Xiaomi Mi Key: Hidden button features you didn't use

Have you ever noticed a small circular button on your Xiaomi smartphone with the Mi logo — usually on the left side? — that is the Mi Key, which many users don’t even know exists, and that button can be a real Swiss knife for quick access to features if you set it up correctly.

In this article, we will not only explain what the Mi Key is, but also reveal all its hidden features, from standard features to little-known life hacks. You will learn how to reassign a button to your needs, why it sometimes doesn’t work, and how to use it to control the Xiaomi smart home.

If you own a Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T or any other model with this button, this article will help you unlock its potential 100%, even if you think you already know everything about your smartphone!

What is Mi Key and why is it needed?

The Mi Key is a hardware button that Xiaomi began installing on its smartphones in 2020, which looks like a small round or oval switch with the brand logo on the left side of the case, originally positioned as a quick way to call the voice assistant Xiao AI, but its functionality has expanded significantly over time.

Today, the Mi Key can perform up to 10 different actions, from launching the camera to activating the Do Not Disturb mode, while it can be customized to specific use cases: for example, one tap for a flashlight, double tap for a screenshot, and long hold for turning on Google Assistant, making the button a versatile tool that saves time in everyday tasks.

Fun fact: on some models (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the Mi Key has a haptic recoil, which allows you to distinguish it from the volume buttons even blindly. And in the POCO lineup, this button is sometimes programmed to start the game mode by default.

• 🔍 Where: On the left side of the smartphone, between the volume buttons and the SIM- card slot
• 📱 What models are available: Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Xiaomi 11T/12T/13T, Mi 11 Lite, etc.
• 🛠️ Can I disable: Yes, you can deactivate the button completely in the settings

Mi Key: What can be done out of the box

By default, Xiaomi offers a few basic Mi Key actions that you can choose without any additional settings. Here is the full list of standard features (available on MIUI 14 and later):

The most useful feature out of the box is a quick double-press camera start, which is especially useful when you need to take a quick shot: instead of unlocking the screen and finding the camera icon, you just double-press the Mi Key, and the app opens immediately, and the camera starts even if the smartphone is locked — this works on all models with MIUI 12.5 and later.

Another hidden possibility is that if you press the button for 3 seconds, it will trigger an emergency call menu (useful in emergencies) on some firmwares, but this feature is often disabled in global versions of MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: On POCO smartphones, the standard Mi Key settings may differ – instead of Xiao AI, the default is often to launch the POCO Launcher game space.

How to reassign Mi Key: step-by-step instructions

If you don't like the standard features, you can completely reconfigure the button to suit your needs.

1. Open Settings → Special Features → Physical buttons (on some firmwares, the path may be Settings → Additional → Mi button).
2. Choose the type of pressing: single, double or long.
3. In the list of available actions, select the right one or click Other Applications to assign the launch of a specific program.
4. Save the changes – the button will work in a new way.

Among the non-obvious options for reassignment:

• 🔦 Flashlight: one press is on, the second is off (comfortable at night)
• 📸 Serial shooting: Double pressing triggers the camera in serial shooting mode
• 🔇 Do Not Disturb Mode: Long-term retention activates silent mode
• 🎮 Game Mode: One tap opens Game Turbo (useful for gamers)

Select the type of pressing (single/double/long-term)|Check the list of available actions|If necessary, appoint the launch of a third-party application|Testing the new setting in real-world conditions-->

For advanced users, there is a way to assign their own commands to the button via ADB. For example, you can program a script to run or send a USSD- request.

adb shell settings put global mi_key_single_press 123


adb shell settings put global mi_key_single_press_app com.example.app

Where 123 is the action code and com.example.app is the batch name of the application.

⚠️ Warning: After the MIUI update, the Mi Key custom settings may be reset to factory settings. It is recommended to back up the settings via Settings → System → Backup.

Mi Key and Smart Home: Xiaomi Device Management

One of the most useful features of the Mi Key is the ability to control Xiaomi smart devices without unlocking the smartphone.

1. Make sure that the smartphone has the Mi Home app installed and all devices are added to it.
2. In the Mi Key settings, select Smart Home Management (available on MIUI 13 and later).
3. Assign a specific device or script to a single/double press.

Examples of useful scenarios:

• 💡 Lights on: one tap – turns on the Yeelight lamp in the room
• 🚪 Opening the door: double pressing – unlocks the smart lock Xiaomi Smart Door Lock
• 🌡️ Home Mode: Long-term retention – activates the "I'm at home" scenario (turns on the heater, turns off the alarm)

An important nuance: to work this feature, the smartphone and smart devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you use Mi Home over the cloud (manage from anywhere in the world), then Mi Key will work only if there is Internet.

💡

If you have multiple Xiaomi smart bulbs, you can assign different lamps to different types of pressing, such as single lamps for the kitchen, double lamps for the bedroom.

Common Mi Key Problems and Solutions

Despite its usefulness, the Mi Key sometimes doesn't work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If the Mi Key stopped working after the smartphone crashed, the problem is probably mechanical.

1. Reboot your phone (sometimes helps with software failures).
2. Check if the button connector is clogged with dust (clean the toothpick carefully).
3. Reset the button settings to factory via Settings → System → Resetting the settings → Resetting the button settings.

On some firmware (especially custom ones), the Mi Key can conflict with other gestures, for example, if you have Double-press to wake up, it can interfere with the button, in which case you have to choose one or adjust the exceptions.

Hidden opportunities: what else can Mi Key

Besides the obvious features, the Mi Key has a few hidden features that few people know about:

1. Hidden menus: On some models (Redmi Note 11 Pro+), triple tap opens the engineering menu for testing equipment.
2. Quick switching of SIM- cards: You can assign a change to the button of the active SIM (useful for dual-sim phones).
3. Activation of In-Pack mode: Prolonged retention can lock the screen and turn off sensors to avoid accidental taps.
4. Tasker Scripts Run: You can link a button to Tasker tasks via ADB (e.g., automatically turning on a VPN when you connect to a particular network).

Another interesting life hack: if you set the Mi Remote app to run on the Mi Key, the button turns into a universal remote for controlling a TV, air conditioner or other infrared devices, and you don't even need to unlock the phone, you just press a button and point the smartphone at the equipment.

For developers, you can use Mi Key in your applications through the Xiaomi Open API, which allows you to create unique interaction scenarios, for example, you can make one click open your enterprise application, and double click to launch a specific report.

💡

The Mi Key can completely replace the power button on some Xiaomi models if you set it up correctly, which is especially useful if the main power button fails.

Mi Key vs. Google Assistant Button: What's the difference?

Many people confuse the Mi Key with the Google Assistant button, which is available on some smartphones (for example, on the Pixel).

The Mi Key’s main advantage is flexibility. While the Google Assistant button is tightly tied to one action, Xiaomi’s button can perform dozens of different tasks, and the Mi Key works even on a locked screen, making it more versatile.

However, there is a drawback: on some firmware (especially global ones), the functionality of the Mi Key can be reduced, for example, in European versions of MIUI, it is sometimes impossible to assign an arbitrary application to the button.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Key