Did you plug a Xiaomi Redmi 9 into charging and suddenly the screen went black and white?This feature called "Charge Savings" (or "Black and White Charging Mode") activates automatically on many Xiaomi smartphones to reduce battery load. While the mode is useful for extending battery life, it irritates users who want to see full colors even while charging.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to turn off the black and white screen on Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T models), explain its origins and give recommendations for optimizing charging. All methods are tested on current versions of MIUI 12-14 and do not require root rights. If you are ready to return bright colors to the screen, let’s go!
Why does Redmi 9 go black and white when charging?
The Black and White Screen (or Grayscale) feature is part of the Battery Saver technology that Xiaomi has integrated into MIUI firmware.
- 🔋 Reduced screen power consumption by 10-15% by turning off colored pixels.
- 📉 Reducing battery heat during fast charging (especially for the Redmi 9 with its 18-watt adapter).
- ⚡ Extending battery life by reducing deep discharge cycles.
By default, the mode is activated automatically when:
- 🔌 Connecting the charger (if the charge level is below 20%).
- 🌡️ Exceeding battery temperature 40°C.
- ⚡ Use of a non-original charger with unstable current.
However, many users note that the feature works even at 50-80% charge, which is clearly excessive, due to aggressive energy saving settings in MIUI, which can be adjusted.
Method 1: Disconnect via Battery Settings (the easiest)
If your Redmi 9 runs MIUI 12-14, the first method will take no more than a minute.
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the Battery and Performance section.
- Select the Battery Settings option → Energy saving regime.
- Turn off the slider opposite "Black and white mode when charging" (or "Graceile" in English firmware).
- Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.
If there's no black and white, your version of MIUI is hiding it somewhere else. Try the next way.
Turn off the smartphone from charging|Close all background applications|Check the level of charge (should be) >15%)|Restart the device (if the mode does not turn off)-->
Method 2: Resetting energy saving settings to factory
Sometimes Battery Saver settings get lost after updating MIUI or installing third-party applications to optimize the battery, in which case the reset will help:
- Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional.
- Slip on Battery Reset.
- Confirm the action with a password or pattern lock.
Once reset, all power restrictions will return to factory values, and the black and white charging mode should turn off. If the problem persists, move on to the next method.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting the battery settings will also delete the application’s running time in the background. After the procedure, it is recommended to reset autorun for instant messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
Method 3: Using Developer Mode (for experienced)
If standard settings don't work, you can turn off black and white mode through the developer menu, which requires activation of hidden functions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You're a developer!").
Settings
For developers
Painting
Imitate the space of flowers
Disconnected.
Monochrome
Disable hardware overlays
switched off
These options affect the screen rendering at the system level. If the black and white mode was caused by a failure of the graphics driver, disabling it through the developer menu will solve the problem.
What to do if there is no item "Imitate the space of flowers"?
Method 4: Checking the charger and cable
The black and white mode may be activated due to unstable power, which Xiaomi perceives as a potential threat to the battery.
- ⚡ Unoriginal adapter with power output below 10W.
- 🔌 Damaged cable (fractures, bare wires).
- 🔥 Overheating of the charger (especially when using “fast” charges from other brands).
How to check:
- Connect the original charger from Xiaomi (power 18W for Redmi 9).
- Try another cable (preferably with USB-IF certification).
- Check the temperature of the adapter with your hand – if it is hot, let it cool.
| Type of charging | The probability of the black and white mode | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| The original adapter Xiaomi 18W | Low (5-10%) | The best option |
| Third-party adapter 10W-18W | Medium (30–50%) | Use only with quality cable. |
| 30W+ fast charging (not from Xiaomi) | High (70-90%) | Avoid or disable fast charging in settings |
| Wireless charging | Very high (90%+) | Redmi 9 is not officially supported |
⚠️ Note: Use of uncertified chargers with higher power 20W This could cause the Redmi 9 battery to swell.If you notice the phone is heating above 45°C when charging - turn it off immediately!
Method 5: Update firmware or reset to factory settings
If none of the methods worked, the problem may be a system file failure, in which case:
- 🔄 Update MIUI to the latest version: Go to Settings → The phone. → System Update. Click Check Updates and install available patches.
Hard discharge
- Create a backup copy of data (photos, contacts, messages).
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
Once reset, the black and white mode will be turned off when charging, but you will have to reconfigure the smartphone.
💡
Before resetting, write down your Redmi 9's IMEI by dialing *#06# in the phone app and taking a picture of the screen, which will help restore the network if the connection goes missing after the reset.
Additional Tips for Optimizing the Redmi 9 Charging
To avoid re-enabled black and white mode and extend battery life, follow these guidelines:
- 🔋 Charge up to 80% – the optimal level for lithium-ion batteries.
- 🌡️ Avoid overheating: Do not use your smartphone while charging for games or videos.
- 🔌 Turn off “fast charging” at night: go to Settings → Battery → Quick charging and deactivate it.
- 📵 Turn off mobile data/Wi-Fi overnight if the phone is charged without use.
💡
Black and white is not a malfunction, but a power saving function, and if it only appears at low charge (<15%) or high temperature, it is best not to turn it off, which protects the battery from degradation.