Active lock screen on Xiaomi: features, configuration and hidden features

What is an Active Lock Screen on Xiaomi and Why You Need It

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone, you’ve probably noticed that the screen wakes up when you receive notifications or even for no apparent reason — it displays time, alert icons and sometimes animations — and that’s the Always-On Display, AOD or Ambient Display, a feature that turns a switched-off display into an information bar, but many users don’t realize that this seemingly simple feature hides dozens of settings and use cases.

Unlike the classic Always-On Display (like Samsung or Google Pixel), where the screen is constantly on with minimal brightness, Xiaomi’s technology works differently: the display is activated only when necessary — for example, when you pick up your phone, receive a notification or press the power button — this allows you to save up to 30% of battery power compared to constant AOD, while maintaining all the usefulness of the function. But how it works, which models support the active screen, and how to adjust it to suit yourself — we will understand later.

How the Active Lock Screen Works: Technical Details

Xiaomi’s active screen technology is based on a combination of hardware and software solutions, based on a Always-On display (usually AMOLED or AMOLED+) that can display information on individual pixels without fully activating the backlight. However, unlike competitors, Xiaomi uses dynamic mode: the screen does not burn constantly, but “wakes up” by triggers:

• 📱 Approximation Sensor/Accelerometer: Responsive to phone lift or touch.
• 🔔 Notifications: New messages, calls or reminders.
• ⏰ Alarm/Timer: Activation before the signal.
• 🔋 Charging: Displaying status when connecting to the network.

It’s important to understand that not all Xiaomi models support an active screen.The feature is available on flagships and some mid-budget devices with a high-end display. AMOLED-displays, starting with MIUI 12. It's not on the Redmi Note 10. IPS-It is available on the Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F4 GT. The full list of supported models will be discussed below.

What Xiaomi models support an active lock screen

Ambient Display (as it is called in the MIUI settings) is not available on all smartphones of the brand.

• 📱 Type of display: only AMOLED super AMOLED (exception – some models with E-Ink screens, for example, Xiaomi Civi 2 in the Chinese version).
• 🔄 Version. MIUI: lower MIUI 12 (on older firmware, the function may be missing or not work correctly).
• 💡 Hardware support: availability of light sensor and accelerometer to determine movement.

Below is a table with popular models and active screen support status:

If your model is not in the table, check the support experimentally: go to Settings → Screen → Ambent Display. If there is no item, the function is not available. On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite), the active screen can be hidden in Settings → Additional → Special features.

💡

On smartphones with IPS-screens (e.g. Redmi 9) can simulate an active screen using third-party applications like Always On AMOLED AcDisplay, but it increases battery consumption significantly.

How to turn on and configure an active lock screen

It takes less than a minute to activate the function, but many users don't know where to look for settings.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Screen section.
3. Select Ambent Display (or Always-On Display on global firmware).
4. Activate the switch to show information when blocking.

After you turn on, you can set up:

• ⏰ Display style: time, date, notification icons, battery.
• 🎨 Color scheme: monochrome, color or adaptive (under the background of wallpaper).
• 🔔 Activation triggers: phone lift, new notifications, double touch.
• 🔋 Saving mode: shutdown at night or at low charge.

Enable the function in Settings → Screen → Ambent display

Select the display style (time + notifications)

Set up activation triggers (lift, touch)

Disconnect at night to save charge-->

Some models (such as Xiaomi 13) have additional animations available, such as displaying the weather or music player when playing tracks. To activate them, go to Settings → Personalization → Ambent Display → Additional Styles.

Hidden Active Screen Features: What Your Xiaomi Can Do

Most users use the active screen only to view the time and notifications, but the feature hides much more features.

• 🎵 Music management: on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) when playing a track on a locked screen, pause and switch buttons for compositions are displayed.
• 📸 Quick camera start: double tap on the screen in mode AOD Can open the camera (configured in Settings) → Screen. → Double touch).
• 🔒 Hiding confidential notifications: you can configure to display only the time and date, without message details (included in Settings) → Notifications → Confidentiality).
• 🌙 Adaptive brightness: The screen will automatically dim in the dark if you turn on the option Adaptive backlight.

Another useful feature is the display QR-For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro in mode, you can use a code for quick payment or contact transfer. AOD You can swipe left to show me. QR Mi Pay or Wi-Fi data, this feature is enabled in Settings → Google → Google services → Quick Action (requires authorization in your Mi Account).

💡

The active screen can work as a mini-control panel: it can control music, launch the camera or show the screen. QR-codes without unlocking the phone.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, you can now see widgets on the lock screen, for example, you can display the weather forecast, the steps per day or the exchange rate.

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Ambent Display → Widgets.
2. Select the desired widget (options from Mi Fit, Weather, Calendar are available).
3. Set up a data update period (e.g., every 30 minutes).

How to turn off the active screen and why it may not work

If the function interferes or quickly deactivates the battery, it can be turned off in two clicks:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Ambent display.
2. Deactivate the switch Show information when blocking.

But sometimes the active screen stops working on its own, and here are some common reasons and solutions.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the screen settings:

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting screen settings

💡

On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), the active screen may conflict with the Magisk module. If you have a root installed, try disabling modules associated with display management.

Battery Consumption: The Truth and Myths About Active Screen

One of the biggest fears users have is that they're using more batteries, and let's see if that's justified. XDA Developers, active screen on AMOLED-displays consume an average of 0.5-1.5% charge per hour (depending on the model and frequency of activation:

• 📱 Xiaomi 12 Pro: ~0.8%/hour (when activated every 5 minutes).
• 📱 POCO F4 GT: ~1.2%/hour (due to high screen refresh rate).
• 📱 Redmi Note 11 Pro+: ~0.5%/hour (optimized firmware).

To minimize the cost:

• ⏳ Set a shutdown timer (for example, 23:00 to 7:00).
• 🔄 Choose a monochrome style – it consumes less energy than a colored style.
• 🔔 Disable activation by unimportant notifications (e.g. from games or news apps).

💡

Active screen is not the main cause of fast discharge; on average, its impact on autonomy is comparable to the background work of a messenger like WhatsApp or Telegram.

If you still want to completely disable the function, but at the same time keep the convenience of viewing notifications, consider alternatives:

• 🔔 LED-Indicator: on some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) has an LED that flashes when notified.
• 📱 Lifting to wake up: the screen is turned on only when physically interacting (Settings) → Screen. → Rising to wake up).
• 🔋 Energy saving mode: turns off AOD low-charge.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's active lock screen