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

When the physical power button on a smartphone stops responding, it can take any Xiaomi owner by surprise: the screen goes out, the device goes into sleep mode, and the usual pressing of the lock button no longer brings the interface back to life. This is a critical moment, since without the ability to unlock the screen or restart the system, the user actually loses access to his data and functions of the gadget. However, it is early to panic, since engineers have provided several software and hardware workarounds to solve this problem.

There are many reasons why the Power key can fail: mechanical wear, moisture, software driver failure, or just software "hang" touchscreen. Depending on the current state of your smartphone (it is fully on, sleepy or off), the methods of resuscitation will be radically different. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from simple settings to advanced methods through the computer.

It is important to understand that some methods require prior preparation, such as enabled debugging over USB or root rights. If your device is still on and responsive to touch, immediately adjust alternative controls to avoid getting trapped with the screen off. We will consider both the regular MIUI and HyperOS shells and third-party utilities.

Use of the “Double Touch” and Time Out function

The easiest and most affordable way to wake up your smartphone without using a physical key is to activate the dual tap function across the screen. In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, this option is built-in by default and allows you to output the device from sleep mode with a light tapping of your finger. To check or enable this feature, go to the Settings menu, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and find the Raise to turn on or Double Tap to turn on/off the screen.

If the screen goes out too fast and you don't have time to react, it makes sense to increase the time before going to sleep mode.This will give you more time to perform the necessary actions without risking that the display will go out at the wrong time. Go to Settings → Screen → Sleep Mode and choose the maximum available value, for example, 5 or 10 minutes. This will not solve the problem of the broken button globally, but will make everyday use easier.

But remember, these methods only work when the smartphone is already on and in standby mode. If the device is completely off, double tapping won't help, which would require a power supply connection or special combinations, which we'll talk about in the next sections. Also remember that a constant on screen state can lead to accelerated battery consumption.

For those who don't have the standard features, there are helper apps that can emulate physical buttons. The virtual button on the screen is a handy solution that allows you to lock the screen or call the reboot menu with a single touch of the display. These utilities often have their own widgets that can be placed on the desktop for quick access.

Reboot through the developer’s settings and menu

If your Xiaomi is still working but the power button is not responding, the most reliable way to perform a reboot is through the software menu.The standard path is as follows: swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain, find the gear icon ("Settings") and click on it. In the menu that opens, scroll to the bottom and select About Phone.

Inside the About Phone section on the right side of the screen (or in the three-dot menu in the corner) is usually a Reboot button, and if you click on it, you start the standard shutdown and turn on procedure, which is a completely safe method that requires no additional knowledge, and if the system is unstable and the sensor is not responsive, you can try using the developer menu.

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Include the “Show Touch” item in the developer menu to see if the touchscreen is responsive to your actions, even if the screen is black.

To access advanced features, you need to activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once you have the message "You've become a Developer", go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For Developers. Here you can find various debugging tools, although there may not be a direct button "Reboot" there, but access to ADB (which is below) opens here.

If the touch screen is partially not working, try connecting the external peripherals. Xiaomi smartphones support OTG technology, which allows you to connect a regular computer mouse or keyboard via a USB-C adapter. The mouse cursor will appear on the screen, and you can safely navigate through the menu, open settings and reboot without using a touchscreen.

Using ADB to control your smartphone

How to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) It's one of the most powerful tools in the advanced user's arsenal, and it lets you send commands directly to the Android operating system from your computer, USB-The main condition is that the smartphone must be pre-enabled "Debugging by the computer" USB» developer menu.

The process is as follows: connect the phone to your computer, open the command prompt (cmd) or PowerShell in the folder with the ADB tools. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If a window appears on the phone screen requesting debugging permission, confirm it (using the mouse via OTG or if the touchscreen is partially working). Once the device is determined, type in the command to reboot:

adb reboot

This command initiates a regular restart of the device, and if the system is completely got stuck and does not respond, you can try the command to force the restart:

adb reboot -f

The advantage of ADB is that it works even with a partially broken sensor if the drivers are installed, but if the phone is turned off completely, this method will not work, since the ADB requires a running operating system, in which case you need to move to deeper methods of interaction with the bootloader.

