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

Xiaomi’s touchscreen is one of the most vulnerable parts of the device, and falling from a height, getting moisture, or factory failure can cause the display to stop responding to touch, and sometimes only displays a black screen, and in this situation, even the basic operation of turning off the phone becomes a non-trivial task, if your Redmi, POCO or Mi does not respond to touch, but it loads (vibrates, sounds, illuminates), this guide will help it safely turn off without damaging the data.

We'll look at all the current methods, from standard button combinations to advanced methods using ADB and service modes. Importantly, some methods require prior preparation (for example, enabled debugging over USB), so if your smartphone is still working, check out the prevention section in advance. For owners of non-removable battery devices (most modern Xiaomi models), there is also a safe way to force disconnect without disassembly.

Warning: If the screen not only doesn't respond to the sensor, but also doesn't show the image (all black), first check if the phone is getting stuck.

• 🔊 Call the device from another phone – if you hear the call sound, the system works.
• 📳 Connect the charger – if a charging indication appears (even without an image), the phone is turned on.
• 🔄 Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds – if the device vibrates and reboots, it was in working order.

1. Standard button combinations for switching off

The most reliable way to turn off Xiaomi without a sensor is to use hardware buttons. Most models (including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12) support forced shutdown through a long press of the power button.

For devices with a physical power button:

1. Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds.
2. If the phone vibrates and the screen goes out, it's turned off. If it's not, repeat the attempt in 30 seconds.

For devices with a touch power button (e.g. Xiaomi 13/14):

• 🛑 Try holding the 20 button.+ Sometimes it works even when the screen is not working.
• 🔋 If the button doesn’t respond, plug the charger in and repeat the attempt – sometimes it “wakes up” the system.

Critical: on some models (e.g., POCO F3/F4), the long hold of the power button does not turn off, but restarts the device. To completely turn off the power, you will have to use the method of removing the battery (section 4).

2. Offsetting through connection to charging (discharge method)

If the buttons don't work, and the battery is fixed, you can take advantage of the Xiaomi power controller, which is to drain the battery before it's completely shut down. It takes time, but it's guaranteed to work on any device.

Step-by-step:

Connect your phone to the charger (5V/1A or 5V/2And)|Wait for the charging indication to appear (if the screen is black, focus on vibration or sound)|Turn off the charger and leave the phone alone on 12–24 hour|Check every one. 4–6 hours: if there is no reaction when connecting charging - the battery is discharged, the phone is turned off-->

⚠️ Note: Do not use fast chargers (18Watt+) — They can start the phone instead of the discharge. 5V/1And.

This method is suitable for devices with a non-removable battery (Redmi 9/10/11, POCO X3 Pro and later).

• 📵 Turn on flight mode (if the screen is partially working) - this will reduce the discharge time.
• 🔊 Start playing music or video via Bluetooth speaker – will increase the load on the battery.

3.Switch off via ADB (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has previously enabled USB debugging, you can turn it off via your computer using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires preparation, but works even with a fully black screen.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original or high quality).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times press) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, proceed to the next step.
4. Execute the shutdown command: adb shell reboot -p

⚠️ Note: If the adb device command returns an empty list, but the phone is connected, try it:

• 🔄 Reconnect the cable to another USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0).
• 🔧 Install Mi drivers PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.
• 📱 Reboot your phone to Fastboot (hold power) + Volume down 10 seconds) and repeat the command.

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If USB debugging wasn't enabled in advance, but the phone is still partially working, turn it on right away! This is the only way to control the device through the computer with the screen not working.

4. Battery recovery (for removable batteries)

On older Xiaomi models (Redmi 3S/4/4X, Mi A1/A2), the battery is removable, which allows you to turn off the phone physically.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone (if possible) through a long hold on the power button.
2. Remove the back cover with a plastic shoulder blade or mediator.
3. Disconnect the battery plume (usually it is glued with tape - gently tuck it).
4. Remove the battery for 10-15 seconds, then set back.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi Note models 5/6/7 If you try to remove it without special tools, you'll damage the plumes or the case. 2 or 3.

5. Service modes and hidden menus

Some Xiaomi models have hidden button combinations to access service menus where you can initialize shutdowns, a method that doesn’t work on all devices, but can save you in a dead end.

Ways to enter the service menu:

• 🔢 Type on the keyboard (if the screen is partially working): ##4636## → select off.
• 🔄 Keep your food on. + Loudness up + Loudness down 10 Seconds (working on Redmi) 7/8/9).
• 📞 Call the phone from another device and hold power during the call + Loudness down 5 seconds.

⚠️ Warning: Not all service menus support the shutdown command (POCO X3 NFC) Before using this method, make sure that important data is synchronized with Mi Cloud.

Prevention: How to Prepare Your Phone for Emergency Situations

If your Xiaomi is still working, but you’re afraid that the sensor might fail, follow these steps in advance:

• 🔧 Put the debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times) → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔒 Activate face unlock/print – this will help unlock your phone even with a broken screen.
• ☁️ Set up automatic sync with Mi Cloud (contacts, photos, notes).
• 📱 Install TeamViewer QuickSupport or AirDroid for remote management.

It is also useful to remember the hardware combinations for your model:

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Even if the sensor is working, check your phone backups regularly, such as connecting a Bluetooth keyboard, which can save you if your screen breaks.

Frequently asked questions