A broken power button on Xiaomi is one of the most frustrating breakdowns that can completely paralyze a smartphone. Without the ability to physically press the power key, users are faced with the fact that the device does not respond to charging, does not turn on after discharging or simply “hangs” in a turned off state. However, you can turn on Xiaomi without the power button in several ways, from software tricks to hardware interventions.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods that work on most Redmi, POCO and Mi models (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12). Each method is illustrated with step-by-step instructions, risk warnings and diagnostic tips. Importantly, some methods require prior training (for example, enabled debugging over USB), so read carefully!
1. Energizing through the charger (the easiest way)
If your Xiaomi power button fails but the battery isn’t fully drained, try activating the device via charging, a method that works thanks to the automatic power-on feature found in most Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones.
What you need:
- 🔌 Original or quality charger (better with Quick Charge support)
- ⚡ Cable USB Type-C (for modern models) or Micro-USB (for older models)
- ⏳ 10-15 minutes of time (if the battery is drained)
Step-by-step:
- Connect the charger to the socket.
- Insert the cable into the smartphone and leave on charging at least 5-7 minutes (if the battery is discharged, it may take up to 30 minutes).
- After a few minutes, the charge image (battery icon) should appear on the screen.
- If the screen remains black, try pressing and holding the volume button for 10-15 seconds, sometimes helping to wake the device up.
⚠️ Warning: If after 30 minutes of charging the screen does not respond, the problem may not be in the power button, but in a faulty battery or motherboard.
2.Use of OTG cable and mouse (if screen is running)
If your Xiaomi is powered on but doesn’t respond to the power button (for example, after an update or crash), you can try unlocking it using the power button. OTG-And this is a cable and a mouse, and it works if you have a computer mouse:
- 📱 The screen of the smartphone displays the image (even if it is blocked)
- 🔌 Function OTG Supported by your model (check the specifications)
- 🖱️ You have. USB-Type-A or Type-C connector mouse
Instructions:
- Connect. OTG-smartphone adapter.
- Insert the mouse into the adapter – the cursor should appear on the screen.
- Using the mouse, unlock (if the screen is locked) or go to Settings → System → Reboot.
- If you need to turn off the device, select Turn off in the power menu.
This method will also help if the power button is stuck or works over and over again. After unlocking, you can turn on the software power button in the settings (see section 5 for more).
Does your model support OTG (list on Xiaomi website)
Is there physical damage to the USB connector?
Does the mouse work on another device?
Battery charged (minimum 10%)
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3. Including through ADB (for advanced users)
If your Xiaomi has previously been enabled debugging USB (ADB), You can turn it on with your computer. This is a method that requires some pre-setting, but it's one of the most reliable, POCO and Mi based on Android 10+.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot
- 🔗 Cable USB (preferably original)
- 📥 Google Platform Tools (download from official website)
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your computer by holding the volume button (this can help your computer recognize the device).
- Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and go to the folder with Platform Tools:
- Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is recognized, you will see its serial number.
- Send a command to turn on: adb shell input keyevent 26 (code 26 corresponds to the power button in Android).
⚠️ Note: If the adb device command returns an empty list, then debugging is done. USB It wasn't on beforehand, it won't work. Try other ways.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Hardware method: closing the contacts of the power button
If the software methods did not help, and the power button is not physically pressed (for example, after a fall or moisture), you can try to manually close contacts on the motherboard. This method requires disassembling the smartphone and is only suitable for users with experience in electronics repair.
What you need:
- ⚒️ Screwdrivers (Pentalobe, Phillips, plastic mediator)
- 🔍 Loupe or magnifying glass
- 📎 Paperclip or tweezers (to close contacts)
- 🔋 Multimeter (optional, to check the voltage)
Instructions:
- Turn off the smartphone (if it still reacts to charging, wait for full discharge).
- Remove the back cover with a plastic mediator (heating with a hair dryer is not recommended - you can damage the battery).
- Disconnect the battery plume to avoid short circuit.
- Find the contacts of the power button on the motherboard (usually signed as PWR_KEY or POWER_SW).
- Gently close the contacts with a paper clip or tweezers for 1-2 seconds - this simulates the press of a button.
Critical: Don't close the neighbors, it can disable the motherboard. If you're not sure what you're doing, go to the service center.
| Xiaomi model | Location of the contacts of the power button | Difficulty disassembling (1–5) |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | Top of the board, next to the charging connector | 3 |
| POCO X3/X4 | Under the battery, left of the processor | 4 |
| Mi 11/12 | In the center of the board, next to the display connector | 5 |
| Redmi 9/9A | The bottom of the board, next to the antenna contacts | 2 |
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Before disassembling, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and screws - this will help to properly assemble the smartphone back.
5. Power button (if the phone is already on)
If you’ve managed to turn Xiaomi on in one of the above ways, set up the power button to avoid problems in the future, and you can use built-in MIUI features or third-party apps to do this.
Method 1: Built-in MIUI function:
- Go to Settings → Special Options → Physical buttons.
- Activate the Power button option on the screen.
- There will be a virtual button on the screen that can be dragged.
Method 2: Button Mapper (requires root or ADB):
- 📱 Install Button Mapper from Google Play.
- 🔧 Set up the action to double-press volume (such as locking the screen).
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
⚠️ Warning: The virtual power button won't work if the smartphone is completely turned off. It's only designed to control an already running device.
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If the power button on Xiaomi failed, first try to turn on the device through charging or OTG. Hardware methods (disassembly, closing contacts) leave for an emergency - they require experience and can aggravate the breakdown.
6. Alternative methods and what to do if nothing helps
If none of the above methods worked, consider the following options:
- 🔄 Forced reboot: Hold the Volume button up + The volume button down for 20 to 30 seconds, and on some models, this works even without the power button.
- 🔋 Battery replacement: If the smartphone doesn't respond to charging, the problem may be a bloated or faulty battery. Try connecting it to another power source (e.g. power bank).
- 🛠️ If the power button broke due to mechanical damage (fall, water), self-repair can be risky.The average cost of replacing the button in the service is 800-1500 rubles.
Also check:
- 🔌 Charging connector – sometimes oxidation of contacts interferes with normal charging.
- 📶 Antenna contacts – if the phone fell, they could move away from the fee.
- 🔥 Traces of overheating on the motherboard (blackened elements, swollen capacitors).
If you decide to contact the service, choose official Xiaomi centers or trusted workshops with a guarantee. Avoid “handicraft” repairs – unqualified intervention can lead to data loss or complete failure of the device.