How to turn off Xiaomi Redmi 12: all the ways and nuances

Turning off your smartphone is a seemingly basic operation, but even it can raise questions among owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 12. Especially if it comes to unusual situations: a system freeze, a dead battery or the need to force shutdown. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off the device, including hidden MIUI functions, and also explain how to avoid typical errors that can lead to data loss or software damage.

The Redmi 12, released in 2023, is powered by MIUI 14+ (depending on the region) and has a number of power management features. For example, in some software versions, the shutdown button does not activate the power menu by default, but the Xiao AI voice assistant. If you are experiencing a similar situation or just want to know all available methods, read on.

Standard way to turn off via the power menu

The most obvious and safe method is to use a software menu, which is suitable for most situations where the smartphone is stable and the battery is not discharged to a critical level.

  1. Press and hold the power button (located on the right end of the device) for 1-2 seconds.
  2. The screen will appear menu with three options: Turn off, Reboot and Emergency mode.
  3. Slip on the item Turn off (usually indicated by an icon with a circle and a line).
  4. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog window that appears.

If the menu doesn't appear, you may have the power button changed in the settings to return the standard behavior:

  • 🔧 Go to Settings. → Lock screen → Power button.
  • 📱 Select the Power Menu option instead of Voice Assistant or No Action.
  • 🔄 Save the changes and try again.

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If your smartphone doesn’t respond to the power button holding, check if Pocket mode is activated in the sensor settings. It can block random taps, but sometimes interferes with intentional actions.

Forced Shutdown: When and How to Use

Hard reset is a last resort that should only be applied in cases of:

  • 🐢 The smartphone is completely frozen and does not respond to touching or pressing buttons.
  • 🔋 Battery is low to 0%, but the device does not automatically turn off.
  • 🤖 The system is critically error-proof (e.g. Android.process.acore has stopped).

For the forced shutdown of Xiaomi Redmi 12:

  1. Press and hold the power button and the volume button at the same time.
  2. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the vibration stops.
  3. Release the buttons and the device will turn off.

⚠️ Attention: Frequent use of forced shutdown can damage the file system, especially if the data was written to flash memory at the time of the shutdown. If possible, use this method no more than 1 time per month.

What happens when you force shutdown?
When the power is “hard” out, the operating system does not have time to correctly complete the processes. This can lead to: - Loss of unsaved data in open applications. - Damage to the cache of system applications (for example, Google Play Services). - In rare cases, to a bootloader failure if the shutdown occurred during the software update.

Turning off the recovery menu (Recovery Mode)

If the smartphone is powered on but not loading beyond the Redmi logo, or you suspect a firmware failure, you can turn it off via Restore Mode, which is also useful if the standard power menu is not available.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the device (if it is on) in any way you can.
  2. Press the power button and the volume button at the same time.
  3. Hold them until the Mi logo appears and the vibration is a sign of entry to Recovery Mode.
  4. In the recovery menu, select Power Off (or Turn Off in Russian) using volume buttons for navigation and power buttons for confirmation.
SituationRecommended method of shutting downRisks.
The smartphone is working normally.Standard food menuAbsent.
Interface freezeForced button retentionLoss of unsaved data
Cyclical reboot (bootloop)Recovery Mode → Power OffDamage to the firmware when incorrect actions
Battery discharge (<5%)Connect charging, then standard shutdownAutomatic shutdown at 0%
📊 How often do you turn off your smartphone?
Every day.
1-2 times a week
Only when it fails.
Never turn it off.

Shutdown with ADB commands (for advanced users)

If you have access to the debugging USB (USB Debugging, you can turn off Redmi 12 via your computer using the tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method is useful if the touch screen doesn't work, but USB-port.

Step-by-step:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-Cable (original or certified).
  2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is identified (its serial number should appear).
  3. Execute the shutdown command: adb shell reboot -p

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB requires pre-activation of the Developer Mode and enable debugging by USB If these options were not enabled in advance, the method will not work.

