How to turn on the control buttons on Xiaomi devices: from TVs to smartphones

Have you encountered a problem where the buttons on the Xiaomi remote do not respond and the touch keys on the TV or smartphone refuse to work? This situation is familiar to many owners of brand equipment - especially after updating the firmware, resetting settings or prolonged downtime of the device. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved without going to the service center, but you need to know exactly where to look for the right settings and what combinations of buttons to use.

In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios: from the basic activation of buttons on the Mi remotes. TV before restoring the operation of touch panels on Redmi smartphones or POCO. You'll learn how to check for hardware malfunctions, reset the remote settings, update the firmware to restore functionality, and even manually reflash the device if standard methods don't work (IR) Control and devices on Android TV, where the button-including algorithms differ.

Important: If the buttons stop working after a device falls or fluid hits, first check for mechanical damage. In such cases, software methods may not help and will require repair. For all other situations, read on.

1. Check the underlying causes of broken buttons

Before you start complex manipulations, eliminate the obvious reasons why buttons may not respond:

• 🔋 Discharged batteries in the remote: even if the indicator does not flash, try to replace the batteries with new ones. Use batteries of the same brand (for example, Duracell or Duracell). GP) — Cheap analogues often give insufficient voltage.
• 📶 IR barrier: Make sure there are no obstacles between the remote and the receiver on the TV. Dust on the IR receiver (a small window on the front panel) can also block the signal — wipe it with a dry wipe.
• 🔄 Reboot the device: Remove the fork of the TV or smartphone from the socket for 1-2 minutes, then turn it on again. This will reset temporary system errors that could block the processing of pressing.
• 🎮 Connected game controllers: If the TV is connected to the Xiaomi Game Controller or joystick from the console, the system can ignore the signals from the remote.

If the buttons are triggered after these actions, the problem was temporary. If not, move to the next section.

⚠️ Note: On some Mi models TV 4S/5 post-update MIUI TV 3.0+ This is a well-known bug that is fixed by resetting the remote (instructions in the section) 3).

2. button activation on Xiaomi remotes (including Mi Remote)

Xiaomi remotes are divided into three types: infrared (IR), Bluetooth and combined (IR + The button-enabled algorithm is different for them, and below is a general-purpose instruction that is suitable for most models, including the Mi. TV Stick, Mi Box S and Mi series TVs TV A/P/Q.

Method 1: Resetting the remote to factory settings

If the remote is connected to the TV, but some of the buttons are not working (for example, channels are not switched or volume is not controlled), reset:

1. Press and hold the Menu + OK buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds.
2. The indicator on the remote should blink 3 times - this is a signal of a successful reset.
3. Release the buttons and wait 30 seconds, and the remote automatically reconnects to the TV.

Bluetooth remotes (for example, from Mi) TV Q1E):

1. Press the Back + Home buttons for 15 seconds.


2. wait for the indicator to flash twice.




3. In the TV menu, go to Settings → Remotes and accessories → Add a remote.

Method 2: Forced re-binding of the remote

If the reset does not help, remove the remote from the system and connect it again:

• 📺 On TV: Settings → Devices → Remote and accessories → Remove this remote.
• 🔄 Turn off the TV for 1 minute.
• 🔗 Turn on the TV and tap on the Menu remote. + OK 5 seconds at the same time to re-bind.

3. Enable touch buttons on Xiaomi TVs

On Xiaomi TVs, touch buttons (usually located on the bottom or sidebar) may stop working after:

• Updating firmware to MIUI TV 3.0+ (Especially relevant for the Mi models TV 4A/4S).
• Resetting factory settings.
• Hardware failure (for example, after a voltage surge).

To get them back to work:

Method 1: Activation through the Engineering Menu

This method works for most Android models. TV:

1. Turn off the TV from the remote.


2. Press the combination on the TV body:




For Mi TV 4A/4S: Menu → Input → Volume Down (hold 10 seconds).




For Mi TV Q1E/Q2: Power → Volume Up → Volume Down (hold 8 seconds).




3. From the engineering menu, select Sensor Test → Enable Touch Keys.




4. Save settings and restart the TV.

Method 2: Manual firmware update

If the touch buttons stopped working after the update, rolling back to the previous firmware version can help. Download the desired version from the official Xiaomi website and install it through the official Xiaomi website. USB:

1. Download the firmware for your model (for example, mimax92_eea_global_*.zip for Mi TV Q1 75").
2. Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format).
3. Insert the flash drive into the TV, go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.

