Setting the screen backlight duration on Xiaomi: all ways from standard to hidden

Why it is important to set the screen lighting time on Xiaomi

The screen lighting time is one of the things that directly impacts smartphone usability and autonomy. On Xiaomi devices running MIUI, this setting can be flexibly configured, but not everyone knows about all the options available. By default, the system strikes a balance between comfort and energy saving, but these settings are often not optimal for individual use cases.

For example, if you’re actively reading books or working with documents, a standard 30 seconds before turning off the screen can be annoying to wake up the device. On the other hand, too long lighting time with infrequent smartphone use can reduce battery life by 15-20%, as confirmed by tests from the XDA Developers lab on the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 models. In this article, we will discuss all the ways of settings – from basic to hidden functions of the engineering menu.

The thing about MIUI is that it often hides useful options in non-obvious sections or doesn't document them at all, for example, it's not known that some models can adjust the backlight times to lock the screen and to charge, or that there are applications that allow you to bypass system restrictions without root rights, and more on that and more.

Standard settings of lighting time in MIUI

The easiest way to change the screen auto-disconnect time is through the basic system settings, which works on all Xiaomi devices starting with MIUI 10 and later, including the latest versions of HyperOS.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Screen section (or Display on some firmware).
3. Select the "Sleep" option after (may be called screen timeout or Auto Shutdown).
4. Set the desired time from the options offered: usually 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes.

Most models (Redmi Note 11, POCO F4, Xiaomi 13) have these options available, but the caveat is that when you select a 10 minute value, the system can automatically reset it up to 5 minutes after you restart the device, due to MIUI's energy saving policy, which enforces maximum time limits to save charge.

If you want a value that isn't on the standard list (like 3 or 7 minutes), you'll have to use alternative methods, which we'll talk about later. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) long backlighting time can lead to the effect of burning out pixels - this is warned by the manufacturer in the documentation.

Separate settings for locking and unlocking the screen

A little-known feature, MIUI, allows you to set different backlight times depending on whether the screen is locked or unlocked, which is useful if you want the display to go off quickly when it is down on the home screen, but stay on longer while reading or watching a video.

To activate this option:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Screen. → Additional (or Advanced Settings).
• 🔍 Find the time to disconnect when blocking (may be called a lock timeout).
• ⏱️ Set the desired value (the same options are usually available for the main timeout).
• 🔄 Go back and check that the Sleep section has a different meaning.

For example, you can set 30 seconds for a locked screen and 5 minutes for an unlocked one, a feature that is not available on all devices, as flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) and some POCO F series devices support it. On budget smartphones (Redmi 10A, POCO M5), this option may not be available.

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If your firmware doesn't have "Time to Shut Down When Locked," try updating MIUI to the latest version, which is a feature that appeared in MIUI 12.5 and later.

Use of the Always On Screen (AOD) mode

On devices with AMOLED-displays (Xiaomi 12, Redmi) K50, POCO X4 Pro is available in Always-On Display mode (AOD), It's a system that allows you to display minimal information (time, notifications, battery power) even when the screen is off. It's not really a replacement for full-blown backlighting, but it can be useful in some scenarios.

To set up the AOD:

1. Open the Settings → Screen → Always-On Display
2. Insert the switch in the "On" position.
3. Select the display style (dial, text, graphic element).
4. Set up a schedule or leave the "Always" mode.

It’s important to understand that AOD consumes extra power — about 1-2% charge per hour on most models, but it’s still less than a full-screen backlight. On some devices (Xiaomi 13 Pro), you can set the AOD to activate only when you receive notifications or put your hand to the screen.

Adjustment via ADB (for advanced users)

If you don't have the standard options, you can change the screen lighting time through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to set any value, at least 1 second, at least 30 minutes.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 600000 where 600000 — time in milliseconds (in the example — 10 minute).

To return the standard settings, use the command:

adb shell settings delete system screen_off_timeout

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Enable developer mode |Activate debugging on USB|Download ADB Tools (platform-tools)|Connect your phone with the original cable-->

This method works on all Xiaomi devices, but has a limitation: after updating the firmware or resetting the settings, the value will reset to the standard, and some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online) can block work on devices with USB debugging enabled.

Applications for flexible lighting settings

If you need more flexible backlight time management without using ADB, you can use third-party apps.

For example, Keep Screen On allows you to create a whitelist of apps that will never turn off the screen (useful for navigators or books), and Tasker can automatically increase the backlight time when the smartphone is connected to charging, or reduce it at night.

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Google Play apps can’t get around the MIUI system limitations by 100%, and the maximum backlight time they can set depends on your firmware’s energy saving policy.

Before installing, check the reviews about compatibility with your Xiaomi model - some applications may not work correctly on devices with HyperOS. Also remember that constantly running the screen at maximum brightness reduces the resource. AMOLED-diagram 10-15% per year (displayMate data).

Hidden functions of the engineering menu

For the most advanced users, it is possible to adjust the backlight time through the engineering menu (#4636###), which allows you to bypass some of the limitations of MIUI, but you need to be careful - incorrect settings can lead to failures.

To change the lighting time:

1. Enter the code ##4636## in the Phone app.
2. Select Battery Information (or Battery Information).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Timeout Settings.
4. Set the desired value in seconds (maximum 3600 seconds/1 hour).

This method does not work on all devices – on some models (Redmi 9, POCO M3), the engineering menu can be blocked by the manufacturer, and after applying the settings, it is recommended to restart the smartphone so that the changes take effect.

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Before entering the engineering menu, back up the data. In rare cases, incorrect settings can lead to a reboot cycle.

Optimal settings for different use cases

The timing of the lighting depends on how you use your smartphone. Here are recommendations for situations:

• 📖 Reading books/documents: 5-10 minutes (or use) AOD minimally bright).
• 🎮 Games: 2-5 Minutes - long-term illumination is not necessary, as the screen is actively used.
• 📊 Working with office applications: 3-7 minutes (depending on the intensity of data input).
• 🚗 Navigation: Always on (use apps like Keep Screen On).
• 🔋 Battery savings: 15-30 seconds + adaptive.

For devices with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 13, Redmi K60) You can use dark themes and modes. AOD — This will reduce energy consumption by 20-30% compared to the constant lighting of the entire screen. LCD (Redmi 10C, POCO M5s) It is better to adhere to standard values 1-2 Minutes, as these displays consume the same amount of power regardless of the color of the pixels.

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On devices with a battery capacity of less than 4000 mAh (for example, Xiaomi 12 Lite), long-term screen illumination (> 5 minutes) can reduce battery life by 30-40% when used actively.

If you often forget to turn off the screen manually, consider using a fingerprint sensor to lock quickly. On most Xiaomi devices, you can set up a double tap on the fingerprint sensor to turn off the screen, which will save you charge and eliminate the need to press the power button.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen backlighting