Xiaomi power button broke: how to turn on and off the smartphone

When the power button on a Xiaomi smartphone suddenly stops working, it always comes as a surprise, and it can happen at the most inopportune moment: when the device is dead, frozen, or requires a forced reboot. The owner is confronted by a black screen and a seemingly helpless gadget that turns into a useless piece of glass and metal, but it is too early to panic, as engineers are working on the project. MIUI Provided several software workarounds for food management.

In most cases, the problem is not a complete failure of the motherboard, but mechanical wear of the plume or sticking of the button itself. Before you carry the device to a service center, where you can ask for a considerable amount of money, you should try software activation methods.

Next, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can do it, from simple charging manipulations to complex ADB commands. You’ll learn how to set your phone up so it’s turned on automatically when you plug in the power, and what apps will help you completely replace the physical key. It’s critical not to drain the battery completely if the button is already starting to falter, as it’s the hardest thing to turn on a phone that’s off without a running button.

Emergency activation via charger

The very first and obvious method worth trying if your Redmi or Poco is completely off is to connect to the power supply.Many Chinese brand smartphone models automatically turn on when the battery is powered, even if the physical Power button is not functioning.You'll need an original cable and power supply to do this, as poor-quality accessories may not give enough momentum to start the system.

Plug the device into the socket and wait a few seconds. The MI logo or charging animation should appear on the screen. If the phone vibrates but the screen remains black, perhaps the problem is in the display rather than the button. In some cases, it takes a long connection (up to 15-20 minutes) for the power controller to accumulate sufficient charge to start.

If you don't automatically turn on, try the volume button combination. Press the volume button (depending on the model) and hold it, connect the USB cable to your computer. This method often puts your smartphone in Fastboot or Recovery mode, where you can select the system reboot option.

Use of Recovery Mode and Fastboot

Recovery Mode is a powerful tool that allows you to control the system at a low level. If the on button does not work, logging into this mode is often through a combination of volume buttons and a PC connection, which can help not only diagnose the problem, but also force the operating system to start.

To enter Recovery mode on most Xiaomi devices, you need to:

• 🔌 Connect the phone to the computer through USB-cable.
• 🔊 Press the volume button (+) and hold her.
• ⚡ Wait for the logo to appear MI or a recovery menu.
• 👆 Use volume buttons to navigate the menu (up/down) and power button to select (if it is partially working) or just wait for an automatic reset.

In the Recovery menu, navigation can be difficult if no button is working. However, if the volume button is functioning, you can choose Reboot or Reboot to System. In some versions of MIUI, the choice of point is made by pressing the volume button for a long time.

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If the cursor does not move in the Recovery menu, try connecting it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-This allows you to manage menu items without physical buttons.

Fastboot mode can also be useful. It usually uses a combination of a volume button (-) + PC connection to log in. In this mode, you can try to reboot through the computer if nothing is pressed on the device itself.

Setting up the turn on schedule and alarm

If you manage to turn your phone on temporarily (for example, the button works every time or you used the charging method), immediately set up automatic turn on. This will save you in a situation where the device will run out of power. MIUI It does not require the installation of third-party software.

To activate this function, go to the settings menu:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to Battery and Performance (or simply Battery).
3. Find the gear icon or three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
4. Select the On and Off option on schedule.
5. Activate the switch On and set the time, for example, at 08:00 a.m.

Now, even if the phone turns off completely, it will start on its own at a predetermined time. This is a critical setting for owners of devices with a faulty Power button. Similarly, you can set up an automatic shutdown to keep the phone off at night, although this is less critical.

Also worth paying attention to the alarm function. In some firmware versions, if the alarm is set, the phone can turn on itself to play it even if it has been turned off. Check the clock settings and make sure that this option is activated.

Software buttons and virtual navigation

When the phone is on and the lock button is no longer responsive, software solutions come to the rescue. The Android shell allows virtual control buttons to be displayed on the screen, a temporary but effective solution that allows you to lock the screen and call the off menu.

Xiaomi's settings often feature "Virtual buttons" to activate:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Virtual buttons.
• 🔘 Turn on the switch Virtual buttons.
• ⚙️ Set the buttons (usually three buttons at the bottom of the screen).
• 🔒 One of the buttons will perform the function of blocking / turning off the screen.

If standard tools aren't enough, you can install apps from Google Play, like "Assistive Touch" or "Virtual Button," which create a floating widget on the screen that emulates the press of the power button, which is especially convenient for calling the reboot menu or screenshots.

But remember, these apps consume extra battery power and can take up some of the screen's usable space, use them as a temporary solution before repairs, and there are apps that allow you to unlock your phone with a double tap across the screen or shake, which makes up for the lack of a physical button.

Control through Computer and ADB Teams

For advanced users who don’t have an on button but the phone is on and debugging over USB, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit is a great solution, which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system from your computer.

To start, you need to enable USB debugging in the Developer Menu. If this item is hidden, click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Then connect the smartphone to your PC and do the following:

1. Download and install Platform Tools on your computer.
2. Open the command line (CMD) in the tool folder.
3. Enter the adb device command to check the connection (on the phone you need to confirm access).
4. To reboot, type: adb reboot.
5. To turn off (root rights required): adb shell reboot -p.

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The ADB reboot command allows you to restart your phone without touching the buttons, but requires pre-enabled debugging over USB.

This method is indispensable if the phone is getting stuck and does not respond to touch, and the on button does not work. the adb reboot recovery command will also allow you to go to recovery mode for resetting settings or installing updates.

Table: Comparison of Xiaomi Including Methods

To make it easier for you to navigate the situation, we have prepared a summary table of methods that will help you choose the best way depending on the state of your Xiaomi device and the tools available.

As you can see from the table, if the phone is completely off and does not respond to charging, options are limited, in which case only long waiting on charging or a combination of volume buttons often helps.

Diagnosis and prevention of breakdown

Understanding the cause of a malfunction will help prevent it from recurring or prolong the life of a button. Most often, the Xiaomi power button fails due to mechanical wear of the contact pad or moisture, even a small amount of sweat or rain can oxidize contacts under the button.

For prevention, it is recommended:

• 🛡️ Use protective covers that have raised sides around the button, preventing direct pressure.
• 💧 Avoid getting moisture and dust in the area of the button.
• 👆 Do not push the button too hard when pressing.
• 🧹 Regularly clean the joints of the body from dirt with compressed air.

⚠️ Warning: If the button starts to "snag" or react repeatedly, do not try to develop it aggressively.

If the software methods stop working and the phone is permanently turned off, all that remains is a plume replacement, which in service centers is a short time-consuming procedure and relatively inexpensive compared to replacing a display or motherboard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)