When the power button on a Xiaomi smartphone stops responding, it is taken by surprise: the device may freeze, the screen will go out, and the usual method of holding the key will not work, at which point many users panic, believing that the phone is finally broken and requires an immediate visit to the service center.
But there are alternative ways to force the device to restart or turn it off. The current MIUI and HyperOS shells offer a lot of software workarounds to allow you to control the system even when hardware fails. We'll look at all the working methods, from simple touches to complex engineering menus.
It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on the current state of the device: whether the screen is on, whether the touchscreen is responsive, or the phone is in deep sleep mode, accurate diagnosis will save time and avoid unnecessary actions that can lead to data loss.
Use the “Double Touch” function to enable
If your phone is completely off or gone to sleep and the power button is not working, the first thing to do is try the standard wake-up gestures. Most Redmi and Poco models have double tap activation by default, which won't turn the phone off, but will allow you to move on to the next steps if the screen goes out.
To activate, you need to touch the center of the display twice quickly. If the screen catches fire, you can switch to a software shutdown via the menu. In some cases, a stronger or lighter touch is required, since the sensitivity of the digitizer can change if the glass is damaged.
If the double tap doesn't work, check for the "Rise to Power" function. Shake the device or raise it horizontally. The accelerometer can react where the touchscreen doesn't respond. This is especially true for models with a high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, high-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low-speed, low AMOLED-screens where the Always On Display feature is often paired with these settings.
💡
If the screen is black and doesn't respond to touch, try connecting the phone to your computer. The sound of the device's connection can help you see if the power controller is at least working.
Software shutdown via the settings menu
The most obvious, but often ignored, way is to use an embedded software menu, so if the touchscreen works, but the power button is physically broken, that's the basic method. You don't have to look for hidden codes, everything is in the standard interface.
Lower the swipe notification curtain from top to bottom. Find the gear icon or a separate power plate. In newer versions of MIUI, the off button is often placed in the upper right corner of the control panel. When you click on it, you'll see a standard menu with the "off" and "reset" options.
If there is no button in the curtain, search by settings. Type the word "turn off" or "power" in the search bar. The system will suggest the corresponding menu item. You can also use the voice assistant, as will be discussed below, but manually entering through Settings → About Phone → The version of MIUI (to check the version) sometimes helps to "wake up" the interface if it is suspended.
- 🔋 Press and hold the power icon in the notification curtain for quick access.
- 🔍 Use the search by settings by entering the request “Completion of work».
- 🔄 Try calling the reboot menu through the special features menu.
- 📱 Make sure that In-pocket mode does not block casual touches.
It's worth noting that in some firmware, the shutdown button can be hidden in the depths of the security menu. If the standard path doesn't work, look for the Security or Antivirus section, which often duplicates the cleaning and restart functions of the system, a backup control channel that remains available even in partial interface failures.
☑️ Pre-off check
Voice control of Google Assistant and Xiao AI
Voice assistants are a powerful tool when tactile control is limited. If the microphone is working, you can command to turn off or restart. For global versions, the primary assistant is Google Assistant.
Activate the assistant with the phrase “Ok Google” or long press (if configured) on the home button or swipe from the corner of the screen. Say the command “Switch off the phone” or “Reboot the phone.” The system will request confirmation, which can also be given by voice or tap on the screen.
For Chinese firmware and some global models, Xiao AI is relevant, integrated deeper into the system and can execute more complex iron control commands, but if the phone is completely frozen and does not respond to the touch, voice control may not activate.
⚠️ Attention: Voice control requires an active Internet connection. If there is no network, commands may not execute. Also make sure that the settings allow you to execute lock commands.
Sometimes the Open Settings command helps, and then you can use voice or minimal touches to navigate to the shutdown menu, which works when a direct command is blocked by Android security to protect against accidental shutdowns.
Use of the special features menu (Accessibility)
Android has a powerful menu for people with disabilities that can be a lifeline when a button breaks, called the Accessibility Menu, which adds a floating button or a bar with virtual physical keys on it.
