How to turn off Xiaomi if the off button does not work

When the power button on a Xiaomi smartphone stops responding, it often takes the user by surprise, which can be due to mechanical damage, moisture or a software failure blocking the sensor. Owners of Mi and Redmi devices immediately face the problem of how to unlock the screen or, more importantly, how to correctly terminate the system to restart or turn off.

Unlike many other manufacturers, the MIUI and HyperOS shells have built-in power management mechanisms that allow you to bypass physical buttons. You don't have to carry the device to the service center right now if you just need to turn off the phone. There are several software methods that allow you to safely terminate the gadget or restart it without using side keys.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from simple interface settings to the use of computer utilities. We will also discuss how to prevent battery drain if the button stuck in the pressed state. It is important to act consistently so as not to lose data and damage the file system of the device.

Using the special options menu

The easiest and most affordable way to turn off a smartphone without a physical button is to activate the Special Options Menu, which was originally designed for people with disabilities, but is ideal for controlling power when keys break. Once turned on, a floating button appears on the screen, which opens the panel with quick actions, including turning off and locking the screen.

To activate this option, you need to go to the system settings. Find the Additional settings section and select Special Options. At the top of the screen or in the category list, find the Special Options menu switch and activate it. The system will request confirmation of access rights - agree, after which a floating icon will appear on the screen.

Now, if you click on this icon, you'll see virtual control buttons, including a lock button and a power switch, which works even if the touch screen is partially damaged but responds to touches in the menu area, but it's worth remembering that this method requires that the system at least partially function and can handle touches.

⚠️ Note: If your screen is not fully responsive to touch, this method will not help. OTG-adapter ADB-computer-based.

The function can be turned off by the system when there is a severe shortage of RAM or in power saving mode. Make sure you have a battery charge before you start manipulating the settings so that the device does not turn off in the process.

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If the floating button interferes with the view, in the settings of the special features menu, you can change its transparency or position on the screen for greater convenience.

Automatic on and off on schedule

MIUI and HyperOS have a powerful built-in task scheduler that allows you to automatically control the power of the device. Scheduled on/off allows you to set the exact time when the phone should either end up or turn on on on itself. This is ideal if the power button does not work at all and you need to turn off the phone right now or soon.

To set up, go to Settings -> Battery and Performance (or simply Battery). In the upper right corner, click on the gear icon to open additional settings. Find Scheduled On/Off and activate the Turn Off switch. Set the time, for example, 2-3 minutes ahead of the current moment.

Once you set the timer, you just have to wait until the time is set, and the smartphone will shut down all the applications, save the data, and shut down, and it's also useful for regular nighttime reboots, which is recommended for cleaning RAM and improving system stability.

It is important to note that to work this feature, the phone must be on and not be in deep sleep or display off mode (although usually the scheduler wakes the system up to perform the task).If you set a time in the past, the feature won't work until the next day, so check the AM/PM settings carefully.

Reboot through system settings

Many users don’t know, but the current versions of Android and Xiaomi’s shell have a standard reboot software button hidden in the settings menu, which doesn’t require additional software and works on most current models, including the Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi series.

The algorithm is simple: open Settings, scroll down to About Phone (or About Device) and in the menu that opens, find the Reboot or Reboot option, and when you click on it, the system will give you a standard reboot or turn off confirmation window where you can select the desired action.

If you don't have one in your About Phone section, try looking for it in Advanced Settings -> Date and Time (on some older versions of MIUI) or just search for the settings. Type the word "reboot" or "reboot" into the search bar and the system will tell you the menu item you want.

Using built-in settings is the safest way to go, as it ensures that all system processes are completed correctly, eliminating the risk of database damage or loss of unsaved files, which can happen when power is cut off.

Control via computer and ADB

For advanced users who do not work neither touch screen nor buttons, there is a "heavy artillery" - debugging. USB (ADB). This method requires a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux), USB-cable and pre-included debugging USB If the debugging wasn't on before it broke, it wouldn't work.

The idea is to transfer a command from computer to phone, and you'll need to download the Platform Tools package from the official Android website. Once you install the drivers and connect the phone to your PC via cable, open the command line in the ADB folder and type in the command to reboot or turn off.

adb reboot

This command will perform a soft reboot of the device, and if you want to turn off the phone, you use the command:

adb shell reboot -p

The reboot-p command sends a signal to the kernel to switch to a full power out state. This is analogous to a power button, but executed software. The computer should see the device in debugging mode; if the device name is displayed "unauthorized", unlock the phone screen (if possible) and confirm access.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Incorrectly entering commands (for example, partition formatting) can lead to data loss or "bricking" of the device.

The advantage of this method is that it works even with a partially broken interface, the main thing is that the Android system is loaded, and this is often the only way to save the situation when the screen freezes, but the system works.

Double touch and gestures

Some Xiaomi models support Double-Tap to turn the screen on/off. Although this feature is more commonly used to activate the display, in some scenarios it allows you to control locking, which is the first step to turning off through the software menu.

You can find this setting along the way: Settings -> The screen is always on and locking the screen (or Additional settings -> Lock the screen). Activate Double touch to turn the screen on/off. Now a short double tap on the black screen will extinguish it, emulating the press of the power button.

It's worth noting that this feature is the one that turns the screen off (sleeps) rather than turning the phone off completely. However, if your goal is to keep the charge or unlock the device for further action, this is a great tool.

Using gestures reduces the load on the physical power button, prolonging its life, and if your button works but is struggling, switching to gesture control is the best way to prevent complete breakdown.

What to do if the button is stuck and the phone does not turn off

The most dangerous situation is when the power button is physically stuck when pressed, in which case the phone can endlessly reboot, vibrate or simply not respond to commands, because the system reads the continuous pressing, where software methods may not work.

The first thing you need to do is to empty the battery. Leave the phone on, turn on the flashlight, launch a heavy app or video at maximum resolution. When the charge drops to 0%, the phone turns off itself. After that, don't plug it into charging right away.

Try to massage the power button area carefully, without undue effort, to try to get the mechanism back to its original position. You can use isopropyl alcohol (not vodka or water!) by dripping a microscopic amount onto the brush and cleaning the gap around the button while the phone is off. The alcohol will evaporate and can dissolve the sticky dirt.

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If the power button is stuck, the main task is to prevent a cyclical reboot that heats the processor and inflates the battery.

If the phone itself turns on when you connect the charging (autostart function), you will have to wait until the charge reaches a level sufficient to turn on the screen, and quickly, while charging is underway, try to activate the Special Opportunity Menu or shutdown timer to interrupt the cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)