When Xiaomi stops responding to touch, it can be taken by surprise at the most inopportune moment. The screen is on, the images are clear, but the finger seems to lose its magical power, and the device interface becomes inaccessible. At such moments, there is a panic desire to immediately turn off the device to reset the system failure, but it is impossible to make this a familiar swipe or click on the screen button.
Many users forget that Redmi and Poco have reserved hardware commands that work even when the touchscreen fails completely. Android, the underlying MIUI or HyperOS shell, has multiple levels of control that are independent of the digitizer, and understanding these mechanisms allows you to quickly solve the problem of freezing and restore the device to work.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to force restart, from simple button combinations to external input devices. You will learn how to use the capabilities of Fastboot, connect a computer mouse through an adapter and apply debugging commands. This knowledge will help you effectively manage your device in critical situations when the software interface is completely blocked.
Use of physical control buttons
The most affordable and quickest method of rebooting any Xiaomi smartphone is to use side mechanical buttons. The case design provides scenarios when the software interface stops responding, so hardware reset is more important than any screen actions. To implement this method, you need to find a power button, which is usually located on the right side of the case, although on some models it may be on the top.
Press the power button and hold it for a long time, usually 10 to 20 seconds. Unlike a short press to lock the screen, a long hold sends a signal directly to the power controller, ignoring the state of the operating system, the screen should go out, after which the device will begin to vibrate and show the brand logo, which indicates the beginning of the boot process.
If standard retention didn't work, try the combined tap, which is often used on non-removable battery devices. Simultaneously, press the power button and one of the volume buttons (most often decrease). Keep them clamped until a vibration or Mi logo appears. This method forcibly breaks the battery power circuit in a software way, causing a full cycle of off and on.
⚠️ Warning: Don't panic if the screen goes out and lights up several times in a row. This is normal behavior of the system when forced to restart, when the power controller resets errors.
It is important to understand that with this method, all unsaved data in open applications will be lost, since the system does not have time to properly close processes. However, this is the lesser of evils compared to the complete inability to use the phone. After a successful boot, it is recommended to check the sensor operation in safe mode to exclude the influence of third-party applications.
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If the power button is in a flush or has poor contact, try to press it gently not with a finger pad, but with a blunt object with a wide area to evenly distribute the pressure.
Reboot via Recovery and Fastboot Menu
When standard button retention methods fail, the low-level boot modes built into every Xiaomi smartphone come to the rescue. These modes work at the bootloader level and do not require a touchscreen response to activate if you use the right sequence of actions. Recovery mode is designed to restore the system, but also allows you to reset or restart.
To enter the recovery menu on a device that is turned off (if you can get it off) or when the screen is getting stuck, you need to press the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume high. A multi-point menu will appear on the screen, which can often be controlled with volume buttons, and the choice with a power button, even if the touchscreen does not work.
Alternatively, Fastboot mode, which is used for firmware, but also contains a reboot function. To get there, press the power button and the volume button. In this mode, navigation is done exclusively with hardware keys. Find "Reboot" or "Power off" using the volume buttons to move the cursor, and confirm the choice with the power button.
☑️ Checking before entering Recovery
| Regime. | Button combination | Appointment | Working without touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery | Food + Volume Up | Recovery, reset | Partial (buttons) |
| Fastboot | Food + Volume Down | Firmware, rebut. | Full (buttons) |
| Safe Mode | Through the off menu | Diagnostics PO | No (touch needed) |
Using these modes is safe for the hardware of the smartphone, but requires caution when choosing menu items. random selection of the Wipe Data item will lead to the complete removal of all user information. So if you are not sure about your actions or can not clearly see the names of items due to display problems, it is better to limit yourself to the item "Reboot to system".
What if the volume buttons don’t work?
Use of USB-OTG and computer mouse
One of the most effective and often ignored ways to solve the problem of a broken sensor is to connect the external peripherals. Xiaomi smartphones support the USB On-The-Go standard, which allows you to connect external input devices to the charging connector, such as a computer mouse or keyboard, which turns the phone into a computer like a mouse-controlled cursor.
To implement this method, you will need a USB-OTG adapter. Depending on your smartphone model, it can be an adapter from Micro-USB or USB Type-C to a full-fledged USB port. Connect a conventional wired computer mouse to an adapter, and then insert the adapter into the smartphone connector. The screen will appear an arrow cursor that can be controlled by moving the mouse around the table.
