics are read through the display. However, in models with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, the Power button performs a dual function. This creates a nuance in use: if you are used to holding your finger for a long time to unlock, the phone can perceive this as a command to call the off menu. The sensitivity setting of such a scanner is available in the Settings menu → Passwords and Security → Unlock by fingerprint.
It is important to note that in some custom firmware or when using certain launchers, the reaction of the combined button may differ. If the scanner has stopped responding, the problem may not be in the mechanics, but in the software failure of the driver, in which case calibration of the sensor through the engineering menu or a conventional restart of the device helps.
Power management on tablets and models without buttons
Owners of Xiaomi Pad tablets or smartphones with a unique form factor (for example, sliders or devices with a completely smooth body) face the lack of the usual mechanical button. In such gadgets, engineers often transfer the on button to the upper or lower end, or make it touch. On tablets, the Power button can be combined with a speaker or microphone, which visually masks its purpose.
For devices where the physical button is completely absent (which is extremely rare, but is found in some experimental models or smart screens), control is carried out through a software interface. The lock screen can display a virtual button, or turn on automatically when the charger is connected.
What to do if the button fails?
A special case is the use of a smartphone in conjunction with the Mi Home smart home. Some automation scenarios allow you to turn on the screen or wake the device on a schedule or event, bypassing the physical button. This is useful if the button on the end is damaged, but the functionality of the device needs to be preserved.
Use the IR port instead of the switch on button
The unique feature of many Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is the presence of an integrated infrared blaster, which is located on the top of the device and allows you to turn the phone into a universal remote. But can it replace the Power button? Direct switching on the phone off via the IR port can not be done, because the IR emitter must be active. However, if your phone freezes and does not respond to the screen, the IR port will not help it to restart.
But the IR port is essential for other devices, so you can set up a scenario where the phone turns on the TV or the air conditioner. In the context of finding a button on the phone itself, the IR port is often confused with a noise reduction microphone or proximity sensor. On the Redmi Note and Mi series, this hole is often round and located next to the headphone jack or on the top edge.
If you're looking for a button to turn off your TV, not your phone, you need the Mi Remote app, which emulates the signals from different brands of remotes. For Mi TVs and Redmi TVs, pairing is automatic, and the phone becomes a full-fledged remote control with a power button.
Hidden functions and keyboard combinations
Xiaomi’s Power button is a powerful tool for diagnosing and restoring the system. Knowing keyboard shortcuts can save a device in a critical situation. For example, if the system is stuck and the sensor is not responding, the forced reboot is carried out by holding the power button for a long time (10-15 seconds), and some models require the simultaneous pressing of the power button and one of the volume buttons (usually Volume Up).
To enter Recovery Mode, you use the combination of switching off your phone, slamming Power + Volume up. Entering Fastboot mode is Power + Volume down. These combinations work at bootloader level, so they're active even when the operating system is completely broken.
☑️ Checking the efficiency of the button
There's also a Pocket Mode feature that blocks random button presses in your pocket. If the screen doesn't light up when you press it, maybe this mode is activated or the proximity sensor is contaminated. Wipe the top of the screen and the ends of the device.
Table of button location on popular series
To organize the information, we've created a table that describes the typical power button location for the major lineups of devices, which will help you navigate quickly if you change your phone model.
| Series of devices | Location of the Power button | Features | Combination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi (Flagships) | Right end | Integrated into a frame | Often with a scanner. |
| Redmi Note | Right end | Separate mechanical | Rarely. |
| POCO (F/X series) | Right end | Highlighted texture | Sometimes with an IR port near |
| Xiaomi Pad | Upper/Right end | Drowning. | No. |
| Black Shark | Right end | Playing area | Extra shoulder buttons |
As you can see from the table, the right end dominates, but the implementation nuances may differ. Black Shark gaming smartphones (a sub-brand of Xiaomi) may have additional ultrasonic buttons on the body, but the main power button remains standard.
Software alternatives and settings
If the physical Power button is out of order or you just want to minimize mechanical wear, MIUI and HyperOS offer great software alternatives. In Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features → No-touch Control, you can activate voice or motion control. There is also a Double tap to wake/sleep feature that allows you to wake and extinguish the display with a simple tap of your finger.
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To extend the life of a mechanical button, use the Screen Lock widget on your desktop. One click on the icon locks the device as effectively as a physical button.
Another useful tool is the on and off scheduler. In the Settings menu → Battery and Performance → Scheduled power, you can set the time to automatically turn your phone on and off. This is useful if the button is intermittent and you want to restart the device automatically at night.
⚠️ Warning: Software-based shutdown methods (via menus) do not work if the system is completely got stuck (10-15 seconds) or battery discharge to zero will help to restart the device.
Frequent problems with the power button
Over time, the mechanical button can start to "whip": the phone turns on only the fifth time, the button will go down or, conversely, it constantly "sticks" to cause endless reboots. If the button is stuck, try to gently tap on the end of the device or blow compressed air (not with your mouth, so as not to get moisture). Often, dust or pile gets inside, which interferes with contact.
In the case of software "stick" (when the screen is constantly going out and lighting up on its own), check if you have a case that presses the button. It is also worth checking the settings of "Pocket mode" in the call menu - sometimes the proximity sensor mistakenly believes that the phone is in your pocket, and locks the screen.
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If the power button is physically broken, the only way to control it is often to connect. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter and use of software buttons on the screen.