Ambient Mode on Xiaomi: How to enable, configure and use it usefully

Xiaomi's Ambient Mode makes your TV or smartphone a stylish interior when the device is not in use. Instead of a black screen, you'll see useful information — time, weather, notifications, or even artistic compositions. But how do you activate this feature if it doesn't turn on the first time? And what Xiaomi models are actually supporting Ambient Mode in 2026?

In this article, we will analyze not only the basic steps to turn on the mode, but also hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise. You will learn how to avoid typical errors (such as why the screen goes out after 5 minutes), what widgets you can add, and how to make Ambient Mode work consistently even on budget models. TV Redmi Smart TV We have prepared a separate section with branded chips.

What is Ambient Mode and Why is it Needed?

Ambient Mode is a feature that transforms a device's screen turned off into an information bar, instead of an empty black field, you get:

• 🕒 Watch with a choice of dial style (analog, digital, minimalistic).
• 🌤️ Weather forecast for the week and current temperature.
• 📅 Calendar with reminders and events from Google Calendar or Mi Account.
• 🎨 Art wallpapers that change automatically (e.g. landscapes or abstractions).
• 🔔 Notifications of missed calls, SMS or messaging.

Xiaomi Ambient Mode is often referred to as Always-On Display (AOD) It's a screen off display, but the point is the same, and the main advantage is that it saves energy, and it uses minimal electricity. OLED-panels - up to 1% of the usual mode, and LCD-Matrices of backlighting works at 5-10% brightness.

Why is it convenient? Imagine waking up at night and wanting to know the time, not turning on the main lights, or cooking in the kitchen and looking at the TV screen to see a recipe or a timer. Ambient Mode makes interaction with the technique more intuitive — without unnecessary clicks and delays.

What Xiaomi devices support Ambient Mode

Not all Xiaomi gadgets are equipped with this feature, here is the current list of devices with support for Ambient Mode for 2026:

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs older than 2022, Ambient Mode may not even be available in the firmware. TV 4S 55" (2021) does not support this feature due to hardware limitations.

If your model is on the list but the mode is not in the settings, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware. You will find the update instructions in the section below.

How to turn on Ambient Mode on Xiaomi TVs

Activation process on Mi TVs TV Redmi Smart TV differs depending on the version MIUI TV. We'll look at both options.

Method 1: Through basic settings (MIUI TV 3.0 and later)

1. Open Settings (cog in the upper right corner of the main screen).
2. Go to the Screen and Sound section → Screen. → Ambient Mode (or Always-On Display).
3. Activate the switch to Enable Ambient Mode.
4. Choose the display style: 🕰️ Clocks (analog/digital). 🌅 Weather (with animation or static). 🖼️ Painting (from gallery or standard wallpaper).

Set up a schedule:

• 🔄 Always (working all the time).
• 🌙 At night (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00).
• ⏳ Timer (on for 1-12 hours).

💡

If after the update Ambient Mode and did not appear, try resetting the TV settings to factory (Settings) → System system → Resetting. This often helps with software failures.

How to activate Ambient Mode on Xiaomi smartphones

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO The feature is called Always-On Display (AOD) It only works on devices with AMOLED-Here's how to turn it on:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to the Screen. → Always-On Display (or Ambient Display).
3. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
4. Set up the information displayed: ⏰ Time and date (you can choose font and color). 📱 Notifications (from selected applications). 🔋 Battery charge (displayed as percentage).

In the Schedule section, select:

• 🔄 Always (constantly active).
• 🕒 By time (for example, from 8:00 to 23:00).
• 🔌 Only when charging (savings battery).

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with LCD-screens (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or POCO M6) Ambient Mode is not physically available, and you can't activate it even through the engineering menu.

After inclusion AOD screen flickering or displaying artifacts, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📱 Disable and turn on the function again.
• 🔧 Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Hidden settings and chips Ambient Mode

The manufacturer doesn't talk about all the features of the mode, but here are some life hacks that will make your Ambient Mode unique:

1. Adding your own wallpaper

On Xiaomi TVs, you can upload your images for the background:

1. Copy the photos on USB-storage device JPG/PNG, permit 1920×1080).
2. Put the flash drive in the TV and open the Gallery.
3. Select an image → Install as an Ambient Mode wallpaper.

On smartphones, you will need a third-party application, such as Always On. AMOLED (available on Google Play).

2. Manual brightness adjustment

By default, the brightness in Ambient Mode is adjusted automatically, but it can be fixed:

• On TVs: Settings → Screen. → Ambient Mode → Brightness (move the slider to the desired value).
• On smartphones: Settings → Screen. → Always-On → Screen brightness in mode AOD.

⚠️ Warning: Too high brightness in the dark can lead to pixel burnout on the AMOLED-The optimal value is 20-30%.

3. Displaying user text

On some TV models (e.g., Mi) TV Q2 2026: You can add your text to the screen:

Settings → Ambient Mode → Set up widgets → Add text

This is convenient for displaying:

• 📌 Reminders (e.g., "Buy milk").
• 🎂 Important dates (birthday, anniversary).
• 📍 Coordinates or addresses (if TV is used in the office).

💡

On Xiaomi smartphones, user text in Ambient Mode can only be added through third-party apps, since the standard feature does not support this.

4.Integration with a smart home

If you have Xiaomi Smart Home devices (such as Yeelight light bulbs or Mi Home sensors), you can display their status in Ambient Mode:

1. Open the Mi Home app.
2. Go to Profile. → Settings → Integration with other devices.
3. Choose your TV or smartphone from the list.
4. Activate the option to Show the status of devices in Ambient Mode.

The screen will now show:

• 💡 Status of lamps (On/Off).
• 🌡️ Temperature and Humidity Sensor (Mi Temperature and Humidity Sensor).
• 🚪 Door/window status (if opening sensors are installed).

Why Ambient Mode Doesn't Work: Typical Problems and Solutions

If the mode does not turn on or is malfunctioning, check the following points:

If none of these things work, try resetting your device to the factory settings. On TVs, you do this by:

Settings → System → Reset → Reset all settings

On smartphones:

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings

⚠️ Note: Reset will delete all installed apps and accounts, but will not affect files on the internal drive (photos, videos, documents). → Additionally. → Backup.

How to Disable Ambient Mode and Save Your Charge

Despite its low power consumption, Ambient Mode still consumes battery (on smartphones) or electricity (on TVs).

On Xiaomi TVs:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen. → Ambient Mode.
2. Turn off the switch at the top of the screen.
3. To completely disable, reset the screen settings: Settings → Screen. → Resetting screen settings.

On Xiaomi smartphones:

1. Open the Settings → Screen → Always-On Display
2. Deactivate the function.
3. For additional battery savings, turn off the Wake Up and Double Touch to Wake up in the same section.

If you want to keep Ambient Mode but reduce your energy consumption:

• ⏳ Set a schedule (for example, only at night).
• 🔌 Activate the mode only when charging.
• 🌑 Reduce the brightness to a minimum.
• 🔔 Turn off the notification display.

💡

On TVs with OLED-Ambient Mode screens have virtually no effect on the life of the matrix, if the brightness does not exceed 30%. LCD-The power consumption of panels is higher, but still minimal (about 1-3 W / h).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Ambient Mode on Xiaomi