To activate the function without the power button, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features → Special Features menu. Turn on the switch. An icon (usually a human or a floating button) will appear on the screen. When you click on it, you will see virtual buttons: Home, Back, Recent and, most importantly, Power.
Pressing the virtual power button causes the same menu as holding the physical key for a long time, and you can choose to turn it off or reboot from there, and that's the most reliable software method that doesn't require root rights or a PC connection.
| Menu function | Description of action | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Screen locking | Turns off the screen without turning off | Control panel |
| Food (Long) | Calls the shutdown menu | Accessibility menu |
| Screenshot. | Takes a screenshot. | Control panel |
| Loudness | Sound adjustment | Accessibility menu |
If you plan to use your phone further with a broken button, it makes sense to add a special feature menu widget to your desktop, which will create a shortcut that will always be at hand. In some MIUI builds, this shortcut can be configured to perform the "Switch off" action in one click.
The Secret Trick With the Accessibility Menu
Forced reboot with a combination of buttons
When the phone is dead, the screen is black, the touchscreen is down, and the power button is ignored, the method of hardware resetting through the keyboard combination remains.It's not quite "off" in the classical sense, but rather a forced restart that breaks the power cycle.
The standard combination for most Xiaomi devices is to simultaneously press the Volume Down and Power buttons, but because the power button doesn't work, this method may not work. However, there is an alternative: pressing only the Volume Down button when you connect to the charger.
Try the following sequence: connect your phone to charge (or PC), wait for the charge indicator to appear, then quickly press and hold the "Loud Down" button. In some cases, this causes the device to enter Fastboot or Recovery mode, from where you can already select the Power Off or Reboot option using the volume buttons for navigation.
- 🔌 Connect the cable. USB to the switched-on PC before pressing the buttons.
- 🔽 Click "Loudness Down" on 10-15 seconds before vibration.
- 🔊 If it doesn’t work, try “High up» + Connection to PC.
- 🛑 Don’t release buttons immediately after the logo appears, wait for the menu.
If the phone goes into Fastboot mode (a bunny appears or the words Fastboot), the navigation is done with the volume buttons (up/down), and the choice is with the power button. Alas, if the power button is dead, it will be difficult to choose Power Off from this menu. However, if you leave the phone in Fastboot mode for 1-2 minutes without connecting to the PC, it can automatically turn off or restart.
⚠️ Warning: Being in Fastboot or Recovery mode for a long time doesn't harm the device, but it can drain the battery.
Automatic shutdown on schedule
If you can't turn your phone off right now, but you need it to turn off after a certain time (for example, overnight), use the "Planned Tasks" feature, a regular MIUI tool that allows you to set up automatic on and off.
Go to Settings → Battery → Scheduled tasks (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI, sometimes in Advanced Settings). Activate the Settings Tool/Switch on Scheduled. Set a shutdown time, for example, 5 minutes from the current time.
This is ideal if the phone is working, but the button is not responding. You just put the timer and you wait. The system will correctly complete all the processes and shut down the device. It's more secure for the file system than forcing the battery to shut down.
💡
A scheduled shutdown is the only way to properly complete the system without the use of physical buttons, if the touchscreen is functioning.
Importantly, for this to work, the phone doesn't have to be in deep sleep or completely frozen. The interface has to respond to the settings. If the phone is already hanging, this method won't work, and you'll have to resort to battery discharge or hardware intervention.
What to do if nothing helps
There are situations where software methods are powerless: the touchscreen is broken, the power button is not working, and the phone is stuck. In this case, there are two ways: full discharge or hardware intervention. The first way is safe, but long. Leave the phone on, turn on the flashlight, maximum brightness, and launch the heavy application. The battery will sit down, and the phone will turn off itself.
The second is for power users: Remove the back cover (if it's removable or unstick) and disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard. Turning off the battery plume is the only 100% way to turn off the phone when all controls fail completely. Once disconnected and reconnected, the phone often turns on itself or requires a charging connection.
If you're not sure about your abilities, it's best not to take risks. Constant operation in the "does not turn off" mode leads to battery degradation and possible overheating. In the event of a break in the power button on modern Xiaomi monoblocks, you need to replace the plume or side frame in the service center.