Introduction: why you need to block orientation on Xiaomi smartphones
The screen orientation lock feature is one of those little things that dramatically affect the usability of a smartphone. On Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), this option does not work as clearly as on the “naked” Android, due to the proprietary shell of MIUI. Many users face a situation where the screen spontaneously turns into a landscape orientation while reading, watching video or even typing – or vice versa, stubbornly remains in an upright position when horizontal.
In this article, we’ll look at all aspects of Xiaomi targeting locking, from basic settings to hidden developer settings, from differences between models to solving typical problems. You’ll learn how to make the screen spin only when it’s really necessary, why sometimes the feature works “once again,” and what to do if the orientation lock is suddenly lost from the settings menu.
Where to lock orientation on Xiaomi: 3 ways to access
Depending on the MIUI version and smartphone model, the path to orientation settings may vary. Here are three main ways to find this feature:
- 📱 Through the notification bar: swipe two fingers from top to bottom to open the full panel, and find the Screen Turn icon (usually depicted as a circular-arrow phone). On some firmware, this switch may be hidden - it needs to be added manually (more on this below).
- ⚙️ Through System Settings: Go to Settings → Display. → On the new versions. MIUI 14+ The path may be different: Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Crash-turn.
- 🔧 Through application settings: Some programs (like YouTube or Gallery) have their own orientation settings that may conflict with the system settings. Check the settings of a particular application if the screen is acting strange only in it.
On models with POCO Launcher or HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi 14 and newer), the menu may look different. For example, in HyperOS, the orientation lock is moved to Settings → Screen and brightness → Screen Rotation, and the switch in the notification panel is now called “Orientation Fixing”.
How Xiaomi’s Smart Lock Works and Why It’s Baffling
One of the most confusing innovations in MIUI is the smart orientation lock, which automatically locks the screen upright in certain situations.
- 📖 When reading books or long articles in the browser.
- 💬 When typing in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
- 📊 When watching vertical videos on TikTok or Instagram Reels.
The problem is that this feature doesn't have a separate switch in the settings. It activates automatically when the system thinks horizontal orientation is uncomfortable, often leading to the user trying to manually unlock the screen, but nothing happens because it's the smart fixation that works.
How to disable the “smart lock” completely?
Another nuance: on some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), smart locking only works in certain applications, a list of which will be sewn into firmware. If your application is not on this list, the screen will rotate freely, even if you do not want it.
Why Orientation Blocking Doesn't Work: 7 Common Causes and Solutions
If the autorotor switch is on but the screen still doesn’t turn (or turns spontaneously), the problem may be one of the following:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The screen doesn't turn at all. | Failure of the accelerometer sensor | If it doesn't work, check the sensor with ##6484#. |
| The turn only works in some applications. | The application has its own orientation settings | Go to the settings of the problem application and check the display parameters. |
| Autoturn icon disappears from notification panel | Resetting the panel settings or updating MIUI | Add it manually: click on "Edit" (pencil) in the notification panel and drag the icon back. |
| The screen is turning with a delay | Power saving mode activated | Turn off the battery mode in Settings → Battery or add a problem application in exceptions. |
Especially often, orientation problems arise after the MIUI update, for example, after switching to MIUI 14, many Redmi Note 11 users complained that the screen stopped turning in Google Chrome, although everything worked fine in other browsers, in which case cleaning the app cache helped.
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If the screen doesn’t rotate in a particular app (e.g. in a game), try to force horizontal orientation through Settings → Apps → Application Management → [application name] → Fixed orientation.
Hidden orientation settings: what can be changed through the developer mode
For advanced users, MIUI has a few hidden settings that allow you to fine-tune the behavior of the screen to access them:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
- Find the orientation-related options (their names may vary depending on the firmware version).
Here are the most useful options:
- 🔄 Turn off automatic orientation lock - deactivates the "smart" screen fixation.
- 📱 Simulate display rotation – allows you to force any orientation (useful for testing).
- ⚡ Accelerating sensors – reduces latency when turning (may increase battery consumption).
In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5 Pro) in developer mode you can also find the Adaptive refresh rate setting when you turn it off, the screen will rotate smoother, but you may see a flicker.
The phone is on a flat surface.|No magnetic interference (magnet covers, power bank)|The accelerometer shows the correct values in the test mode (#6484##)|The gyroscope is calibrated (can be done through the app). GPU Test)-->
How to set the orientation for individual applications
MIUI has the ability to customize the orientation settings for each application, which is useful if you want the screen to always stay vertical in messengers, but rotate freely in the video player.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the app you want (such as WhatsApp).
- Slip on the Fixed Orientation and set your preferred position (vertical, horizontal, or automatic).
This function has limitations:
- ❌ Does not work for system applications (e.g. Camera or Phone).
- ❌ Some games, for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact ignores these settings and enforces its orientation.
- ❌ After updating the application, the settings may reset.
For games and system applications, you can use a workaround: applications like Rotation Control or Set Orientation (require ADB rights), which allow you to create rules for any software, including those that usually ignore system settings.
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The orientation settings for individual applications are only applied once they have been restarted, and if you have changed the settings but the screen is still behaving, close the application and reopen it.
What to do if the orientation block has disappeared from the settings
Sometimes, after updating MIUI or resetting the settings, the autorotation icon disappears from the notification bar, and there is no "Rotate" option in the Settings → Display menu. This is not a critical error, and it can be corrected in several ways:
- Add the icon to the panel manually: Open the notification bar and tap on "Edit" (pencil icon). Find in the "Screen Turn" (or "Spin") list and drag it to the active area.
- Reset the notification panel settings: Go to Settings → Notification Panel and Status Bar. Select Reset Panel settings.
- Update your firmware: If the problem has occurred after the update, check for new versions of MIUI in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
If none of these things worked, you may have system-level autorotation enabled in your firmware, which is true for some custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) or for devices with damaged sensors, and then you just have to use third-party orientation control apps.
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On some models (such as the Xiaomi Mi A3 or POCO X3 NFC), the autorotation function may be hidden due to the features of the Android One firmware. To return it, you need to manually edit the build.prop file or install a patch through Magisk.