Turning off Xiaomi’s smartphone seems like a simple task — until you encounter a system freeze, a broken power button or custom MIUI settings. Unlike other brands, Redmi, POCO and Mi phones have unique features: hidden button combinations, alternative menus and even quick restart functions that are not always obvious. For example, on some models, long-term holding of the power button does not cause a turn off menu, but activates the voice assistant Xiao AI.
In this article, we will discuss 6 working ways to turn off a Xiaomi phone from basic to emergency, including methods for devices with damaged buttons or a dead battery. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden function Hard Power Off, which saves when the system freezes completely and is not available in the standard menu.
1. Standard method: via the food menu
The most obvious method is to use the Power button, but even here there are nuances that depend on the MIUI version and the phone model. On new devices (such as the Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12), long-holding a button can trigger the voice assistant instead of the turn off menu.
To guarantee the opening of the food menu:
- 🔘 Press and hold the power button. + Increase volume simultaneously for 2-3 seconds.
- 📱 On the screen will appear menu with options: Turn off, Reboot, Emergency mode.
- ⚡ Select Turn Off and Confirm Action (some models will require a pattern lock).
If the menu doesn't appear, check the button settings in Settings → Special features → Power button. Here you can turn off the voice assistant call with a long press.
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On models with MIUI 14+ (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro), the power menu can be swiped down the lock screen with a 1 second retention.
2. Software shutdown through settings
If the physical buttons don’t work or you prefer to control your phone through the interface, use the built-in MIUI settings.This method is suitable for routine shutdown, for example, before long-term storage of the device.
Instructions:
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to the About Phone section.
- Select Turn Off (on some firmware, the option is hidden behind System Update → Three dots → Turn off).
- Confirm the action if necessary.
On POCO and some Redmis, the path may be different:
Settings → Additional → Shutdown and restartClose all applications (especially those with background activity)
Turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi
Check the charge level (less than 5% may cause a failure)
Keep your documents open-->
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global older versions (up to 12.5) may not have a program shutdown option.
3. Forced shutdown when getting stuck
If Xiaomi’s phone is completely frozen and unresponsive, a hard reset will be required, which simulates battery extraction but does not result in data loss (unlike a reset before factory settings).
How to do this:
- 🔋 Hold the power button. + Reduce volume at the same time 10-15 seconds.
- 🌑 The screen should go out, and the charging indicator (if the cable is connected) should flash red.
- ⏱️ Wait 30 seconds before re-energizing.
On non-removable battery models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi K50), this method is safe, but don’t abuse it – frequent forced shutdowns can damage the file system.
What if the phone doesn’t turn off even after a hard reset?
| Xiaomi model | The combination for hard shutdown | Retention time |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | Power + Volume reduction | 10-12 sec. |
| Xiaomi 12/13 | Power + Volume Increase | 8-10 sec. |
| POCO X3/X4 | Power + both volume buttons | 15 seconds |
| Mi 9/10 | Food (long-term) | 20+ seconds |
4.Switch off via Fastboot mode
If the phone boots but does not respond to shutdown commands (for example, due to a MIUI failure), you can use Fastboot mode.This method requires a connection to the PC and installed ADB drivers.
Step-by-step:
- Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
- Press Power + Volume down before the Fastboot logo appears.
- On PC, open the command line and type: fastboot devices (should display the serial number of your device).
- Execute the shutdown command: fastboot poweroff
⚠️ Note: Do not use other fastboot commands (e.g. fastboot reboot) unless you are sure of their purpose - this can cause you to reset your settings or damage your firmware.
5. Alternative methods for devices with damaged buttons
If the power button is broken or does not respond, turn off the phone through:
- 🔌 Battery discharge: Leave the device uncharged for 12 to 24 hours. Once fully discharged, it will shut down automatically.
- 🤖 Voice Assistant: Activate Xiao AI (Or Google Assistant, with a voice command, "Switch off the phone." It only works when the assistant is on in the settings.
- 📲 Third-party apps: Utility like Power Menu or Quick Reboot (require root rights).
For models with NFC support (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), you can use the Mi Smart Tag - setting the tag to turn off the device when you touch it.
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On devices with MIUI 13+, you can turn off your phone through the Notification Panel: swipe down twice, press the gear icon → Turn off.
6.Output when updating or restoring the system
If the phone is in the process of updating MIUI or recovering through Recovery, you can not interrupt it - this will lead to a "brick" (inoperability) of the device, however, in some cases, shutdown is necessary, for example, when you load endlessly.
Action:
- If the Mi logo is on for more than 10 minutes, hold Power + Volume Up for 20 seconds.
- If the device is in Recovery mode (menu with points in English), select Power Off using volume buttons and confirm Power button.
- When upgrading via Fastboot, wait until the process is complete (the progress indicator should reach 100%).
⚠️ Note: If the phone turned off during firmware through Fastboot and is now not turned on, you will need to reflash it in the service center using the help of the phone. EDL-Mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even when you turn off your Xiaomi phone, users make mistakes that can cause crashes.
- ⚡ Shutting down at low battery charge (less than) 5%). This can damage the power controller, especially on older models (Redmi). 4/5). Always charge your phone until at least 20% before-out.
- 🔄 Frequent forced resets, if you use hard reset more than 3 times in a row, MIUI can start automatically restoring the system the next time it is turned on.
- 📱 Ignoring updates before turning off (MIUI 12.5) Long shutdown without updating results in resetting of network settings.
To minimize the risks:
- Before turning off, close all applications through Recent Tasks.
- Turn off your mobile data and Wi-Fi if you plan to keep your phone off for more than a day.
- For models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K60) before long downtime, turn on the Always on screen for 1 minute - this will prevent the "burning" of pixels.