Mysterious man in the lower right corner of Xiaomi Redmi: what is it and how to remove it?

Have you noticed the strange little icon in the bottom right corner of your Xiaomi Redmi? This little symbol can come on suddenly, haunting device owners, and many people confuse it with a virus, a system bug, or even spyware. It's actually more prosaic -- but equally important for a comfortable phone experience.

In this article, we’ll explore what this icon means, why it appears on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4 and other models, how to turn it off or customize it to suit your needs, and whether it’s connected to developer mode, USB debugging, or special features — and what to do if the icon interferes with games or video watching.

Spoiler: 90 percent of the time, it's not a bug, it's a feature, but it can (and should) be controlled.

What does the icon of a man on Xiaomi Redmi mean?

This icon is a visual representation of the active Mouse Pointer function (or Pointer Location in English firmware), which is part of the developer toolkit and is designed to debug the interface. When the function is on, a small white or grey person (sometimes with a cross or dot next to it) appears on the screen that:

• 📍 Shows the exact coordinates of the touches (useful for testing applications).
• 🖱️ Simulates the mouse pointer when connecting to the PC through ADB.
• 🔍 Displays real-time screen taps (for example, to record demo videos).

On Xiaomi, this feature is often activated randomly, such as when you press button combinations in developer mode or after connecting to a firmware computer, and it may also include some automation applications (such as AutoInput or Tasker).

Importantly, the person is not a virus, and does not share your data with third parties, but is a purely local tool that only works on your device, but its constant presence on the screen can be annoying, especially when playing games or watching content.

On which models does Xiaomi appear this icon?

The Mouse Pointer feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI, including:

On older devices (such as the Redmi 5/6 or Mi A2 with pure Android), this feature may not be present — instead of a man, it displays a dot or cross.

Interesting fact: on some models (for example, the POCO F4 GT), the little man only appears when you connect the game controller or mouse over Bluetooth, which is due to the fact that the system automatically activates the pointer for compatibility with peripherals.

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If the person appeared after connecting to the PC, check if there is still active debugging over USB in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times click on it to open the developer menu).

How to remove a man from the screen: step-by-step instructions

There are three ways to disable the mouse pointer on Xiaomi Redmi. Choose the right one depending on how the feature is activated.

Method 1: Through the Developer Menu (most reliable)

1. Open Settings → Additional → For Developers

2. Find the Mouse Pointer (or Pointer Location)

3. Transfer the slider to the off position.

4.Reboot the phone (optional but recommended)-->

If there is no Developer menu item, it should be activated:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.
3. A notification will appear: “You have become a developer!”
4. Return to the main settings menu, and a new section will appear.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 on POCO X5) This is called Touch Show or Pointer Debugging. If you don't find the exact name, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top).

Method 2: Through the notification panel (quickly but not always working)

Sometimes a little guy comes along with an active debugging notification to take it down.

1. Pull the notification panel down.
2. Find a notification that says Debug over USB connected or Pointer activated.
3. Click on it and select Disable.

If there is no notification, try reconnecting. USB-cable to PC and disable debugging manually through the computer (in ADB Enter adb shell settings put global pointer_location 0).

Method 3: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If the little guy doesn't disappear even after all the functions are turned off, the system settings may have gone wrong.

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Choose Reset all settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action.

This will only return the factory settings (including the pointer), but it won't delete your files or apps. Once you reboot, the little people should disappear.

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If the little man reappears after the reboot, check the installed applications for automation programs (for example, MacroDroid or Automate) – they may include a pointer in the background.

Why can a man appear on his own?

In most cases, pointer activation is the result of random user action or app failure.

• 🤖 Enable developer mode and accidentally click on Pointer Location.
• 🖥️ Connect to a PC for firmware or debugging (for example, via the Mi Flash Tool).
• 🎮 Using emulators (such as BlueStacks or MuMu) that activate the pointer for compatibility.
• 🔄 Update MIUI, After which some of the settings are reset.
• 🤖 Viruses or malicious applications (extremely rare, but there are cases when Trojans include debugging for their purposes).

Especially often the problem occurs on devices with custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS), where the developer settings can behave unpredictable.

If a human only appears in certain applications (such as games or instant messengers), the app itself is to blame. Some programs (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) activate the pointer to support gamepads.

What if a person interferes with games or videos?

The mouse pointer can override important interface elements in games or while watching movies.

• 🎮 In games: try changing the screen resolution in the game settings (sometimes the person moves into the corner).
• 📺 In video: Use a double-touch gesture to hide system elements (works on YouTube and Netflix).
• 🔧 Globally: reduce the transparency of the pointer in the developer settings (pointer transparency).

If nothing helps, temporarily turn off the pointer via ADB (PC required):

adb shell settings put global pointer_location 0

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after turning off the pointer ADB It can reappear after the reboot, in which case only completely disabling the developer mode will help (but this will deprive you of other useful features, such as unlocking). FPS play).

Could a human be a sign of a virus?

The mouse pointer itself is not a virus, but in rare cases, its appearance may be associated with malware.

• 🚨 Human appeared after installing the application from an unknown source.
• 🔓 You didn’t turn on the developer mode, but it activated itself.
• 📱 The phone started to slow down, show ads or overheat.

To check the system:

1. Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light).
2. Check the list of device administrators in Settings → Passwords and Security → Administrators.
3. Remove suspicious apps (especially those with special features).

If after removing the viruses, the man remained, just turn it off through the developer settings - it does not pose a threat.

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To avoid accidental pointer activation, turn off the quick developer settings in the notification bar. To do this, go to Settings → Notification Panel → Quick settings and remove unnecessary switches.

Additional Pointer Functions You Didn't Know About

Don’t be in a hurry to get rid of the little man, he can be useful in some situations:

• 📱 Recording a touch screen: If you’re shooting a tutorial video, the pointer will help viewers see where exactly you’re clicking.
• 🖱️ Mouse Connection: Xiaomi with DeX support (for example, Mi 11 Ultra) turns a human into a full cursor.
• 🎯 UI testing: Developers use it to check touch zones in their applications.
• 👆 Gesture control: In some firmware, the pointer shows the swipe trajectory (useful for setting up gesture control).

To adjust the index to your needs:

1. Include Showing Touches in the Developer Menu.
2. Activate the Color of the Pointer (you can choose red, green or blue).
3. Set up the size of the pointer (useful for presentations).

On the POCO F3 and other flagships there are even additional options, such as displaying pressure on the screen (useful for testing the sensor).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the man on Xiaomi Redmi