Dot Display in Xiaomi: Discuss the technology, functions and settings

What is the meaning of the term Dot Display?

If you own a Xiaomi smartphone in recent years, you probably came across the term Dot Display – a small light indicator on the screen, which replaces the traditional one. LED-Notification indicator: This technology is the brand’s response to the trend of high-end smartphones, where manufacturers are removing physical elements in favor of software solutions. But how exactly does Dot Display work, which Xiaomi models support it, and can it be turned off? In this article, we will analyze all the nuances in detail - from technical implementation to hidden opportunities.

It’s important to understand that Dot Display is not just a point on the screen, but part of the MIUI ecosystem, closely integrated with system notifications, power saving modes, and even control gestures. For example, in the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13 models, this indicator can change color depending on the type of notification (call, message, low charge), and in some firmware it supports animation, and users often confuse it with Always-On Display (AOD) — but these are fundamentally different features, which we will talk about later.

Before we get to the settings, let's look at why Xiaomi actually implemented this technology. OLED- and AMOLED-And so, in the first place, manufacturers could use individual pixels to display information without highlighting the entire display, which reduced power consumption and allowed the display to be placed anywhere on the screen, as opposed to the physical display. LED, But not everyone is excited about this solution: some people complain about the lack of brightness in sunlight, and some people just prefer the classic LED. So should we use Dot Display? Let's figure it out.

Dot Display vs Always-On Display: What’s the Difference?

Many users confuse Dot Display with Always-On Display (AOD), but these are two different mechanisms, albeit based on the same technology - the activation of individual pixels of the screen.

The main difference is that Dot Display designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. It takes up a minimum screen area and only activates when a notification arrives, whereas AOD works constantly, displaying time, date and other widgets. For example, in Xiaomi 12T Pro Dot Display you can configure it to appear only when missed calls, and AOD will show a full dial with animation.

Another important point is that Dot Display does not require additional permissions or security settings, unlike AOD, which sometimes conflicts with privacy policies (for example, when displaying notification content on a locked screen). If you want maximum autonomy, you should prefer Dot Display – it consumes 5-10 times less power than AOD, according to XDA Developers tests.

Which Xiaomi models support Dot Display?

Dot Display technology is available in most Xiaomi smartphones AMOLED- or OLED-screens operated by MIUI 12 and newer. But there are nuances: on budget models (like Redmi). 10A) This feature may be disabled by default or not at all due to hardware limitations. Below is a list of popular devices with Dot Display support:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra – full support with color and animation settings
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+/12 Pro/12S — indicator
• 📱 POCO F5/F5 Pro – Dot Display integrated with Dynamic AOD
• 📱 Xiaomi 12T/12T Pro – support for customization through themes MIUI
• 📱 Redmi K50/K50 Pro/K50 Gaming – the indicator works even in game mode
• 📱 Xiaomi Civi 2/3 — Unique styles for Dot Display (heart, star)

To check if your smartphone supports Dot Display, go to Settings → Screen → Dot Display. If this is not the case, your model is not compatible or you need to update MIUI. Note: on some devices (for example, POCO X5 Pro), the feature may be called Ambient Display or Notification Dot – it is the same.

Interesting fact: in Xiaomi 13 Ultra Dot Display can display not only notifications, but also charging status (for example, a flashing battery when connecting to the network). This feature is currently available only on flagships and requires activation through hidden settings (#4636##).

💡

If you don’t have a Dot Display, there is one. AMOLED-screen, try to install custom firmware on the base MIUI EU — They often add this function.

How to turn Dot Display on or off on Xiaomi?

The Dot Display setup takes less than a minute, but the path to it may vary depending on the version of MIUI. Here is a universal guide for most models:

1. Open Settings and select the Screen section.
2. Scroll down and look for the Dot Display (or Notification Indicator).
3. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
4. Click the indicator style to select the shape (point, line, icon).
5. In the Position section, specify where the indicator will be displayed (for example, the upper left corner).
6. Save the changes and lock the screen to test the work.

If you have MIUI 14 or newer, you will see an additional color indicator option in your settings, where you can assign different colors to notification types (e.g. green for messages, red for missed calls). On POCO models, this section may be called Ambient Connect - don't confuse it with AOD!

