A broken power button on Xiaomi is a problem that many users face, especially when the phone freezes and you can't physically turn it off, but don't rush to bring the device to the service: 90% of the time, you can reboot software-basedly, without disassembling the device.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restart Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) without using the power button. The methods work on all versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and are relevant for models in 2018-2026.
If your smartphone is completely discharged or does not respond to touch, immediately go to the section on emergency reboot through charging.
1.Reboot through the system menu
The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI features, which is suitable if the screen is responsive to touch and the system is not locked with a password.
Open Settings → About Phone → System Update. In the upper right corner, click three dots and select Reboot. This method works even on locked screens if you previously accessed the notification panels.
- ✅ Pros: Does not require root rights or PC connection
- ⚠️ Cons: It will not work with a full freeze system
- 🔧 Alternative: Hold the Volume button up + Volume down at the same time 10-15 seconds (on some models) POCO)
If the settings menu is not available, try calling the notification bar down and find the reboot button there. On Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14, it can hide under the gear icon.
2.Reboot via ADB (for power users)
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to control your smartphone from a computer, and requires you to pre-activate Debugging over USB in the developer settings.
If debugging is already on:
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux)
- Enter the command: Adb devices To check the connection of the device
- Reboot: Adb shell reboot
Critical detail: if USB debugging wasn't enabled in advance, this method won't work. On locked screens, debugging activation is impossible without unlocking.
Enable debugging over USB in the developer settings |
Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|
Download ADB platform from Google| official website
Connect the original USB-cable (not all cables support data transmission)
-->
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Do not use unknown commands from the Internet, this can lead to data loss or blocking the bootloader.
3. Gestures and hotkeys for reboot
Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added gesture support for power management, which needs to be configured in advance, but if it’s already activated, you can restart your phone even with a broken button.
Check the following combinations:
- 🔄 Triple tap on the screen: go to Settings → Special facilities → Triple touch gesture and set the action "Reset"
- 🎵 Loudness + Camera: on some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3) holding down + 8 seconds camera button triggers reboot menu
- 🔌 Connecting charging: in Settings → Battery → Additionally, you can enable the option "Reboot when connecting charging" (available not on all firmware)
If the gestures are not configured, but the phone responds to touch, try calling Google Assistant with a voice command, "OK, Google, restart the phone." This method works on devices with Google Play Services installed.
How to turn on reboot gestures if the button has already broken?
4. Emergency reboot via charging
When the smartphone doesn’t respond fully (black screen, no touch response), there is a forced reset, which works on all Xiaomi models, but has risks:
| Method | Action. | Suitable models | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging + Volume buttons | Connect charging, hold Volume up + Volume down 15-20 seconds | All models 2019-2026 years. | Possible loss of unsaved data |
| Long-term retention of charge | Connect the charge, hold 30-40 seconds until vibration | Redmi 9/10, POCO X3 | It might not work on the new firmware. |
| Battery recovery | Only for models with removable back cover (Redmi 4A, Mi A1) | Older models until 2018 | Loss of warranty, risk of damage to plumes |
On Xiaomi with a non-removable battery (most current models), a forced reboot through charging works 70% of the time. If the method doesn't work, move on to the next section about the recovery mode.
⚠️ Attention: Forced reset on models with unlocked loader (POCO F1, Black Shark may cause data loss in the section /data. Always make a backup in advance!
5.Reboot through Recovery Mode
If the phone is turned on but not responding to commands, you can use Recovery Mode, which is suitable for devices with an unlocked or standard bootloader.
Instructions:
- Turn off the phone (if it is on, use the methods in Section 4)
- Hold Volume Up + Power for 10 seconds (even if the power button is broken, sometimes holding one volume button is triggered)
- In the Recovery menu, select Reboot → Reboot to System using volume buttons and confirm the choice with the power button (or touch if the screen is running)
On some firmware (MIUI Global), the Recovery menu may be in Chinese.
- 🔄 — restart
- 🗑️ — reset
- 📱 — update-in
💡
If the power button doesn’t work completely, but the phone is powered on from charging, try connecting it to your PC and using the Mi Flash Tool program to force a reboot through EDL mode. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is only suitable for power users.
6. When to contact the service center
If none of the methods worked, the problem could be deeper than just a broken button. Here are signs that it's time to carry the phone for repair:
- 🔋 The phone does not respond to charging (no indication, does not warm up)
- 💀 Fully black screen without backlighting (even when connected to a PC)
- 🔥 Extraneous sounds (crackling, hissing) when trying to turn on
- 💧 Oxidation traces on the charging socket or under the cover
The cost of replacing the power button in authorized Xiaomi services:
| Model | Cost (rupe) | Duration of repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12 | 1 200–1 800 | 1-2 days |
| POCO F4/F5 | 1 500–2 200 | 2-3 days |
| Xiaomi 13/14 | 2 500–3 500 | 3-5 days |
Important: Before visiting the service, back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP (if installed). 30% of the time when you repair the power button, you completely reset your settings.
💡
If the phone is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will void warranty obligations. Official Xiaomi services in Russia and the CIS are obliged to replace the power button for free, if the defect is not mechanical (for example, moisture).