How to turn on Xiaomi Redmi 4X if the power and volume buttons do not work: all working methods

Broken power and volume buttons on Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) turn a smartphone into a brick — seemingly hopeless case. But even in this situation, there are at least 5 ways to force the device to start without resorting to expensive repairs. It is important to understand that the methods differ in complexity, risks and required tools. Some will suit beginners (for example, charging with the “right” cable), others will require a soldering iron or knowledge of ADB commands.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to turn on the Redmi 4X without buttons, from the simplest to the most extreme, with step-by-step instructions, warnings about possible consequences and alternatives if standard methods didn’t work, and how to avoid locking your phone again after a successful launch, and what to do if none of the methods worked.

Initiation through the charger: “recharge” method

The most innocuous way is to use the power circuitry of the Redmi 4X, which is that when connected to a power source, the smartphone can automatically wake up if the battery is discharged to a critical level, which works in ~30% of cases, but requires three conditions:

• 🔌 Use the original cable and power supply (or certified with Quick Charge 2.0 support). Cheap cables often do not transmit the data about the start of charging.
• ⚡ Charge for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If the indicator doesn't light up, leave the phone on charge for up to an hour - sometimes the circuit takes time to initialize.
• 🔄 Try several outlets/ports USB. A faulty port may not provide sufficient current.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect the Redmi 4X to the charger.
2. Leave it for 15 to 30 minutes. If the charge indicator catches fire, wait at least 10% of the charge.
3. Turn off the cable and reconnect. Sometimes it triggers the switch on.
4. If the screen is black, try to twitch the cable in the connector (carefully!) - sometimes the contacts oxidize.

⚠️ Note: If the phone has been forced off (e.g., the battery has gone down), this method may not work.

2. Forced booting via PC connection (ADB/Fastboot)

If you've ever connected your phone to a computer with USB debugging enabled, you can turn it on via ADB or Fastboot commands, and this works even with a fully drained battery if the PC recognizes the device.

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS and installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB Fastboot (you can download from the official Android website).

Instructions for ADB (if the phone was turned on earlier and debugging is activated):

adb devices # Connection check (your device should be displayed)


adb shell input keyevent 26 Emulation of power button pressing

If the phone is in Fastboot (black screen with the Mi Bunny logo):

fastboot devices # Check the connection


fastboot continue # Continue to boot the system

If the commands don’t work, try an alternative:

fastboot oem edl # Translation to EDL mode (for firmware)

⚠️ Attention: The fastboot oem edl command will put the phone into the Emergency Download Mode, and use it only if you are ready to flash the device through the Mi Flash Tool!

3. Testpoint closure (for experienced users)

If the software didn't work, the hardware method is to close the test points on the motherboard, which is an extreme measure that requires disassembling the phone and minimal soldering skills. On the Redmi 4X, the test points are located next to the charging connector:

• 🔧 Necessary tools: plastic spatula, tweezers, multimeter (optional).
• 🔍 Testpoints are two contact points marked as TP or TEST.
• ⚡ Close them for 5-10 seconds with tweezers or a screwdriver.

Step-by-step:

1. Remove the back cover (it is on the latches, carefully tuck the shoulder blade).
2. Unscrew the screws holding the motherboard.
3. Find the test points (see photo below) and lock them for 5-10 seconds.
4. If the phone vibrates or the screen lights up, plug in the charging.

Photo of the location of the testpoints on the Redmi 4X:

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect circuiting can lead to short circuit and board failure. If you are not sure, contact the service!

4. Connect to charge with retention of the "hidden" combination

Little-known life hack: Some Xiaomi devices (including the Redmi 4X) can emulate button pressing by simultaneously connecting charging and tapping the sensor.

• 🔋 The battery has at least 5% charge.
• 📱 The screen is not damaged (the sensor responds to touch).
• ⚡ Electric charging is used. ≥1A.

How to do this:

1. Connect the phone to the charger.
2. Press the central part of the screen (where the home button is usually located).
3. Hold on for 10 to 15 seconds. If it works, the Fastboot menu will pop up.
4. In the menu, select Reboot (reboot) by touching the screen.

An alternative is to use a combination of touches:

• Touch the top left and bottom right corner of the screen at the same time.
• Hold on for 7-10 seconds.

💡

If the sensor doesn’t respond, try to warm up the phone with a hairdryer (no higher than 60°C) – sometimes this temporarily restores contacts.

5. Replace the power button or repair the plume

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be mechanical damage to the power button or plume. On the Redmi 4X, the power and volume buttons are combined into a single module that connects to the motherboard via a flexible plume.

Replacing the button is possible, but requires care:

1. Buy a new button module for Redmi 4X (article: Xiaomi Santoni Power Button Flex Cable).
2. Take the phone apart, unplug the old plume.
3. Install a new module, check the fixation.
4. Collect your phone and test the buttons.

⚠️ Note: When disassembling Redmi 4X It's easy to damage the battery plume or the display, and if you're not sure, you should trust a specialist to repair it.

💡

If the phone only turns on when you're closing test points or connecting to a PC, the problem is the power button or its plume, in which case repairs will be cheaper than buying a new device.

6. Alternative ways: what to do if nothing helps

If all of these methods are useless, radical measures remain:

• 🔧 Firmware through EDL (Requires an authorized Xiaomi account and programmer).
• 🔋 «Resuscitation of the battery (if the phone does not respond to charging, try connecting another battery).
• 📱 Use of wireless charging (for Redmi) 4X You will need an adapter with Qi support).
• 🛠️ Diagnostics at the service center (if the problem is in the power controller or processor).

Critical information: On the Redmi 4X with a Snapdragon 435 processor, it sometimes helps wake up the phone by connecting it to a 5.5V power source (for example, via Power Bank with Quick Charge 3.0 support).

If you decide to sell or dispose of your phone, pre-extract from it:

• 📁 MicroSD card (if installed).
• 🔐 SIM-Cards (may contain confidential data).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi inclusion 4X buttonless