How to lock Xiaomi smartphone if power button doesn’t work: full guide 2026

Why the power button stops working and what to do about it

A broken power button on Xiaomi is a problem faced by one in five smartphone owners over 2 years old. According to service centers, 68% of the failure is due to mechanical wear (dust, moisture or simply resource production), and 22% - to software failures after updates. The remaining 10% is due to damage to the plume after falls or unskilled repairs.

Many users mistakenly believe that without a power button, the phone becomes a “brick.” In fact, Xiaomi (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older series) supports at least 5 alternative ways to lock the screen, the main thing is to choose the right method depending on the version of the MIUI and the technical condition of the device.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods, from standard system functions to engineering commands, and also tell you which ones work on a locked phone (if the screen is already out), and which require pre-tuning. For convenience, we have compiled a table of methods compatibility with popular models – it will help save time.

Method 1: Use a lock gesture (set up in advance)

The easiest method is to activate the double tap gesture on the screen. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI version 10 and later, but requires pre-configuration. If you haven't enabled this feature beforehand, skip the section.

How it works: just touch any area of the screen (except the keyboard) twice quickly, and the device locks. Sensitivity is adjusted, you can select the activation zone (the entire screen or only the bottom part) and the force of touch.

• 🔧 The path to setup: Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings → Double touch for locking
• ⚡ Advantages: works even with the display turned off (it is enough to “wake up” the phone with a touch)
• ⚠️ Limitation: on some models (POCO F3, Redmi 9A) The gesture is turned off after rebooting

⚠️ Warning: If the gesture stops working after setting up, check if it conflicts with other features (such as Up to Wake Up or Smart Assistant). → Lock screen → Extended functions.

Update MIUI to the latest version |Disable energy saving mode |Check sensor performance for sensitivity |Reboot phone after setting-->

Method 2: Block through the notification panel

This method requires no pre-setting and works on any version of MIUI, including older models like the Redmi 4X or Mi A1. The bottom line is simple: swipe down to open the notification bar and click on the lock icon.

Step-by-step:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen (some models need to swipe twice).
2. In the upper right corner, find the icon "Blocking" (pictured lock).
3. Click on it, the screen will go out immediately.

If the icon is not present, you can add it:

1. Open the notification panel and tap on ⚙️ ("Settings").
2. Select the Control Panel Editor.
3. Find the Lock list and drag it to the active area.

💡

In the models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) notification panel can be opened even on a locked phone – just twice touch the sleeping display (if you are enabled Always On Display).

Method 3: Voice command (XiaoAI or Google Assistant)

If your Xiaomi has a voice assistant activated, you can lock your phone with voice, which works even when the screen is off (provided that the function of OK, Google or XiaoAI is enabled in the background).

Instructions for Google Assistant (on international firmware):

1. Say, "OK, Google, lock your phone."
2. Or, "Hey Google, turn off the screen."

For XiaoAI (Chinese/global firmware with Sina-based features):

1. Activate the assistant with the phrase: "" (Xiao Ai Tungsue).
2. Say, "" (Suoping — lock the screen).

⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI For Russia (e.g. Redmi Note 11), XiaoAI is often disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → XiaoAI and turn on autoplay. Voice commands will only work in Chinese.

Google Assistant |XiaoAI|Alice from Yandex |Ciri (via AirPods) |I Do not use-->

Method 4: Blocking through ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., on a broken screen or after a system crash), you can block Xiaomi via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires a computer and pre-activation of debugging. USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (original!).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Follow the lock command: adb shell input keyevent 26 (code 26 corresponds to the power button).

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS

Method 5: Automatic locking by timer

If the power button breaks suddenly but the phone is not locked yet, set up automatic locking via a timer. This is a temporary solution, but it will avoid battery drain.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Autolock.
2. Choose the minimum time of 5 seconds or 15 seconds.
3. Activate the option Lock when going to sleep.

After that, the phone will lock itself at a given interval of inactivity, minus the method: if you actively use the device (for example, reading a book), the screen will not go out.

💡

In the models with AMOLED-displays (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F4) Automatic lock saves up to 15% of battery power by turning off pixel lighting.

Method 6: Hardware lock (if the screen is unresponsive)

If the touch screen is completely out of order and the phone is unlocked, you can physically lock it:

1. Connect the charger – on most Xiaomi models, the screen goes out 1-2 minutes after charging starts.
2. If you have a case with Smart Cover (such as the original case for the Mi 11), close it – the phone will lock automatically.
3. On models with an infrared port (Redmi Note 8 Pro, POCO X3), you can send a lock command from another device via the Mi Remote application (requires pre-setting).

The last option is to remove the battery (only for models with removable battery, such as the Redmi 4A or Mi Max), after retrieval and resetting the phone will turn on in a locked state.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with a non-removable battery (most models after 2019), an attempt to open the case without tools will damage the display plume. If the screen does not respond and the power button is broken, contact the service - self-repair will cost more.

Method 7: Blocking through third-party applications

If standard methods don't work, install one of the specialized screen locking apps. We tested 5 popular utilities -- the best options in the table below.

How to install and configure:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Gravity Screen).
2. Provide all the permissions requested (including Special Access and Device Administrator).
3. In the application settings, select the action to lock (such as Pocketing or Double Touch).
4. Test the function.

💡

Before installing third-party utilities, check reviews from the past 2-3 months. Some applications (such as Screen Off and Lock) have stopped supporting MIUI 14 and are causing crashes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to block Xiaomi without a power button, users face typical problems, and we have collected the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Double tap gesture doesn't work: Check if the feature is enabled in Settings → Lock screen. Turn off the energy-saving mode, it can block background processes. Reset the phone (if the power button is still working, hold it for 10-15 seconds).
• 🔌 ADB Does not see the device: Make sure that the Developer Settings include Debugging by USB and Unlock. OEM. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original). Install Mi drivers PC Suite from the official website.
• 🗣️ Voice Assistant doesn't block the screen: For Google Assistant, check if voice unlock is enabled in the assistant settings. For XiaoAI, upgrade to the latest version MIUI. Make sure the language of the voice commands corresponds to the firmware region (for example, for Chinese). MIUI Chinese language needs to be needed).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions