How to turn on Xiaomi phone if the power button does not work: all ways

The broken power button on Xiaomi’s 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 find themselves at a dead end: the phone does not respond to charging, the screen does not turn on, and access to data seems lost. However, in 90% of cases, the device can be launched without repair – just know alternative activation methods.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways Xiaomi can enable (including the Redmi, POCO, Mi, and Black Shark models) without using the power button, from standard Android features to engineering solutions. Importantly, the methods vary in complexity and risk, so start with the safest options. If the phone is discharged or has hardware damage (for example, after a fall), some of the methods may not work, we’ll talk about this too.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Is the phone connected to charging? Let it charge for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
• 🔌 Do you use the original cable and power supply? Unoriginal accessories can block the launch.
• 💡 Is the charging indicator on? If not, the problem could be the battery or the board.

1. Energizing through the charger (the easiest way)

If the power button doesn’t work but the phone is responding to charging (lights up, vibrates), try automatically starting when you connect to the network.This method works on most Xiaomi models thanks to the auto-on-charge feature, which is activated by default.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to the original charger (preferably with Quick Charge support).
2. Leave it on charging for 15 to 30 minutes – even if the indicator is not on.
3. If the screen remains black, try pressing and holding Volume Up + Volume Down for 10-15 seconds at the same time.
4. On some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro), the combination of Volume Up + Camera helps.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is completely discharged (the indicator does not burn even after 30 minutes of charging), this method will not work.

2.Use of OTG cable and mouse/keyboard

If the phone is turned on but the power button does not work to unlock or turn off, you can control it via the power button. USB OTG-Adapter. This is a method that's suitable for models that support OTG (You will need almost all of Xiaomi after 2017:

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

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-Adapter to the phone, and to the adapter – mouse or keyboard.
2. If the phone has been turned off, plug it into charging and wait for the vibration or sound of the OTG connection.
3. Move your mouse or press the keys – the screen should turn on automatically.
4. Use the mouse to unlock (move the cursor to the password field).

💡 A useful tip: If you don't have one OTG-adapter, you can use it USB-externally powered hub (connect the charger to the hub and the hub to the phone) This will help avoid problems with lack of energy for the main hub. OTG-device.

3. Launch through the service menu (Engineer Mode)

On some Xiaomi models (especially older ones like the Redmi 4X or Mi A1), you can turn the phone on via an engineering menu, which requires pre-activation of the developer mode, but if it has already been enabled, the chances of success are high.

How to get into Engineer Mode:

1. Connect your phone to charge and wait until it charges at least a little (the indicator should burn).
2. Type on the keyboard (if the screen reacts to touch) the code: ##4636## or for new models: ##36446337###
3. Select Hardware Testing → Power Key Test from the menu that opens.
4. Click on the virtual power button in the testing menu.

⚠️ Note: Not all codes work on new versions MIUI 13/14. If nothing happens after entering the code, do not try again. 3 once, it can block SIM-map.

4. Connection to PC and use ADB-team

If the phone is turned on but the power button doesn’t work to turn off or reboot, you can control it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method requires pre-configuring the debugging over USB, but if it’s been activated, you can send commands from your computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then turn on Debugging by USB).

Teams for power management:

adb devices # Checking the connection


adb shell input keyevent 26 # Simulating the power button




adb shell reboot #Reboot




adb shell shutdown (not working on all models)

🔹 If debugging is on USB not included:

• Try connecting via Mi Assistant (official software from Xiaomi).
• Use Fastboot mode (click Volume Down + Power when connecting to a PC).

5. Hardware reset (if other methods did not help)

If the phone doesn't respond to charging, OTG, or ADB, the last thing that remains is a hardware reset via Recovery Mode, which will delete all the data, but bring the phone back to life, and is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader.

How to make a Hard Reset:

1. Turn off the phone (if it is on, wait for the full discharge).
2. Click the combination: For most Xiaomi: Volume up + Power (hold 10-15 seconds). For POCO and new models: Volume up + Volume down + Power.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Reboot → Reboot to System

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked bootloader (Mi 11 Ultra, Redmi) K40 Recovery resets may result in a Mi Account being required. Without a linked account, the phone becomes a brick".

💡

Hardware reset is a last resort, and if you had important data on your phone, try extracting it first through OTG or ADB.

6. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be:

• 🔋 Faulty battery (does not hold charge, swelled).
• 🔌 Damaged food (after falling or getting moisture).
• 📱 Software failure (for example, after a failed update).

When to bring your phone to the service:

• 🛠️ If the phone does not respond to charging (no indication, does not warm up).
• 💥 If there was a hit, fall or contact with water before the breakdown.
• 🔄 If after resetting via Recovery, the phone requires a Mi Account that you don't have.

The cost of repairing the power button in Xiaomi varies from 800 to 2500 rubles depending on the model. On the POCO F1 or Redmi Note 8, the replacement is cheaper than on the Mi 11 or Black Shark 5.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi powering up without power button