⚠️ Attention: Don't interrupt the update process! on Mi models TV P1 A broken firmware can block access to Fastboot, and a service cable will be required to restore it.

4. Restoration of buttons on Xiaomi smartphones

On Redmi smartphones, POCO Mi control buttons (touch or mechanical) may stop working because of the:

• 🛠️ Damage to the plume (relevant after falls).
• 🔄 Failure to work MIUI Launcher.
• 📱 Disabling gestures or hardware keys in settings.

Check the following parameters:

For touch buttons (navigation)

If the "Back", "Home" or "Recent" buttons do not work:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
2. Select the button display mode: 🔘 With gestures (buttons hidden, swipe management). 🔲 Navigation buttons (classic 3 buttons).

Safe Mode

Nutrition

For mechanical buttons (on/volume)

If the Power or Volume buttons do not respond:

• 🔧 Check if the buttons are dusty (relevant to the POCO X3 And Redmi Note 10. Use a can of compressed air to clean.
• 🔄 Reset settings through Settings → The phone. → Resetting (select Reset UI Settings – this won’t delete your data).
• 📲 Update the firmware through Settings → System updates, in some versions MIUI 12/13 There was a hardware button locking bug.

5. button problems on Mi Band fitness bracelets

On smart bracelets Xiaomi Mi Band 5/6/7 A single physical button (touch or mechanical) may stop responding after a single physical button is used:

• 💦 Moisture intrusion (even if the bracelet is waterproof, salt water or sweat can cause contact corrosion).
• 🔋 Full discharge of the battery (if the bracelet was discharged for more than a month).
• 📱 Sync failure with Mi Fitness app.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Hard reboot: connect the bracelet to charge and hold the button for 20-30 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
2. Reset via app: Open Mi Fitness → Choose a bracelet → Settings of the device → Untie the device. Reconnect the bracelet.

Firmware update

Mi Fitness

Firmware

⚠️ Note: Mi Band 7 Pro may not respond to swipes after upgrading to firmware 1.16.0.14, so it can be reverted to version 1.15.0.12 via the Mi Band Master app (requires root rights on your smartphone).

💡

If the Mi Band bracelet does not respond to charging, try using another cable or power supply with a current of at least 1A. USB-charger.

6. Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

If none of the software methods worked, it might be the hardware problem.

Signs of hardware failure:

• 🔌 The buttons do not work under any conditions (even after resetting).
• 💥 On the body of the device, traces of impacts, dents or corrosion are visible.
• 🔊 When pressing the buttons, extraneous sounds are heard (squeaking, crunching).
• 🌡️ The device overheats in the area of the buttons (relevant for TVs with a touch panel).

For diagnosis:

1. Check the plumes (for smartphones/TVs): if you've disassembled the device, make sure the button plumes are tightly connected. on the Redmi Note 9 and POCO X3 The power button plume often departs after falls.
2. Use a multimeter: if you're adept at electronics, check the resistance of the buttons in vertebrae mode. For a working button, the resistance must change when you press.
3. Connect an external remote: if the TV does not work all the buttons (including touch), but the external remote or the Mi Remote app on the smartphone controls the TV – the problem is in the motherboard.

If the diagnostics confirmed a hardware malfunction, contact the service center. For devices under warranty, repair will be free (if the breakdown is not the fault of the user).

💡

Before visiting the service center, make a backup of data (for smartphones) or record the current settings of the TV (screen photo with network parameters, sound, etc.).

7. Alternative methods of controlling the device

While you are restoring the buttons, alternative management methods can be used:

For Xiaomi TVs:

• 📱 Mi Remote: Download it to your smartphone (available for Android and iOS) and supports all Mi models TV redmi TV.
• 🎮 Gaming controller: connect via Bluetooth joystick from Xiaomi Game Controller or Xbox/Sony.
• 🖱️ Mouse and keyboard: connect through USB Or Bluetooth. TV cursor control is maintained.

For Xiaomi smartphones:

• 🖥️ Managing from PC: use the program Mi PC Suite or Adb Commands for Remote Management.
• 👆 Gestures: activate in the settings Special features → Gesture management.
• 🔊 Voice Assistant: Say “OK Google” or “Hi Siri” for basic commands.

For Mi Band, the alternative to the button is to manage via the Mi Fitness app or Notify & Fitness (for advanced features).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s management buttons