How to restart Xiaomi Mi 9 if the screen is not responding

When your Xiaomi Mi 9 stops responding to touch, it can be taken by surprise at the most inopportune moment.The screen can be physically broken, completely black or software-hung due to a failure in the MIUI operating system. In such cases, the standard swipe to turn off the menu is not available, and the user is alone with the device that is not working.

Fortunately, engineers have devised several ways to force a reboot that do not require interaction with the touchscreen. Hard Reset is the fastest and most effective method of solving the problem in 90% of cases. However, if the software failure is deeper or the power controller itself is damaged, more complex manipulations through the computer or recovery mode may be required.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from simple button combinations to debugging interfaces. It is important to understand that the Xiaomi Mi 9 is a complex device and incorrect actions can lead to data loss, so follow the instructions carefully.

Forced reboot with power buttons

The first and most affordable method to try is using a physical power button. Unlike older phones with removable batteries, modern smartphones require a long clamping period to simulate battery recovery, and you need to find a power button that is usually located on the right side of the case.

Press the button and hold it for a long time, about 10 to 20 seconds, and at some point you will feel a short vibration, and the Mi or Android logo will appear on the screen (if it is even partially functional), which is a signal that the power cycle has been interrupted and the system starts to boot again.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen is completely black and doesn't light up even after vibration, don't release the button right away. Try holding it for up to 30 seconds. In rare cases, the system takes longer to reset the static charge from the motherboard.

Sometimes, standard hold of a single button doesn't work because of the firmware or controller lock, so try a button combination. Press the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time. Hold them together for about 15 seconds. This method is often used to enter Fastboot mode, but on some versions of MIUI it also initiates a reboot.

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Long-term retention of the power button (15-20 seconds) is the only way to restart the phone without the participation of the touchscreen in normal mode.

Using Recovery Mode for Resetting

If a software failure doesn't allow the system to boot normally, or if the touchscreen doesn't work so much that you can't even unlock the phone to save data, Recovery Mode will help. It's a low-level recovery environment built into the device's memory.

To log into the recovery menu on Xiaomi Mi 9, you need to do the following:

• 🔌 Turn off the smartphone completely (if it does not turn off, wait for the battery to discharge or use the method of pressing the buttons until vibration, but release them before the logo appears).
• 🔽 Press the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time.
• 👀 Hold both buttons until the Mi logo appears, then release the power button, but keep the volume up.
• 📱 When the Recovery menu appears (usually black-orange or black-blue), the volume button can be released.

In this menu, you can navigate with volume buttons (up/down), and the choice of item is confirmed by the power button. You need to find Wipe Data or Reboot. If your goal is just to restart the phone, select Reboot → Reboot to System. If the system is damaged and you need a full reset, you select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

⚠️ Note: Wipe All Data completely deletes all user files, photos, contacts and applications. Use this option only as a last resort if data safety does not matter or a backup has already been created.

Reboot via computer and ADB

For advanced users who previously had the function “Debugging by” enabled USB» In the menu for developers, there is a powerful tool for managing a smartphone — ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method allows you to send a command to restart directly, bypassing a broken touchscreen. You will need a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux) and USB-cable.

First, you need to install a minimum set of ADB drivers and tools on your computer. Once installed, open the command line or terminal in the tool folder. Connect the Xiaomi Mi 9 cable to your PC. If the drivers are installed correctly and debugging is allowed, the device will be determined by the system.

To perform the reboot, enter the following command in the terminal:

adb reboot

If you want to enter directly into Recovery or Fastboot mode, the commands will differ:

adb reboot recovery


adb reboot bootloader

This is especially useful when the phone's screen is on, but it doesn't respond to touch, and you see the image. You can visually control the process using the computer as a remote control. If the adb device command shows the device as unauthorized, then there must have been a debugging permission on the phone screen that you couldn't confirm because of the touchscreen that didn't work.

Comparison of reset methods

Different situations require different approaches to the problem, and to make it easier for you to understand which method to choose in your case, we have prepared a comparative table that will help you assess the risks and conditions for each method.

As you can see from the table, the safest and easiest method is to use physical buttons. However, if hardware buttons are also damaged (for example, when a phone falls), the only option is ADB or waiting for the battery to drain completely.

What to do if the buttons don’t work

The most difficult scenario is when the Xiaomi Mi 9 does not work either the screen or the control button, in which case the software methods are powerless, since it is physically impossible to interrupt the boot cycle or signal a reboot through standard interfaces.

The only way out is to wait for the battery to run out completely. Leave the phone alone for a few hours or even a day. When the charge drops to a critical minimum, the device will shut down on its own. Then plug in the charger. Often, after a deep discharge, the phone boots correctly, as temporary errors in RAM are reset.

If the phone continues to hang on the logo or warm up after full discharge, this indicates a serious hardware malfunction, which can be a short circuit in the power supply, a failure of the processor or damage to the display plume, in which case the intervention of a specialist service center is required.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the phone yourself unless you have experience.The Xiaomi Mi 9 has a glass back cover that breaks easily when unspecified, as well as a sophisticated moisture protection system that's easy to break.

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If the phone freezes frequently, try uninstalling newly installed apps or upgrading to the latest stable version of MIUI when the screen kicks back in.

Prevention of freezes of the MIUI system

To minimize the risk of collision with a situation where the screen stops responding, it is recommended to follow certain rules of operation of the smartphone. The device's RAM should not be crowded with background processes. Clean the cache regularly and close unused applications.

It's also important to keep track of the storage status. If the internal memory is 95-99% full, the MIUI system speed drops critically, often leading to friezes and interface freezes. Try to keep at least 3-5 GB of space free.

Don't ignore the system updates, but don't rush to install beta versions of firmware. Stable versions are more thoroughly tested. If you notice that the phone has started to warm up in standby mode or quickly discharge, this can be a sign of a software failure that will lead to a freeze in the future.

Use only original or certified chargers. Unstable voltage can cause chaotic behavior of the power controller, which manifests itself in false pressing or, conversely, in ignoring user commands.