How to turn off Xiaomi if the touchscreen does not work: the complete guide

When the display of a Xiaomi smartphone continues to show an image but stops responding to touch, it can be taken by surprise at any time, most often due to mechanical damage after a fall or sudden failure of software blocking the digitizer, at which point the user faces a critical problem: how to restart the device or turn it off if the standard swipe to call the lock menu does not work, and the battery can run out at the most inopportune moment.

There are several proven ways to do this without having to bring the gadget to the service center right away. Forced reboot is the fastest and safest method that helps in 90% of cases restore the system to work or simply turn off the device. However, if the software failure is too deep or physical buttons are damaged, more complex manipulations with external equipment or special applications will be required.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the known ways to disable Redmi and Poco when the sensor is broken. You will learn about the nuances of button combinations, the possibilities of connecting to the computer and the hidden features of the system that not all users know about. The most effective way depends on the specific model of your device and the degree of damage to the hardware.

Forced reboot method through physical buttons

The easiest and most affordable way to turn off or reboot your smartphone is to use a combination of physical keys. This is a technique that works at the hardware level (kernel), so it reacts even when the Android operating system is completely getting stuck and does not respond to commands.

The standard procedure for most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models is to hold the power button for a long time. You need to press the power button and not release it for 10-15 seconds. In some cases, especially on older versions of MIUI firmware, you may need to simultaneously clamping the power key and one of the volume buttons (most often volume up).

If the screen goes out and the Mi or Redmi logo appears, it's a success, but if the device just vibrates and turns off, you've also reached your goal, and it's important to understand that in forced restart mode, the system doesn't have time to save open documents, so this method should only be used when absolutely necessary.

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If the phone is in the case, be sure to remove it before trying to reboot, as the case can interfere with the full pressing of the buttons.

It's worth noting that on some current models with a virtual power button or a specific key layout, the algorithm may differ slightly. If standard retention doesn't work, try connecting the device to the charger and immediately clamping the buttons. Sometimes the current intake stimulates the power controller to respond to the reset command.

Using Mi Remote to Emulate Touch

If you have a second Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone with a serviceable IR port, you can turn it into a remote control for a damaged device.The Mi Remote (Mi Remote) app allows you to emulate taps on the screen of a locked phone, which gives you the ability to unlock it and turn it off in a regular way through the menu.

To get started, you need both devices to be paired before, or you quickly set up the remote on a serviceable phone by selecting a model of your damaged gadget from the list. Once you set up the remote interface, a virtual copy of the control buttons will appear on the screen of a serviceable phone, using it, you can press the lock button, enter a graphical key or pin code (if you remember the sequence by heart), and get to the desktop.

• 📱 Open the Mi Remote app on a working device.
• 🔗 Select a previously added remote for your Xiaomi model.
• 🔘 Press the Power or Lock button to activate the screen of the damaged phone.
• 🖱️ Use navigation buttons (Home, Menu, Back) to navigate the interface.

This method is especially useful if you need to not only turn off your phone, but also, for example, answer an important call or back up data before turning off. However, if the touchscreen is physically damaged (cracks, black spots), visual control of actions through the IR remote can be difficult, although the functional method will remain working.

Connection to a computer and control via ADB

For advanced users who have the option "Debugging by Debugging" on the damaged smartphone was pre-enabled USB", The most powerful control tool is Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the non-working touch layer), USB-cable and installed drivers ADB.

The first step is to connect the phone to the PC. If the device was previously authorized on this computer (it was ticked "Always allow from this computer"), the connection will be established automatically. Otherwise, without a working touch screen, you will not be able to confirm the debugging request, and the method will not work.

Enter the following command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the list shows the serial number of a device with device status, then the connection is established.

adb shell reboot -p

Or the reboot command:

adb shell reboot

If the command doesn’t execute, try to put the device into Fastboot mode by clamping the power button and volume down when connecting to a PC, although this is already a step toward flashing over, rather than simply turning off.

Recovery and Fastboot as an alternative

If the system doesn’t respond, you can try to put your smartphone into Recovery Mode or Fastboot mode. Although these modes are for diagnostics, the Recovery menu often offers a device shutdown option controlled by physical volume and power buttons.

To get into the Recovery menu on most Xiaomi devices, you need to turn off the phone (if it is still on) and then press the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi logo appears. In the menu that appears, the navigation is carried out by the volume buttons (up / down), and the choice of item is carried out by the power button.

From the Recovery menu, select Power off or Shutdown (often at the bottom of the list or in the submenu).This is guaranteed to turn off the device. Fastboot mode does not turn off the phone by itself, but if you press the power button in this mode for 10-15 seconds, the device often restarts or turns off, as it is a low-level reset.

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Recovery mode is the only way to turn off the phone using only hardware buttons if the standard reboot doesn't work.

Battery Discharge: Passive Shutdown Method

When none of the active methods work, the latter remains, albeit is not the fastest or the most healthful battery, but the guaranteed working option is to wait for the battery to drain completely. If the screen is burning and burning constantly, the Xiaomi battery will sit down fairly quickly, usually within 4-8 hours depending on the brightness and model.

To speed up this process, you can try to run resource-intensive tasks if the phone responds at all. For example, if one zone of the screen or buttons is partially working, try running a heavy game or a high-resolution video stream. However, if the touchscreen is completely dead, there is little you can do but leave the phone alone.

⚠️ Warning: Leaving the lithium-ion battery to run out of power is regularly harmful to its chemical composition. Use this method only in an emergency when other methods are not available.

There's a myth that if you put your phone in the freezer, it shuts down faster. It's strictly forbidden. Sharp cooling can cause moisture to condense inside the case and the electronics to fail completely. Natural discharge at room temperature is the only safe option for passive shutdown.

If the phone is dead and off, but you need to make an urgent call, don't rush to charge it. Connect the charger, wait for the logo to appear, and try to quickly take action until the touchscreen may have briefly "revived" from a power surge (this is rare, but it happens). In most cases, after a full discharge, normal charging is required for 15-20 minutes to turn on.

External peripheral connection (USB-OTG)

Xiaomi’s Smartphones Support Technology USB On-The-Go (OTG), So if you have a touchscreen that's broken, but you have an image on the screen, you can connect external input devices, like a computer mouse or a keyboard. USB-The mouse is the perfect replacement for the finger.

To implement this method, you'll need a USB-to-Type-C adapter (or Micro-USB, depending on your phone's connector) and any wired computer mouse. Once connected, the mouse cursor should appear on your smartphone screen, and you can unlock the device, go to settings and turn it off in the standard way.

• 🖱️ Find the adapter. OTG (often comes in a set or is inexpensive).
• 🔌 Connect. USB-Mouse to adapter and adapter to smartphone.
• 👆 On the screen will appear cursor controlled by a mouse.
• 🛑 Press the right mouse button (long tap emulation) or the left to navigate to the off button.

This is the most convenient way to save data before you turn it off, so you can not just turn off your phone, but also transfer important photos to the cloud or send them to your messenger, and you can also check through the Settings -> About phone menu if there is a process that is blocking the sensor.

⚠️ Note: When using a mouse through OTG If the battery is critically low (less than 5%), the phone may shut down before you can complete operations, or it may not be able to save data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)