When the power button stops responding on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, it can take anyone by surprise: The screen is out, the device is getting stuck or simply needs to restart the system, and the physical switch shows no signs of life.This is a common problem for a model released in 2019, where mechanical wear of the plume or button itself becomes a critical factor.
Fortunately, the Android operating system and the MIUI shell provide several software methods for power management without the use of physical keys. You don't need to carry the gadget to the service center right now to just turn it off or restart it. There are a number of proven ways that will solve the problem by software or through a computer.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple screen settings to the use of engineering tools like ADB. It is important to understand that some methods require prior preparation, so check out each of them to choose the most suitable for your current situation.
Using the off menu on the screen
The most obvious, but often ignored, way is to call the system menu through a touchscreen, so if the screen responds to touch, you can access the power functions software, and you need to unlock the device and lower the notification curtain from top to bottom.
In the upper right corner of the curtain, there's usually a gear icon or a separate shutdown button. Depending on the MIUI version, the interface may be different. Click on the power icon and a menu will appear on the screen with a choice of actions: turn off, reset or flight mode.
⚠️ Note: If the smartphone display is completely black and does not respond to touch, this method will not work.
Some users forget about the “Screen Lock” feature, which also contains control options: Try pressing the “Home” button (if it is virtual) or swiping to see the lock menu, where the “off” button is sometimes duplicated, which is a basic interface that should work even when the system is partially getting stuck.
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If the switch on the screen is gray and not pressed, then the system is completely got stuck, in which case only hardware reset or battery discharge will help.
Setting up the on and off schedule
One of the most useful features in Xiaomi is the ability to automatically control power over a timer. This is the perfect solution if the power button breaks, but the phone is working. You can set a time when the device should turn off and turn on on on itself.
To activate this feature, go to the settings menu. The path can look like this: Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery → On/off schedule. In some versions of the firmware, this item is in the “Additional” or “Special features” section.
So here you'll see two things: Turn on and off. Set the shutdown time 1-2 minutes ahead of the current time. Once the smartphone goes off, set the turn on time in, say, 5 minutes. The device will perform the reboot cycle itself.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings.
- ⏰ Find the section "Battery and performance».
- 🔄 Activate the switch "Schedule on / off».
- ⚙️ Set the exact time for automatic reboot.
This is particularly good because it doesn't require a computer connection or root rights, but it only works if the MIUI operating system is functioning normally and the screen is at least occasionally lit up, and if the phone is hanging dead, the timer won't work.
Reboot via computer and ADB
For more advanced users who have broken the button on the Redmi Note 7, a great solution will be to use debugging over USB. the ADB protocol (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to send commands directly to the Android system from your computer.
This method requires that the phone has previously enabled the USB Debugging option, which, if you haven't activated it beforehand while the screen is running, won't work, but you'll also need a USB cable and a computer with ADB drivers installed.
Connect your smartphone to your PC. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB tool folder and type in the command to reboot. This is the most reliable software method that simulates the pressing of the power button at the system level.
adb rebootIf the system responds, the phone will instantly go into reboot, and there is also a command to shut down completely, but it may not work on some devices without root rights:
adb shell reboot -pWhat to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Use of Recovery Mode and Fastboot
If the operating system is not responding, but the phone is responding to the power supply, you can try to get into the Recovery service menu. Usually, you need to press the volume and power button to enter, but since the power button is not working, a trick is applied.
Try connecting a switched off (or got stuck) phone to your computer via USB-The Redmi Note 7 allows you to enter Fastboot mode. From the Fastboot menu, using volume buttons for navigation, you can select the Reboot option (Reboot).
Alternatively, you can log in to Recovery, and you can try to press the Volume Up button and plug in the power cable, and if you're lucky, the recovery menu will open, and you can choose Reboot or Reboot to System.
⚠️ Warning: Do not select Wipe Data or Factory Reset from the Recovery menu unless you want to lose all your photos, contacts and apps!
The navigation in these menus is done by the volume buttons, and the choice is confirmed by the power button. That's the problem. However, in some cases, the system can automatically restart through a timeout if no commands are received within 30-60 seconds.
Third-party applications for power management
If the screen is working but the button is physically broken, you can install a special app from Google Play that will add a virtual off button to your desktop, a temporary solution that will allow you to control your smartphone until repairs are made.
There are many applications, such as Power Button to Volume Button or Assistive Touch, that allow you to reassign the screen on/off to volume buttons or to display a floating button on the display.
These programs often require special permissions, some of which are root-free, using Accessibility Service, and others require super-user rights to fully emulate the power button.
☑️ Installation of the assistant application
Once installed, you can restart the phone with a long press on the volume button or through a widget on the screen, which is a convenient solution, but it requires that the phone at least occasionally turn on for initial setup.
Table of comparison of resetting methods
To make it easier for you to navigate the solution to the problem with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you quickly choose the method depending on the condition of your device.
| Method | I need a screen. | I need a PC. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu on screen | Yes. | No. | Low. |
| Schedule | Yes (for setup) | No. | Low. |
| ADB team | No. | Yes. | Tall. |
| Recovery/Fastboot | No. | Preferably. | Medium |
As you can see from the table, having a working display makes it much easier, but if the screen is black and black, the options narrow to using a computer or hardware manipulation.
Choose a method that suits your technical background. Don't go into ADB, if you're not sure what you're doing, you'd better use a shutdown timer.
What to do if nothing helps
There are times when software methods are powerless, and if the phone is dead, the screen is not on, the buttons are not responding, and the computer can't see the device, the last option is to completely discharge.
Leave your smartphone alone for a few hours or even a day. When the Redmi Note 7 battery runs out, the device will shut down on its own.
Many modern Xiaomi smartphones when connecting charging to a fully discharged battery automatically turn on or show the charging logo, after which they can try to reboot with known methods.
⚠️ Attention: Complete discharge of lithium polymer batteries is harmful to their health. Use this method only as a last resort when other options are exhausted.
If the phone is behaving strangely after charging, perhaps the problem is deeper than just a button: it could be a plume, a power controller, or damage to the motherboard from moisture.
Prevention and Replacement of the Button
The problem with the power button on the Redmi Note 7 is often mechanical. Over time, the contact pad oxidizes or erases. To extend the life of the remaining features, try to use less screen locks and rely more on proximity sensors.
If you use your smartphone frequently in dusty conditions, it could have speeded up wear and tear, regular cleaning of the connectors and careful handling can prevent breakage, but if the button is no longer working, the best solution is to replace it.
Replacing the power button is a relatively inexpensive procedure, and the wizard will need to remove the back cover, unplug the plume, and replace the button module, and then you can use all of the MIUI functions again.
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Replacing the mechanical power button in a timely manner will prevent you from being able to restart your phone at a critical moment.
Don't delay repairs if you plan to use the device for a long time. Software crutches are good, but the physical health of the gadget is always a priority.