How to reboot Xiaomi Redmi 4 if the power button doesn’t work: all working methods

A broken power button on Xiaomi Redmi 4 is a common problem that makes a normal reboot a challenge. Without physical access to the power button, users are faced with the smartphone “hanging”, does not respond to touch or requires a forced reboot. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to resuscitate the device without disassembling it and without contacting the service center.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods of rebooting Redmi 4 (including modifications of Redmi). 4A, Redmi 4 Pro and Redmi 4 Prime, without power buttons, from simple charger tricks to advanced tools like the Power button. ADB — You'll find a solution even for a completely dead screen. Importantly, some techniques require pre-preparedness (e.g., enabled debugging by the computer). USB), So read carefully!

Why the power button doesn’t work and what to do first

Before you start rebooting, it's worth understanding why the power button went down.

• 🔋 Mechanical wear – the button is loosened or “failed” after prolonged use (typical for devices older than 3-4 years).
• 💧 Moisture ingestion - oxidation of contacts inside the case, even if the smartphone is dry externally.
• 🔌 Fall or impact – physical damage to a micro-switch or plume.
• ⚡ Software failure is rare, but it happens that the button is blocked due to firmware errors (for example, after a failed update).

If the button doesn't press at all (no click, no move), the problem is almost certainly hardware. If it presses but doesn't work (no reaction), try the following steps before rebooting:

1. Rub the button with alcohol and let it dry for 10-15 minutes - sometimes dirt or sticky residues block the mechanism.
2. Connect your smartphone to charging for 30 minutes – if the battery is completely discharged, the button may not work.
3. Try pressing the button with effort (but no bigotry!) - sometimes contacts "go away."

⚠️ Note: If the power button breaks after falling or water hits, do not use methods with disassembly of the case (for example, retracting the battery) - this can lead to a short circuit.

Method 1: Reboot via charger (for “hang” smartphones)

The simplest method that works if Redmi 4 responds to charging (e.g., shows the battery indicator or vibrates when you connect the cable) is suitable for cases where the smartphone is “hang” on the screen, but not completely discharged.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to the original charger (or a quality analogue with Quick Charge support).
2. Leave on charging at least 10-15 minutes – even if the indicator does not burn, the battery could discharge to a critical level.
3. If the screen is turned on (charging animation appears), hold the Volume Up button for 10-15 seconds. On some firmware, this causes a forced reboot.
4. If there is no reaction, turn off the charging, wait 30 seconds and reconnect.

This method works because the Redmi 4 power controller, when you connect the charge, initiates a system status check, and if a failure is detected, the device can automatically restart, and the probability of success is ~40-50%.

Method 2: Forced Reboot with Recovery Mode

If the smartphone is not responding to charging or the screen is completely black, but the device vibrates when the cable is connected, you can try to enter Recovery Mode. This method does not require a power button to work, but you need volume buttons.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the smartphone from charging (if connected).
2. Press the Volume Up button and Volume Down button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 15-20 seconds. Some firmware may work with Volume Up + Volume Down + PC connection (but no power button!).
4. If the screen catches fire and the Recovery menu appears, select Reboot (or Reboot system now) with volume buttons and confirm the selection (usually with a long press of Volume Up).

If the Recovery menu didn't show up but the smartphone vibrated or the screen blinked, try again - maybe the retention time wasn't enough. On some custom firmware (like LineageOS), the volume button combination may not work - in which case, move on to the ADB method.

⚠️ Warning: If you see Wipe data in the Recovery menu, don't choose it unless you're ready to lose data! Forced Reboot doesn't delete files.

Method 3: Reboot via ADB (requires pre-setting)

The method for advanced users who have debugging enabled on Redmi 4 USB (USB If you've never connected a smartphone to a PC in developer mode, it won't work, but if debugging is activated, the chances of success are high.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download it as part of Android SDK Platform-Tools).
• 🔌 Original. USB-cable (preferably the one that came with the set).
• ⚡ Battery charge not lower than 20% (so as not to interrupt the process).

Instructions:

1. Connect Redmi 4 to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the ADB folder (or use PowerShell).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is recognized, you will see its serial number.
4. Run the reboot command: adb reboot If the smartphone doesn't respond, try forced reboot: adb shell reboot -p

If the adb device command returns an empty list, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the cable or use another port USB.
• 🔧 Update Xiaomi drivers through the official website.
• 📱 On a smartphone (if the screen is working) confirm the permission to debug USB.

💡

If ADB doesn’t see the device, try to enter adb kill-server on the command line, and then adb start-server.

Method 4: Battery Removal (the last method for power users)

If all previous methods failed and the smartphone didn’t respond to anything, the radical method is to physically shut down the battery, which violates the warranty (if it’s still valid) and requires accuracy, but in 90% of cases it leads to a reboot.

What needs to be done:

1. Turn off the smartphone (if it is still on) and disconnect from charging.
2. With a plastic shoulder blade or mediator, gently tuck the back cover of Redmi 4. Start at the bottom edge where the speakers are located.
3. Unscrew 10 screws (cross screwdriver PH00) and remove the metal plate.
4. Disconnect the battery plume (it is connected to the motherboard with a small connector).
5. Wait 1-2 minutes, then plug the battery back in and assemble the smartphone.

After the battery is connected, Redmi 4 should automatically turn on (if you have a charge). If not, connect the charge for 5-10 minutes.

⚠️ Note: When disassembling the Redmi 4, do not use metal tools - they can puncture the battery or close contacts on the board. Also avoid applying force to the plumes - they are fragile and easily break.

Method 5: Reboot via service menu (for devices with a running screen)

If the Redmi 4 screen is turned on and reacts to touch, but the power button is not working, you can use the built-in Android features to reboot.This method does not require disassembly or connection to a PC.

Option 1: Through the food menu

1. Open Settings → Additional → Power button (or Gestures).
2. Activate the Power Menu option on the lock screen (if any).
3. Return to the lock screen and swipe up the finger and a virtual power button will appear.
4. Press Reboot (Reboot)

Option 2: Through the engineering menu (does not work on all firmware):

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select Battery Information.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reboot.

If these methods didn’t work, try installing an app from Google Play like Reboot Menu or Quick Reboot — they add a virtual reboot button to the notification bar.

💡

If the power button is permanently broken, set up gestures to reboot in the Special Features → Gestures menu, for example, you can set a triple tap on the lock screen to call the power menu.

What to do if none of the methods worked

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be more serious than it seems.

• 🔋 Full battery discharge – even if the indicator is not on, connect the smartphone to charge for 1-2 hours (use the original power supply.
• 🔌 Damage to the power controller - if the smartphone does not respond to charging and does not warm up when connected, the power control chip may have burned.
• 📱 Firmware failure — if you were updating software or installing custom firmware before breaking a button, the bootloader may have been damaged.
• 💀 Hardware death – if the smartphone does not show signs of life (does not warm, does not vibrate, does not detect the PC), most likely, the motherboard is damaged.

If you suspect a software failure, you can try flashing your smartphone through Fastboot:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 4 from Xiaomi website.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC in Fastboot mode (hold Volume Down when you connect the cable).
4. Follow the instructions of the program for flashing.

⚠️ Warning: Fastboot Flash Firmware deletes all data from the device! If there were important files on the smartphone, first try to extract them through the device ADB (If the screen is working or contact the service for recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi 4 reboot without power button