How to turn on Xiaomi smartphone without a power button: all ways from charging to ADB

A broken power button on Xiaomi is one of the most frustrating breakdowns that can completely paralyze a device. Even if the screen doesn’t respond and the phone seems “dead,” there are at least 7 ways to launch it without physically pressing the button. In this article, we’ll break down all the current methods, from basic (connect to charging) to advanced (ADB teams and fastboot).

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of each method depends on the Xiaomi model (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 may require different approaches), the battery status and even the version of the MIUI firmware. If the phone is discharged “to zero”, first use the methods with a recharge. If the button is simply stuck or the plume falls off, try software solutions.

We warn you beforehand that some methods (for example, working with fastboot) require an unlocked bootloader and can lead to data loss. If you are not sure about your actions, you better contact the service center. But if you are ready to experiment, let's go!

1. Energizing through the charger (the easiest way)

If the battery is completely drained and the power button is not working, the first thing you do is connect Xiaomi to the original charger (preferably Quick Charge-enabled), and in 60% of cases, the phone will automatically turn on when it reaches the minimum charge level (usually 5-10%).

What to do if the charging does not help:

• 🔌 Use a different charger (better from Xiaomi with power) 18W+). Cheap cables may not transmit enough current.
• ⏳ Wait 15 to 30 minutes. Sometimes the charger's indication doesn't appear right away.
• 🔄 Try connecting your phone to your PC through USB — Some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) activated when a connection to the computer is detected.
• 🔋 If the charging indicator flashes red, the battery may have swelled or failed.

Important! If the phone doesn't respond to charging for more than an hour, the problem could be the power controller or the button plume, and then the software won't help, you need diagnostics in the service.

2.Using OTG cable + mouse/keyboard

If the phone is on but the screen doesn’t respond to touch (or the power button doesn’t work to unlock), you can connect. USB-mouse or keyboard through OTG-Adapter: This method works on most Xiaomi models with support USB OTG (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 10T, POCO F3 etc.).

Instructions:

1. Connect. OTG-phone adapter.
2. Connect. USB-mouse.
3. If the phone was in sleep mode, move your mouse or press any key – the screen should catch fire.
4. Enter the unlocking PIN-code or pattern lock using a keyboard.

If the screen is black, you hear the sound of the connection. USB-The problem may be in the drivers or damage to the display plume. In this case, try other methods.

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If you don't. OTG-Adapters can be used to adapt to USB-C on USB-A (For older Xiaomi models with Micro-USB).

3. Launch via Recovery Mode (if the phone is responding to charging)

Recovery Mode is a service mode that allows you to reboot your phone without using a power button, and you have to do a combination of things to get into it, and it works if the phone has any response to the charging or PC connection.

Instructions for most Xiaomi models:

1. Connect your phone to a charger or PC.
2. Press and hold the volume button (+) for 10-15 seconds.
3. If the Mi or POCO logo appears, release the button and you will be taken to Recovery.
4. In the Recovery menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System (manage volume buttons and camera/sensor).

On some models (Redmi 6/6A, Mi A2), the combination may be different, such as holding the volume down button (-) + charging. If the standard method did not work, try alternative combinations:

• 🔊 Loudness (+) + Volume (-) (for POCO X2, Redmi K20 Pro).
• 🔊 Loudness (+) + Camera (for older models with a physical camera button).

4. Including through ADB (for advanced users)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a tool for debugging Android devices via PC. If your Xiaomi has previously enabled USB debugging, you can send a command to turn on the screen or reboot directly from your computer.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Included debugging by USB in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer menu).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Go to the folder with ADB (for example, cd C:\platform-tools).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the phone is determined, you will see its serial number.
5. Send a command to turn on the screen: adb shell input keyevent 26 (where 26 is the event code "Power").
6. If the screen is not responding, try restarting the device: adb reboot

The critical caveat is that if USB debugging wasn't enabled in advance, it won't work. In this case, move on to the fastboot method.

5. Firmware through Fastboot (extreme case)

If the phone doesn’t respond to charging or buttons, but is determined by the computer in fastboot mode, you can try reflashing it. This method is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (Xiaomi blocks the bootloader by default, so if you don’t unlock it, the method will not work).

What needs to be done:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the MIUI Downloads website (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder with fastboot (for example, C:\platform-tools).
3. Connect your phone to your PC by holding down the volume button (-) (the Fastboot logo should appear with a rabbit in its cap).
4. Open the command line in the firmware folder and type: fastboot flash all (this will delete all data on the phone!).
5. After the firmware is completed, type: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention! Continuous interruption of the firmware process can turn the phone into a brick. Make sure the cable is securely connected and the PC has enough charge (if it is a laptop).

6. Alternative methods: battery and hardware tricks

If the software didn't work, there are still "physical" solutions, which require disassembling the phone, so they're only suitable for users with repair experience.

Ways:

• 🔧 Removal and resetting of the battery. Sometimes the phone turns on after a temporary battery shutdown (for 30 seconds). 4A, Redmi 5A).
• 🔨 If the button has fallen off but the train is intact, you can carefully close the contacts on the board with tweezers or needles (motherboard circuitry is required).
• 🔄 Connection to power supply 3.7V–4.2V. If the phone does not respond to charging, you can apply the voltage directly to the contacts of the battery (risky!).

⚠️ Attention! Incorrectly disassembling the phone can lead to damage to the plumes or short circuit.If you are not sure of your skills, you should contact the service. The average cost of replacing the power button in Xiaomi is 800-1,500 rubles.

7. Contacting a service center: when nothing helps

If none of these methods worked, the problem is probably hardware.

• 🔋 Power controller damaged (frequent problem after falls or moisture infestation).
• 🔌 The plume of the power button or display is removed.
• 🔥 Battery Failed (Bloating, Deep Discharge).
• 💻 Damaged motherboard (for example, after a failed firmware).

Where to fix:

• 🏢 Official service centers Xiaomi – guarantee original spare parts, but more expensive (repair price from 1500 rubles).
• 🔧 Unofficial workshops are cheaper, but the risk of running into poor-quality details (the average price of replacing a button is 600-1000 rubles).
• 📦 Self-repair – only if you have experience and tools (set of screwdrivers, tweezers, hair dryer for welding plumes).

Before the service visit:

1. Take a picture of your phone’s IMEI (on the box or under the battery).
2. Keep backup copies of important data (if the phone is turned on somehow).
3. Check with the master if a warranty for repairs is given.

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If the phone is warranty, do not disassemble it yourself - this will void the warranty obligations of Xiaomi.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi powering up without power button