How to restart Xiaomi without a power button: the full guide

The situation when the physical power button on the smartphone stops responding or crashes is one of the most stressful for the owner of the Xiaomi device.The user suddenly finds himself unable to turn off the gadget, install updates or simply restart the system to eliminate software failures. The lack of response to presses can be caused by both mechanical damage to the mechanism and software freeze the touchscreen or interface itself.

Fortunately, the Android operating system installed on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones provides several alternative ways to manage power. In this article, we will discuss in detail the software methods, hidden menu features and advanced debugging tools that will allow you to restart your device without using physical keys.

Using the special options menu

The easiest and most affordable way for any user is to activate the built-in Special Features Menu, which was originally designed for people with disabilities, but it's perfect for our task, and when you turn it on, you get a floating button that duplicates the basic functions of smartphone management.

To activate this option, you need to go to the device settings. Find the Advanced Settings or Additional section, then select Special Opportunities. In the list that opens, find the Special Opportunities menu option and move the switch to the active position. The system can request an access confirmation that you need to allow.

Once activated, a translucent button will appear on the screen that shows a human or human being, and if you click on it, you'll see virtual buttons that mimic physical actions. To reboot, select a lock icon or power icon, and then click Reset or Turn off, which works even when the touchscreen is partially unresponsive if the area around the floating button is in good shape.

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the Special Opportunities app or force it to be disabled through Task Manager if the power button is physically broken.

The advantage of this method is that it doesn't require a computer connection or third-party software installation, which is built into the MIUI and HyperOS firmware by default, but if the smartphone is completely frozen and does not respond to touch at all, this method, alas, will not help, because it requires interaction with the display.

Reboot through system settings

The standard Android interface allows you to turn off and reboot your device directly through the settings menu, which is standard and safe because it completes all processes correctly before it shuts down, and is ideal for a scheduled reboot or system update.

To perform the operation, unlock the screen and find the Settings app. Depending on the firmware version, the shutdown button may be in different places. In newer versions of MIUI, it is often enough to simply press the lock button on the desktop (if the touchscreen works), but if you want to reboot through the menu, follow the path: About phone -> MIUI version (to check for updates with a reboot) or through the power menu in the notification curtain.

In some cases, especially when the interface is deep, the standard menu may not open, so you should try to call the shutdown menu with a combination of actions in the curtain. Put the top notification curtain down completely to see all the switches. There's often a power icon there. You click on it and you get a choice between turning off and rebooting.

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If the screen is locked and you can’t get to the menu, try tapping the screen twice to wake up and then immediately look for the notification curtain until the lock goes off again.

Importantly, this method requires that the operating system be at least partially functional, so if the phone is hanging on a screensaver or black screen, the software methods will not be available through the settings, and in such cases, you need to move to deeper control tools.

Use of the ADB-reset

For advanced users who don't have a button and the touchscreen is unpredictable, the most reliable tool is USB debugging, which allows you to send commands directly to the Android system from your computer, bypassing the phone interface, the most powerful way to control the device.

To get started, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings -> About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version. After the message "You became a developer" appears, go back to the settings menu, find the item Advanced Settings -> For developers. In this list, you need to activate the Debugging switch over USB.

Next, connect the smartphone to the computer through USB-The computer must have drivers installed. ADB. Open the command line or terminal in the tool folder ADB and enter the following command to reboot:

adb reboot

If a standard reboot is not required, but you need to turn off the phone, use the command:

adb reboot -p

This is guaranteed to work if the phone is turned on and defined by the computer, it doesn't depend on the touchscreen or buttons, but if the phone is completely turned off and you need to turn it on, the ADB is unfortunately powerless, because it requires the operating system to work actively.

Function "Planned on and off"

There's a very useful feature in Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones that not everyone knows about: a task scheduler that lets you automatically turn your device on and off at a given time. If your power button breaks, setting up that schedule can be a lifesaver.

You can find this feature by going to: Settings -> Battery and Performance (or simply Battery) -> Scheduled on and off (sometimes in the Additional section). Here you can set a time, for example, at 03:00 a.m., and select the "Switch off" action. Then add another rule at 03:01 for "Enable" action.

This is ideal for a situation where the phone is getting stuck and you can't do anything right now, but you can wait a few minutes. You just set the timer, you put the phone down, and at a given interval, it will perform the shutdown and turn on cycle itself. It's an automatic reboot that doesn't require you to intervene at the time of execution.

• 🕒 Set the shutdown time on 1-2 minutes ahead of the current.
• 🕒 Set the time to turn on 3-4 moment.
• 🕒 Make sure the function is activated by a switch at the top of the screen.

It is worth remembering that after automatically turning on the phone may request unlocking or PIN-code if security feature is enabled.Make sure you know your unlock code so you don't get locked device after restarting.

Comparison of Reboot Methods Without a Button

To make it easier for you to choose the right method in a particular situation, we have systematized all the methods described in the table. Each of them has its own advantages and limitations, depending on the state of your Xiaomi and the tools available at hand.

As you can see from the table, ADB-The "Special Capabilities" method is the fastest for daily use if the screen responds to touch, and the scheduler is a great backup when other methods are not available.

Don’t ignore the importance of promptly activating USB debugging if you’re aware of your device’s button issues, which turns your smartphone from a brick in the event of a button breakage into a manageable device that can be rebooted at any time.

Helper apps and third-party software

If the built-in MIUI features seem uncomfortable or hidden too deep in the menu, the Google Play store offers a variety of assistant apps. They create desktop widgets or floating buttons that perform the reboot function with a single touch.

Popular solutions include apps like Power Button to Volume Button or Assistive Touch, which allow you to reassign volume button functions or create a screen shortcut, but installing these programs requires that the phone at least partially function for download and tuning.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party power management applications often require special permissions (Accessibility Service.

Using these slits can be especially useful for older people or children who have difficulty remembering the sequence of actions in the standard menu.You just create a large bright button on the home screen, and the problem is solved.

What to do if nothing helps

In the rare cases where the phone is dead, the screen is unresponsive, and the power button is down, the situation seems hopeless. But there is one physical method that works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones: battery life.

If you leave the device with the screen hanging for a few hours or even overnight, the battery will run out completely and the phone will turn off on its own. After that, you just plug in the charger. Many Xiaomi models, when you connect the power to the phone turned off, automatically turn on or offer you to choose a boot mode.

Another option is to use an engineering menu, if available, and entering the ##6484## (CIT) code sometimes allows you to go to the testing menu where you can initiate a reboot, but this only works if the touchscreen responds even slightly.

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The most reliable way to avoid problems with a broken button is to set up the Special Features Menu in advance and activate USB debugging while the phone is functioning normally.

If none of the software methods worked and the phone needs to be rebooted urgently, you just have to wait for the discharge or carry the device to the service center to replace the button plume. Do not try to disassemble the phone yourself if you do not have experience, as you can damage the display plumes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)