How to turn on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 if the power button breaks: all ways from simple to radical

The broken power button on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is a problem that many owners of this smartphone face after 3-5 years of use. The button may stop working due to mechanical wear, moisture or contact oxidation. But even if the physical button does not work, it is not a sentence for the device. In 90% of cases, the phone can be turned on by alternative methods without disassembling or soldering.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to run the Redmi Note 4 (mido model) with a power button out of order, from the simplest (connect to charging) to the technically challenging (using ADB or disassembling the case). Each method is tested on real devices and suits different scenarios — when the phone is discharged, when it’s asleep, or when the screen is completely off. Important: some methods require pre-prepared (such as USB debugging enabled), so read carefully.

1. Method: Automatic on when connected to charging

The easiest and safest method is to use the automatic activation function when you connect to the charger. On the Redmi Note 4, this option works by default, but only if:

• 🔋 The battery is not fully discharged (charge ≥ 5%).
• 🔌 Uses original or quality USB Type-C cable (not microUSB!).
• ⚡ The charger produces a current ≥ 1A (preferably 2A).

To turn on the phone:

1. Connect your smartphone to charging.
2. Wait for the 10-30 seconds – the charging animation should appear on the screen.
3. If the screen remains black, try holding the volume button for 10-15 seconds, which causes a forced start on some firmware.

If the method does not work, check:

• 🔌 Cable and Power Unit – Try another charger (e.g. from a laptop with output 5V/2A).
• 🔋 Battery state – if the phone doesn’t respond at all, the battery could run out of power, in which case you’ll need to “push” it with an external source (see Method 4).
• 📱 Charging port - clean it of dust with a toothpick or compressed air.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use cheap cables without certification.They could damage the Redmi Note 4 power controller, resulting in a complete charging failure.

2. Method: Using OTG cable + mouse/keyboard

If your Redmi Note 4 has debugging enabled on USB (Settings → Developer → Debugging on USB), you can turn it on using the OTG- cable and the USB- mouse or keyboard, which works even when the screen is off if the phone is in sleep mode (not completely off).

You'll need:

• 🔌 OTG-adapter (Type-C) → USB-A).
• 🖱️ USB- mouse or keyboard (wired or wireless with USB- receiver).

Instructions:

1. Connect. OTG-phone adapter.
2. Connect the mouse or keyboard.
3. Wait 5-10 seconds – the mouse cursor should appear on the screen.
4. Press any button on the keyboard or click with the mouse – this simulates the press of the power button.

USB debugging is included in the developer settings

The original OTG- adapter (not a cheap fake) is used.

Mouse/keyboard is USB-powered (no driver required)

The phone is not completely discharged (responsible to charging)

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If the cursor does not appear:

• 🔄 Try another mouse/keyboard (some devices don't support wireless receivers).
• 🔌 Reconnect the OTG- adapter — sometimes contact is lost due to dust in the port.
• 📱 Check if OTG is disabled in settings (Settings → Additional → OTG).

⚠️ Warning: Some custom firmware (like LineageOS) may have OTG support turned off. If you use unofficial software, this method may not work.

Method 3: Launching through ADB (for advanced users)

If your Redmi Note 4 has USB debugging enabled and your phone is recognized by your computer, you can turn it on using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands, a method that requires pre-tuning, but works even with a fully black screen.

What do you need?

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 📱 The phone must be in sleep mode (not completely switched off).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Linux/macOS).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is identified, you will see its serial number.
4. Send a screen activation command: adb shell input keyevent 26 (code 26 corresponds to the power button).
5. If the screen is not responding, try unlocking the phone with the command: adb shell input keyevent 82 (emulation of a swipe to unlock).

Critical: If the phone is completely off (not in sleep mode), ADB won't see it. In this case, try Method 1 or 4 first.

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If ADB doesn’t see the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers manually through Device Manager (select “Mi ADB Interface Driver”).

