How to turn off a Xiaomi phone if it doesn’t respond to buttons

Why Xiaomi is Hanging Up and When to Force Shutdown

The freeze of Xiaomi’s smartphone is a problem that almost every user faces, and the reasons range from overloading the system with background processes to critical firmware errors. In most cases, the device freezes on the lock screen, in the app menu or during an update, the main danger of this condition is the risk of overheating (especially if the screen remains on) and loss of unsaved data.

Forced shutdown is a last resort, but sometimes the only way to bring your phone back to life. It's important to understand that an emergency shutdown doesn't equal a factory reset: your files, photos, and settings will stay in place (unless there's been damage to the file system), but if it's a regular freeze, it's a diagnostic signal -- maybe a firmware failure, an application conflict, or a hardware malfunction.

In this article, we will look at all the working ways to turn off the suspended Xiaomi – from standard to emergency, and also understand what to do if the phone does not turn on after a forced reboot.

Method 1: Classical hold of the power button

The most obvious and safe method is the long press of the power button. It works on 90% of Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5, Mi 11/12/13 and older devices.

• 🔄 Press and hold the power button (usually located on the right end) for 10-15 seconds.
• 📱 If the screen is out, but the phone is vibrating or making sounds, don’t release the button until the vibration stops.
• 🔋 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) You may need to hold the button for up to 20 seconds.

If you let the button go, the phone turns on immediately, so you've got a soft reset, and if the screen is still black, the device is off, and in this case, wait 30 to 60 seconds before you turn on again to avoid overheating.

⚠️ Warning: On non-removable battery devices (all models after 2018), it is safe to hold the power button, but if the phone overheats (the body is hot), let it cool before turning on, or you risk causing the power controller to fail hardware.

Method 2: The combination of buttons "Nutrition + Volume"

If a long press of the power button doesn't work, try a hardware reset via a key combination. This method simulates battery extraction and works even when the system is completely "hang"

1. Press the power button and the Volume Up button at the same time.
2. Hold them for 15 to 25 seconds until the screen goes out and the phone vibrates.
3. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi K50) can only work combination Power + Volume Down.

This method forcibly cuts off the power of the processor, so it should be used if:

• 📵 The phone does not respond to touches and buttons.
• 🔄 The screen shows “infinite loading” (logo) MI spinning for more than 5 minutes).
• 🔋 The device began to overheat or make unusual sounds (clicks, squeaks).

If the phone doesn't turn on after that, don't panic. Connect it to charge for 10 to 15 minutes, then try to turn it on again. In rare cases, you may need to connect to a PC to recover via Fastboot.

Method 3: Battery Removal (for older models)

Until 2018, Xiaomi was making phones with removable batteries (e.g. Redmi 3S, Redmi 4A, Mi Max 2). If you have this model, the most reliable way to turn off the power is to physically turn off the power.

• 🔧 Carefully tuck the back cover with a plastic card or mediator (start with the corners).
• 🔋 Unplug the battery plume (if you have one) or simply remove the battery for 30 seconds.
• 📱 Install the battery back, collect the phone and try turning it on.

⚠️ Note: On newer models (Redmi Note 10 and later), the battery is non-removable - trying to remove it will damage the plumes and lose warranty. Also, do not use metal objects to open the lid - this is fraught with closing contacts.

If the phone does not turn on after the battery is removed, check:

• 🔌 Contacts of the battery for oxidation or contamination.
• 🔧 Correctness of connection of plumes (if the device was disassembled).
• 🔋 Battery condition – if it is swelling, it must be replaced.

Method 4: Battery discharge (if nothing helps)

If the phone is stuck on the boot screen or in Fastboot mode, and no combination of buttons works, the only option is a complete discharge. This method takes a long time (6 to 24 hours), but in 80% of cases helps to wake the device.

How it works:

1. Turn off the phone from charging (if it was connected).
2. Leave it alone for 12-24 hours - during this time the battery will discharge to 0%.
3. Connect the original charger and wait 15-30 minutes.
4. Try turning on your phone with the power button.

This method is effective if:

• 📱 Phone's getting stuck in mode. EDL (Black screen, but PC defines it as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008).
• 🔄 The device is cyclically rebooted (infinite bootloop).
• 🔋 Battery "slip" at charge level (for example, shows 1% for months).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after discharging, don't connect it to fast charging (especially if you use a non-original adapter). USB-port of your computer or use a charger with a current of no more than 1A – this will reduce the risk of damage to the power controller.

Method 5: Connect to PC and ADB/Fastboot commands

If the phone is responding to a connection to a computer (e.g., it makes a connection sound or is defined as an unknown device), you can try turning it off via the command line, a method that is suitable for users who previously had USB debugging mode enabled.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable.
2. Open the Command Prompt (Win + R → enter cmd).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, execute: adb shell reboot -p (this will gently turn off the phone).
4. If your phone is in Fastboot mode, use: fastboot reboot -p

If the commands fail and the phone is defined as a Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, it is in emergency EDL mode.

• 🔧 You will need special software (for example, Mi Flash Tool) and firmware for your model.
• 📱 Self-recovery in EDL This can lead to complete loss of data.
• 🛠️ If you do not have experience, it is better to contact the service center.

💡

Before using ADB/Fastboot, make sure that Xiaomi drivers are installed on your PC. You can download them on the official website in the MIUI Downloads section (select the Driver tab).

What to do if the phone does not turn on after forced shutdown

If after all the manipulations Xiaomi does not show signs of life, check the following:

If the phone vibrates but doesn’t turn on, try entering Recovery mode:

1. Press the power + Volume Up for 10-15 seconds.
2. From the Recovery menu, select Reboot → Power Off (if the menu is in English) or Reboot → Turn off (in English).
3. If the menu does not appear, try to connect the charger and repeat the action.

If after all attempts the phone has not turned on, and artifacts (strips, flickering) appear on the screen or it is cyclically rebooted - this is a sign of hardware failure (damage to the motherboard, memory or display).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi hanging