How to turn off the Xiaomi smartphone if the sensor does not work: all the ways from hardware to software

Problem: Xiaomi phone does not respond to touch, and turn it off urgently

The situation is familiar to many: the screen Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi stopped responding to touch, and the phone discharges, overheats or just needs to reboot. Without a working sensor, even basic actions become a problem — especially if there is a hanging app on the screen or the system requires confirmation. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off, from the simplest to the most technically complex, taking into account Xiaomi models from different years.

It's important to understand that the methods vary depending on whether the screen is working (just not responding to touch) or completely black, whether the phone is responding to charging, whether debugging is enabled on USB. We'll look at options for all scenarios — including cases where even the power button doesn't work. And at the end of the article, you'll find an FAQ with answers to frequent questions and a table of compatibility methods with popular models.

Warning: Some methods (such as battery extraction) can cancel warranties or cause data loss. If the phone is warranty, try contacting Xiaomi's service center first.

Method 1: Hard button reboot (works on 90% of models)

The most universal method is forced reboot with hardware buttons, which will work even if the screen is completely black, but the phone is showing signs of life (vibrates, indicators are on).

• 📱 For most Xiaomi (2018–2026): Press the Power Button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds until the phone vibrates and reboots.
• 🔄 For older models (Redmi) 4/5, Mi A1): Hold only the power button. 20–30 Seconds (sometimes it takes up to a minute!).
• ⚠️ For POCO F1/F2/F3: nutrition + Loudness down (due to firmware features).

If the phone does not respond to button retention, check:

• 🔋 Is it connected to charging (sometimes a discharged battery blocks the reboot).
• 💧 Is there any water in the water (if the phone is in the water).
• 🔧 Has the power button jammed mechanically (try to move it gently with a toothpick).

Try charging for 5-10 minutes | Check buttons for mechanical damage | Make sure the phone is not in Fastboot mode | Try another button combination (see table below)

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Attention! A hard reboot interrupts all processes, which can lead to:

⚠️ Loss of unsaved data in open applications (for example, unsent messages in messengers).

⚠️ Damage to the file system if a disk record was recorded at the time of the reboot (rarely, but possible).

Method 2: Shutdown via PC connection (ADB or Mi Assistant)

If the phone has USB debugging enabled, it can be turned off by a computer, which is suitable if the screen is working (see image) but does not respond to touch.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utilities. ADB (Android Debug Bridge or Xiaomi’s official Mi Assistant software.

Instructions via ADB:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the commands in order: adb devices (should appear serial number of your phone) adb shell reboot -p (this is a command to turn off).

Instructions via Mi Assistant:

1. Download Mi Assistant from the official website.
2. Connect the phone, wait for the device to be recognized.
3. In the Device Management section, select Turn Off.

Critical: If the phone has been unlocked through unofficial firmware (e.g., TWRP), the adb shell reboot -p command may not work - in this case, use fastboot oem off-mode-charge 0 (requires Fastboot mode).

Method 3: Removal of the battery (only for older models)

On Xiaomi releases before 2019 (e.g. Redmi 4/4A/4X, Mi 5/5S), the battery was removable or conditionally removable (sticked, but can be detached). On new models (Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 and later), the battery is soldered, and trying to remove it without tools will damage the plumes.

How to safely remove the battery:

1. Turn off the phone (if possible) through the buttons.
2. Remove the back cover (some models will require a hair dryer to soften the glue).
3. Disconnect the battery plume (usually under a black tape labeled BATTERY).
4. Wait 1-2 minutes and reconnect the battery.

⚠️ Attention! On soldered models (Redmi Note 8 and later), trying to disconnect it without experience will short circuit or damage the charging controller.

Redmi (until 2019)|Redmi (2019–2022)|POCO (any)|Mi (flagship series)|I don't know the model|Another brand

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Method 4: Discharge the battery before it is completely shut down

If the phone doesn't respond to the buttons or the PC connection, the only safe way to do this is to wait until it's completely discharged, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a day, depending on the model and battery status.

How to speed up the discharge:

• 🔊 Turn on music at maximum volume (if speakers are running).
• 📶 Activate all wireless modules: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, mobile.
• 🔦 Turn on the flashlight (if it is triggered by the lock button).
• 🎮 Run a resource-intensive application (such as a game) through ADB, if debugging is on.

To check the level of charge without a working screen:

• Connect your phone to charge – if the indicator is on, the battery is not yet discharged.
• Listen to the sound of the connection / disconnect charging (on some models it differs at low charge).
• If the phone vibrates when the cable is connected, the battery has not yet run out.

⚠️ Attention! If the battery is swelling (the phone lid is raised), don't wait for it to discharge completely, it's dangerous.

💡

If the phone is dead but doesn’t turn on after you’re connected to charging, try holding the power button for 30 to 60 seconds — sometimes it wakes up the power controller.

Method 5: Service menu (Engineer Mode) for advanced users

On some Xiaomi models (especially Redmi and POCO with Qualcomm processors), you can get into the service menu even without a working sensor.

How to log in to Engineer Mode:

1. Turn off the phone (if possible) through the buttons.
2. Press the combination: Volume up + Volume down + Power Hold 10-15 seconds until the menu appears (on some models you need to release buttons after vibration).
3. In the menu, select Power Off (you can move with volume buttons, the choice is with the power button).

Possible menus and their meanings:

• 🔧 Fastboot Mode – Firmware mode, does not turn off the phone.
• 🔄 Recovery Mode – Recovery menu (from here you can also turn off the device).
• ⚡ EDL Mode - Emergency mode (for firmware only, do not touch unless necessary!).
• 🚫 Power Off – Shutdown (we need a point).

If instead of a service menu, a flashing indicator appears or the phone vibrates without a reaction, then:

• The model does not support this method.
• You need another button combination (try Volume Down + Power).
• Phone in Fastboot mode (then only firmware will help).

💡

The service menu is the most reliable way to turn off Xiaomi without a sensor, but it doesn’t work on all models. If you’re not sure about the button combination, you’d better use ADB or a hard reboot.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods do not work, there are two options:

1. Contact the service center: 🛠️ Official Xiaomi Centers (list on mi.com). 🔧 Unofficial workshops (cheaper, but the risk of running into unqualified repairs). The cost of diagnosis: from 500 to 1500 rubles. Sensor repair: from 2000 to 8000 rubles (depending on the model).
2. Self-repair (only if you have experience!): 🛒 Buy a new touch module (for example, for Redmi Note 9 is worth it). ~1500–2500 rubles.). 🔨 Disassemble the phone, disconnect the old sensor and connect a new one (needs a hairdryer, mediator, screwdriver).

For video instructions on how to replace the sensor, please check YouTube for the exact model (e.g., "Redmi Note 8 Pro display replacement").

Warnings before repair:

⚠️ Warranty is canceled upon opening the case (if the phone is warranty, first contact the official service).

⚠️ Cheap parts with AliExpress can be low-quality – check reviews before buying.

⚠️ When replacing the sensor, there is a risk of damaging the plume of the display or battery (especially on models with a high-performance sensor). OLED-screen).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi turning off without sensor