Enter Recovery and Fastboot Mode

If the operating system doesn't boot or the phone is stuck, you can try to get into recovery mode (Recovery Mode) or fastboot mode. These modes are usually entered by a combination of buttons, but if the power button doesn't work, the task becomes more complicated. To enter Recovery, the classic combination is a pressed power and volume button "+".

Without the power button, you can try the following trick: connect the phone turned off to the charger. When the battery logo or charging indicator appears, quickly press the volume button "+" (for Recovery) or "-" (for Fastboot). If you're lucky, the phone will go to the corresponding menu. In the Recovery menu, the control is often done with volume buttons and the choice is with the power button, but in some versions of Recovery on Xiaomi, the touch screen works.

In Fastboot mode, the phone displays a logo with a hare fixing an android, and you can try to reboot the system by connecting the phone to a PC and using the ADB command:

adb reboot

Or if your phone is in Fastboot mode, use the command:

fastboot reboot

This allows you to bypass a broken physical button and start the system software.

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Fastboot mode is a low-level interface that allows you to control a device even when the operating system is damaged, but requires a connection to a computer.

It’s worth noting that in some custom recavers (such as TWRP), the interface is fully touch-sensitive, making it much easier to navigate and reboot without physical buttons. If you plan to actively use a smartphone with a damaged button, installing a custom recavator can be a temporary solution to the problem.

Special applications and automation

For users who want to protect themselves from future problems, there are applications for automating actions, for example, you can set a scenario: “If the charge level drops below 5%, turn on flight mode” or “At 03:00 am, reboot.” MacroDroid or Tasker is great for this task.

In MacroDroid, you can create a macro with a Volume Button trigger and a Power Menu or Reset action, so you create your own software button. This requires root rights for some actions, but the basic functions work without them. There are widgets like Button Mapper that allow you to reassign volume button functions.

Another useful tool is apps for creating virtual buttons on the screen, which add a floating ball or panel on which you can put functions: Lock the screen, Reboot, Screenshot, This is especially true for devices where the power button has started to "glutch" (contact), but has not yet completely failed.

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Use the Google Assistant voice assistant. The phrase "Ok Google, reboot your phone" can work if this feature is supported by your version of Android and has the necessary permissions.

Hardware methods and disassembly of the device

If the software isn't working and the phone needs to be turned on urgently, you can use hardware tricks. On many Xiaomi motherboards, the power button contacts are available for closure. This requires accuracy and, preferably, disassembly skills. With the back cover removed (or the screen if the unibody design is built), you can find the button contacts on the board and close them with tweezers.

⚠️ Caution: Closing contacts on a switched-on device can short-circuit and cause the motherboard to fail. Use this method only on the device turned off to turn it on or if you know exactly which contacts to close. It is best to use conductive tweezers with a dielectric handle.

Another option is to use a USB JIG, a special cable that locks certain contacts (usually 4 and 5 in a USB connector) and causes the phone to go into EDL (Emergency Download Mode) or Fastboot mode when connected to a charger, which allows the phone to be revived even with completely broken buttons.

If none of these methods worked, it's probably the plume or the board itself, and in this case, you can't do without a service center, and wizards can replace the button plume or weld the button chip itself, which will bring the full functionality back to the device.

Table: Comparison of resetting methods

So for the convenience of choosing the right way, we've put the basic methods in a comparative table, which will help you quickly navigate the state of your device.

Prevention and outcome recommendations

The problem with the power button on Xiaomi is not a reason to immediately carry the device to the scrap or service. In most cases, software workarounds allow you to fully use the gadget until the moment of repair. The main thing is to prevent the battery from completely draining, since it is the most difficult to turn on the phone without a button.

⚠️ Warning: Never let the battery run completely to zero if the power button is not working. Turning on a phone with a dead battery without a physical button can be extremely difficult, sometimes requiring disassembly and closure of the battery contacts.

We recommend that you install assistant apps, enable double-tapping and set up automatic reboot on schedule (if you have this feature in your version of MIUI through automation applications) immediately after you detect problems with the button. Also always keep a charger and, if possible, an OTG cable with a mouse on hand.

If you use sensitive data, back up your Mi Cloud or your computer regularly, and this will protect you from losing information in case your phone turns off and fails to turn on as usual, and careful handling and timely prevention will prolong your smartphone’s life.

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Timely installation of button emulator applications and activation of double tap is the best insurance against breakdown of the physical power button.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)