To turn off Dot Display, just return the slider to the Off position in the same menu. Note: on some firmwares, after turning off the indicator, notifications can come without sound - this is a bug that is corrected by restarting the device.

Hidden Dot Display Features: What Does the Indicator Do?

Many users use Dot Display only for basic notifications, unaware of its hidden features. Here are a few life hacks that will make your Xiaomi more convenient:

• 🔋 Charging indicator: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) the indicator flashes while charging. To enable this feature, go to Settings → Battery → Charging indicator and select Dot Display.
• 🎵 Music player: During music playback, the indicator can pulse to beat. To do this, activate the option Music visualization in the Dot Display settings.
• 🔒 Do Not Disturb: If you turn on DND, The indicator will appear in gray, signaling that notifications are coming but will not unlock the screen.
• 📱 Double touch: On MIUI 14 you can configure double-tapping on the indicator to quickly open the last notification (included in Settings) → Special facilities → Gestures).

In the Xiaomi 12S Ultra and later, Dot Display supports small animations (such as falling snow in winter themes or bubbles in Do Not Disturb mode). These animations do not affect autonomy, as they use only a few pixels, but can conflict with some shells (such as Nova Launcher).

Another useful feature is that you can link the indicator to specific applications, for example, you can configure Dot Display to turn red only when you notify banking applications, and you can use blue for messengers.

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Application settings.
2. Select the application you want (e.g. SberBank Online).
3. Click the Notification Indicator and specify the color.

Dot Display Problems: Why Does the Indicator Not Work?

If Dot Display is no longer displayed or is not working properly, the reasons may be both software and hardware.

• 🔄 There is no option in the settings: Make sure your model supports the function (see the list above). MIUI last-minute.
• 📵 Indicator does not burn at notifications: Check if notifications for specific applications are disabled in Settings → Notifications.
• 🔋 Dot Display flashes and disappears: This could be due to Power Saving Mode.Switch off Super Power Saving in Battery Settings.
• 🎨 No Color Settings Reset Theme Settings in Topics → Settings → Reset to standard.
• 🔒 The indicator does not work after unlocking the bootloader: Install a custom core with Doze Mode support (for example, FrancoKernel).

One of the most insidious problems is the conflict with notification blocking apps (like Notisave or AutoNotification) that can intercept notifications before they reach Dot Display. To check this, temporarily disable all third-party notification management utilities.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Dot Display stopped working, don't rush to reset settings. First, clear the cache of system applications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Show system-based → Find it "MIUI System" and clear the cache.

On LCD-screen models (e.g. Redmi 9A), Dot Display may not work as smoothly due to hardware limitations, and alternative solutions are recommended, such as Google Play's Always On Edge widget.

Dot Display Alternatives: What to Do If There Is No Function?

If your Xiaomi smartphone doesn’t support Dot Display, or you don’t like its implementation, you can use third-party solutions.-3 alternatives:

• 📱 Always On Display (AOD): Apps like this AOD Mirror or Always On AMOLED They emulate constant display of time and notifications, minus increased battery consumption.
• 🔔 LED Blinker: The software mimics a physical LED using the edge of the screen. LCD, but requires additional permits.
• 🎨 Edge Lighting: Animation at the edges of the screen at notifications (similar to the feature on Samsung). Popular app - Edge Lighting from Bald Apps.

For POCO owners, there is another option: activate the hidden Ambient Display function via ADB.

adb shell settings put global ambient_display_enabled 1

After this command is executed, a new section will appear in the screen settings. Note: this method only works on firmware without modifications from the manufacturer (for example, on the POCO F4 GT with global MIUI).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps for notification indicator, disable battery optimization for them, otherwise they will be closed by the system. → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Find the right one and select "No restrictions".

If you prefer a hardware solution, you can buy an external one. LED-supporter USB-C (For example, Nimbus LED). It connects to the charging port and works independently of the system, but requires a constant connection.

💡

Third-party apps for the notification indicator can reduce battery life by 10-15%.If the battery is critical for you, it is better to use the built-in Dot Display.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Dot Display in Xiaomi