Always On Display (AOD) in Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

What is Always On Display and Why You Need It in Xiaomi Smartphones

Always On Display (AOD) is one of those little things that is fundamentally changing the user experience: Imagine putting your smartphone up on the table, and instead of a black screen, you see the time, date, notifications, or even animations. You don't have to press the power button or lift the device — information is always at hand. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this technology has become widespread, from the flagship Mi 10 models to the budget Redmi Note of recent generations.

But how does it work? AOD in practice? The basis is AMOLED-screen (or its variants, such as Super) AMOLED or dynamic AMOLED), So, each pixel is individually illuminated, so that the black areas of the screen are effectively turned off and the color areas consume minimal energy, for example, displaying white time on a black background consumes a battery several times less than fully turning on the display. Xiaomi has further optimized the technology by adding low refresh rate (1 Hz) modes and adaptive backlighting.

Why is this important to users? First, AOD in Xiaomi can last up to 24 hours without a noticeable impact on autonomy if configured correctly. Second, it solves the problem of blind notifications: you no longer miss an important call or message just by looking at your phone. Finally, it's a matter of style - animations, themes and even personal images make the gadget unique.

How to turn Always On Display on Xiaomi

Activate AOD on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO You can take a few steps. AMOLED-screen (on devices with IPS-The instructions are universal for most models on the MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen.
2. Select Always On Display (some firmware may call it Screensaver or Lock Screen).
3. Activate the slider at the top of the screen.
4. Set up the parameters: display style, work schedule, brightness.

To disable the feature, just go back to the same menu and move the slider to the left. Note: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50 Pro), AOD can automatically deactivate when the battery level is low (usually below 15%).

Check the screen type (must be AMOLED)

Update MIUI to the latest version

Charge your phone to at least 20%

Turn off the power saving mode-->

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global function AOD It may be limited compared to the Chinese firmware version, for example, in some regions animated screensavers or font customization are not available.

Always on Display: Which to Choose

Xiaomi offers several options for displaying information in AOD mode, which depends on your priorities: autonomy, functionality or aesthetics.

• 🕒 Classic: time, date, battery level and notification icons. Minimalist design with low power consumption.
• 📱 Extended: Weather, steps (if you have a Mi Band fitness bracelet connected) and short text messages are added.
• 🎨 Animated: dynamic screensavers (e.g. falling leaves, moving clocks or abstract patterns) Beautiful, but consumes the battery faster by 10-15%.
• 🖼️ Personal: the ability to upload your own image or use a photo from a gallery. Energy consumption depends on the background color (dark tones save charge).

What is the optimal mode? If autonomy is critical (for example, on a trip), choose classic or extended with minimal brightness. For everyday use, animation is suitable, and for self-expression – personal mode. On Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5 Pro models, an additional Breathing Light mode is available.

The Impact of Always On Display on Autonomy: Myths and Reality

One of the main fears of users is that AOD will drain the battery in a few hours. In practice, it depends on three factors: screen type, operating mode and battery capacity. For example, on Xiaomi 12S Ultra (4860 mAh), classic AOD reduces battery life by only 2-3% in 8 hours, while on the Redmi Note 11 Pro (5000 mAh), this figure can reach 5-7% due to less optimized software.

To minimize your charge consumption, follow these tips:

• 🔋 Set a work schedule AOD (For example, only during working hours).
• 🌓 Use adaptive brightness or set it to 30-50%.
• ⚡ Turn off animations and select static screensavers.
• 📵 Ultra Battery Saver Mode AOD automatically deactivated.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X4 Pro) function AOD It can be in conflict with the Always On mode. VPN. If you notice increased battery consumption, check your network settings.

For an objective assessment, run a test: fully charge your phone, activate AOD and leave your device on standby for 6-8 hours. Compare the percentage of discharge with the AOD disabled. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Lite, the difference was only 1.8% per night – less than the background synchronization of mail consumes!

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If you want to extend the AOD, choose a black screensaver, for example, white digits on a black background consume 5 times less energy than colored patterns.

Comparison of Always On Display in Xiaomi and Other Brands

Technology AOD Xiaomi is not exclusive to Samsung, Apple, Google, and even Realme, but each brand has its own approach. GIF-Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro has been limited to static display of time and widgets, while Xiaomi has found a balance between flexibility and energy efficiency.

Xiaomi’s main advantage is deep integration with MIUI. For example, if you have Yeelight smart bulbs, you can set AOD to show their status (on/off). And models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) support Low Power AOD, which reduces power consumption by 30% by reducing the refresh rate to 1 Hz.

Common Always On Display Problems and Solutions

Even with MIUI, users sometimes encounter AOD bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• ❌ AOD Not enabled: Check if the mode is activated in Settings → Screen. → Always on Display. Update the firmware: MIUI 14.0.5 has been fixed with a feature lock error on some models.Reset screen settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting screen settings.
• ⚡ Fast battery discharge: Turn off animations and set minimum brightness. Check if another power-intensive function is running in parallel (e.g., Constant Search). GPS). Set a work schedule AOD (for example, only from 8:00 to 22:00).
• 🔄 AOD Disables spontaneously: Turn on the option Always show in the settings AOD (Turn off Adaptive Battery mode in Settings → Battery. Check if the phone is overheating (at temperatures above 40).°C AOD may be deactivated).

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Always On Display is missing from the menu, try resetting the system cache via Recovery Mode. + Volume Up, select Wipe Cache Partition and restart the device.

On the POCO F4 GT or Xiaomi 12 Pro models, sometimes there is a bug when AOD shows the wrong time, this is due to the conflict of the system clock and the dual clock function. Solution: turn off the double clock in the lock screen settings.

Previous articleAlways On Display in Xiaomi: What 90% of Users Don’t Know

Few people know, but AOD in Xiaomi has a lot more to do than just show time. Here are some hidden features:

• 🎵 Musical widget: While playing tracks on the screen AOD The album cover and playback progress are displayed.Works with Mi Music, Spotify and YouTube Music.
• 📊 Health statistics: If you connect Mi Band 7 or Watch S3, on AOD You can infer pulse, steps and stress levels (required) MIUI 14).
• 🔒 Hidden Mode: Press and hold your finger on the screen AOD — Quick Action Menu (Flashlight, Camera, Google Assistant).
• 🌙 Night mode: AOD It will dim automatically at night if Adaptive Brightness is enabled.
• 🔄 Dynamic wallpaper: Xiaomi 13 Ultra can be configured to change screensavers AOD depending on the time of day (morning/day/evening/night).

Another little-known feature is the "Screen is always on when charging" mode, which, if you activate it in the AOD settings, the display will display information about the percentage of charge and the time to fully charge, even when the phone is off, which is convenient for monitoring the process without having to turn on the device.

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On models with MIUI 14+, you can create your own animation for AOD through the Theme Editor app (available in Chinese firmware).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Always On Display in Xiaomi