- Xiaomi phones allow you to turn off the device using a physical button, key combinations, and accessibility features.
- HyperOS introduces changes to the power button, integrating the assistant and offering gestures and shortcuts.
- Scheduling power on/off and using Google Assistant makes it easier to manage your phone when the buttons fail.
- Shutting down or restarting periodically improves performance, frees up RAM, and helps prevent persistent errors.
I'm sure if I ask you How do you usually turn off your mobile phone?Many would answer without hesitation: “Well, I almost never turn it off.” And that’s quite common; we’re glued to our smartphones, and it’s normal for them to be always on, just locking and unlocking the screen hundreds of times a day. Even so, turning off or restarting your Xiaomi from time to time is not only recommended, but it also has benefits. several very convenient ways to do itbeyond the typical side button.
With the arrival of MIUI 14 and, above all, of HyperOSXiaomi has been changing the way the phone is turned off, adding features such as Google Assistant to the power button and different shortcuts from accessibility settings. This has led many users to find that they can no longer turn off their phones as they did before, or that they don't know where to tap. Here you will see, step by step, All the methods to turn off a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile phonewhether the buttons work well, are half dead, or simply don't respond.
The two main ways to turn off a Xiaomi phone using buttons
The classic method is still there, but Xiaomi has added a small variation that might cause some confusion the first time you use it. The idea is that you can choose between hold down the power button or combine it with the volume buttons, especially on phones with HyperOS where the power button often launches the assistant.
On models with MIUI 14 or earlier versions, it's normal for the power button to appear when you press and hold it for a few seconds. shutdown and restart menuFrom that screen, you can swipe to turn off, restart, or access other options depending on the model. It's pretty straightforward and it's what we've all been using for years.
With HyperOS and some recent versions, Xiaomi has decided that holding down the power button will serve to invoke the Google Assistant (or to your configured digital assistant). This is fine if you use the assistant a lot, but it's a hassle if you just want to turn off your phone and find that the power menu isn't anywhere to be found.
In these cases, the system forces you to use a key combination. To turn off your phone, you will need to Press and hold the power button and the volume up button simultaneously for a few seconds. When you do this, you'll see the menu on the screen with options to power off, restart, or enter other special modes. It works identically on most Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO models with HyperOS.
Within HyperOS's accessibility settings, there's even a specific setting related to the shutdown function. If you go into the accessibility settings, the system clearly shows you that you have Two methods to access the terminal shutdownTo turn it on, press and hold the power button for 3 seconds or use the power + volume up combination. The great thing is that you can choose whichever method is most convenient for you.
Configure shutdown from accessibility and gesture shortcuts
HyperOS and the latest versions of MIUI include a good number of accessibility options designed to make using your phone easy for everyone. These features include: gesture shortcuts and the accessibility menuwhich allow you to turn off the device without relying so much on the physical buttons.
If you want to see the two shutdown options offered by HyperOS, it's very simple. On a recent Xiaomi device, for example a Xiaomi 17 with HyperOS 3, you just need to open the Settings appScroll down to find the Accessibility section and enter it. Inside, you'll see a tab called "General," which is the one we're interested in for these settings.
In that "General" section, one of the first options is to Gesture shortcutsIf you go in, you'll find a section dedicated to the "Power Off" function, where the system details the ways to perform the shutdown action. There you can also see if the button combination is activated or if you prefer to simply press and hold the power button for a few seconds.
Thanks to this configuration, Xiaomi allows users who have problems with physical buttons, or simply don't want to wear them down too much, to opt for alternative gestures and shortcutsIt's a way to extend the lifespan of the device and make it more accessible for people with motor difficulties who need simpler or touch controls.
Another very useful possibility within accessibility is the Accessibility menuIt's a floating bar that appears on the screen and gives you quick access to several basic functions, including the power button. To activate it, go to Settings, then Additional settings, then Accessibility, and tap "Accessibility menu" to enable it.
Once the menu is activated, you'll see an orange button on the screen that you can tap at any time. Tapping it opens a shortcut bar These include the "Power" option. If you tap it, the system displays the power menu, and you just need to swipe up or follow the prompts to completely turn off your Xiaomi, without using the physical side button.
