How to turn on Xiaomi if the button doesn’t work: the complete guide

When a smartphone refuses to respond to a pressing experience, it is always a surprise, especially when it comes to popular Redmi Note or Poco F models, where the power button is often combined with a fingerprint scanner, in which case a mechanical failure makes it impossible not only to unlock, but also to start the device after full discharge.

Xiaomi engineers have provided several software and hardware workarounds to control the system even with a non-working physical key. You do not need to immediately carry the gadget to the service center, since there are a number of methods to activate the screen and start the Android or MIUI operating system in alternative ways.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple key combinations to complex computer debugging techniques, and learn how to temporarily resuscitate a device, save important data, and continue using the phone until the part is replaced.

Diagnostics of the problem: software failure or breakdown?

Before we go to radical on-boarding methods, we need to pinpoint the nature of the malfunction. Often users confuse the software system with the physical failure of the button. If your phone just doesn't respond to touch, it may be that the processor has locked down and requires a hard reboot that simulates battery extraction.

Try to hold the volume down and power key combination at the same time. Even if the power button seems to be out of order, in some cases, prolonged retention (up to 20 seconds) can break through the static charge and force the power controller to restart. If a vibration or MI logo appeared, the problem was in the software.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone vibrates when you connect the charger or shows a charge indicator, but the screen remains black, most likely the problem lies in the display, not in the on button.

To check the performance of the matrix, you can call the number from another phone. If the horns are coming, but the image is not, the display is damaged or the train has gone away. In this case, the methods of turning on without a button will work, but you will not see the picture until the screen is repaired.

Use the Double Touch function to wake up

The easiest way to get around a broken button is to use the software-based wake-up functions that are built into the MIUI shell, which allows you to activate the display by simply tapping your finger on the locked screen, but in order for it to work, it had to be activated in advance in the settings while the phone was still functioning normally.

To check and adjust, go to the Settings menu, then select the Lock Screen section. Find Double Touch to turn the screen on/off and activate the switch. Now, even if the Power button is completely missing, you can wake the smartphone with a light tap.

If the phone is already off, this method won't help you start the system from scratch, but it's critical for daily use after you turn the device on once in other ways, a temporary solution that will allow you to wait until you visit the service center.

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If the dual tap function doesn’t work, try increasing the sensitivity of the screen in the display settings, especially if the protective glass is pasted.

Starting through a computer connection and ADB

The most effective software method for advanced users is the use of debugging by USB. If the option for developers was included in the menu USB-If you debug, you can send a command to turn on or restart directly from your computer. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Connect a switched off or suspended smartphone with a cable to your computer. Open the command line in the ADB folder and enter a command to check the connection. If the device responds, use the adb reboot command to restart or adb shell reboot to start the system deeper.

adb devices


adb reboot

This method requires prior preparation, but it is a lifeline when physical buttons have stopped responding.

Hardware method: closing contacts on the board

If the software methods are powerless and the button is physically broken, there is a variant with a direct impact on the hardware, which requires accuracy and minimal electronics skills, and the essence of the method is to short-termly close the contacts of the power button on the motherboard, which simulates a press.

First, remove the back cover of your smartphone (if it is removable) or gently bend the screen (if the case is solid). Find the place where the Power button was located on the board. These are usually two small metal contacts. Lock them with metal tweezers or a needle for 2-3 seconds.

• ⚡ Prepare a thin metal tool (tweezers, paper clips).
• 🔋 Make sure the battery is at least charged. 20-30%.
• 🔍 Find the contacts of the buttons on the board (often signed as PWR or ON/OFF).
• ⏱️ Close your contacts. 2-3 seconds before the vibration or logo appears.

Be extremely careful not to close the other elements of the circuit, as this can lead to a short circuit and the final failure of the smartphone. If you are not confident in your abilities, you better trust this procedure to the professionals.

Enabled via Recovery Mode and Fastboot

Sometimes you can start your smartphone by hitting Recovery mode or Fastboot bootloader mode. These modes are triggered by a combination of volume and power keys. If the power button doesn't work, you can try holding only the volume button (usually Plus or Minus) and at that point plugging a USB cable connected to your computer or charger.

On some Xiaomi models, this action automatically triggers Fastboot mode. While in this menu, you can use volume buttons to navigate the menu. Select Start or Reboot to try to start the system.

If you can enter Recovery mode, select Reboot to system, which can start the operating system even if the power button on the case does not work, but once the phone turns off again, you will have to repeat the procedure.

⚠️ Warning: Do not select "Wipe Data" or "Factory Reset" from the Recovery menu if you want to save your photos and contacts.

Use of the on and off schedule

One of the most clever ways that not everyone knows about is the automatic turn on on schedule. If your Xiaomi smartphone is still working and you have managed to configure this feature, the phone will turn on itself at a given time, even if it was completely turned off.

You can check the settings along the way: Settings → Battery → Planner on and off. Set the turn on time 1-2 minutes ahead of the current one. If the phone is off, it should activate itself at the appointed time.

This solution is ideal for situations where the button broke suddenly, but access to the settings menu is still available, and it is critical to configure this feature immediately after buying a new device, as in an emergency, this will be impossible to do.

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The scheduler feature is the only way to turn on a completely switched-off phone without the user and physical buttons.

Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)