How to turn off a locked phone Xiaomi Redmi: all working ways

A blocked Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a situation that one in five users of the brand face. According to service centers, 38% of calls are related to a forgotten password, a pattern lock or a system failure after an update. But what if the phone runs out, overheats or just needs to reboot, and access to the screen is blocked? Turning off the device in this state is fraught with data loss or complete failure if you act at random.

In this article, we will discuss 6 proven ways to safely disable Redmi (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others), taking into account the features of the MIUI 12-14 firmware. You will learn how to bypass lock without resetting to factory settings, what button combinations work on new and old devices, and what to do if the phone does not respond to pressing.

Why can't you just press the power button?

On most smartphones, holding the power button for 10 to 15 seconds leads to a forced shutdown, but on Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI, this method does not always work.

• 🔒 Blocking at the firmware level: Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has implemented protection against accidental shutdown through the power button if the device is locked.This is done to prevent bypassing the protection through the reboot.
• 🔋 Deep Discharge Mode: If the battery is under 5%, the system can ignore the long press of the power button to avoid battery damage.
• 🛡️ Protection against theft: On devices with a tied Mi Account, a forced shutdown can activate an additional lock the next time you turn on.

What’s more, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and later uses a hardware security module (TrustZone) that blocks access to system commands when forced to shut down, meaning that after such a shutdown, the phone may require a password from Mi Account even to boot into Fastboot mode.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi is connected to a corporate network (for example, via Android Enterprise), a forced shutdown may result in a remote lock of the device by the administrator.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via lock screen (if available)

Some Xiaomi Redmi models (especially those with MIUI 13 and later) still have the option to turn off the phone through the lock menu, even if the password is forgotten.

• 📱 The screen displays the "Emergency Call" button or "SOS".
• 🔄 The phone has not overheated and has not gone into emergency mode (indicator - flashing red light bulb).
• 🔋 Battery charge above 10%.

Instructions:

1. Click on the Emergency Call button (usually in the lower left corner of the lock screen).
2. Enter any number (e.g. 112) and click on the call icon.
3. When calling (even if it doesn’t connect), press the power button 1 time to open the menu.
4. Select "Switch off" or "Reboot".

If this method doesn’t work, move on to the next method: On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Redmi K50, this trick may be blocked due to Xiaomi’s updated security policy.

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If there is no Emergency Call button on the lock screen, try swiping your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen – sometimes this opens a hidden menu with an off option.

Method 2: Forced reboot via button combination

The most versatile method, which works on 90% of Xiaomi Redmi devices, is hardware reset via a combination of buttons. However, there are nuances depending on the model and firmware version.

Important: on new models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Redmi K60) after a forced reboot, a request for a password from Mi Account may appear. This is due to the Find Device function, which is activated when an emergency shutdown is activated.

Make sure your phone is at least 20 times charged%|Turn off all cables (charging, headphones)|Remember the button retention time for your model|Prepare for a possible Mi Account request after activation-->

Method 3: Shutdown via Fastboot (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can turn off your phone via Fastboot mode, which is suitable for users who previously included debugging. USB (USB Debugging) in the developer settings. If the debugging is not activated, the method will not work.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. Press the combination to enter the Fastboot (see table above).The screen should turn black with the words "Fastboot" and the image of a rabbit.
3. On your computer, open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and type: fastboot devices If the phone is determined (the serial number appears), enter: fastboot oem off-mode-charge 0 Then: fastboot reboot

This method turns off the phone completely, bypassing the screen lock, but requires debugging pre-setting. On models with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13) may not work without unlocking Bootloader.

⚠️ Note: Fastboot commands can cause resets if you type them incorrectly. Don't use commands like fastboot erase userdata - this will delete all data from the phone!

Method 4: Discharge the battery before automatically shutting down

If no buttons work, the only safe way to do this is to wait until the phone runs out on its own, which takes a long time (6 to 24 hours), but is guaranteed to keep the data intact.

How to speed up the process:

• 🔌 Activate power-intensive functions: Turn on the maximum brightness of the screen (if you have access to the notification curtain), run the video in the video 4K play.
• 📶 Use the mobile internet: Activate data transfer and start uploading a large file (for example, via Torrent).
• 🔊 Turn on loud music: This increases the load on the processor and battery.
• 🌡️ Cover the phone: Put it under your pillow or in a warm place (but don't overheat!).°C battery discharges faster.

When the charge reaches 0%, the phone will turn off automatically. Once the charge is connected, it will turn on as normal, but the screen lock will remain. To remove it, you will need to reset via Recovery or use Mi Account.

Method 5: Use the "Find Device" function (remote shutdown)

If you have a Mi Account attached to your phone and Find Device enabled, you can remotely turn it off via a web interface, which works even if your phone is locked, but requires:

• 🌐 Internet access on your phone (mobile data or Wi-Fi).
• 🔑 Knowledge of the username and password from Mi Account.
• 📍 Activated "Find Device" function in settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Find Device).

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select your Redmi from the list of devices.
3. Click on “Delete Data” (this will result in a phone reset) or “Switch off the device” (if the option is available).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

The downside of the method: after remote shutdown, the phone may require you to enter Mi Account data the next time you turn on, and the "Switch off device" option is not available on all firmware.

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Remote shutdown via Find Device is the only method that works on 100% of Xiaomi models, but requires pre-setting and account access.

Method 6: Hardware reset via test mode (for older models)

On Xiaomi Redmi devices before 2019 year of release (e.g. Redmi) 5/6/7, Note 5/6/7) There's a hidden test mode (Engineer Mode) that you can turn off your phone to bypass locks. MIUI 12+.

Instructions:

1. Enter the code on the lock screen: ##4636## If the code didn't work, try: ##36446337###
2. You will be taken to the "Engineer Mode" menu. Go to the Hardware Testing → Power Off section.
3. Confirm the shutdown.

Some firmware may open a Factory Reset menu instead of turning it off. Do not confirm the reset unless you want to lose data!

⚠️ Note: Use of test mode on new models (Redmi Note 10)+ and later) can lead to soft-brick (software breakdown) if the menu accidentally changes the settings of the communication module or display.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If neither of these methods worked, there are two options:

1. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center: 📍 Find the nearest authorized center on mi.com. 💰 The cost of unlocking: from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles (depending on the model). ⏳ Period: 1-3 days (if you need a reset via Mi Account).

Recovery

1. Turn off your phone (if possible) or wait for the discharge.
2. Press Power + Volume Up to Enter Recovery.
3. Select "Wipe Data" (Reset) → "Wipe All Data".
4. Confirm action. The phone will reboot in factory condition.

Before resetting, try to remove the memory card (if you have one) - sometimes photos and files are saved on it (/storage/emulated/0/) will be removed without the possibility of recovery.

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If you decide to give your phone to the service, don't say you tried to unlock it yourself. This can void the warranty if the device is warranty-based.

FAQ: Frequent questions about unlocking Xiaomi Redmi