How to turn on Xiaomi Mi5 if the power button does not work: all ways

Xiaomi Mi5 is the legendary flagship of 2016, but even it eventually fails the power button. If your smartphone does not respond to the press, do not rush to carry it into the service: in 80% of cases, the device can be launched yourself. In this article, 5 proven methods, including hidden Qualcomm features, bypassing through fastboot and even hardware tricks with disassembly.

We tested each method on the Mi5 with MIUI 8-12 firmware and stock Android 6.0-7.1. Importantly, some methods require pre-preparedness (such as USB debugging enabled), so read carefully. If the smartphone is discharged to 0%, first charge it for at least 10-15 minutes: without a minimum charge, none of the methods will work.

Why the power button on Xiaomi Mi5 doesn’t work

Before you try to turn on your phone, you should understand the cause of the failure. In the Mi5, the power button most often breaks because:

• 🔋 Contact oxidation -- moisture or condensation hitting a button. Symptom: "Clicks" button, but the smartphone doesn't respond.
• 🛠️ Mechanical wear — the plastic rod of the button wears off after 2-3 years of use, with the symptom that the button fails or does not return to its original position.
• 🔌 The plume problem is a break or detachment of the contacts on the motherboard. Symptom: the button doesn't press at all (jammed).
• 🤖 Software failure is rare, but it happens that the system does not see the click due to an error in the button driver.

If the button is physically pressed but the smartphone is not responding, it's more of a software problem. If the button is not pressed at all or pressed too easily (without clicking), it's a matter of mechanics. In the latter case, the only reliable way is to replace the button or the plume in the service, but you can temporarily turn on the phone without repair.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone has fallen into water or been subjected to a strong vibration (such as in a car), do not try to turn it on without first drying.

Method 1: Starting through the charger (the easiest)

If the Mi5 battery is not fully discharged, the smartphone can be turned on using the original charger, which works thanks to the automatic start function when connecting power, which is available in Xiaomi firmware based on Android 6.0+.

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to the original charger (or a quality analogue with Quick Charge 3.0 support).
2. Leave it on charge for at least 10-15 minutes (even if the indicator does not burn).
3. After 10 minutes, press and hold the Volume Up button for 15-20 seconds.
4. If the Mi logo appears on the screen, release the button - the smartphone will boot in normal mode.

If this method doesn’t work, try repeating it with Volume Up + Volume Down at the same time, which causes a forced boot on some firmware.

Try another charger (preferably the original)

Check the cable for damage.

Connect to another power source (computer, power bank)

Leave on charging for 30+ minutes (possibly the battery is deeply discharged)

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Why does it work? The Xiaomi Mi5 uses a Qualcomm PMI8994 power controller, which when you connect the charging, sends a signal to turn on if the battery has enough charge. Pressing the volume buttons simulates a hardware reset, causing the system to ignore the power button that is not working.

Method 2: Enable via ADB (if USB debugging was enabled)

If you Mi5 The debugging has been activated previously. USB (USB Debugging, you can enable it with your computer and utility ADB. This method is the most reliable, but requires preliminary adjustment.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original)
• 🛠️ Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools (includes ADB and fastboot).
2. Connect the Mi5 to your computer by holding the Volume Down button, which is necessary for the smartphone to be determined in fastboot mode.
3. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with ADB:

cd C:\platform-tools

1. Enter a command to check the connection:

fastboot devices

If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), enter:

fastboot continue

This command will force the smartphone to continue loading in normal mode, ignoring the power button that is not working.

If fastboot continues to fail, try:

fastboot reboot

⚠️ Warning: If you've never turned on debugging USB on Mi5, this method won't work. Then move on to the following.

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If ADB doesn’t see the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers through the official website or using MiFlash for forced installation.

Method 3: Hardware reset via Recovery Mode

If the power button doesn't work, but the smartphone is somehow responsive to charging (for example, the indicator is on), you can try to enter Recovery Mode and reset, which will help if the problem is a software failure.

How to log in to Recovery on Mi5 without the power button:

1. Connect your smartphone to charging and wait 5-10 minutes.
2. Press the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
3. Hold them for 15 to 25 seconds until the Mi logo or Recovery menu appears.