Turn off the Xiaomi if the power button is not working properly
When the power button starts to malfunction, gets stuck, or simply stops responding, the situation becomes complicated. Even so, Xiaomi phones offer several alternatives. Turn off the device without the buttons working., taking advantage of both software access and extra system functions.
One option is to use scheduled power on/off times. Many Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO models have a built-in function that allows this. schedule a specific time for the mobile phone to turn off and another one for it to turn on automatically. It's ideal if your button is broken and you're worried you won't be able to turn your phone back on.
To configure it, you need to go to Settings and, depending on the model, look for the option in the Security section or by typing something like "schedule power on/off" directly into the search bar. Once in this section, you'll see the option to “Scheduled shutdown”where you can specify the time you want your phone to turn off. You can even set it to repeat every day at the same time if you wish.
If what worries you is not being able to turn it on afterwards Because the physical button is partially broken, within the same settings there is usually also an option to “Scheduled start”This way, you can choose both the power-off and power-on times, for example, so that the phone turns off at night when you go to sleep and turns on automatically in the morning at the time you usually get up.
Another alternative if the power button doesn't respond is to lean on the accessibility menu with its floating button As we mentioned earlier, activating this on-screen bar will allow you to turn off your phone directly from the touch panel. Simply select the power option and complete the gesture to turn it off, without having to press anything physical.
In the worst-case scenario, when the power button is completely dead and the screen is also not responding as it should, there is always the most rudimentary option: Let the battery run down completelyIt's a slow and somewhat frustrating method if you have a lot of battery left, but it eventually works. To speed up the process, you can play videos, play demanding games, turn the brightness up to maximum, or keep several apps open to increase power consumption.
Use Google Assistant to turn off your phone
If you have Google Assistant set up on your Xiaomi, either through the power button or via the classic "Hey Google", you can also order him directly to turn off the phoneHowever, this feature requires that you have previously granted the necessary permissions for the assistant to have access to control of the device.
The process is as simple as activating the assistant with the keyword or by holding down the corresponding button, and saying something like “turn off your phone”If everything is configured correctly, you will see a confirmation on the screen to make sure you want to perform the action, and in a few seconds the phone will turn off without going through any more menus.
It should be noted that in some recent models where Xiaomi has begun to integrate the Gemini assistant instead of Google AssistantThis command is not yet supported. In such cases, when you try to turn off the phone with your voice, the assistant will tell you that it cannot and will remind you that you can turn off the phone using the volume and power buttons or through the system settings.
If you prefer to use the power button as before, without it launching the assistant, you can change that behavior in the settings. You'll need to go to Settings, then to Additional settings, and then to Gesture shortcutsOn that screen, you'll see an option usually called "Run the digital assistant by holding down the power button." If you disable it, the button reverts to its traditional function of displaying the power menu.
From that point on, simply press and hold the power button for a few seconds to bring up the screen with options to power off, restart, or enter other modes. This is a good idea if you rarely use the assistant and just want to quick and direct access to the terminal shutdown.
Force shutdown when the mobile is locked or unresponsive
Sometimes, the phone can completely freeze: the screen becomes unresponsive, the keys seem dead, and the system doesn't react to any gestures. In these more extreme situations, Xiaomi allows force the device to shut down using a combination of buttons, although it should be remembered that this should be the last resort.
The most common way to force a shutdown on many models is to Press and hold the power button for more than 8-10 secondsIn some cases, such as certain Redmi 2 Pro models or other older devices, the Xiaomi or Android logo will appear on the screen after a few seconds, indicating that the phone is restarting. In others, the device will turn off completely and you will have to turn it back on.
If the device is so frozen that it doesn't even respond to that long press, another possibility is combine the power button with the volume down buttonPress and hold both buttons simultaneously until the recovery menu appears. In this menu, you can navigate using the volume buttons and select options with the power button.
Within recovery mode, there is usually an option called "Shutdown" or "Power off". If you select and confirm it, the phone will... It will shut down completely from the recovery menu itself.It's a very useful tool when Android is locked and there's no way to access the system to turn it off from the traditional menu.