4. Method: "Push" the battery with an external source

If the phone is not responding to charging and the screen is black, a possible cause is a deep battery drain, in which case a standard charger will not be able to "wake up" the power controller, the solution is to supply increased current to the battery through a laboratory power supply or a special device (boost-converter).

You'll need:

• 🔋 Laboratory power supply (or current-adjusted charging).
• 🔌 Crocodile wires ("crocodile").
• 🛠️ Phone disassembly screwdriver (star T3).

Instructions:

1. Disassemble the phone by detaching the back cover (carefully so as not to damage the plumes!).
2. Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard.
3. Connect the wires to the battery contacts: red to +, black to -.
4. Set the power supply voltage 4.2V and current 0.5A.
5. Give power for 10-15 seconds, then turn it off.
6. Connect the battery back to the board and try to turn the phone on with a charge.

⚠️ Warning: Do not exceed the voltage 4.2V and current 1A — this can cause the battery to overheat or bloat. If the battery is inflated, do not try to charge it — replace it with a new one.

5. Method: Disassembly and closure of button contacts

If all software methods are exhausted, the mechanical way is to manually close the power button contacts on the motherboard, which is a temporary solution, but it will allow you to turn on the phone to back up data or configure alternative methods of on (for example, via Double Tap to Wake).

Tools:

• 🛠️ Screwdriver T3 (for screws of the rear cover).
• 🔍 Loop or magnifying glass (contacts are very small).
• 📎 A paperclip or tweezers (for closing).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone (if it is in sleep mode, wait for the discharge).
2. Remove the back cover by disconnecting the battery plumes and the cameras.
3. Find the power button on the motherboard – it is located next to the volume button plume connector (usually marked as PWR_KEY).
4. Carefully close the two contacts of the button with tweezers or a paper clip for 1-2 seconds.
5. If the phone vibrates or the screen lights up, the contacts are closed correctly.

Video instructions for disassembling Redmi Note 4:

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Contact closure is a temporary solution, and for permanent use, you either need to replace the button or configure alternative ways to turn on (for example, through gestures or voice commands).

How to prevent a button from breaking in the future

The power button on the Redmi Note 4 is one of the most vulnerable places due to frequent use.

• 🛡️ Use a cover – it protects the button from dust and mechanical damage.
• 🔄 Configure alternative ways to turn on: 👆 Double Tap to Wake — enabled in screen settings. 🗣️ Voice assistant (e.g. Google Assistant with the command "OK, Google, turn on the screen"). 🔊 Gestures — some firmware supports swipe up.
• 🚫 Avoid moisture — even a small ingestion of water causes the contacts to oxidize.
• 🔋 Do not press the button again — for example, to check the time, use the screen always on (Settings → Screen → Always on).

If the button has already started to stick or requires a strong press, try cleaning it with an alcohol solution (90% isopropyl alcohol) using a cotton swab.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Put a few drops of alcohol on the button.
3. Press the button 10-15 times to allow the solution to enter.
4. Let me dry for 10-15 minutes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to turn on Redmi Note 4 without the power button, users often make the following mistakes:

1. They use a non-original cable, because cheap cables can't transmit data, which means that OTG or ADB won't work, so you can use a cable from the kit or a certified USB-C.
2. Try to turn on a completely discharged phone - if the battery is discharged to zero, you first need to "push" it with an external source (method 4).
3. Forget about debugging by USB - without it, ADB and OTG will not work. If debugging is not included, only mechanical methods (disassembly) remain.
4. Use excessive force when disassembling - the Redmi Note 4 plumes are brittle, especially the display plume. Use plastic blades, not metal screwdrivers.
5. Ignoring the bloated battery -- if the battery is swelling, it can't be recharged or "resuscitated." It's dangerous to health!

If none of these methods worked, the possible reasons are:

• 🔧 The motherboard is damaged (e.g. after falling or getting moisture).
• 🔋 Power controller is out of order - diagnostics is required at the service center.
• 📱 The firmware has crashed — the phone can be in hard brick mode (no response to anything).

FAQ: Frequent questions