Ever wondered why even when your Xiaomi screen is off, it sometimes shows time, notifications, or animations? It's not a system glitch, but a useful feature called the Active Screen (or Always On Display, AOD). Many users turn it off for fear of battery drain, but in fact, a competent setup can make a smartphone more convenient - without noticeable damage to autonomy.
In this article, we will explore not only the main purpose of the active screen, but also little-known scenarios for its use, from quick access to key functions to hidden diagnostics of the device. POCO) support AOD It's a hardware-level thing, and why it works differently on some phones than on flagships. MIUI!
We warn you in advance if you are used to clean" AMOLED-screen without backlighting in standby mode, after reading this article you will want to turn on AOD — But first, let's look at what it really is.
What is Active Screen (AOD) and How Does It Work on Xiaomi?
Always On Display (AOD) is a technology where part of the screen remains on even when the smartphone is locked, and on Xiaomi devices it is implemented differently depending on the type of display:
- 📱 AMOLED/Super AMOLED: pixels are individually illuminated, allowing you to display information with minimal energy consumption (for example, on Xiaomi). 13 Pro or Redmi K60 Ultra).
- 🔄 LCD (IPS): The screen is fully illuminated, so AOD here simulated a short-term display on when pressing or lifting the phone (as on the POCO X5 Pro LCD-matrix).
- 💡 Hybrid mode: on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) AOD It only works when connecting charging or in the dark.
It is important to understand that the active screen ≠ Modern Xiaomi smartphones use adaptive algorithms: brightness AOD It automatically decreases in the dark, and some of the pixels are turned off if the proximity sensor detects that the phone is in your pocket, which saves up to 15-20% of the charge compared to fully turning on the screen at each notification.
Technically, AOD is activated at the MIUI firmware level and controlled via Settings → Screen → Active Screen, but not all users know that this feature can be customized much more deeply, such as adding your own wallpaper or turning it off while you sleep.
7 Real Reasons to Include Active Screen on Xiaomi
Many people think that AOD is just for beauty, but it actually has practical benefits, and here are some specific situations where an active screen is more useful than it seems:
- Quick access to time without unlocking. Especially convenient in meetings or in the movies when you need to watch the watch in secret. On Xiaomi 14 with AOD you can even see seconds - this helps to synchronize actions on the timer.
- Instant response to notifications, such as if you are waiting for an important message on Telegram or a call, AOD will show it without sound or vibration (useful in quiet places).
- Charging control: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), AOD displays battery percentage and charging status – no need to press the power button.
- Security: If the phone is facing up, the AOD can show that the device is unlocked (for example, after a failed attempt to enter a password).
- Sensor diagnostics. On Xiaomi with AOD, you can check the proximity sensor, so if the screen goes out when you put your hand up, it's good.
- Savings power button: On older models (like the Mi 9), the power button wears out over time, and AOD allows you to use it less often.
- Personalization: MIUI 14+ can be used to install custom AOD wallpapers, including animated ones (e.g. shooting stars or waves).
There are hidden chips, too. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra AOD can show Mi Band status (pulse, steps) or even the weather from widgets. And on POCO F5 in AOD mode, the RAM usage indicator is displayed - convenient for gamers.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with LCD-screens (e.g. Redmi 10) are permanent AOD It's impossible, instead it uses a "raise to wake" mode, which is less energy efficient, but it's still useful.
How an Active Screen Affects a Battery: Myths and Reality
The main fear of users is that AOD is eating away the charge, and let's see how that's true.
| Screen type | Battery consumption (in 8 hours) | Savings methods |
|---|---|---|
| AMOLED (Xiaomi 13/14) | 2–4% | Turn off animation, reduce brightness to 30% |
| Super AMOLED (Redmi K60) | 3–5% | Use dark themes, disable the light sensor |
| LCD (POCO X5) | 8–12% | Insert only on notifications |
| E-Ink (Xiaomi Civi 3 - Experimental firmware) | <1% | No need for optimization |
Key findings:
- 🔋 Nana AMOLED The consumption is minimal, because modern matrices only consume energy on illuminated pixels. 12S Ultra AOD black-backed and white-painted spend ~0.5% per hour.
- ☀️ Brightness is the greatest enemy of autonomy. AOD 100% brightness, the consumption will increase 3-4 times.
- 📊 Adaptive AOD (into MIUI 14+) It automatically shuts down when the phone is down or in your pocket, which reduces the consumption by 40 to 50%.
To check the actual consumption on your device:
- Turn on the AOD at 100% brightness and leave the phone motionless for 2 hours.
- Check the statistics in Settings → Battery → Battery use.
- Compare with the flow rate when AOD is turned off (use the aircraft mode for the purity of the experiment).
⚠️ Attention: If, after activation, AOD The phone is running at 20 percent overnight, and the problem is not the function, it's the background activity of the apps. → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
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On Xiaomi with AMOLED, you can save up to 30% of charge if you select the “Hours Only” style in the AOD settings without animation and notifications.
Step-by-step setting up the active screen: from basic parameters to hidden functions
The AOD setting on Xiaomi depends on the MIUI version and the phone model. Consider the universal algorithm for most devices (see MIUI 14 for example):
- Activate AOD: Go to Settings → Screen → Active Screen and turn on the slider. On some models (e.g. POCO F4), this item may be called Always-on display.
- Style Choice: Available Options: 🕒 Only watches – minimalist mode with minimal consumption. 📱 The clock + notifications – shows app icons (such as WhatsApp or SMS). 🎨 Custom – allows you to upload your own image (on Xiaomi) 13T Pro supported GIF).
Scheduling settings:
In the AOD schedule section, you can specify:
- ⏰ Turn on time (for example, only from 8:00 to 22:00).
- 🌙 “Only at night” mode is useful for saving during the day.
- 🔋 Disconnection at low charge (threshold is adjusted).
If none of the solutions worked, check firmware integrity through Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 5 times on the MIUI logo for diagnostics).
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Before resetting or flashing, always back up through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will save your data even if something goes wrong.
Active Screen Alternatives: What to Use if AOD is Not Supported
If your Xiaomi doesn’t support AOD (like Redmi 9A with LCD), there are a few alternative ways to get similar functionality:
- 🔔 Smart Notifications: Enable Rise to Wake Up in Settings → Screen. → Lock and protect. The phone will show notifications when you lift.
- 📱 Widgets on the locked screen: B MIUI 14+ You can add widgets (such as weather or calendar) directly to the lock screen via Settings → Screen. → Locked screen widgets.
- ⏱️ Voice notifications: Set up the Xiao voice assistant AI Time-to-time (Settings) every hour → Voice assistant → Time reminders).
- 🔋 LED-Indicator: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) you can configure the flashing of the LED at notifications (Settings) → Notifications → LED indicator).
- 🌙 Night mode: If you need it AOD Only at night, use automatic screen activation on schedule via MacroDroid or Tasker.
For Xiaomi owners with MIUI 12 and below, there is another life hack: installing live wallpapers with minimal animation (such as a “Sand Watch”) that consume less power than a full-fledged AOD, but give a similar visual effect.
If you want maximum control over notifications without AOD, consider buying a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch smartwatch that can duplicate notifications from a smartphone, saving your phone charge.