How to turn off Xiaomi phone if the screen is not working: the full guide

The situation where the smartphone display stops responding to touch or completely goes out and the device continues to work is a nightmare for any Xiaomi owner.At this point, the device can consume battery power, emit notification sounds or even heat up, but you can not access it.The standard path through the lock menu becomes inaccessible, which creates panic, especially if you need to urgently terminate the gadget.

But there are a few mechanisms in the arsenal of Mi and Redmi engineers that allow you to control the system even without a visual interface, and there are software and hardware methods that can force the device to shut down or reboot, some that require pre-preparedness, others that are available at any time, but require precision.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods, from the use of computer gates to the use of infrared ports, you will learn how the combination of volume and power keys can save a device at a critical moment, and why standard button retention sometimes does not work on modern versions of MIUI. It is important to act consistently so as not to damage the file system.

Hardware Methods: Using Physical Buttons

The most obvious, but not always the first time, way is to use physical buttons on the case. Xiaomi owners often find that long pressing the power button simply calls Google Assistant or Alexa, instead of showing the off menu, which is the standard behavior of the system in the latest firmware versions, which can be bypassed.

If the screen is black, but the phone is vibrating or making sounds, try the combination to force a reboot. It's not a soft switch off through the menu, but a hardware reset that is equivalent to taking out the battery. This requires you to press the power button and the volume button at the same time. Hold them for about 10-15 seconds until the device vibrates and the Mi logo appears on the display (if it is even partially functional).

⚠️ Note: Forced button reboot does not store unsaved data in open applications. Use this method only if the screen is not fully responsive and other methods are not available.

There's another variation for some models with side-finger scanners. Try to quickly press the power button three times. If the emergency call or SOS function has been activated in the settings, the phone can go into this mode, but sometimes it helps to wake up the power management system. If the screen is broken, but the touch scanner is partially working at the bottom, try swiping up from the bottom of the screen - this can open the notification curtain where there is a turn off button.

Control via computer and debugging via USB

If the physical impact is not working, then software comes to the rescue, and this method requires that the phone has previously turned on the function. USB-debugging (USB If you activated this mode in the Developer menu before the screen breaks, the computer can take over. You'll need a cable. USB, PC and installed ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

The process is this: connect your smartphone to your computer, open the command line in the ADB folder, and type a special command to turn off. Android will respond to an external signal and shut down even if the display does not display the picture. This is the most "clean" way to turn off, since it does not interrupt system processes abruptly, but lets the commands end correctly.

adb shell reboot -p

In some cases, if the standard command is not working due to access rights, you can try an alternative syntax that emulates the pressing of the power button in a software way.

adb shell input keyevent 26

Once this command is entered, the phone can go into lock mode. To turn it off completely, it may require re-entering the command or combination to call the menu. If you don't have root permissions, the reboot -p command is the most versatile. Make sure that Xiaomi drivers are installed on the PC, otherwise the computer will simply not see the connected device.

Use of the IR port and Mi Remote application

Many modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have built-in infrared port.This may seem like a relic of the past, but in a non-working screen situation, this feature becomes a lifesaving one.If you have a second Xiaomi phone (or any Android phone with an IR port) with the Mi Remote app installed, you can turn it into a control panel for a broken device.

The key is to emulate the taps, and you set up your phone profile in the remote app by adding a Xiaomi or a Mi Phone device. Once paired, you can use the second phone as a touchscreen. When you press virtual buttons on the desktop device, you transmit infrared signals that cause the damaged phone to do things like unlock the screen, swipe, push buttons.

• 📱 Open the Mi Remote app on a working phone.
• 🔌 Add a new device by selecting the Phone category and the Xiaomi brand.
• 🎯 Point the IR port of a serviceable phone to the top of the damaged one.
• 🖱️ Use virtual buttons to navigate to the off menu.

This requires that the IR ports of both devices be in line of sight. The distance should not exceed 1-2 meters. If the screen of the damaged phone glows but does not respond to touch, you can see where you press, and successfully get to the Power Off button. This is one of the few methods that allows you to make a soft switch through the system menu.

