A non-responsive power button can cause a lot of trouble and practically leave your phone unusable. However, a malfunctioning power button isn’t the only reason why someone might not want to use it. For some people pressing the power button every time to turn their phone’s screen on is inconvenient. No matter why you may want to turn your phone’s screen on without using the power button, you can use easy methods to achieve that. The best part is that all the methods to unlock your screen without using the power button that I will list down are completely free. So if you want to unlock your Android phone without the power button, keep reading to learn multiple ways to do so. Tip: To follow the below methods you need to have your phone unlocked already. If you don’t, then put the phone on charge and it will automatically turn on the screen. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it will help set up the below-mentioned solutions.
Method #1: Enable the double-tap gesture to turn on the phone screen
One of the easiest and quickest ways to turn on your Android phone’s screen without using the power button is by enabling the double-tap gesture in settings. Now depending upon the smartphone brand you have, the location of these settings may differ. On some devices, you can find the Smart Assistance option in the main settings menu. However, in the majority of other Chinese and Samsung Android smartphones, this feature may be available in Advanced or Additional settings. Once in Motion Control or Motions and Gesture menu, look for the Double Touch option and enable it.
Now you will be able to double-tap your locked screen to turn your Android phone’s screen on.
Method #2: Remap your Android phone’s power button
If you can not find the double-tap to turn on screen feature in your Android phone’s settings, there are alternative ways you can turn on the screen without using the power button. Several apps are available on Google Play Store that allow you to remap your Android phone’s power button to volume control buttons. I recommend using Button Mapper to remap your Android’s power button because it doesn’t require rooting your phone. Button Mapper is exactly what its name suggests. This small but useful app allows you to remap your Android phone’s power button so you can use the volume buttons to turn the locked screen on. The best part about this app is that it is completely free and doesn’t require you to root your phone to remap the buttons. When you download Button Mapper, it shows all the available buttons on your Android device that you can use as the power button. For example, if you want to use the volume buttons as a power button, you can tap on the Volume Buttons option available in the list of buttons and set a volume button to turn on the screen.
So now, when you press the remapped volume button, it will serve as a power button. You can even use the volume button to turn the screen off.
Method #3: Use your phone’s fingerprint sensor
If your phone’s power button is not working, you can always use your phone’s fingerprint sensor to turn on the screen and unlock it simultaneously. In case you haven’t set up biometric verification on your Android phone, you can do so easily from the settings. Go to the Settings menu and find the Fingerprint option in the settings to set up biometric verification. You need to first have a screen lock set up already before creating a fingerprint lock. Now, whenever you place your fingertip on the fingerprint sensor, your phone will automatically turn the screen on and unlock it at the same time. This may not be a permanent fix, but it allows you to keep using your phone until you can get the power button fixed.
Bonus: Use an app to turn off the lock screen
If your phone’s power button stops working, you may not be able to turn the display off when needed. This can turn into a privacy nightmare as you don’t want to leave your phone unlocked for long periods of time. Apart from setting a shorter auto screen lock duration, you can download apps to lock your screen without using a power button. Screen Off and Lock is a free app that you can download on your Android phone, and it shows a button on your screen that you can tap to lock your phone’s screen at any time.
Conclusion
While the only way to fix a bad power button is to get it repaired from a good repair shop, the above-mentioned methods should get you by until you can take your phone in for repairs. My personal favorite method to unlock the phone screen without a power button is by using the built-in gestures of your phone. Because this method doesn’t require you to download and run any additional apps in the background saving battery life and processing power.
