How to set a shutdown timer on Xiaomi Redmi phone

Xiaomi’s current smartphones and their Redmi sub-brand are equipped with powerful MIUI software that provides users with a wide range of customization options. One of the most popular features is automatically turning off and on the device on schedule. This option is especially useful for those who want to save battery power at night, reduce electromagnetic radiation during sleep or simply reboot the gadget to clean RAM without the user.

Unfortunately, in the latest versions of MIUI 12, 13 and 14, the company’s engineers decided to hide or completely remove the standard “Planned On and Off” feature from the settings menu, a decision driven by changes in Android’s security policy and a desire to simplify the interface for the mass user.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the current ways to set the shutdown timer on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. We will look at hidden menus, third-party apps with root rights and without them, as well as system energy saving functions that can be a worthy alternative.

Why the function of the planned shutdown was missing

Many users who have upgraded their devices to the latest firmware version are surprised to find that the usual menu item has disappeared. Previously, the Settings path → Battery → Scheduled on and off was standard for all models. Now the system often ignores requests for this feature or simply does not display them in the interface.

This is because Google has tightened requirements for background processes and power management in new versions of the Android operating system. Smartphone makers including Xiaomi have to adapt their shells to remove features that may conflict with system energy saving restrictions.

⚠️ Note: The absence of a menu item does not mean that there is no hardware shutdown. The mechanism of operation remains at the level of the system kernel, but access to it through a standard interface can be blocked software.

It is believed that the feature was removed to increase the time of the device in standby mode, as modern smartphones have learned to effectively manage background tasks without the need for a complete reboot.

Find hidden settings in different versions of MIUI

Before you go to the radical measures, it is worth checking whether your firmware version does not have the ability to customize. In some regions (for example, the Chinese version of the CN) or on certain models, the menu may be located differently or hidden in special sections. The standard way to check is: go to Settings → Battery and carefully examine the upper right corner of the screen.

Click on three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen. The menu that opens may have "Planned Enablement and Wy Off" item. If you see this item, you're lucky enough to be able to set up a schedule by selecting days of the week and time. If you don't, try searching by settings. Type "Switch off" or "Schedule" into the search bar, the system can redirect you to the desired section, even if it's hidden.

Also worth checking is Settings → Additional Features. In older versions of MIUI (before version 11), the timer was often there. If you have a Global ROM installed, the probability of this feature being available is lower than in the Chinese versions, but it won’t take long to verify.

It is important to understand that the menu layout may depend on the specific smartphone model. Xiaomi and Redmi Note flagship series may have software differences. If standard search methods fail, move to alternative solutions.

Using the Switch Off application for automation

The most effective way to return the functionality of the shutdown timer to modern Xiaomi smartphones is to use specialized applications from the Google Play store. One of the most popular and proven solutions is the Switch Off application. It works without obtaining superuser rights (Root), which makes it safe for the average user.

Once you install the app, you need to give it a number of permissions. Switch Off will request power management access, phone access, and the ability to display on top of other windows. Without these permissions, the program will not be able to execute a shutdown command. In the application settings, select the Power Off tab and set the time when the phone should turn off.

To work properly in the background, add the application to the MIUI power saving system exception list. Go to Settings → Battery → Applications → Switch Off and select the “No Limits” mode. Also pin the application in the running task menu so that the system does not close it when cleaning the memory.

The app allows you to set up not only a single shutdown, but also a regular schedule (daily, on certain days of the week), which is the ideal solution for those who want to turn off their phone every night at the same time without unnecessary interference.

Alternative methods through Tasker and MacroDroid

For advanced users who want to gain maximum control over their device, powerful automation tools like Tasker or MacroDroid are a great option.These apps allow you to create complex smartphone use cases that go far beyond a simple shutdown timer.

In MacroDroid, the setup process is as follows: create a new macro, select Date/Time in triggers and set the right time. In actions, find the Device section and select Turn off the device. Please note that in most cases, the shutdown action will still require Root rights or the use of special ADB-commands to provide system privileges to the application.

If you don't have Root rights, you can use the ADB command to provide the app with a shutdown. Connect the phone to your computer, enable debugging over USB, and type in the command: adb shell pm grant com.arlosoft.macrodroid android.permission.REBOOT. After that, the app will be able to shut down without root rights, but only if the device model and Android version support this method.

Using automation gives you flexibility, but it takes time to set up the device initially, and if you just need to turn off your phone on weekdays at 23:00, it's easier to use a dedicated app.

Energy saving and "Do Not Disturb" as an alternative

If the main purpose of setting a shutdown timer is to reduce power consumption or no notifications at night, it's worth considering Android's built-in features, which can be even more effective than a full shutdown.Switching off and turning on puts a strain on the power and memory cells each cycle, whereas modern sleep modes are optimized to minimize costs.

Do Not Disturb mode allows you to completely turn off sound, vibration and visual notifications on the screen, leaving only the alarm and calls from selected contacts active. You can set this mode through Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb → Schedule. The phone will switch to this mode automatically at a given time.

You can also activate ultra-energy saving, which is a mode that turns off background syncs, GPS, Bluetooth, and limits applications, and the screen becomes monochrome, and the charge is minimal, and it's a great alternative to shutting down if you're afraid of missing an important call, but you want to save the battery.

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Use Do Not Disturb mode with the Repeat Calls option enabled to avoid missing an emergency call if someone calls you twice in a row within 15 minutes.

Regularly rebooting (once a week) also helps clear the cache and speed up the system, but doing this every night doesn’t make much sense in terms of extending the life of a modern smartphone.

Solving problems with the freeze button off

A common problem on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is when you try to turn off the phone in the standard way (a long press of the power button) instead of the switch off menu, Google Assistant is launched, which annoys many users who are used to the old behavior of the system.

To return the shutdown menu, go to Settings → Additional Features → Press and Hold the Power button. In the menu that opens, change the action from Google Assistant to Shutdown Menu. After that, a long press of the button will again trigger the familiar window with the sliders of the turn off and reboot.

If the power button is physically malfunctioning or stalls, using a shutdown timer becomes critical, and software methods (applications like Switch Off) are the only way to control power without mechanically pressing the buttons.

⚠️ Attention: If the power button is physically triggered, do not try to disassemble the phone yourself without experience.This can damage the plume or body.

To turn off the emergency button when the button is getting stuck, you can also use the command in ADB: adb shell reboot -p, which will force the device to turn off.

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Returning the off menu through the settings of additional functions solves the problem of randomly calling the assistant and restores the usual control over the power of the device.

Effect of off-cycles on battery life

There is a common myth that the phone must be turned off overnight to “rest” the battery: modern lithium-polymer (Li-Po) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries used in Xiaomi do not have a “memory effect” and do not require daily full discharge or shutdown.

In contrast, frequent cycles of full shutdown and on can even reduce battery life, since the system start-up process (Boot) consumes significant current in the first minutes of operation. In addition, a sharp surge in voltage at the start of all systems can theoretically affect the power controller, although modern devices have reliable protection.

The optimal mode for a modern smartphone is 24/7 with a weekly reboot, which allows the system to maintain, update indexes and clear temporary files without stressing components. If you still want to turn off your phone at night, do it no more than once every few days.