How to turn on Xiaomi Redmi 4X if the power button doesn’t work: the complete guide

The broken power button on the Xiaomi Redmi 4X is a problem that many owners of this budget smartphone face after 2-3 years of use: the button contacts oxidize, the mechanism wears out, and sometimes it just falls off the board after a fall. But don’t rush to carry the phone to the service center: in 80% of cases, the device can be turned on without physical repair.

This article will help you run Redmi 4X (codename santoni) even with a power button that is not working. We will look at methods from the simplest (connect to charging) to the technically complex (using ADB and Fastboot). Importantly, some methods require preliminary preparation, for example, debugging on USB. If you have never set these parameters, immediately go to mechanical methods.

🔹 Note for owners of other Xiaomi models: Most of the methods described are suitable for Redmi 4/4A/4 Pro, Redmi 5/5A, and also Mi A1 (However, the pins for forced inclusion may differ in their code name tissot!

Before you start experimenting, check the obvious:

• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to another charger (preferably the original one on the phone). 5V/2A). Sometimes the problem lies not in the button, but in the battery.
• 🔍 Check the charging connector for damage. Oxidized contacts can block the power supply.
• 📱 Try holding the switch button pressed. 20-30 Seconds – sometimes contacts “break through” with prolonged retention.

Powering through the charger (hard reset method)

The safest method, which works in 60% of cases, is suitable if the battery is completely drained or the smartphone is in a state of deep sleep.

Connect the Redmi 4X to the charger and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Even if there is no charging indication on the screen, the battery can gradually store energy.

1. Turn off the charger.
2. Wait 10 seconds.
3. Reconnect the charger.
4. Hold the Volume Up button for 10-15 seconds.

If the smartphone shows signs of life (vibration, screen lighting), immediately release the button, in some cases this causes the system to initiate a boot bypassing the faulty power button.

⚠️ Note: Do not use "fast" chargers with higher power 10W (5V/2A). The supply of increased current to a discharged battery can lead to its swelling.

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If the charging indicator flashes red but the phone doesn't turn on, try leaving it on charge for 1-2 hours.Sometimes the power controller blocks the start until a minimum charge level (usually 5-10%) is reached.

2. Forced launch through button combination

The Xiaomi Redmi 4X has a hardware capability to turn on through a volume key combination, which works even if the power button has fallen off the board completely.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to the charger (optional, but increases the chances of success).
2. Press the Volume Up button and Volume Down button at the same time.
3. Hold both buttons for 15-20 seconds until you feel a vibration or see the Mi logo.
4. Release the buttons as soon as signs of life appear.

If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure 2-3 times at 30 seconds intervals, this method simulates the signal from the power button at the controller level, so it can work even in case of mechanical damage.

Alternative combination (for firmware based on Android 7-8):

• 🔄 Hold Volume Up + Volume Down for 10 seconds, then release.
• 🔄 Then, hold Volume Down for 5 seconds.
• 🔄 Repeat the cycle 2-3 once.

3.Use of OTG-cables and mice (if debugging is enabled) USB)

If you're on your Redmi. 4X The debugging has been activated previously. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times press) → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB), You can turn it on with the help OTG-adapter USB-mouse.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-cable to the smartphone, and to it — USB-mouse.
2. Wait 1-2 minutes. If debugging was on, the screen should light up and the mouse cursor should appear on the display.
3. Move the cursor to the power button on the lock screen and press the left mouse button.
4. If the screen doesn’t respond, try pressing the right mouse button (sometimes simulates holding).

Critical detail: This method only works if the smartphone is in sleep mode, and not completely off. USB-ports deactivated.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use cheap OTG-cables without voltage protection, they can damage USB-port of the smartphone when connecting peripheral devices.

Debugging by USB included|There's a worker. OTG-cable|Mouse with USB-connector (not Bluetooth)|Battery charge >10%-->

4. Launch through ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If you have access to a computer and have previously connected a Redmi 4X to it with USB debugging enabled, you can try turning on your smartphone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires minimal command-line knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC (part of the Android SDK).
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-cable.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. If the device is identified (serial number appears), type: adb shell input keyevent 26 This command simulates the pressing of the power button.

If your smartphone is not detected by adb devices, try the following commands one by one:

adb shell input keyevent 82 #Block screen


adb shell reboot # Software reboot

For Linux/macOS users, you may need to add the udev rules in advance:

echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2717", MODE="0666"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules


sudo udevadm control --reload-rules




sudo udevadm trigger

5. Log in to Fastboot and reboot via PC

If previous methods didn't work, try to put your smartphone into Fastboot mode and initialize the reboot via your computer. USB, But you need a worker. USB-cable and installed drivers.

How to Sign In to Fastboot on Redmi 4X:

1. Turn off your smartphone (if it is not already turned off).
2. Press the Volume Down button and connect it. USB-computer-wire.
3. Hold the button for 5-10 seconds until a screen with the image of a hare in a hat-eared (Fastboot logo) appears.

Then on the computer:

1. Open the command line in the folder with platform-tools.
2. If the device is determined, type: fastboot reboot

If the fastboot reboot command doesn’t work, try alternatives:

fastboot oem reboot


fastboot continue

⚠️ Warning: Do not use fastboot erase or fastboot flash commands without understanding the consequences.This can lead to data loss or "bricking" of the smartphone.

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Fastboot mode is your last chance to run your smartphone software. If it's not detected by fastboot devices, the problem is likely hardware (damaged). USB-power-port).

6. Mechanical inclusion (disassembly of the smartphone)

If the software methods didn't work, the only mechanical way is to close the power buttons manually, which requires disassembling the smartphone and minimal electronics skills.

🔧 Essential tools:

• 🔨 Plastic mediator or guitar mediator
• 🔧 Cross screwdriver (size) PH00)
• 🧲 Thin metal master-pin or tweezers
• 🔍 Loop (optional, for accurate hitting)

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone (if it is not already turned off).
2. Remove the back cover by pulling the mediator around the perimeter. Start at the lower left corner (there is usually a small gap).
3. Unscrew 10 screws that fix the metal plate.
4. Carefully remove the plate and disconnect the battery plume (it is under the black tape).
5. Find the contacts of the power button on the motherboard - these are two small metal mugs with the inscription PWR_KEY or POWER_SW.
6. Shortly (for 1-2 seconds), close these contacts with a key or tweezers.

⚠️ Critical moments:

• Do not touch other elements of the board with metal objects.
• Do not apply force when removing the battery plume - it is fragile.
• If after closing the contacts, the smartphone does not respond, check whether the battery has sat down (plug in the charging).

7. Alternative methods and temporary solutions

If you managed to turn on your smartphone, but the power button still does not work, use temporary solutions to avoid disassembling the device every time:

🔄 Programmatic workarounds:

• 📱 Install the Button Remapper app (root rights required) and reassign the on/off function to another button (e.g., volume reduction).
• 🔌 Activate the Settings option → Lock screen → Automatic activation when connecting charging.
• 🕒 Set up the on/off scheduler in Settings → Additionally. → Planner.

🛠️ Hardware temporary solutions:

• 🎚️ Buy an external power button (sold on AliExpress for a price) 1-2$) And solder it to the contacts on the board.
• 🔋 Use power bank with automatic on (some models give a start signal when connected).
• 📶 Get wireless charging with smart wake-up (e.g. Xiaomi Wireless Charging Pad).

If you plan to give the smartphone for repair, temporarily protect it from accidental reboots:

• Turn off automatic application updates.
• Set the maximum screen sleep waiting time.
• Use energy saving modes to minimize battery drain.

Frequently asked questions