How to turn on Xiaomi smartphone if the power button does not work: all the ways from charging to firmware

A broken power button on a Xiaomi smartphone is one of the most frustrating breakdowns that can completely paralyze a device. Without the ability to physically press the power button, many users think that the phone has become a “brick” and only remains to be carried to the service center. However, in practice, there are at least 7 ways to turn Xiaomi on without a working power button – from simple charging manipulations to complex operations through the computer.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current techniques, including those that work even on fully discharged devices. You’ll learn how to make your smartphone respond via Fastboot, how to use hidden MIUI features to wake up the screen, and what to do if the phone doesn’t show signs of life. Importantly, some methods require pre-preparedness (such as enabled USB debugging), so if your Redmi, POCO or Mi still works, set it up in advance in case the button breaks.

The material is suitable for all modern Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12 series, POCO F3/F4/F5, Mi 11/12/13 and older devices based on MIUI 12-14. If your model is not included in this list – do not worry: most methods are universal and work on any Android smartphone.

📊 What is your Xiaomi model?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

POCO F3/F4/F5

Mi 11/12/13

Another Xiaomi model

I'm not Xiaomi.

1. Energizing through the charger (the easiest way)

If your Xiaomi power button has stopped working but the phone is not yet fully discharged, try turning it on via charging first, thanks to the automatic power-on feature that activates on most Xiaomi smartphones by default.

Here's how to do it:

🔌 Connect your phone to the original charger (preferably with Quick Charge support).
⏳ Wait 5-10 minutes. On some models, for example, POCO X3) The screen can be turned on immediately, on others (for example, Redmi Note 9) - only after dialing the minimum charge.
📱 If the screen is on fire, but the phone does not load beyond the logo MI, Keep the Volume up. + Volume down at the same time – this can unlock the download.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn’t respond to charging within 15-20 minutes, don’t keep trying, it could indicate damage to the power controller.

💡

If you have wireless charging, try turning your phone on through it. On some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 11 Ultra), wireless power can work even if the power button is faulty.

2.Use of Fastboot Mode (for advanced users)

If the phone is responsive to a computer connection (e.g., making a sound or being defined as a device in Device Manager) but doesn’t turn on, you can try running it via Fastboot mode, which requires pre-enabled USB debugging and ADB/Fastboot drivers installed.

Instructions:

Install Google’s Platform Tools (or Xiaomi’s Mi Flash Tool) on your computer.
Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
Open the command line (cmd) in the adb folder and type:

adb devices

If the device is determined, perform:

adb reboot

If the phone doesn’t respond, try to transfer it to Fastboot manually:

adb reboot bootloader

🔹 If the screen catches fire and you see the Fastboot menu, select Reboot using volume buttons and confirm the choice with the Power button (if it works even a little) or wait for the automatic restart.

What if the ADB can’t see the device?

If the adb device command returns a blank list, try: 1. Reinstall drivers (use Mi). PC Suite for Xiaomi). 2. Change USB-cable (not all cables support data transfer). 3. connect the phone to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC). 4. Enable Transfer files mode (MTP) When connected (if the phone is responsive at least a little).

3. Enable via Recovery Mode (if the phone is even slightly responsive)

If the power button on your Xiaomi isn’t completely broken (like it works hard or over), you can try entering Recovery mode and restarting the device from there.This method is also suitable if the phone turns on but immediately shuts down due to a faulty button.

How to log in to Recovery:

🔋 Make sure your phone is at least 10-15 charged%.
🔄 Turn off the device (if it is on, hold the power button until vibration or use the adb reboot poweroff command).
🎵 Hold the Loud up. + Power for 10-15 seconds. If the power button doesn't work, try holding the Volume up and plugging the charge in -- some models do.

On the Recovery menu:

📱 Select the Reboot option → Reboot to System (use volume buttons for navigation).
✅ Confirm the choice of the power button (if it works even a little) or wait for the automatic reboot in 5-10 seconds.

Store the charge (minimum 10%)

Use the original. USB-cable

Try different button combinations (Loudness up/down + Power)

If you do not succeed, connect the charger and try again.-->

4.Use of the Double Tap to Wake function (if enabled)

Many Xiaomi smartphones support the “Double Tap to Wake” feature, which allows you to turn on the screen with a double tap on it. If you activate this option in advance, you can unlock the phone even without the power button.

How to check if the function is enabled:

🔍 On your working phone, go to Settings → Display. → Additionally. → Double Tap to Wake.
☑️ Make sure the switch is active.
📱 If the phone is off but there is a charge, try double tapping the screen - it should turn on.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) Double Tap to Wake is turned off after the battery is completely drained. If the phone is zero, charge it for 10-15 minutes first, and then try double tapping.

If the function was not turned on in advance, but the phone is still working, activate it urgently - this is your backup way to turn on in case the button breaks.

5. PC Connection and Forced Reboot via ADB

If debugging is on USB (USB Debugging was turned on on on the phone before the button broke, you can try rebooting it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method works even if the screen is off, but the phone is determined by the computer.