Enable the developer mode (7 taps by build number in "About phone")

Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Download and configure ADB (for example, through Android Studio)

Connect the original USB-cable

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Automatic shutdown on schedule

The automatic shutdown feature is useful if you want to limit your smartphone usage time (for example, overnight) or save battery power. In MIUI, this option is hidden in the power saving settings.

How to set up:

  1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Schedule off / on.
  2. Activate the switch Enable the schedule.
  3. Set the time of shutdown (for example, 23:00) and days of the week.
  4. Save the settings.

Please note:

  • 🕒 The function only works when the battery is sufficiently charged (usually >15%).
  • 🔌 If the device is connected to charging, the automatic shutdown may not work.
  • ⚙️ After switching off on schedule, the smartphone will not turn on itself - this will require pressing the power button.

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Automatic shutdown does not replace a full restart of the system. To clean the cache and optimize the work, it is recommended to manually turn off the smartphone once a week for 1-2 minutes.

Frequent mistakes and their solution

Even when you turn off the Xiaomi Redmi 12, users face unexpected problems, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The smartphone does not turn off through the power menu

Reason: com.android.systemui system application crash or conflict with MIUI shell.

Decision:

  • 🔄 Restart the device via the power menu (if available).
  • 🛠️ Clear the cache of system applications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Show system-based → System UI → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
  • 📱 If the problem persists, try turning off your smartphone via Recovery Mode.

2. Upon switching off, the device is immediately switched on

Reason: Automatic restart (sometimes enabled after failures) or power button closure is activated.

Decision:

  • 🔧 Turn off automatic restart: Settings → Special facilities → Universal access → Automatic restart.
  • 🛑 If the problem is in the button, contact the service center for diagnosis.

3.The screen goes out, but the device continues to vibrate

Reason: Process freeze android.hardware.power or hardware failure of the power controller.

Decision:

  • 🔋 Forced to turn off the smartphone by holding the buttons (see section 2).
  • 🔌 Connect to charging for 10-15 minutes, then try to turn on.
  • 📲 If the vibration does not stop, you may need to flash through the Fastboot.

What if the smartphone does not turn on after switching off?
If Redmi 12 shows no signs of life after turning off: 1. Connect to the original charger for 30-60 minutes (even if the indicator does not burn). 2. Try to press the power button + volume reduction for 20-30 seconds - this can start the Fastboot mode. 3. If the screen remains black, but the PC identifies the device as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008, this is a sign of a "brick" - you need firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.

Can I turn off the Xiaomi Redmi 12 every day?
Yes, daily shutdown does not harm the device if you do it through the standard power menu. Moreover, regular reboot (1 every 2-3 days) helps to clear the RAM and prevents slowing down the system. However, forced shutdown more than 1 time a week can adversely affect the file system.
Why does the smartphone turn on after a few seconds?
This can be caused by: Activated Auto Restart (see Frequent Errors section), Android kernel failure (solved by flashing), Power button closure (repair required), Try to disable automatic restart in settings or reset via Recovery Mode.
How to turn off Redmi 12 if the screen is not working?
There are three options: Forced shutdown (power button) + Volume increase by 10-15 seconds. Connect to the PC and shut down via ADB (If the debugging has been enabled before. Battery discharge to 0% (the last method, can take several hours).If the screen crashes but the sensor is working, try connecting the mouse through OTG-Adapter and turn off the device via the menu.
Is it harmful to turn off your smartphone in the cold?
Turning off Xiaomi Redmi 12 at a lower temperature −10°C can damage the battery due to electrolyte crystallization. If the device is already cold, let it heat up to room temperature before turning it off. Also avoid turning on the smartphone in the cold, which puts a sharp strain on the battery.
What if the smartphone is turned off and does not turn on after a fall?
Most likely, the battery, motherboard or power connector is damaged. Try: Connect to charge for 1-2 hours (sometimes after the impact it takes time to "swing" the battery); try to turn on with a clamped volume button (sometimes helps when the battery plume is disconnected); If there is no reaction, contact the service center. Self-repair can exacerbate the problem.