In even more drastic cases, some users are forced to repeatedly enter recovery mode or even boot into recovery mode. fastboot mode to try to get the phone out of a boot loop or a state where it won't start up. If after forcing it to shut down and turn it back on it still doesn't respond, there may be a hardware failure in the motherboard, memory, screen, or the power button itselfIn which case, it is advisable to take the device to a technical service or use the warranty.
It's important to remember that forced shutdowns are considered an emergency measure. Excessive use of this method, especially if the phone is interrupted while writing data, can cause problems. Increase the risk of file or system corruptionIt's not the most common situation, but as a precaution, it's always recommended to use forced shutdown only when there is no other alternative.
Double tap and other gestures to turn on or "sleep" the screen
In addition to all the options for turning off the device, Xiaomi offers quick gestures to turn only the screen on and off, which helps to reduce wear and tear on the lock button and makes daily use more convenient. One of the most practical gestures is double-tapping the screen when the device is locked.
The idea is simple: with two quick, soft taps on the screen You can turn it on and see the time, notifications, or the lock screen content. When you're finished, you can double-tap to turn the screen off again and put the phone to sleep, without needing to pick it up or search for the side button.
This gesture is especially useful when your phone is on the table, the sofa, or the nightstand and you just want to quickly check who's messaged you or what notifications have arrived, without fully unlocking the device. It makes life much easier and also helps to... The physical button is used less and lasts longer in good state.
To activate it, you have to go into Settings and scroll down to the section “Always-on display and Lock screen.” Within that menu you’ll find an option called something like “Double-tap to turn the screen on or off when the device is locked.”By activating that switch, double tap will be enabled.
In that same section, the "Lift to wake" function is also usually available, which turns on the screen with just a simple tap. pick up and lift the smartphone from the surface where it is located. By combining the double tap with this gesture, you can practically forget about using the power button to check quick notifications, further reducing wear and tear on the hardware.
Why it's a good idea to turn off or restart your Xiaomi phone from time to time
It might sound like dad advice, but the truth is, mobile phones really benefit from being... Turn it off or restart it from time to timeToday, even entry-level smartphones perform a lot of simultaneous processes: background apps, system services, notifications, synchronizations, games, social networks... all of that gradually eats up RAM.
When too many applications are open, poorly optimized processes are running, or services are freezing, the system starts to slow down, and small errors or warnings appear. Performance is no longer as smooth as it used to beThat's where a simple restart makes all the difference: by turning off, Android frees up RAM, closes stuck processes, and "redeploys" system resources.
In addition, many internal adjustments, minor updates, or calibrations of certain components, such as the battery, take advantage of power cycles to perform these adjustments. finish applying correctlyThat's why it's usually recommended to turn off or restart your mobile phone at least every so often instead of leaving it on all the time for months without a break.
A reasonable frequency for most users is Turn off your mobile phone approximately every two weeksThere's no hard and fast rule, but it's a good habit to help your device maintain more stable performance, free up resources, and run a bit smoother. If you prefer, you can also opt for short restarts from time to time instead of keeping it off for extended periods.
As for the recommended time to leave it off, there's no minimum requirement. If you simply want the system to "reset" a bit, about 5 minutes of shutdown may be enoughIf you want to disconnect too and give your mobile phone a real break, you can leave it switched off for as long as you need, from a few hours to all night.
On the other hand, for many people, leaving the device turned off overnight is preferable. improves the quality of restIt reduces distractions and, incidentally, helps the battery undergo fewer unnecessary charge and discharge cycles. It's a very personal habit, but one that offers benefits both for you and for the overall health of the device.
It is worth emphasizing that, although forced shutdown is useful in emergency situations, This should not become the usual way to turn off the Xiaomi.Excessive use of this method, especially when the system is performing critical tasks, increases the (although still relatively low) likelihood of file damage or data corruption. Whenever possible, use the standard shutdown methods from the system menu or accessibility shortcuts.
With all these options on the table—from the traditional button to gestures, the assistant, accessibility features, or scheduled shutdown—it's clear that Xiaomi offers a very wide range of possibilities for users. Each user can turn off their mobile phone in the way that is most convenient and secure for them.Knowing all these methods allows you to get by if one day the button fails, if the system freezes, or if you simply want to pamper your smartphone a little more and keep it in top condition for as long as possible.