Gas the screen on Xiaomi: 7 ways to turn off the auto-turn off display

You have your own Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, But the screen suddenly goes out through 10-30 seconds of inactivity -- even when you're reading an article or watching a video -- this problem is familiar to millions of smartphone users. MIUI. The reasons can range from basic power saving settings to software failures after an upgrade. In this article, we will explore all possible ways to turn off the automatic screen, including hidden features. MIUI, which are not on the surface.

The problem is that on different models (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11, POCO F4) and firmware versions (MIUI 12/13/14), the solutions may differ, and somewhere you just need to change the timeout in the settings, and somewhere you have to dig deeper into the developer’s settings or even edit system files, we have collected current methods for 2026 that work on Android 11-14, including the latest security updates.

Before you start settings, make sure that the problem is not related to hardware damage (for example, a drop in the display plume after a fall) or critical battery discharge (below 5%). If the screen goes out immediately after turning on or does not respond to touch, this is already a reason to visit the service center.

1. Basic screen waiting time settings

The most obvious way is to change the display's auto-off timeout in standard settings, but in MIUI, this option is often hidden or limited by default.

Open Settings → Display → Sleep Mode (or Screen Lock → Sleep Mode in older versions). Here you will see options: 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc. Choose the maximum value - 10 minutes or Never (if you have one).

• 🔍 Problem: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Never missing because of energy conservation policy MIUI.
• ⚡ Solution: If the maximum value is 10 minutes, move to the next method (developer settings).
• ⚠️ Warning: Choosing Never Can Reduce Autonomous Life by 15-20%.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13), the path to settings may be different: Settings → Lock screen → Additional → Sleep mode. If you do not find a point, search by settings (the icon of the magnifier at the top).

2 Developer settings: hidden screen settings

If standard settings don't allow you to turn off the auto-turning of the screen, it's time to activate the developer mode, which will allow you to access hidden parameters of the system, including forced timeout.

First, turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. You will be notified: You have become a developer.

Now go back to the main settings menu and open a new section Additional → For Developers (or Settings → System → For Developers in new versions).

In the developer mode, find the following parameters:

• 🛠️ Turn off the screen when recharging – set Off if the screen goes out during charging.
• ⏱️ Screen Shutdown Timeout – here you can choose up to 30 minutes or Never (if available).
• 🔄 Stay active while charging – turn on if the screen turns off when connecting to the network.

Is the developer mode activated (7 taps according to MIUI)

Is the "Switch off screen when recharging" option disabled?

Is there a maximum timeout in the "Scream Shutdown Timeout"

Whether the item "Remain active while charging" (if necessary) is included

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Important: Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10 Pro) may not have a timeout setting for the screen shutdown.

3. Disconnecting MIUI energy saving functions

MIUI aggressively optimizes power consumption, which often leads to premature shutdown of the screen, and the culprits are Ultra-Economic Mode, Battery Optimization and Automatic Energy Management.

To turn them off:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Battery Mode and set Performance (maximum power).
3. Open Battery Optimization and turn it off for all apps that need to run in the background (e.g. YouTube, Chrome).
4. In the Automatic Control section, disable the option Automatic Mode Switching.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off energy-saving features will reduce battery life by 20 to 30 percent. If you care about battery life, use local exceptions only for critical applications (e.g., navigator).

4. Problems with the proximity and illumination sensor

If the screen goes out during a call or when you hold the phone to your ear, the proximity sensor is to blame. On Xiaomi, it often goes off falsely because:

• 📱 Sensor contamination (dust, protective film).
• 🔧 Incorrect calibration after updating.
• 🛠️ Hardware failure (for example, after changing the screen).

How to check and correct:

1. Call your phone and put your hand over the top, the screen should go out. Take your hand away, the screen should turn on. If that doesn't happen, the sensor doesn't work.
2. Clean the sensor area (near the speaker) with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
3. Recalibrate the sensor via the engineering menu: ##6484## Select Proximity Sensor and follow the instructions on the screen.

If the sensor doesn't respond to calibration, check it through the Sensor Test app (available on Google Play). If the values don't change when you approach your hand, the sensor is defective and needs to be replaced.

5. Resetting settings and firmware update

If the problem occurs after the MIUI update or the application is installed, resetting or rolling back the firmware will help.

Reset screen settings and lock:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset the lock screen settings (does not delete data).
3. After restarting, set up the screen timeout again.

Hard reset (if nothing helps):

1. Make a backup of the data through Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm.

If the problem has occurred after the MIUI update, check the reviews on forums (e.g. 4PDA or Xiaomi Community).It may be a massive bug and the manufacturer has already released a patch.

1. Download the old firmware version from the official Xiaomi website (Download → Choose your device section).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click on the three dots at the top → Select a firmware file and specify the downloaded file.

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Before resetting, write down the phone's IMEI (type *#06#). In rare cases, after a hard reset, it may reset, and you will need to restore it through the engineering menu.

6. Software solutions: applications and ADB-team

If system settings do not help, you can use third-party tools or ADB-commands to force timeout.

Method 1: Keep Screen On App App

Download the app from Google Play and enable the Keep the screen on option, which will mimic the user's activity, preventing the display from turning off, minus the constant notification in the curtain.

Method 2: ADB-time-out

This method requires connecting the phone to the PC and enabling debugging mode over USB.

1. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → For developers.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and execute the command: adb shell settings put global. stay_on_while_plugged_in 3 This command will make the screen stay on while charging.
3. To disable timeout completely (not recommended) use: adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 2147483647 (significance 2147483647 — maximum possible time in milliseconds).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Commands can disrupt system stability. Before experimenting, back up your data. Commands are valid until the next reboot, unless fixed in system settings.

7. Hardware malfunctions: when you need to service

If you've tried all the ways, but the screen still goes out, it could be a hardware problem.

• 🔌 Faulty display plume - the screen flickers or goes out when you press the body.
• 🔋 Bloated battery – presses on internal components, causing failures.
• 🛠️ Damaged power controller – the screen turns off at the slightest load.
• 🌡️ CPU overheating – phone turns off display for cooling.

How to diagnose:

1. Check if the battery is swelling (carefully press the back cover – if there are bulges, don’t use the phone!).
2. Connect your phone to charge. If the screen only turns on in a certain position, there's a plume problem.
3. Install the AIDA64 app and check the temperature of the processor, if it is above 60°C in plain, you need to clean or replace the thermal paste.

Cost of repair in the service center:

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If the screen goes out when you're physically exposed (pressed, tilted), 90% of the problem is in the plume or battery. Don't delay repairs, it can cause the display to fail completely.

FAQ: Frequent questions about switching off the screen on Xiaomi