How to restart Xiaomi without the Redmi button

When the physical power button on a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone stops responding, the device can freeze, stop responding to touches, or simply require a scheduled reboot to clean up RAM, at which point the lack of a working lock button becomes a critical problem blocking access to basic system functions.

Fortunately, the Android operating system that runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell has a lot of software-based power management tools. You don't have to bring it to the service center right away if it's just hanging. There are a number of proven methods that allow you to reboot exclusively with software, using an on-screen menu, a computer or special commands.

In this guide, we will go into detail all the current ways to restore the device to health. We will look at the regular menu features, the capabilities for developers, the use of computer utilities and even hardware combinations that do not require an on button. If the power button is broken completely, in no case discharge the phone to 0% - this can lead to the inability to turn it on again without repair.

Use of the built-in shutdown menu

The most obvious, but often ignored, way is through the software menu. In modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, there's a feature that allows you to trigger the off menu on the screen without physically pressing. If the touchscreen works but the power button doesn't respond, this is your first step. It usually requires a few taps, but the result is worth it.

To activate this function, you need to go to the system settings. Find the Additional Features or Advanced Settings section, depending on the firmware version. You should find the buttons and gestures or the off menu immediately. By activating the switch, you can call the reboot window with a long press on the status bar or through the sidebar.

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If the standard menu is not called, try twice tapping the lock screen or using the three-finger gesture to create a screenshot, sometimes this “wokes” the system before calling the menu.

Some users prefer to use the Special Features menu. In this section, you can add a quick reboot shortcut to your desktop or notification curtain, which is especially useful if the power button is stuck or has poor contact and you are afraid of damaging it with further mechanical impacts, and regular use of such a shortcut will prolong the life of physical components.

Setting up the on and off timer

One of the most useful but rarely used features in Xiaomi smartphones is the Task Scheduler, which allows you to set the device to automatically turn on and off on a schedule. If your power button doesn’t work, you can use this feature to force you to restart at a given time, for example, 2-3 minutes after installation.

To set up an automatic restart, go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply Battery). In the upper right corner, find the gear icon or three-dot menu. Select Planner on/off. You need to activate the Replay switch and set the time off for the current moment, and turn on time a minute later.

• 🕒 Set the time off for the current time plus 2 minutes.
• ⏰ Set the turn on time for the turn off time plus 1 minute.
• 🔄 Make sure that the Repeat function is active for a one-time or daily action.
• 💾 Save the settings and wait for the automatic execution of the command.

This is ideal in situations where the screen is responding, but the system is unstable. The smartphone will turn off and on at a given interval. Important: after the reboot, remember to turn off the scheduler if you do not need this feature daily, otherwise the phone will constantly reboot at night or at other set times.

Reboot through the Developer Menu

If standard methods don't work, you can turn to hidden features. Android has a hidden menu for developers that contains advanced debugging settings. Among other things, there is a feature that allows you to change the behavior of buttons or add additional items to the power menu if the standard off menu is not available.

To activate this mode, you need to quickly click on the build number in the About Phone section 7 times. Once you have the "You became a developer" label, go back to the main settings menu and find a new option Additional or Advanced Settings → For developers. Scroll down to the "Hardware" or "System debugging" section.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the developer menu. Changing unfamiliar settings can lead to unstable system operation.

In some versions of MIUI, you can find the Off menu that duplicates the quick reboot function, and the Quick Boot option may be available here, which is sometimes useful to turn off for a deeper system reboot (Full Boot), which helps with software failures.

Use of the computer and ADB utility

The most professional and reliable way to reboot is to use a computer and debug. USB. You will need a PC (Windows, macOS or Linux) to do this), USB-cable and installed drivers ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method works even if the phone screen is broken or does not respond to touch, the main thing is to keep the system inside working.

First, you need to enable USB debugging on your smartphone. If you haven't activated developer mode before (see the previous section), do it now. In the Developer Menu, find the USB Debug and turn it on. When you connect to your computer, a debugging permission request will appear on your phone screen, confirm it (if the screen is running).

After connecting your phone to your PC, open the Command Prompt (CMD) or terminal in the folder with ADB. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If a device with device status appears on the list, it means that the connection is established.

adb reboot

This command sends a system signal to restart, similar to pressing the power button. If the system is completely got stuck and the ADB does not respond, you can try the adb reboot bootloader command, which will put the phone in the bootloader mode (Fastboot), from where you can also select the Restart option using the volume buttons.

Reset via Recovery Mode

In cases where Android is not booting or is completely frozen, the only way out is Recovery Mode, which is a special section on the phone that loads independently of the main operating system, usually logged in with a combination of buttons, but if the power button doesn't work, the task becomes more complicated, but there is a solution.

If the phone is turned off and not turned on by the power button, try connecting it to your computer via USB-On some Redmi models, this action puts the device into Fastboot mode. When in Fastboot mode, use the volume swing to navigate the menu.

Find Recovery (usually in the list that can be scrolled with volume buttons). To select a point in Fastboot mode on many models, you need to press the power button, but if it does not work, try just waiting or using the command from the PC: adb reboot recovery (if ADB is available). Once in the Recovery menu (Chinese or English), use the volume buttons to move to the points.

⚠️ Attention: In Recovery mode, the touch screen most often fails. All actions are performed with mechanical buttons. If the power button does not work, it can be difficult to select a point; on some models, the choice is made by long pressing of the volume button.

You need to find Reboot or Reboot to System. If you're lucky enough to have a phone that allows you to choose menu items at volume, it can also log in to the menu, otherwise, getting into Recovery is itself a form of "hard" reboot, because once you choose to reboot, the phone will start with a clean process memory.

Helper apps and third-party software

If the built-in tools seem complicated or inaccessible, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many utilities that create widgets on the desktop to reboot, but it’s worth remembering that most of them require Root rights to work.

Without Root rights, these applications are limited in functionality, and they can only emulate button presses or trigger the standard shutdown menu that we discussed at the beginning, like Power Menu Button, Reboot No Root, which creates a shortcut that, when you click, tries to trigger a system dialog of the reboot.

There are many opportunities for users with Root rights (obtained through Magisk or similar utilities), apps like Quick Reboot not only allow you to reboot your phone, but also immediately go to Recovery or Fastboot mode with one slipper, ideal for those who often experiment with firmware and know how to get super-user rights on their Xiaomi.

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Installing the reboot widget on the desktop is the best preventive measure if you notice that the power button has started to “spin” and work after a time.

Hardware and prevention

Sometimes software methods don't help, especially if the phone is already off and doesn't want to turn on. In this situation, you can try to wake up the device by connecting to a power source. Some Redmi models, when you connect the original charger to the off state, automatically turn on or show the logo, allowing you to log in.

There's also a way to connect to a PC. If the phone's off, it's connected. USB-The cable to the computer (not the charging, but the data port) can trigger a system response, in rare cases it causes the phone to turn on (15-20 seconds) on the volume button in combination with the cable connection sometimes simulates battery reset.

Prevention is important for prolonging the life of a button, if you notice that the button has become tight or too soft:

• 🧹 Regularly clean the perimeter of the button from dust and pile with compressed air.
• 📱 Use cases that do not press excessively on the area of the power button.
• 🔋 Watch the battery condition; battery bloating can press on the button plume from the inside.

In conclusion, the lack of a working power button on Xiaomi is a nuisance, but not a disaster. The combination of task scheduler, developer menu and knowledge of boot modes will allow you to fully operate the device until the repair is done. The main thing is to keep the battery from running out completely, since it will be almost impossible to turn on the phone with zero without a button.