Having a cursor gives you full control of the interface. You can unlock your phone (if you have a pattern lock or PIN, you can type it in by clicking on the virtual keyboard), open the settings menu and perform a regular reboot, and it’s a great way to save important data by copying files to a cloud drive or transferring them to your computer before sending the device for repair.
⚠️ Note: Not all adapter models OTG If one adapter doesn't work, try another, preferably original or from a well-known brand of accessories.
If a wired mouse is not available, you can use a wireless mouse, but this will require USB-Hub, because you'll need to connect both the mouse receiver and possibly charge if the battery runs out, but wired mice are preferable, because they don't require pairing and drivers, working on the principle of Plug-and-Play immediately after you connect.
restarting through the computer and ADB-team
For advanced users who have previously had USB debugging activated in the developer menu, there is a powerful management tool called Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system from your computer, completely ignoring the state of the touchscreen, which is the most professional way to solve software freezes.
The first step is to install the Xiaomi USB Driver and SDK Platform-Tools platform drivers on a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux. After connecting the smartphone with a cable to a PC, open the command line or terminal in the folder with ADB tools. Make sure the computer sees the device by performing the connection check command.
adb devicesIf the list shows the serial number of the device and the status of the device, then the connection is established. To perform a reboot, just enter the following command, which initiates a soft rebuke system:
adb rebootIn cases where the system is completely frozen and does not respond to standard commands, you can try more stringent reboot options via ADB, such as rebooting to recovery or bootloader mode. However, the adb reboot command is the most secure and equivalent to pressing the off button in the menu.
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The ADB method only works if USB debugging has been enabled and the computer has already been authorized on the device, and on new devices without this setup, the method will not work.
Emergency measures in case of complete system failure
There are situations where none of the software methods work: the buttons are stuck, the OTG is not detected, and the ADB was not turned on, in which case you have to rely on the physical properties of lithium polymer batteries installed in Xiaomi. Complete battery depletion or its short-term shutdown can be a catalyst for resetting static voltage and restarting the controller.
The first option is to wait until it's completely discharged, leave the smartphone on with a bright screen if it's on, or just in its current state, and when the charge drops to a critical minimum, the device will forcefully shut down, then put it on charge, and try to turn it on in the usual way, which takes a long time, but is guaranteed to shut down the device.
The second option is more risky and only suitable for models with a collapsible body or those who are willing to take risks. Removing the back cover and briefly disconnecting the battery plume from the motherboard guaranteed to shut down the device. 10-15 seconds after connecting the battery back, you can try to turn the phone on. Important: this can violate the warranty and requires electronics skills.
- ⏳ Leave your phone in the bright sun or turn on your flashlight to speed up the discharge if you need to turn off the device urgently.
- 🔌 Use a powerful charger to reach the power threshold faster after full discharge.
- 🛠️ If the phone is on warranty, it is better not to open the case yourself, but wait for discharge.
After successful activation by any of the emergency methods, it is strongly recommended to back up the data.Tachscreen failure is often a precursor to more serious problems with the power controller or plume, which can lead to complete failure of the device in the near future.
Prevention and diagnosis of touch screen
Once you have rebooted your smartphone, it is important to understand the cause of the failure to prevent it from happening again, sensor problems can be caused by both software conflicts and physical damage, and diagnostics can help determine whether you need to repair or if software updates are sufficient.
Xiaomi's built-in engineering menu provides a great tool to check. Dial ##6484## in the phone book (if the touchscreen is partially working or via voice/mouse). Select "Touchpad" or "Touchpanel." Swipe your finger through all areas of the screen. If there is no reaction or phantom pressing in any areas, this indicates a physical defect in the digitizer.
Often, the cause of "glitch" is a poor quality protective film or glass. Thick or damaged protective coating can violate the sensitivity of the capacitive screen. Try to remove the protection and check the sensor in its pure form. It is also worth checking the charger: using cheap power supplies without stabilizing the voltage can create interference, which causes the sensor to behave inadequately during charging.
⚠️ Warning: If the sensor is only unstable while charging, the problem is most likely in the cable or power supply, not in the screen itself.
Regular system updates also help to eliminate software errors affecting the operation of touchscreen drivers. Check for updates in the Settings → About phone menu. If the problem started after installing a particular application, try removing it in Safe Mode or through the app settings menu.