Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to record what is happening on the screen or through the camera, without keeping the device permanently on. This can be necessary to create training materials, fix bugs in applications or simply save battery power during long video recording. However, the standard logic of the Android system and the MIUI shell (or the new HyperOS) is built so that the quenching of the display usually interrupts the active processes of the camera or screencasting.
Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have provided several workarounds and hidden settings to implement background recording or shooting with a dead display. In this article, we will discuss the regular system tools, the capabilities of the engineering menu and proven third-party solutions that guarantee a result without root rights.
It’s worth noting that the methods may vary depending on the version of Android and the specific shell modification. If you have an old Redmi Note 8 or the newest Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the energy saving algorithms will be different, but the basic principles will remain the same for the entire ecosystem.
Staff capabilities of the camera and voice recorder
The first thing to check before installing additional software is the built-in applications. In recent versions of MIUI, the camera functionality has been significantly expanded, although the option of directly turning off the screen during video recording is often hidden or implemented through voice control.
Try running the standard Camera app and switching to video mode. Many models, especially global versions, have voice control. Once you say a code phrase, you can stop recording or take a photo without touching the screen, which allows you to keep your finger on the lock button or simply not use the display.
An alternative standard solution is to use the Dictaphone app with the audio recording function when the screen is off, if your goal is audio recording, not video. However, for a video stream, the system often blocks the sensor from working when the display is quenched for safety and energy savings.
- 📱 Activate voice control in camera settings for touchless control.
- 🔒 Use a quick lock screen with the power button if the app supports background mode.
- 🎙️ For audio use the built-in voice recorder, which works correctly in the background.
It is important to understand that the default Xiaomi camera is not designed for long-term background video recording with an all-black screen, as this can be regarded by the system as an attempt at covert shooting.
Configure hidden functions through the engineering menu
For more advanced users, you can log in to the engineering menu, where you can change the behavior of the system when you lock, which requires caution, since changing the wrong parameters can lead to unstable MIUI operation.
To get to the menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. In the list that opens, look for the section associated with the camera or display (the names may differ on different firmwares, look for Camera or Display).
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu may cause resets or modules to function incorrectly!
Some users note that activation of debugging by USB use ADB-The commands allow you to force the camera to remain active, and you need to turn on the developer mode by clicking seven times on the build number in the About Phone section».
Once debugging is enabled, you can use commands to prevent the camera from going to sleep, but this requires connecting to a computer or using a terminal on the device itself.
adb shell settings put secure camera_sleep_on_lock 0This command (if supported by your firmware version) prevents the system from turning off the camera module when the screen is locked. The effectiveness of the method depends on the level of access that the camera application has in a particular version of Android.
Use of third-party applications for background recording
The most reliable way to shoot a video with the screen off on Xiaomi is to use specialized software from Google Play, which is designed specifically to bypass the system limitations of Android.
One of the most popular solutions is the Background Video Recorder app, which allows you to set up a recording to run on a schedule, by sound or by movement, while the screen remains black. API cameras bypassing standard interface constraints.
Another option is to use terminal emulators or specialized security cameras, where MIUI will ask for multiple permissions when installing such software, and it is critical to give away all rights, including "Above Other Applications" and "Auto-Start."
- 📹 Background Video Recorder – classics for hidden and background shooting.
- 🛡️ IP Webcam – turns your phone into a surveillance camera with browser access.
- ⚙️ Open Camera – Open source with flexible settings API.
When using third-party software, video quality may differ from the regular camera, since third-party applications do not always have access to all image processing algorithms of the Snapdragon or MediaTek processor.
Battery optimization and exclusion from energy saving
The main enemy of background recording on Xiaomi is the aggressive battery optimization system. If you run the recording and lock the screen, MIUI in a few minutes will simply kill the camera process to save power.
To avoid this, you need to manually configure the app that will be used to record. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply “Battery”). Find your video recording app on the list.
Change the mode to "No Limits." That's the key point. Also, in the app menu (three dots in the corner or a long click on the icon), select "Space" and turn it on. Without this step, long-term recording with the screen off is impossible.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value | Influence on the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Application settings / Manager | Included. | Allows the start of service in the background |
| Battery mode | Settings → Battery | No restrictions. | Prevents the euthanization of the process |
| Permits | Settings → Applications | Everything (Camera, Microphone, Memory) | Provides access to iron |
| Notifications | Settings → Notifications | Included (important) | Allows you to see the status of the record |
After applying these settings, the system will no longer consider the recording application a “parasitic” process and will allow it to run for hours even when the display is locked.
Screen Recording with Display Off
A separate scenario is when you need to record not the video from the camera, but the actions on the screen (screencast), but at the same time extinguish the display so that it does not burn out or interfere. Xiaomi's standard recorder, unfortunately, stops recording when the screen is quenched.
This will again help third-party solutions like XRecorder or AZ Screen Recorder, which often have a "Write with the screen off" or "Black screen recording" option in their settings, emulating a black screen over the interface, but continuing to capture the video stream.
There's also a method using ADB to force a screencast that ignores the state of the display, which requires you to connect to a PC and execute a command:
adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/demo.mp4The recording will continue until you interrupt the process with the Ctrl+C combination in the terminal or turn off the cable. The screen can be turned off with the power button at this point, the writing to the file will continue.
⚠️ Note: When recording the screen through ADB sound from the microphone can not be written without additional settings privacy policy Android 10+.
Using third-party recorders is more convenient, as they have widgets and floating control buttons that allow you to start and stop the process without unlocking the phone.
☑️ Set up the phone for background recording
Problems with focus and heating during long recording
The long run of the camera with the screen off creates specific problems. Because the screen doesn't glow, you don't see what happens to the focus. Xiaomi's phase-autofocus cameras can "walk" if there are no contrasting objects in the frame.
Also, not using the screen actively doesn't mean no load.The processor encodes video, which causes heating.In glass-body models like the Xiaomi 13 or Redmi Note 12 Pro, heat sink may not be enough when writing in 4K.
Remove the case during long sessions or use external cooling, and in the camera settings (if available through third-party software) it is worth reducing the bitrate or resolution to reduce the load on the ISP (Image Signal Processor).
- 🔥 Control the temperature of the body to avoid trottling.
- 🔋 Use external power as recording quickly puts the battery down.
- 📉 Reduce the permit to 1080p heat-reduce.
If the phone overheats, the system will force the camera to stop, regardless of your power saving settings, a protective mechanism that you can't bypass software without the risk of battery damage.
Why can the video be black?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I record a video with the screen off on Xiaomi without root rights?
Why does the recording stop 10 minutes after the screen is turned off?
Will the sound be recorded if the screen is turned off?
Does the screen not work on the quality of the video?
💡
For the longest possible recording with the screen off, turn off data and Wi-Fi if you don't need them for streaming, which will reduce the heating of the modem and prolong the running time.
💡
The key to successful background recording on Xiaomi is not so much the application itself, but competently configuring permissions and turning off energy saving for a particular process.