How to turn off volume buttons on Xiaomi: from simple settings to ADB

Why Users Want to Turn Off Volume Buttons – and When to Really Need It

The physical volume buttons on Xiaomi smartphones are a handy tool for adjusting the sound quickly, but they sometimes become a source of irritation, like when you accidentally hit them in your pocket and the music suddenly stuns all the traffic, or when a child is playing with his phone and constantly knocking down the settings. In some scenarios, blocking the buttons is not a whim, but a necessity.

The manufacturer doesn’t provide a standard feature to completely disable hardware keys, but workarounds exist, ranging from using standard MIUI tools to editing system files via ADB. It’s important to understand that not all methods are reversible, and some require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights — this can affect the device’s warranty and security.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to deactivate the volume buttons on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 12/13/14, including models with Android 11-14.

Method 1: Use the Do Not Disturb (without root) mode

The easiest and safest method is to activate Do Not Disturb (DND) mode with physical buttons locked, which does not completely disable the keys, but makes them inactive in the background, suitable for temporary solutions, such as during sleep or important meetings.

How to turn on:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration → Don't disturb.
• 🔧 Select Settings → Block Volume buttons (in some versions) MIUI The option is called Disable Media buttons).
• ⏰ Set a schedule or activate the mode manually.

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ The buttons will be locked only in the mode. DND — When it is removed, it will become active again.
• ⚠️ Does not work to adjust the volume of the alarm or notifications in priority mode.

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If your version of MIUI does not have the option to block buttons in Do Not Disturb mode, try updating the firmware or use an alternative method from the next section.

Method 2: Adjust the sensitivity of buttons (for some models)

On parts of Xiaomi devices (e.g., Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) in the engineering menu, you can reduce the sensitivity of physical keys, which will reduce the number of random clicks. This method does not turn off the buttons completely, but makes them less responsive.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. In the engineering menu, go to the Hardware Testing → Keypad section.
3. Find the Volume Up/Down Key Sensitivity settings and reduce the values to 30-50%.
4. Save the settings and restart the device.

Warnings:

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can lead to unstable operation of sensors or buttons. If after setting the keys no longer respond at all, reset the default menu settings or reset the phone.

Method 3: Applications for button locking (without root)

If system methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities, like Button Mapper or Volume Button Controller, which allow you to reassign button actions or disable button responses, which don't require superuser rights, but they have limitations.

The following is the Button Mapper:

Important nuances:

• 🔄 The app can reset settings after rebooting – check it periodically.
• 🛡️ Some functions (e.g., complete shutdown) require enabling ADB-debugging.
• 📵 Nana MIUI 14 and newer applications may not work as well due to system limitations.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party button locking utilities, Xiaomi may display a warning about “unauthorized settings change.” This is not critical, but may interfere – disable app notifications in the settings.

Method 4: Disabling buttons via ADB (for power users)

To completely disable the volume buttons, you will need a computer, a USB cable and ADB debugging enabled. This method does not require root rights, but if used incorrectly, can disrupt the system.

Instructions:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (your device should appear).
4. Execute the commands to disable the buttons: adb shell settings put global volume_rockers_wake 0 adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS

To get the buttons back to work, use:

adb shell settings put global volume_rockers_wake 1

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ADB commands temporarily block the buttons' response to clicks, but do not remove them from the system. Once the phone is restarted, the effect may reset — you need to repeat the procedure.

Method 5: Editing System Files (requires root)

The most radical method is to edit the keylayout file in the system partition, which is only suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, since it requires access to /system.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer or Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/usr/keylayout.
3. Find Generic.kl or qwerty.kl (depending on the model).
4. Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: key 24 VOLUME_UP key 25 VOLUME_DOWN
5. Replace them with: #key 24 VOLUME_UP key 25 VOLUME_DOWN (is a symbol that comments on the lines).
6. Save the file, set the permissions 644, and restart the device.

Risks of the method:

• 🔧 Incorrect editing can lead to loss of functionality of other buttons.
• 🔄 After updating the firmware, the changes will reset - you will need to repeat the procedure.
• 🛡️ Violation of system file integrity can cause SafetyNet verification errors (banking application problems).

Alternative solutions: when to turn off the buttons do not need

Before resorting to radical measures, consider alternatives:

• 🔕 Use a button-protected case – many models have thickened edges to prevent accidental pressing.
• 🎧 Set up the volume gestures in MIUI: in some firmware, you can adjust the sound swipes on the screen.
• 🔇 Turn on vibration when you press the buttons (Settings) → Sound. → Vibration when pressed to feel a tactile response.

If the problem is that the child is playing with the phone, it is better to use the child mode (Settings → Special features → Children’s mode) or apps like Kids Place, which block access to system settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off volume buttons