Finding the controls that turn the device on and off may seem like a trivial task, but in the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, this question often causes difficulties for new users. It’s not just about the physical location of the key, but also about how the software interprets its presses. Depending on the smartphone model, whether it’s a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi, the location can vary and the functionality can be expanded by software settings.
In today's world, you can't use a smartphone without a clear understanding of its hardware buttons. The power button, or Power Button, is the main tool for interacting with the gadget when the screen is off, and it's responsible not only for starting the system, but also for locking the display, calling the voice assistant, and even calling emergency services.
It's worth noting that in some regions or when buying global firmware devices, the logic of the work may be slightly different from the Chinese versions. The physical location remains unchanged, but the software shell makes its own adjustments to the behavior of the button in various use cases. Let's take a detailed look at where to look for this important detail and how to customize it for yourself.
Physical location of the button on different models
The first thing to start looking at is a close look at your device's body, and the company's engineers are trying to stick to a certain ergonomics, but the design changes from year to year. On most modern models, like the Xiaomi 13 series or the Redmi Note 12, the power button is located on the right side of the body, usually in the upper third of the case, which makes it easy to reach with your right thumb.
However, there are exceptions due to design features or the design of a particular line. For example, in some tablets or devices with a unique form factor, the button can be moved to the top end. In rare cases, especially in protected models or older versions, it can be located on the back, although this is no longer relevant for modern Xiaomi smartphones.
- 📍 Right edge: classic location for 95% of all smartphones of the brand, convenient for management.
- 📍 Upper end: rare, mostly on tablets or specific models without frames.
- 📍 Rear panel: typical of very old models or specialized secure devices.
It is important to distinguish between the power button and volume buttons that Xiaomi devices typically sit directly below or above.They often have the same size and texture, which can confuse the inexperienced user.The power button on most Xiaomi models has a characteristic orange or red marker dot on the end, which helps to find it by touch without looking at the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to find a removable battery and button inside the compartment, as it was in older phones.In modern Xiaomi smartphones, the battery is non-removable, and access to the insides requires disassembling the body.
Software functions: double pressing and blocking
The physical button is only half the equation. The real power lies in the operating system settings. The MIUI and HyperOS shells provide enhanced dual-press control, which allows you to turn a screen on as a powerful tool to access applications and functions without having to unlock the device.
By default, double tap is often set to start the camera, allowing you to take a snapshot instantly. However, the user can reassign this action. You can choose to launch any application, open the notification curtain, or even start a specific feature, such as a flashlight or voice recorder, which greatly speeds up the work with often used apps.
To adjust these settings, you need to go to the settings menu. The path usually reads: Settings → Additional Features → Buttons. In this section, you will find the "Double Press" item, where you select the desired action. The changes take effect instantly, without the need to restart.
- 🚀 Camera Launch: Allows you to take a photo in a split second, even if the screen is off.
- 🚀 Opening apps: quick access to instant messengers, navigator or music.
- 🚀 System functions: Turn on flashlight, screenshot or start voice search.
It's worth remembering that some of the activities may not be available if the phone is completely off or in deep power saving mode. The functionality of double-pressing depends on battery power and system status. If the smartphone is frozen, double-pressing also does not work, because it requires a response from the software.
Configure the actions of the button in the menu MIUI and HyperOS
Deep customization is Xiaomi's business card, and the power button settings menu allows you to customize your device to suit any user's needs, and you can set up not only double pressing, but also long-pressing, for example, long-term button retention can cause not the off menu, but the voice assistant Google Assistant or Xiao AI.
Newer firmware versions have an even more flexible tool called Shortcuts, which can be used to set an app to run when you triple-press it or click a combination of buttons, which turns the side of the smartphone into a full-fledged control panel, and sometimes requires you to activate the Developer Mode, but the basic settings are available to everyone.
☑️ Setting up the power button
Special attention should be paid to the special features section, where you can find settings for people with disabilities, where the power button can be assigned as a support tool, for example, five quick taps can activate screen zoom or color inversion, which makes the device more accessible to all categories of users.
⚠️ Warning: When assigning a power button to launch third-party apps, make sure they have the necessary permissions.Some "heavy" apps can take a long time to run, creating the feeling that the feature is not working.
If you want to return all settings to factory values, there is a reset button on the same menu, which is useful if you are confused about appointments or if after updating the firmware the old settings stopped working correctly.
Keyboard combinations for screenshots and reboot
The power button is rarely used in isolation, and when coupled with volume buttons, it forms powerful combinations to control the system, most famously by taking a screenshot, and most Xiaomi devices require pressing the power button and the volume button (bottom).
But there's an alternative method that many people find more convenient, which is triple tapping on the screen or three fingers down, but if the touchscreen doesn't respond or the screen is off, the physical button combination is the only reliable way, and the "Power + Volume Up" combination is often used to enter Recovery mode.
Table of key combinations
Recovery Mode is a diagnostic interface that allows you to restore a system if it stops booting, and only access it with physical buttons when the screen is not lit up, a critical skill for any Android device owner, as it can save data or restore the phone to work after a failed upgrade.
- 📸 Screenshot: Nutrition + Loudness down (instant pressing).
- 🔄 Reboot: Holding the power button for about 10 seconds.
- 🛠️ Recovery: Power retention + Loudness up before the logo appears.
It's important to keep the timing when you press it. To get a screenshot, you press and release the button quickly, almost simultaneously. To get into Recovery, hold it until the vibration and the logo appears. If you let it go too early, the phone will just turn on normally. Muscle memory training will help you do this automatically.
Comparison of location on different series of smartphones
To organize information, consider a pivot table where the buttons on popular series of devices are located, which will help you quickly navigate if you change the model or use several gadgets at the same time.
| Series of devices | Positioning of the button | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi (Flagships) | Right edge, top. | Often combined with a fingerprint scanner |
| Redmi Note | Right face, in the middle. | A separate button, scanner in the screen or behind |
| POCO (F/X series) | Right edge, top. | Brightly expressed, sometimes textured |
| Xiaomi Pad (Planchets) | Upper edge (horizontal) | Location depends on the orientation of the holding |
As you can see from the table, the right edge dominates. However, in the POCO series, designers often experiment with the texture of the button, making it grooved for a better tactile feel. In flagships with a subscreen scanner, the power button remains purely mechanical, without the fingerprint reader function.
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Knowing the exact location of the button and combinations for your model is key to quickly solving problems with hanging or the need for an urgent screenshot.
When buying a case, pay attention to compatibility. Some thick protective buckets can block access to the button or make its stroke too tight. In such cases, it is recommended to use cases with increased necklines or softer plastic in the area of the keys.
Solution: If the button does not respond
There are times when the physical button stops responding to the presses, which can be caused by software failure, contamination or mechanical damage. The first thing you should do is try to clean the area around the button with a soft brush or compressed air. Dust and pile are often clogged into the gap between the button and the body.
If mechanical cleaning didn't help, there might be a software problem: Rebooting the device can solve the drivers' time conflicts, and if the button doesn't work at all, you can use the Virtual Button or Floating Window function, which duplicates the physical keys on the screen.
⚠️ Warning: If the power button is triggered or has a backlash, do not put too much effort into it.This can lead to the plume breaking off or the mechanism breaking inside the case, which will require expensive repairs.
To activate the virtual button, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Virtual buttons. You can add a power button to the screen. This is a temporary solution that allows you to use your phone before visiting the service center. You can also set up automatic on and off on a schedule to minimize the use of the physical key.
- 🧹 Cleaning: Use a toothbrush to remove dust from the gaps.
- 📱 Software: Enable virtual buttons in accessibility settings.
- ⏰ Automation: Set up an on/off schedule.
As a last resort, if you have to turn off your phone and the button doesn't work, you can wait for the battery to run out completely. However, for today's lithium polymer batteries, deep discharge is undesirable. You'd better use the ADB command via your computer if you have the ability and USB debugging is enabled.