How to Reboot Xiaomi Phone If the Power Button Doesn't Work: The Complete Guide

Why Xiaomi’s Power Button Could Fail and What to Do

The power button on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) is one of the most vulnerable elements. According to service centers, up to 15% of calls are due to mechanical failure of this particular key. The reasons range from banal contamination of contacts (dust, moisture) to wear of the microswitch after 50,000 to 100,000 presses. But what if the phone freezes and the physical button does not respond?

In this article, we will discuss 7 reboot work methods, including software (through menus, gestures, ADB) and hardware (charging, battery). Importantly, some methods require pre-configuration - if your Xiaomi is not already responding, skip them and go to the sections about emergency reboot or battery recovery.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Phone discharged? connect to charge for 10-15 minutes - sometimes the device fails to respond due to critical battery levels.
• 💧 If so, don't connect to the network, dry first (short circuit risk!).
• 🔄 Do you have a screen hanging? Try waiting 5-10 minutes, sometimes the system repairs itself.

Method 1: Reboot through the menu (if the screen is running)

If the display is touch-responsive but the power button is broken, use a software reboot.This method works on all Xiaomi models with MIUI 10 and later, including the Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Reboot.
3. Confirm the action by clicking Reboot.

If the About phone menu is missing (on some firmware), an alternative path is: Settings → System → Additional → Reboot.

Make sure your phone is at least 20% charged |Close all apps (double-click on the Home button) |Connect to Wi-Fi (if you plan to upgrade after rebooting) |Save open tabs in your browser

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⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ Android 12+ If you don't find Reset, search by settings (lap in the upper right corner) and type in "Reset».

Method 2: Reboot gesture (for models with MIUI 12 and later)

Xiaomi has added a hidden gesture reboot feature in MIUI 12-14 firmware, which works even when the screen is locked, but requires pre-activation. If you set it up in advance, you're in luck!

How to turn on (if the phone is still working):

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Reboot gesture.
2. Activate the slider and remember the combination (by default – triple tap on the screen).

How to use when hanging:

• 👆 On the locked screen, touch your finger three times anywhere (not by icons!).
• 🔄 There will be a menu with options: Reboot, Shutdown, Emergency mode.
• 📱 Select Reboot and Confirm.

Yes, I used it | Yes, but I didn't set it up | No, I have an old model | I don't know how to check-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F3) The gesture may conflict with other features, such as Double Tap to Wake. If the triple touch doesn't work, check the Screen settings. → Additionally.

Method 3: Forced reboot via charger

If the phone doesn’t respond fully (black screen, no touch response), try hardware reset via charging, which works thanks to the Qualcomm power controller (used in 90% of Xiaomi smartphones).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to the original charger (or Quick Charge).
2. Hold the volume button (+) for 10-15 seconds.
3. Without releasing the button, wait another 5 seconds – the phone should vibrate and reboot.

Critical: Do not use cheap chargers without protection from power surges - this can damage the motherboard when forced to restart.

Method 4: Reboot through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to a computer and USB debugging enabled, you can reboot Xiaomi via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for models with unlocked bootloader or root rights, but works on standard firmware when activated debugging.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.


2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd).




3. Enter the commands in turn:




Adb devices (Connection Check)




adb shell




reboot

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB on blocked bootloaders (bootloader) can lead to a data reset if previously the Mi Account was linked. POCO F2 Pro and Mi 10 Ultra is especially relevant – check the lock status through fastboot oem device-info.

Method 5: Removing the battery (extreme case)

If none of these methods work, you can still physically shut down the power, which is only suitable for removable battery models (e.g. Redmi 4A, Redmi 5A) or if you're ready to disassemble the body.

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Turn off the phone (if possible) via the menu or hold down the volume + charge button.
2. With a plastic shoulder blade (or mediator), you can pull the back cover. Start at the corners, and there are usually latches.
3. Disconnect the battery plume (it is connected to the motherboard with a small connector).
4. Wait 30 seconds, then plug the battery back in and collect the phone.

For non-removable batteries (most modern models):

• 🛠️ You will need to warm up the back cover with a hair dryer (temperature 60-80).°C) for softening the glue.
• 🔧 Use a suction cup to gently raise the screen (risk of plume damage!).
• ⚡ After the battery is turned off, do not press the power button – this can cause static voltage.

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Before disassembling, take a picture of the location of the plumes and screws - this will help to properly assemble the phone back. For the POCO X3 NFC and Redmi Note 10 Pro models, disassembly schemes can be found on iFixit.

Method 6: Using Fastboot Mode

Fastboot mode allows you to restart your phone even when the power button is broken, if the device reacts to the connection to the PC in any way, a method suitable for firmware or system recovery.

How to log into Fastboot without the power button:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. In the command line, type: adb reboot bootloader
3. If the ADB doesn’t work, try the combination: Hold the volume button (–) + connect the USB cable.

You may further:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone with the command: fastboot reboot
• 📥 Fastboot Flash Recovery (Fastboot Flash Recovery) twrp.img).
• 🔧 Fastboot erase userdata – deletes all data!).

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Fastboot mode is the only way to bring the phone back to life if it doesn’t respond to charging and gestures, but is determined by the computer. Xiaomi models with a MediaTek processor (such as Redmi 9C) may require a BROM mode instead of fastboot (it needs special drivers).

Method 7: Contacting a service center when nothing helps

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be deeper:

• 🔌 Power controller malfunction (often after falls or moisture ingestion).
• 🔋 Battery bloating (may put pressure on motherboard).
• 🛩️ Damage to the power button plume (requires soldering).

When to go to the service:

• 📱 The phone does not turn on even after the battery is removed.
• 💦 There were signs of fluid intrusion (oxidation on the board).
• 🔥 The body is deformed or warmed for no reason.

The cost of repair in official Xiaomi services (in Moscow, 2026):

⚠️ Note: In informal services, repairs may be cheaper, but the risk of using non-original parts is higher. POCO X3 Pro often breaks down after 2-3 months. check the parts warranty!

Frequently asked questions