Connecting the external periphery: mouse and keyboard

Android is an operating system that was originally designed to support the outer periphery. If your Xiaomi touch scanner is shattered, but the matrix is at least partially glowing, you can plug in a regular computer system. USB-You'll need an adapter to do that. OTG (On-The-Go).

Once you connect the mouse through OTG-The cable to the smartphone charging connector, the cursor will appear on the screen (if visible), which allows you to fully control the interface: enter the pattern lock, open applications and press the switch off button. If the screen is black, you can act “to the touch”, remembering the approximate location of the interface elements.

It is worth considering that not all Xiaomi models support the output of power to the port. USB It's a peripheral that's off, but if the phone's on, it should work. USB-Receiver, connect the receiver through OTG. If a Bluetooth mouse is more difficult to connect, as it usually requires access to a menu to pair, but if it has been paired before, the connection can be established automatically.

⚠️ Attention: When in use OTG-The battery consumption can increase significantly in the cable. Don't leave the connected mouse for a long time unless you use it to keep the battery from zero.

Table of compatibility of shutdown methods

To make it easier for you to navigate the way you're going to solve the problem, we've created a spreadsheet that will help you quickly determine which method is right for your situation, given the state of the screen and the availability of additional devices.

And you can see from the table that ADB commands and hardware buttons are the most versatile, because they don't require visual control, but if you're afraid of damaging the data, you might want to try finding a working IR remote or mouse to do a regular shutdown procedure through the menu.

💡

If the screen is working but the touch scanner is dead, plug the mouse through OTG And immediately turn on "Debugging by" USB" It'll take 30 seconds, but in the future, it'll save you from having to carry your phone to the service if you have any screen issues.

Radical method: complete discharge of the battery

If none of the above methods worked, the screen is completely black, the IR port is not, and the PC does not see the device due to debugging disabled, there is the last, although not the most pleasant option - complete discharge. You need to leave the phone alone and wait until the battery runs out completely and the device does not turn off itself.

To speed up this process and not wait for days, you can try to put a strain on the processor. If the phone is making sounds or vibrating, try calling it from another number. Constant calls, turning on the flashlight (if there is voice control), or running heavy applications in the background (if they start) will help to land the battery faster.

But there's a serious drawback to this method: the deep discharge of lithium-polymer batteries used by Xiaomi is harmful to their chemical structure, and if you leave the phone dead for a long time, it can stop charging altogether, and then the need to replace the battery or "swing" the current in the service center will add to the problem with the screen.

⚠️ Warning: Don't leave a fully discharged phone stored. As soon as it's turned off from battery exhaustion, put it on charge immediately at least on the back of the battery. 10-15 minutes to activate chemical processes and save battery life.

Prevention and preparation for the future

Screen problems happen suddenly, and it's best to be prepared for them in advance. Xiaomi smartphone owners should spend a few minutes setting up the device so that at a critical moment they don't frantically look for ways to turn off. First of all, activate debugging over USB. This is a hidden feature that is on the "Developers" menu.

To get into this menu, you need to quickly click 7 times on the build number in the About section. Then a new option will appear in the settings. Find there "Debugging by USB" and turn it on. It is also useful to install third-party screen management applications from a PC, such as Scrcpy or Vysor, which can work even without root permissions if you allow access on the first connection.

• 🛡️ Put a high-quality protective glass on it - it will take a hit on itself.
• 🔋 Keep an eye on the battery so that a sudden shutdown doesn’t take you by surprise.
• 💾 Make regular backups to the Mi Cloud or Google cloud.
• 🔌 Always keep it on hand. OTG-porter.

Remember, modern smartphones are complex computers, and if the screen doesn't work, it doesn't mean the device is dead, and if you use the input interfaces that are available, whether they're buttons, IR ports or smart inputs. USB-The key is not to panic and to consistently try methods from the safest to the more radical.

💡

The most reliable way to turn off a phone with a non-working screen is a combination of power and volume keys (Hard Reset), if USB debugging or IR control was not enabled.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)