How to restart Xiaomi smartphone if the power button does not work

A broken power button on Xiaomi is a familiar problem for many smartphone owners, especially when the phone is dead or frozen, and it is impossible to turn it on in the standard way. But don’t rush to carry the device to the service center: in 80% of cases, the device can be restarted on its own using hidden MIUI functions or improvised tools.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to enable Xiaomi without the power button, from the simplest (via charging) to advanced (using ADB and Fastboot). Each method has been tested on Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5 and Xiaomi 12/13, but most of the instructions will also be suitable for older devices based on Qualcomm Snapdragon or Mediatek Helio. Important: some methods require preliminary preparation (for example, USB debugging enabled), so read carefully.

If your Xiaomi doesn’t respond to the power button but charges (an indicator is on or a battery icon appears), the chances of a successful restart are 95%. The main thing is not to panic or try to disassemble the phone without experience. In extreme cases, you can always contact an authorized Xiaomi service center, but it will cost 1,500-3,000 rubles just for the diagnosis and replacement of the button.

1.Reboot via charging connection

The easiest and safest way is to use a charger, which works even on Xiaomi's fully discharged smartphones, as long as the battery is not damaged.

1. Connect your phone to an original or quality charger (preferably with Quick Charge support).
2. Wait 5-10 minutes. The charge icon (lightning battery) should appear on the screen.
3. If the screen is black, try using another charger or cable (preferably with USB-C or USB 3.0 support).
4. After 15-20 minutes (when the charge reaches 5-10%) press and hold the volume button for 10-15 seconds. On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) the combination Volume up + Volume down works.

✅ When it works: if the phone is getting stuck, but not dead. AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) sometimes helps long-term pressing on the fingerprint scanner (if it is physical).

❌ When it doesn’t help: if the battery is completely discharged or damaged, and on devices with hardware locking (for example, after a failed firmware).

2.Use of the service menu (Test Point)

Most Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden service menu that allows you to restart the device without a power button, which works even on locked phones, but requires care.

Instructions for models with USB-C connector:

1. Turn off the phone from charging.
2. Take a paper clip or a thin metal object (for example, SIM-extractor).
3. Carefully insert it into the USB-C port so that it touches the top right contact (when viewed from above), which is called Test Point.
4. Hold contact for 5-8 seconds. The phone should vibrate and reboot.

🔍 Where is Test Point on different models:

• 📱 Redmi Note 8/9/10: top-right USB-C port.
• 📱 POCO F3/F4: left lower contact (to be pressed at an angle).
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11/12: Central contact (point pressing required).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (needles, pins) - they can damage the port contacts.If the phone does not respond after clicking on Test Point, do not try more than 3 times in a row.

3.Reboot via ADB (for unlocked phones)

If your Xiaomi has USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer menu), you can restart it via your computer using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools (includes ADB and Fastboot).
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and go to the folder with ADB: cd C:\platform-tools
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined, you will see its serial number.
5. Do the reboot: adb reboot

🛠️ If ADB can't see the device:

• 🔌 Check if the debugging is included USB (Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔄 Try another one. USB-cable.
• 📥 Install Xiaomi drivers from the official website.
• 🔒 Unlock the phone screen (if it’s on but locked).

⚠️ Note: If you have never turned on the debugging USB, This method won't work. In that case, move on to the next one.

4. Enable via Mi Account (remote unlock)

If your Xiaomi is linked to a Mi Account, you can try unlocking it through a web interface.

• 📶 The phone is connected to the Internet (via mobile network or Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 The "Find Device" function is enabled on the device (Settings) → Mi Account → Find the device).
• 📱 The battery is charged at least 15 times%.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Select your phone from the list of devices.
3. Click "Find the device" → "Delete the data" (this will cause the reset, but the phone will restart).
4. If the option is not available, try sending a call command – sometimes this wakes up the device.

❗ Important: After resetting via Mi Account, all data on the phone will be deleted.

5 Hard Reset (Hard Reset) through Recovery

If the phone turns on but doesn't respond to the power button, you can log into the Recovery menu and reset, a technique that is suitable for devices that are at least partially functional (e.g., vibrate when charging).

How to log in to Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (if it is on, hold the volume button up + power for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power (even if the power button doesn’t work, sometimes the volume combination works).
3. If you don’t, try Volume Up + Volume Down + Nutrition.
4. From the Recovery menu, select "Wipe Data" → "Reboot".

🔧 What to do if Recovery does not open:

• 🔌 Connect the charger and try again.
• 📱 Try a different order of button pressing (e.g. volume first, then power).
• 🔄 If the screen flashes but the menu doesn’t appear, the firmware may be damaged.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery will delete all data on your phone, including photos, contacts and apps.If the device has been enabled to sync with Mi Cloud, some data can be restored after the restart.

💡

If the power button works "once again," try cleaning the connector with compressed air or a soft brush, and sometimes the problem is oxidation of the contacts, not the button itself.

6. When to contact the service center

If none of these methods worked, the problem is likely to be a hardware malfunction, and here are some signs that repairs are essential:

• 🔋 The phone does not charge (even when connected to different chargers).
• 📵 There is no reaction on the screen (even the charging indicator).
• 🔧 The power button "fails" or does not fix when pressed.
• 💥 The phone overheats or makes extraneous sounds (clicks, squeaks).

📌 Cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers (2026):

⚠️ What to Consider When Choosing a Service:

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If the phone is warranty, do not try to repair it yourself - this will void warranty obligations. Contact the official Xiaomi service center with a check for the purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)