How to restart Xiaomi smartphone if the touch screen is not working

The touchscreen on Xiaomi can fail for a variety of reasons, from mechanical damage to software failures. But what if the phone freezes or needs to be rebooted and the touchscreen doesn't respond to touch? In this situation, standard methods -- swipe down to call the notification panel or hold the power button -- become unavailable. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to reboot that don't require a working sensor.

We’ll look at all the options we can get from hardware button combinations to software solutions using ADB or Mi Assistant, and we’ll focus on the nuances for different Xiaomi models, including Redmi, POCO and flagship series. Importantly, some methods can lead to data loss, so assess the risks in advance.

If your smartphone is completely locked and does not respond even to physical buttons, go straight to the section on emergency reboot. For owners of devices with an unlocked bootloader, we have prepared a separate instruction manual for using fastboot.

1. Hardware reboot: button combinations

The most versatile way is to use physical buttons. Most Xiaomi models use a classic combination, but there are nuances depending on the generation of the device and the presence of the Bixby button (on some models POCO).

Main options:

• 🔄 Holding the power button 10-15 Seconds, it works on 90% devices including the Redmi Note 10/11, Mi 11, POCO X3. If the phone vibrates but doesn’t turn off, try holding it for longer.
• 🔧 Power button + Volume increase – an alternative method for devices with MIUI 12+. Hold on. 8-10 Seconds before the Xiaomi logo appears.
• ⚡ Power button + Volume reduction on some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) This is a combination for forced reboot in fastboot.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, prolonged holding of the power button can activate the voice assistant instead of rebooting. In this case, use a combination with the volume buttons.

Battery recovery (for models with removable battery)

If your Xiaomi is from the old removable battery models (Redmi 3S, Redmi 4A, Mi Max first generation), the most reliable way to reboot is to physically shut down the power, which is guaranteed to work even if the system freezes completely.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone (if it responds to the power button).
2. Remove the back cover with a plastic shoulder blade or mediator.
3. Carefully tuck the battery behind a special thrust film (usually white or orange).
4. Wait 30 seconds and set the battery back.
5. Turn on the power button.

⚠️ Note: On non-removable models (Redmi Note 5 and later), trying to remove the battery without special tools can damage the plumes or display.

If the battery is not turned on after you remove the phone, plug it into the charger for 10-15 minutes, sometimes requiring an initial charge to activate the power controller.

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For non-removable devices, there is an alternative: simulated discharge extraction, plug your phone into a high-powered lamp or other consumer (e.g., a battery, OTG-Hub with fan) and wait for full discharge. Then connect to the original RAM - this often helps to "wake up" the got stuck device.

3.Reboot via ADB (for unlocked devices)

If your Xiaomi has USB debugging enabled and the bootloader unlocked, you can reboot it via your computer using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is suitable for devices that respond to USB connectivity but do not have a working sensor.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
3. Open the command line (cmd) in the adb folder.
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is determined, proceed to the next step.
5. Run the reboot command: adb reboot For forced reboot (if the phone freezes): adb shell "echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq" && adb shell "echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger"

⚠️ Note: The sysrq-trigger command can cause unsaved data to be lost, and use it only if the standard reboot fails.

Make sure that USB debugging is enabled in the developer settings

Use quality USB-cable (preferably original)

Check the ADB drivers on PC (install Mi PC Suite if necessary)

Disable USB lock in antivirus (if any)

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If adb devices do not show your device:

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 2.0 on the back of the PC).
• 🔄 Reinstall the driver via Mi Phone Manager.
• 📱 On the phone in the menu For developers, select the connection mode File transfer (if the sensor is partially working).

4.Using Mi Assistant for Remote Reboot

The proprietary Mi Assistant (formerly Mi PC Suite) software allows you to manage some of Xiaomi’s features from a computer, including a reboot, which works even without an unlocked bootloader, but requires prior authorization to the Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Download and install Mi Assistant on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
3. In the program, select your device in the list.
4. Go to the Device section → Reboot.
5. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter a password from Mi Account).

Important: Mi Assistant only supports reboot on devices with MIUI 10 and later. For older versions of firmware, this method will not work.

If the program doesn't see the phone:

• 🔄 Reset the Mi Assistant service in Task Manager.
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-cable (better from the set).
• 📱 On the phone, set the mode. USB-Debugging (if the sensor is partially working).

Button combination

ADB

Mi Assistant

Battery extraction

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5. Emergency reboot with full freeze

If the phone doesn't respond to buttons or PC connections, the last chance is forced power reset, a technique that's suitable for devices that don't even vibrate when holding the power button.

Options for action:

• 🔋 Discharge to 0% — Connect your phone to a powerful consumer (for example, USB-fan-way OTG) Wait for the shutdown to be complete. 10-15 minutes and try to turn on.
• ❄️ Refrigeration – Put the device in the refrigerator (not in the freezer!) 10-15 Sometimes it helps to wake up the power controller!
• 🔌 Connect to another RAM – try a charger with a different voltage (e.g. Quick Charge) 3.0 standard 5V/2A).

⚠️ Attention: The discharge method does not work on devices with Deep Sleep, which shuts down power at a critical charge level, in which case only connecting to the original 30 RAM will help.+ minute.

Forced discharge is an extreme method that can damage the battery, only use it if other methods have not worked, and you are ready for a possible battery replacement.

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For devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon (most Xiaomi) there is another way - emergency boot mode:

1. Turn off the phone from charging.
2. Press the power + Volume increase for 30 seconds.
3. Without releasing the buttons, connect the charger.
4. Hold the combination for another 10-15 seconds.

This method simulates battery extraction at the hardware level and works even with a completely locked firmware.

6.Reboot via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi bootloader is unlocked, you can restart it via fastboot mode, which requires minimal command line knowledge, but gives you complete control over the device.

Instructions:

1. Install Fastboot Tools on PC (included in Platform Tools).
2. Turn off the phone (if it responds to the power button).
3. Press Power + Volume Down to enter fastboot.
4. Connect the phone to the PC.
5. In the command line, run: fastboot reboot For forced reboot: fastboot reboot-bootloader

If the phone is not detected in fastboot:

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port USB 2.0).
• 🔄 Install drivers using the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📱 Check if the bootloader is unlocked (OEM Unlock in the Developer Settings).

If the phone does not reboot after the fastboot command, try to exit the fastboot mode first with the fastboot continue command, and then reboot.

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⚠️ Note: In fastboot mode, it is not recommended to execute fastboot erase or fastboot flash commands without fully understanding the consequences!

7.How to avoid sensor problems in the future

To minimize the risk of repeated failures, monitor the state of the sensor and firmware:

Preventive measures:

• 🛡️ Install a film or glass to protect the screen from mechanical damage.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Avoid installing third-party launchers that may conflict with sensor drivers.
• 🔋 Do not overheat the device (especially when charging).
• 💾 Periodically backups through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

If the sensor starts to "glutch" (incorrect pressing, delay):

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold Power → select Safe Mode).
2. Check the sensor in test mode: ##6484## (works on most Xiaomi models).
3. Reset the sensor settings through Settings → System → Resetting the settings → Resetting the input settings.

If the sensor stops working after falling or getting moisture, do not try to reboot the device repeatedly. This can aggravate the damage.

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Frequently asked questions