Is the power button on your Xiaomi not working? Turn your phone on and off without it.

A failed physical Power button on a Xiaomi phone can cause real panic. In the age of sealed designs—where the battery is non-removable and the chassis is tightly closed—it may feel like losing the only physical switch permanently cuts you off from your device. That’s a misconception. MIUI and HyperOS, used on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones, include extensive accessibility tools that let you function almost entirely without the side buttons.

This guide walks you through every realistic scenario—from gesture setup and charger tricks to advanced diagnostics with service codes.

1. Waking the screen: how to regain access to a locked phone

When the Power button stops responding, the biggest challenge is simply turning the display on. If the phone is powered on but the screen is off, there are several rescue options—ideally configured in advance.

Double tap to wake

This feature should be enabled on every Xiaomi device. It wakes the touchscreen without relying on any physical button.

• Steps: Go to Settings > Always-on display & Lock screen. Turn on “Double tap to wake or turn off screen”.

• Note: On newer system versions, the same option also lets you turn the screen off by double-tapping an empty area of the home screen.

Raise to wake

Xiaomi phones use very sensitive motion sensors. You can set the display to light up automatically when you pick the phone up and change its angle.

• Steps: In the same menu (Lock screen), enable “Raise to wake”. It’s ideal when your hands are busy—just lift the phone toward your face.

Use the fingerprint scanner

If your model has a fingerprint reader (in-display or on the side), placing your finger can wake and unlock the device. Even if the Power button click is broken, the reader often still works. Make sure you have multiple fingers registered on both hands in case of minor cuts or dirt.

2. Power management from the interface (locking, shutdown, restart)

Once you can wake the screen, the next step is learning how to lock it and restart or power down without using physical buttons.

Touch Assistant menu

This floating shortcut button is extremely powerful and can be kept within thumb reach at all times.

• Setup: Go to Settings > Additional settings > Touch Assistant.

• After enabling it, tap “Select shortcuts”. Assign “Lock” (to turn the screen off) and “Power menu”. This gives you the same shutdown/restart slider you normally get by holding the Power button.

Lock widget on the home screen

If you don’t like floating buttons, use a static shortcut on your home screen.

1. Long-press an empty area on the home screen.

2. Tap Widgets.

3. In “Quick functions”, find the lock icon and drag it onto the home screen.

4. From now on, one tap instantly turns the screen off.

3. Critical scenario: how to turn on a phone that powered off

This is where most people give up. The phone drained to 0%, you plug it in, the battery icon appears—but you can’t start it without Power. Don’t worry: Xiaomi devices have “back doors” for recovery.

Fastboot method (works on most models)

Android allows you to force a start by entering a service mode.

1. Connect the phone to a wall charger or a USB port on a computer.

2. Immediately after connecting, press and hold Volume Down.

3. If you see the “FASTBOOT” screen (often with a bunny fixing a robot), you’re on the right track.

4. Now the tricky part: keep holding Volume Down for a long time (sometimes 20–30 seconds), or try Volume Down + Volume Up. The phone should perform a “soft reset” and boot normally.

The “charger timing” trick

Some older Xiaomi models may auto-start if the system detects a certain voltage pattern when the cable is connected. Try plugging and unplugging the cable a few times in short intervals (carefully, to avoid damaging the USB-C port).

4. Diagnostics: is it hardware failure or a system issue?

Before spending money on repair, confirm whether the button is truly dead. Xiaomi includes a hidden service menu called CIT.

• How to open it? Open the Phone dialer and enter: *#*#6484#*#*.

• Look for “Keys” or “Buttons”. The system will ask you to press specific keys. If pressing Power produces no response, it confirms a hardware fault (flex cable or microswitch).

5. FAQ — most common questions

Can I use the phone like this long-term? Yes. Many people use a phone with a broken Power button for months. The risk is that if the device freezes and needs a “hard restart,” it may be impossible without a working Power button.

Are Play Store apps that replace the button safe? Apps like “Gravity Screen” or “Power Button to Volume Button” can work well, but remember they run constantly in the background. That may drain the battery faster and slightly slow the system because they continuously monitor sensors.

Is the repair expensive? On most Xiaomi phones, the side buttons are on one shared flex cable. The replacement part typically costs around 15–40 PLN, and service labor is usually 80–150 PLN depending on the model. If your phone isn’t rated for water resistance, the repair is generally quick and straightforward.

6. Golden rules for living with a broken Power button

1. Never let the battery hit 0%. This is your top priority. Keeping the charge between 20% and 80% helps you avoid being locked out.

2. Set a power schedule (auto on/off). Go to Settings > Battery > Power schedule. Set automatic power-on (e.g., 6:00 AM). If the phone dies overnight, it may start itself in the morning.

3. Use ADB (advanced users). If you previously enabled “USB debugging,” you can reboot from a computer using adb reboot. This is one of the most reliable emergency methods.

In short: a broken Power button on a Xiaomi phone is an annoying inconvenience—not a death sentence. With MIUI/HyperOS gestures and accessibility tools, you can keep using the device comfortably until you decide to visit a professional service center. Remember: technology should serve you, not the other way around.