When a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone stops responding to touch and the physical power button fails, it can take you by surprise at the most inopportune moment. Often users panic, believing that the device has failed or requires expensive repairs in the service center. However, the MIUI software shell and the Android operating system provide many hidden tools to control the device even when mechanical elements fail.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current ways to force a system to restart, from built-in accessibility features to advanced debugging techniques. You won’t need special programming skills, but you will need to be careful when executing instructions.
Sometimes the cause of the “hang” is not a hardware failure, but a conflict of a particular application or overflow of RAM. Understanding how to restart your phone shaomi without the switch off button will help you quickly bring your gadget back to life without losing data.
Using the special options menu
The easiest and safest way to reboot a device if the sensor is partially responsive is to use the built-in accessibility menu, which is called the Assistive Touch in the MIUI shell, and it duplicates the basic functions of physical buttons on the screen.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings. Scroll down to the optional settings and select Special Options. Here you need to find the Special Opportunity Menu switch and activate it, and a floating button will appear on the screen, clicking on which opens the virtual control panel.
⚠️ Attention: If the touch screen doesn't respond fully to touch, this method won't work because you can't press the virtual button.
When you activate, you'll see a translucent sphere on the screen, and you'll see some icons if you click on it, and you're interested in a button that shows the lock or the power icon, and if you press it briefly, it'll suggest options, which include Reboot and Shut down.
- 🔘 Click on the floating Assistive Touch button.
- 🔄 Select the “Reboot” icon in the menu that appears.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the system pop-up window.
This is ideal for situations where the power button is physically broken or has gone inside the case, but the touchscreen is working properly, and it allows you to complete all the processes.
☑️ Activation of the accessibility menu
Reboot through the Engineering Menu (CIT)
The Engineering Menu, or CIT, is a hidden diagnostics section designed to test smartphone components, but in some versions of MIUI firmware, it can initiate a system reboot without the standard lock menu.
A special entry into this mode is used. USSD-Open the Phone app and dial ##6484#. If the code works, the test list will open. Find the listing item "Reboot" or "Reboot».
What if the code doesn't work?
It is important to understand that newer versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 often close the reboot function from the engineering menu for security reasons, but trying to log in through this code can wake up the hung interface process.
If you can log in to the menu but you can't reboot the button, you can try resetting to the factory settings (Wipe Data), but this will delete all the data. Be extremely careful not to confuse the menu items.
Remote Reboot via Computer (ADB)
The most professional and reliable method that works even with a partially non-functioning touchscreen is the use of debugging by USB (For this you will need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-cable.
The main condition: the smartphone must be pre-enabled option "Debugging by USB." If you have not previously activated the developer mode and this feature, this method, unfortunately, will not work. If debugging is enabled, follow the instructions.
First, install the ADB drivers on your computer. Then cable your phone to your PC. Open the command line (in Windows, press Win+R, enter cmd and press Enter).
adb devicesIf a device with device status appears on the list, the connection is successfully established. Now type in the command for a soft reboot:
adb reboot⚠️ Attention: Adb reboot performs a normal restart. If the system is dead and does not respond to kernel signals, the command may not execute. In this case, try the adb reboot bootloader command to go into bootloader mode, where the phone can be restarted with volume buttons.
This method avoids physical impact on buttons and often helps to “revive” the phone that hangs on the Mi or Redmi logo.
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Using ADB is the only way to reboot your phone if you don’t have a power button or touchscreen, but USB debugging has been enabled before.
Automatic reboot on schedule
The MIUI shell has a unique feature that many other Android smartphones don’t have, “Planned On and Off,” which is designed specifically for cases where the power button doesn’t work or is rarely used.
To set up an automatic restart, go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply Battery). Find a tab or "Planned on and off" tab. Here you can set a time when the phone should turn off and on on on its own.
Set a time off, for example, 2 minutes from the current time, and the time on in 3 minutes. Once the timer is activated, the phone will independently perform a cycle of off and on, which is equivalent to a reboot.
- ⏰ Set the shutdown time on 1-2 moment.
- 🔌 Set the turn on time 1 minute later than the turn off time.
- 💾 Save the settings and wait for the execution.
This is a great way to keep the system stable if the power button finally fails, and you can set this feature to daily execution so that the phone regularly clears RAM.
Comparison of recovery methods
The choice of method depends on the specific situation: whether the sensor works, whether there is a computer at hand and whether debugging is enabled. Below is a table that will help you quickly navigate the available options.
| Method | I need a PC. | We need a working sensor. | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility menu | No. | Yes. | No. |
| Engineering menu | No. | Yes. | No (unless you choose Wipe) |
| ADB (Command Line) | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Task planner | No. | Yes (for setup) | No. |
| Battery discharge | No. | No. | No. |
As you can see from the table, ADB is the most versatile method for a broken sensor, but requires prior preparation. Task scheduler is the best solution for long-term use when a broken button.
Mechanical breakage of the power button contacts is a common problem in the Redmi Note and Mi series, and the use of alternative methods will prolong the life of the device.
The final frontier: complete detente
If none of the software methods helped, the sensor does not work, and the computer does not see the device (or debugging is turned off), there is only one option left - wait for the battery to completely discharge.
Leave the phone on. If the screen is on, try to maximize the brightness, turn on the video on repeat or start a heavy game if possible. The faster the battery goes down, the faster the phone will turn off.
After the screen goes out and the device turns off, connect it to the charger. Most Xiaomi smartphones, when connected to the network when they are off, either immediately start to boot or require a single press of the power button. If the button does not work at all, try to press the Volume + button when connecting charging - on some models this causes the Recovery menu, from where you can choose Reboot.
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To speed up the discharge, turn the flashlight on to maximum brightness and start the camera in 4K recording mode. This will create maximum load on the processor and battery.
This method is not recommended to be used often, as the deep discharge of lithium polymer batteries is harmful to their chemical composition and capacity.