If you’re in Recovery, use the volume buttons for navigation and the power button (if it works even a little) or touch screen (in newer versions of MIUI Recovery) to select points.

What to do in Recovery:

• 🔄 Select Reboot → System (if your smartphone is just getting stuck).
• 🧹 Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (if you suspect a software failure).
• 📦 Select Connect with MiAssistant (if you want to reflash the device).

If the power button doesn’t work completely, but you were able to log in to Recovery, use a combination of volume buttons to navigate:

• Volume Up – Moving up/selection.
• Volume Down – Downward movement/cancellation.

Method 4: Forced booting through Test Point (for advanced)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try a hardware reset via Test Point, which requires disassembling your smartphone and is only suitable for users with experience in electronics repair.

What you need:

• ⚡ Screwdriver T3 for disassembly Mi5.
• 🔧 A mediator or plastic shoulder blade to detach the plumes.
• 🔌 Tweezers or needles for closing contacts.
• 🔋 Charger (required!)

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone (if it’s still responding to charging, hold Volume Down + Power for 10 seconds).
2. Remove the back cover of the Mi5 with the mediator. Be careful, the cover is held on the latches!
3. Unscrew 10 screws (all the same, T3) and gently disconnect the battery plume.
4. Find test points (usually signed TP or Test Point) next to the charging connector. In the Mi5, they look like two small metal mugs.
5. Connect the charger and close the test points with tweezers for 5-10 seconds.
6. The smartphone should be enabled in fastboot mode. You can then use ADB commands (see Method 2).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly closing contacts can short-circuit and cause the motherboard to fail. If you've never disassembled a smartphone, you should contact the service.

Yes, many times |Yes, but only to replace the battery |No, I'm afraid to break |No, but I want to learn-->

Where are the test points on the Mi5?

In the Xiaomi Mi5, the test points are located to the right of the USB-Type C connector, next to the battery contacts. They can be hidden under a protective film - carefully remove it with tweezers.

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Closing the test points mimics the signal from the power button at the hardware level, which works even if the button is completely out of order or disconnected from the board.

Method 5: Replace the power button (permanent solution)

If all previous methods have only helped temporarily, or the power button is physically broken (unpressed, fails, falls off), the only reliable solution is to replace the button or the plume.

Cost of repair:

Can you change the button yourself? Yes, but you'll need to:

• 🛒 New power button for Xiaomi Mi5 (costs ~300-500 rubles on AliExpress or in service centers).
• 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (T3, T5), a mediator, tweezers.
• 🔥 A dryer or soldering station (if you need to solder the plume).
• 📸 Video disassembly instructions (e.g. on YouTube).

Step-by-step instructions for replacement:

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove the back cover.
2. Unscrew all screws and disconnect the battery plume.
3. Carefully disconnect the button plume (it goes from the board to the side buttons).
4. Remove the old button and set a new one, fixing it in place.
5. Put your smartphone back together in reverse order.

If the button is soldered to the plume (not the removable one), you'll have to replace the entire plume or re-sweat the contacts, and you'll need soldering iron skills.

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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. screws in the Mi5 of different lengths, so do not confuse them with places!

What do you do if nothing helps?

If none of these methods worked, the following problems may occur:

• 🔋 Full battery discharge – even if the indicator is not on, try leaving the smartphone on charge for 1-2 hours.
• 🛠️ Motherboard damage – if the phone doesn’t respond to anything, the power controller may have burned.
• 💧 Short circuit – if the smartphone fell into water or overheated, the contacts could oxidize.
• 🔌 The problem with the charging connector is that if the cable isn’t tightly fixed, the smartphone may not charge.

The last steps before contacting the service:

1. Try connecting your smartphone to another power source (e.g., a power bank with Quick Charge support).
2. Check if the smartphone is heated when connected to charging (if so, there may be a battery problem).
3. If you have access to another Xiaomi, try using its charger and cable.

If that doesn't work, it's just diagnostics at the service center, which averages 1,500 to 4,000 rubles, depending on the problem, and for the Mi5, it's often justified, because the smartphone still supports the latest firmware and handles everyday tasks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about enabling Xiaomi Mi5 without power button