How to restart Xiaomi Redmi 4 without the power button: all working ways

Broken power button on Xiaomi Redmi 4 is a problem that many owners of this budget-friendly but time-tested smartphone face. Even if the mechanical key has stopped responding to presses, you can still restart the device. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods that will help to reanimate the phone without disassembling or going to the service center.

It’s important to understand that Redmi 4 (codenamed prada) has features in the architecture that set it apart from newer Xiaomi models. USB-So some universal reboot methods (like holding Volume Down) + Power just won't work here, but don't despair, we have workarounds.

Before you start, check if the phone is responding to charging. If the battery indicator appears when you connect the cable, then the problem is precisely in the button, not in the complete discharge or damage to the motherboard. If there is no indication, first charge the device 15-20 minutes from the original adapter.

1.Reboot through the recovery menu (Recovery Mode)

The most reliable way to reboot Redmi 4 without the power button is to use the Restore Mode, which is available even on a locked phone if the battery is not completely drained.

1. Turn off your phone (if it's on). Hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds, sometimes it works even when it's mechanically broken. If it doesn't work, skip this step.
2. Connect the charger and wait for the charging indicator (red battery) to appear.
3. Once the indicator is on, turn off the cable and immediately press the combination: Volume Up + Power Hold both buttons for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
4. In the Recovery menu, select Reboot using volume buttons and confirm the choice with the Power button (even if it doesn’t work, sometimes software emulation works).

If the Power button doesn’t respond in Recovery, try connecting your phone to a PC with the Mi Flash Tool installed. In some cases, the program may initiate a reboot via ADB.

Hold Volume Up + Power for longer than 20 seconds | Try another combination: Volume Down + Power | Connect charging and try again | Use USB-OTG adapter with keyboard (for navigation)

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⚠️ Note: If the phone was unlocked through Mi Unlock, the Recovery menu may be missing some items. In this case, select Wipe Data (reset), and then Reboot - this will force the device to restart.

2. Software reboot via ADB (for unlocked bootloader)

If your Redmi 4 has USB debugging enabled and the bootloader unlocked, you can reboot your phone via your computer using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires pre-setting, but works even with a completely non-functional power button.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB in the phone settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB)

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Linux/macOS) and type: adb devices If the phone is identified (the serial number appears), proceed to the next step. If not, check the drivers or cable.
3. Run the reboot command: adb reboot

If the phone doesn’t respond, try the forced reboot in Fastboot:

adb reboot bootloader

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If adb devices don’t show the device, try entering adb kill-server, then adb start-server and reconnect.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 4 with a locked bootloader ADB In this case, try the charger method (section 3).

Rebooting through the charger (short circuit method)

This is a good way to do it if the phone doesn't respond to any buttons but charges, and it's based on the Redmi 4 power controller, which can be tricked by a sudden change in voltage.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Original or quality charger (5V/2A)
• 🔄 USB-cable
• ⏱️ Timer (you can use a stopwatch on another phone)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the charger to the phone, wait for the charging indicator (red battery) to appear.
2. Once the indicator is on, disconnect the cable for 1 second and immediately connect back.
3. Repeat the disconnection / connection 3-5 times in a row at an interval of 1 second.
4. On a 4-5 attempt, the phone should restart itself (the Mi logo will appear).

This works by resetting the power controller, which is safe, but it doesn't guarantee 100% results the first time, and if it doesn't work, repeat the procedure in 5 minutes.

Forced battery discharge (last resort)

If the phone is unresponsive and the power button is dead, you can try to force the battery to discharge, which only works on removable battery models (like the Redmi 4 Pro) or if you're ready to disassemble the case.

How to do this:

1. If the battery is removable, remove it for 10-15 minutes, then install it back and connect the charge.
2. If the battery is not removable: 🔧 Carefully remove the back cover (you will need a plastic shoulder blade or mediator). 🔋 Find the contacts of the battery and briefly lock them with a metal object (for example, tweezers) for 1-2 seconds. ⚡ Connect the charger - the phone should turn on.

Warning: Battery closure can be dangerous! Don't use this method unless you're sure you're doing it.

Recovery Mode|ADB| Charger | Forced discharge | Nothing helped

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5.Using USB-OTG and external keyboard

A little-known but working way is to connect to the phone USB-keyboard OTG-This will emulate the power button pressing software.

What do you need?

• 🔌 USB-OTG Type-C or Micro-USB adapter, depending on the Redmi 4)
• ⌨️ USB-Keyboard (can be the cheapest one)
• 📱 Phone with function enabled USB-OTG (usually on by default)

Instructions:

1. Connect. OTG-Adapter to the phone and to it – keyboard.
2. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del combination on the keyboard (Power sometimes works on multimedia keys).
3. If the phone is locked, unlock it with a password/fingerprint, then repeat the combination.

This method doesn't work on all firmware, but it can be a lifesaver if other methods don't work. If the keyboard isn't defined, try plugging in a mouse -- sometimes the cursor appears on the lock screen, and you can try clicking on the reboot icon (if you have one).

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be more serious than just a faulty power button.

• 🔋 Fully discharged battery – connect to charging for 30 to 60 minutes, even if the indicator is not on.
• 🔧 Power button plume damaged - dismantling and replacement (cost of repair) is required ~500–1000 ₽).
• 💻 Firmware failure – try flashing your phone through Fastboot (instructions are on the forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers).
• 🔥 Damage to the motherboard - in this case, only diagnostics in the service center will help.

If you decide to carry your phone for repair, save all the important data in advance. Even if the screen does not respond, you can sometimes pull files out via ADB or by connecting the phone to the PC in MTP mode (if it is detected).

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Before visiting the service center, be sure to check if the warranty period for your Redmi 4 has expired. If the phone is warranty, do not disassemble it yourself - this will void the warranty!

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