How to turn off Xiaomi if the power button does not work: all the ways from software to gestures

The power button on Xiaomi’s smartphone is one of the most vulnerable elements: it breaks down from moisture, mechanical damage, or simply wears out over time. If your Redmi, POCO or Mi stopped responding to a press, it does not mean that the device has turned into a “brick.” You can turn it off even without physical access to the button – the main thing is to know alternative methods.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to disable Xiaomi without a power button, from software solutions (via menus, ADB or Fastboot) to hardware (using charging or emergency reset). Each method is illustrated with step-by-step instructions taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware. Importantly, some methods require pre-configuration - we will also consider them.

If your smartphone is stuck and doesn't react to anything, you can immediately go to the emergency shutdown section. For devices with a discharged battery, the charger will work through the charger, which works even at 0% charge.

Method 1: Software shutdown via MIUI menu

The safest method is to use the built-in MIUI features. It is suitable if the smartphone screen is working and the power button simply does not press (for example, due to mechanical damage). Depending on the firmware version, the path to the option may differ, but the logic remains the same.

Here’s how to do it on most Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12):

• 📱 Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
• 🔍 Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device in New Versions) MIUI).
• 🔄 Click Shutdown or Reboot – in some firmwares, the option is hidden behind the button Additional.
• ⚡ Confirm the action by tapping OK or turning off.

If your version of MIUI doesn’t have a direct path to shutdown, try an alternative route:

1. Press the Volume Up + Volume Down button for 3-5 seconds at the same time. On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) this will trigger a reboot menu.
2. In the window that appears, select Power off.

Make sure the screen responds to touch.

Check if your smartphone is locked (unlock it)

Connect charging – some features require a minimum charge

Disable all running games/apps (they can block menus)-->

Method Limitation: If your smartphone is locked with a password and your fingerprint/face recognition sensor is not working, you will need to unlock it first through Google’s Smart Lock (if configured) or Find My Device.

Method 2: Turn off by gesture (if configured in advance)

Many Xiaomi users don't know that MIUI has a hidden gesture-off feature, which allows you to turn off your smartphone without a power button -- but only if you activated it beforehand. If you haven't set it up, move on to the next one.

How to check and turn on the sign switch (works on MIUI 12/13/14):

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Physical buttons.
• 🤏 Find the option to turn off by gesture (or Power off gesture in English firmware).
• ✅ Activate the slider and select a gesture: it is usually triple tapping the screen or holding three fingers.
• 🔄 Save settings and test: perform the selected gesture on the locked screen – the off menu should appear.

If the function fails:

• 🔋 Make sure the battery is above 5% (at low charge, gestures may not work).
• 📵 Check if Special Options in Security Settings are disabled.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone (if possible) – sometimes resetting temporary settings helps.

💡

On some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO M3), the gesture shutdown only works when the charger is connected. Try connecting the smartphone to the network before making the gesture.

Importantly, if your smartphone screen is damaged or doesn't respond to touch, this method won't work, so use the ADB method or emergency shutdown.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to your computer and USB debugging is enabled, you can turn off Xiaomi using the command line.This method requires pre-configuration, but works even on locked smartphones (if debugging has been activated before).

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. 📥 Download and install Platform Tools (part of Android) SDK).
3. 🐍 Open the command line (Win) + R → enter cmd → Enter).
4. 📍 Go to the folder with Platform Tools (for example, cd) C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools).
5. 🔌 Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the smartphone is recognized (its serial number will appear), move to the next step.
6. ⏻ Turn off the device by command: adb shell reboot -p or (for older versions) MIUI): adb shell input keyevent 26

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.ACTION_SHUTDOWN

Warning: If USB debugging has not been enabled in advance, this method will not work, in which case only hardware methods (charging or emergency reset) remain.

Method 4: Shutting off via charger (for discharged smartphones)

If the smartphone battery is completely discharged and the power button is not working, you can use the power controller feature in Xiaomi devices.The method works on most models (Redmi 4X/5/6, POCO X2/X3, Mi A1/A2) and does not require special skills.

Instructions:

• ⚡ Connect the smartphone to the charger (preferably original with a power supply at least) 10W).
• 🕒 Wait 5-10 minutes – a charging indication should appear (light bulb or battery icon on the screen).
• 🔄 Once the indication has appeared, disconnect the cable from the smartphone and immediately connect back. Repeat this action 3-4 times at intervals of 2-3 seconds.
• ⏻ On some models, after 3-4 connection / disconnection cycles, the smartphone will automatically turn off (this is due to protection against voltage surges).

If the method does not work, try:

• 🔌 Use another charger (e.g., from a POCO Or a Redmi of another model).
• 📵 Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB — Sometimes it works better than charging from the socket.
• 🔋 Wait until the battery is charged to at least 5-10%, then repeat the cycle of shutdowns.

💡

This method works by activating the power controller protection, which is safe for the smartphone, but may not work on newer models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12), where the logic of power management is changed.

Warning: Do not use non-original high-current chargers (quick charging) this may cause overheating or battery damage.

Method 5: Emergency shutdown (if the smartphone is getting stuck)

If Xiaomi is completely getting stuck, does not respond to touches and buttons, then only forced shutdown remains, which works on all models, but has risks (for example, loss of unsaved data).

How to perform emergency shutdown:

1. 🔋 Hold the volume button up. + The volume button down simultaneously for 10-15 seconds (POCO F1, Redmi K20) This will cause a forced reset.
2. 🔄 If the screen is gone, but the smartphone is not turned off, repeat the action again.
3. 🛑 If nothing happens, try the Volume Up combination. + Power button (even if the power button does not work, sometimes triggered by mechanical action).
4. ⚡ Remove the battery if possible on older models like the Redmi. 3S or Mi 4i The back cover is removable. On new smartphones with a non-removable battery, this is not the right way to do it.

Critical: if the smartphone does not turn off in any way, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this can damage the plumes or battery.

MIUI menu |Gests |ADB| Charging |Emergency shutdown |Nothing helped-->

If none of these methods worked, it is likely that the problem lies in a hardware malfunction (for example, the power button plume or power controller is damaged).

• 🔧 Contact Xiaomi Service Center (Warranty repair is possible if the damage is not mechanical).
• 🛠️ Replace the power button (if you have experience in electronics repair) The cost of the button is from 200 to 500 rubles.
• 📱 Use your smartphone without turning off until repair is possible (but remember that working continuously without rebooting can lead to brakes).

What to do after turning off the smartphone?

When you finally managed to turn off Xiaomi without the power button, the logical question is: how do you turn it on?

• ⚡ Connect the charger – many Xiaomi models automatically turn on when connected to the network (unless the battery is completely discharged).
• 🔌 Use it. OTG-cable: connect to the smartphone mouse or keyboard through USB OTG, Then press the power button on the keyboard (if supported).
• 🔄 Wait for full discharge: if the battery is discharged to 0%, the next connection to charging the smartphone can turn on automatically.
• 🛠️ Repair the power button – it is the most reliable solution for constant use.

If you plan to use your smartphone without a working power button, set up:

• 🔧 Automatic alarm clock (in Settings) → Alarm clock).
• 🤏 Gesture activation (if supported by your model).
• 📡 Remote control via Mi Cloud (Find My Device allows you to reboot your device remotely).

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off Xiaomi without a power button