Step-by-step:

Download and install Platform Tools on PC.
Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
Open the command line in the adb folder and do:

adb devices

If the device is determined, enter:

adb shell input keyevent 26

This command simulates the power button pressing. If the phone doesn't respond, try:

adb reboot

🔹 If the screen is turned on, but the phone hangs on the logo MI, Try to reset the cache through Recovery:

adb reboot recovery

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ADB — The most reliable way to turn on Xiaomi without a power button, but it only works if debugging is done. USB If you haven't encountered a problem, turn on this option right now in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click on version 7 times, then return to Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Hardware methods: disassembly and closure of contacts

If the software didn't work, and the phone is critically important (e.g., it stores unsaved data), you can try turning it on by closing the power button contacts, a method that requires precision and is only suitable for users with experience disassembling equipment.

What you need:

⚒️ Plastic blade or mediator for disassembly.
🔧 Small screwdriver (usually) T3 or T4).
🧲 Thin metal object (clip, tweezers).

Instructions:

Turn off the phone (if it is on).
Remove the back cover (on most Xiaomi it is held on clips).
Disconnect the battery (disconnect the power plume).
Find the contacts of the power button on the motherboard (usually signed as PWR_KEY or POWER_SW).
Close the contacts with a metal object for 2-3 seconds.
Connect the battery and try to turn on the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly closing contacts can lead to short circuit and final breakage of the phone. If you are not sure of your skills, you should contact the service center. Also remember that disassembling the phone is not warranty (if it is still valid).

Where are the power button contacts?

On most Xiaomi models, the power button contacts are located next to the battery plume connector. They look like two small metal pads labeled PWR or POWER. On some boards, the contacts can be hidden under protective coatings - in this case, do not try to expose them yourself!

7. Phone firmware via Fastboot (last resort)

If none of the previous methods worked, and the data on the phone is not critical, you can try flashing the device through Fastboot, which is a radical method that will reset all the settings, but bring the phone back to life.

What will be required:

💻 Computer with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed.
🔗 Original. USB-cable (preferably from the set).
📄 Firmware for your model (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Instructions:

Turn off the phone (if it is on).
Press Volume Down + Power to log in to Fastboot (if the power button doesn't work, try holding only Volume Down and plugging in the charging).
Connect the phone to the PC.
Open the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Flash.
Wait until the process is completed (usually 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot removes all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps. If your phone had important files, try extracting them first. ADB or recovery.

Method	Difficulty	Is a disassembly required?	Whether data are retained	It's working on a dead phone.
Charging.	⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Fastboot (ADB)	⭐⭐⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Recovery Mode	⭐⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Double Tap to Wake	⭐	❌ No.	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Close of contacts	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.
Firmware through Fastboot	⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌ No.	❌ No.	❌ No.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)

Can I turn on Xiaomi without a power button if it’s completely discharged?

No, if the battery is completely drained, the phone won't turn on any of the above ways. First, you need to charge it to at least 5-10%. For this: Connect the charger. Wait 15-30 minutes (even if the indicator is not on), try to turn on the phone by charging or double-tapping (if the function is activated). If the charging indicator does not light up, maybe the problem in the power controller - in this case only repair will help.

How to turn on Xiaomi if the power button and screen are not working?

If the screen doesn't respond to touch (for example, because of damage to the display), but the phone is showing signs of life (vibrates, makes sounds), try: Connect the phone to the PC and use ADB to reboot (adb reboot). Log in to Fastboot via a combination of buttons and flash the phone (data will be deleted). If the phone is defined as a removable disk, copy important files to the computer. If the screen is completely black and the phone does not respond to charging, most likely the problem is in the motherboard - diagnostics are required in the service.

Do these methods work on POCO, Redmi, and Black Shark?

Yes, all of the methods described are suitable for all Xiaomi ecosystem brands, including: POCO (F3, F4, F5, X3, X4, etc.); Redmi (Note 10/11/12, K40, K50, etc.); Black Shark (gaming smartphones); Mi (Mi 11, Mi 12, Mi 13, etc.); Exception: some older models (for example, Redmi 4X) may not work Double Tap to Wake, and logging into Fastboot requires another combination of buttons (for example, Volume down + Power).

How much does it cost to repair the power button in the service center?

The cost of repairing the power button on Xiaomi depends on the model and region: Model Cost (ruble) Repair time Redmi Note 10/11 1 200–1 800 1–2 hour POCO F3/F4 1 500–2 200 1–3 mile 11/12 2 000–3 000 2–4 Black Shark 4/5 2 500–3 500 3–5 hours 💡 Tip: Before repairing, check if the warranty is valid (on most Xiaomi models, the button warranty is valid — 1 If the warranty is active, the repair will be free of charge.

Can you replace the power button with Xiaomi?

Theoretically yes, but it is a complex process that requires: a special tool (screen sucker, tweezers, screwdrivers). T3/T4). Smartphone disassembly experience (Xiaomi often uses fragile plumes) New power button (cost — 200–800 RUB, depending on the model). ⚠️ Risks: Damage to the screen plume or motherboard. Loss of leakage (on models with protection) IP53). Denial of warranty service (if warranty is still valid) If you have never repaired your phones, you should contact the service.