How to turn off Xiaomi smartphone if the screen is not working: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi doesn’t respond to touches and the screen doesn’t burn – what to do?

The situation is familiar to many: Xiaomi smartphone suddenly stopped displaying the picture on the screen, but it vibrates at notifications, makes sounds or even warms up. The logical question is: how to turn off the device if the touchscreen does not respond and the display remains black? The reasons can be different — from a software failure to physical damage to the plume, but the algorithm of actions in most cases is universal.

It's important to understand that forced shutdowns are not always safe, for example, if a phone was recording data to flash memory when it was getting stuck (updating apps, saving photos), abrupt shutdowns can cause file loss or damage to system partitions, but in some cases, such as overheating or battery drain, this is the only way out.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways Xiaomi can turn off a idle screen, from standard button combinations to advanced PC-based methods. The instructions are suitable for most models, from the Redmi Note 10 Pro to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra, but with design features in mind (for example, the presence of a physical Bixby button on some devices).

Method 1: Forced reset with buttons

The simplest and most versatile method is hardware reboot with physical buttons, which works even with a completely black screen, if the smartphone is at least vibrating or making sounds.

• 🔄 For most Xiaomi (2018–2026): Squeeze Power + Increase volume by 10-15 seconds until the device vibrates and restarts.
• 🔄 For older models (until 2018): The combination of power + Turning down the volume + Home (if you have a physical button).
• 🔄 For Xiaomi with a Bixby button (like Mi 11 Lite): Click Power + Bixby + Volume up.

If the screen never caught fire after the reboot, but the phone makes the MIUI boot sound, the problem is probably the display plume or backlight, in which case you don't have to turn the device off, it can continue to work in blind mode.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Hard Reset with Factory Reset. The first one just restarts the system, the second one deletes all the data.

Method 2: Battery extraction (for models with removable battery)

If your Xiaomi is an older model with a removable back cover (such as the Redmi 3S, Redmi 4A or Mi Max), you can physically turn off the power by removing the battery.

1. Turn off your phone (if it still responds to the power button).
2. Remove the back cover with a plastic shoulder blade or mediator.
3. Carefully tuck the battery behind a special thrust film (usually white or orange).
4. Wait 30 seconds and set the battery back.

On models with a fixed battery (all Xiaomi after 2019), it is strongly recommended not to try to remove it yourself - it will damage the plumes or rupture the battery.

Method 3: Turn off via ADB (if USB debugging is enabled)

If your Xiaomi has previously been activated debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer options), you can turn it off using your computer and the ADB utility.

For this:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and type:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed. If not, check the driver or cable.)

adb shell reboot -p

(This team gently turns off the phone.)

If the screen doesn't work, but the phone is detected in adb devices, this method will work in 90% of cases. The main condition is that the debugging must be enabled in advance. If you have never activated this mode, move on to the next method.

💡

If ADB doesn’t see the device, try entering the command adb kill-server, then adb start-server and plug the phone back in.

Method 4: Discharge the battery until completely shut down

If no buttons help and the screen stays black, you can wait until the phone is completely dead, which takes a few hours to a day, but it's guaranteed to work.

• 🔋 Power-intensive features: run your phone music via Bluetooth or connect it to VR-glasses (if they are recognized).
• 🔋 Activate maximum brightness (if the screen is even slightly glowing) via Google Assistant or Alice.
• 🔋 Connecting to a powerful consumer: for example, a car charger with a discharge function.

Once the charge reaches 0%, the phone will turn off automatically, and then you can try charging it and turning it on again, sometimes helping to restore the screen to work.

⚠️ Warning: If Xiaomi’s battery is swollen or deformed, it’s dangerous to discharge it to zero, which can lead to fire.

Method 5: Using a voice assistant (if the microphone is working)

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11, Redmi Note 11 Pro+), Google Assistant or Xiao AI can work even when the black screen is in place, if the microphone is working.

1. Say it loudly: “OK Google” or “Hey Xiao AI” (depending on the firmware).
2. If the assistant responds with an audible beep, say “turn off the phone” or “Reboot device.”
3. Confirm the command with a voice (if necessary).

It doesn't always work, but if the microphone is good and the assistant has been set up in advance, chances are there, and the key is to speak clearly and in a quiet room.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be more serious than it seems.

• 💥 Hardware failure: damaged display plume, power controller or motherboard.
• 💥 Software crash: Firmware crashed, bootloader or system files damaged.
• 💥 Manufacturer's lock: on some models (e.g, POCO F3) After several unsuccessful attempts to unlock the bootloader, the phone is blocked.

In such cases:

1. Contact an authorized Xiaomi service center – they can diagnose the problem with special equipment (for example, DC Power Supply for forced power outage).
2. If the phone is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will void the warranty.
3. Check if the charging indicator is on when you connect the cable, and if so, it means that the device is still powered and you can try to resuscitate it via Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Xiaomi with black screen