You took a screenshot of your Xiaomi Redmi, but instead of a clear image, you got a dark, blurry, or almost black image? This problem is common for many users of the Redmi line, from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Redmi K50. The reasons can lie in both the system settings and the hardware features of the display.
In this article, we will break down 7 main reasons why screenshots turn dark and offer working solutions – from a simple reboot to changing hidden MIUI settings. You will also learn how to prevent a problem in the future and which Xiaomi models are most susceptible to this bug.
1. Automatic adjustment of screen brightness
The most common reason for dark screenshots is adaptive brightness, which automatically darkens the screen when the light level is low, so when you take a picture, the system captures the current brightness of the display, not the maximum brightness.
To check it out:
- 🔦 Open the Settings. → Display. → Brightness and disable the option "Adaptive brightness".
- 📱 Set the brightness on 70-80% manually and take a test screenshot.
- 🔄 If the problem has gone away, turn on adaptive brightness back, but add the display to exceptions for charge savings.
On some Redmi models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+), adaptive brightness works aggressively due to the MIUI algorithms.
Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset display settings2. The Dark Subject or Reading mode is enabled
Dark theme and mode "For reading" (in) MIUI It's called Reading Mode, which changes the color gamut of the screen, which can affect screenshots, and these modes reduce blue light and contrast, which makes the images appear dimmed.
How to check:
- 🌓 Turn off the dark theme in Settings → Display. → Dark subject.
- 📖 Turn off the reading mode in the notification curtain or through Settings → Display. → Reading mode.
- 🔍 Take a screenshot before and after the shutdown – the difference will be noticeable.
How to turn off the reading mode for always?
If you prefer a dark interface but want clear screenshots, use manual themes switching before shooting, such as temporarily turning on a light theme, taking a picture, and then returning the settings back.
3. Error in MIUI Launcher or System Shell
Sometimes dark screenshots are caused by bugs in the MIUI Launcher, Xiaomi’s standard launcher, which is especially true after system updates or when using beta versions of firmware.
Solutions:
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – it will reset temporary launcher errors.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache. MIUI Launcher: Settings → Annexes → Application management → MIUI Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache
- 🛠️ Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion) and check if the problem persists.
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If after cleaning the cache, the screenshots became normal, but after a while the problem returned, try rolling back MIUI Launcher to the factory version in Settings → Applications → MIUI Launcher → Three dots → Remove updates.
On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13/14 for Redmi Note 10 Pro) it helps to disable animations:
Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times to turn on the developer mode)
Settings → Additional → For developers → The scale of the animation window → Turn off4. Illumination sensor malfunction
If the light sensor (located next to the front camera) doesn't work properly, the system may mistakenly assume that you're in a dark room and automatically darken the screen, which directly affects the screenshots.
How to diagnose:
- 🔦 Illuminate the flashlight on the sensor (near the camera) and see if the brightness of the screen changes.
- 📱 Turn on and off automatic brightness – if the brightness doesn’t respond, the sensor is faulty.
- 🛠️ Check the sensor through the engineering menu: ##6484## → Test → Light Sensor
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If the light sensor is faulty, it can be replaced at the service center, the cost of repair for Xiaomi Redmi is from 800 to 1500 rubles (2026).
The temporary solution is to turn off the automatic brightness and use manual tuning, and you can also try resetting the sensor settings:
Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting sensor settings5. Conflict with screen customization apps
Apps like Night Shift, Blue Light Filter, or Screen Filter can put additional filters on the screen that are captured in screenshots, and even after these programs are closed, their effects sometimes persist.
What to do:
- 📱 Check the list of running applications in Settings → Annexes → Launched.
- 🚫 Remove or disable all programs related to screen filters.
- 🔄 Restart the phone after removal.
| Annex | Impact on screenshots | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Night Shift | Yellow, reduced brightness | Disable in the application settings |
| Screen Filter | Severe blackout, gray filter | Delete the appendix |
| MIUI Super Wallpaper | Distortion of colors on the main screen | Change wallpaper to static |
| Game Turbo | Darkening in games and screenshots | Disable in Settings → Special. features → Game Turbo |
If you're using MIUI Super Wallpaper, try setting static wallpapers. These wallpapers sometimes conflict with the screen capture system.
6. Hardware Display Limitations (AMOLED vs LCD)
On smartphones with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Redmi) K40, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) Screenshots may be darker due to the technology. AMOLED displays have dynamic pixel illumination, which is not always correctly fixed when shooting the screen.
Comparison of LCD and AMOLED when taking screenshots:
- 📺 LCD-screens (Redmi) 9A, Redmi Note 10: Screenshots are usually accurate, but can be slightly pale.
- 🔥 AMOLED-screens (Redmi) K50, Redmi Note 12 Pro+): High contrast can lead to darkening of dark areas.
Solutions for AMOLED:
- 🔦 Before the screenshot, increase the brightness to the maximum.
- 📱 Use third-party screenshot applications (such as Screenshot Touch).
- 🛠️ Turn off the engineering menu. DC Dimming (can affect color reproduction): #36446337## → DC Dimming → Off
Increase brightness to 100%|Turn off the dark theme.|Turn off reading mode|Use light wallpaper-->
7. firmware error or system bug
If none of these methods worked, the problem could be the system bug of the current version of MIUI, which is especially true for beta firmware or fresh updates.
How to proceed:
- 📋 Check the version. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
- 🔍 Look for information about the bug in the forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).
- 🔄 If the bug is confirmed, wait for the patch or roll back to the stable version.
List of firmware with known screenshot problems (as of 2026):
- MIUI 14.0.3 for Redmi Note 11 – Dark screenshots in a dark theme
- MIUI 13.0.8 for Redmi K40 – Artifacts in the shooting of games.
- MIUI 12.5 Enhanced for Redmi 9T – Accidental dimming.
For firmware rollback:
- Download the stable version of MIUI from the official Xiaomi website.
- Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
- Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
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Before rolling back the firmware, back up the data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
FAQ: Frequent questions about dark screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi
❓ Why screenshots only darken in some apps (like games or instant messengers)?
❓ Can I fix dark screenshots without resetting settings?
❓ Why screenshots miss some interface elements (for example, notification curtain)?
❓ Does battery discharge affect the quality of screenshots?
❓ Why screenshots in format PNG, not JPG, and how it affects quality?
⚠️ Attention: If dark screenshots appear after a phone drop or moisture hits, the problem may be damage to the display plume, in which case a diagnosis is required at a service center - self-repair can aggravate the breakdown.
⚠️ Note: Some Google Play “optimizers” (e.g. Clean Master or Google Play) DU Speed Boosters can interfere with the system and call up artifacts in screenshots.