How to change the brightness on the Xiaomi phone: all ways + secret settings MIUI

Why the right brightness setting on Xiaomi is not only comfort, but also battery saving

Smartphone screens are the main energy consumer, and setting their brightness directly affects battery life. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones with MIUI shells have several ways to adjust the backlight, from a standard slider in the notification curtain to hidden functions in the engineering menu. But many users still do not know how to turn off automatic brightness, which often works incorrectly, or how to adjust adaptive lighting to different use scenarios.

In this article, we will discuss all possible methods of brightness change, from basic to advanced, including solving typical problems (for example, when the screen spontaneously dims or the brightness slider does not respond to touch), and learn how to use ADB to turn off the minimum brightness limit, which Xiaomi sets by default, and how to use reading mode to protect your vision without losing comfort.

We will pay special attention to models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5 Pro, where incorrect brightness settings can cause pixels to burn out. MIUI The screen is too dim or, conversely, blinds your eyes – here you will find a solution.

Method 1: Quick adjustment through the notification panel

The most obvious and quickest way to change brightness is to use a slider in the notification curtain. It is available on all Xiaomi models, regardless of MIUI version or screen type (IPS/AMOLED).

1. Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the brightness slider (usually located at the top of the curtain, next to the Wi-Fi icons and battery).
3. Move the slider left or right to reduce or increase the backlight.

On some models (such as the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 12T), the slider can be hidden under “quick settings.” To see it, pull the notification curtain down again, and the extended menu will open.

⚠️ Warning: If the brightness slider is not in the curtain, check if it is turned off in the system settings. → Notification panel and status bar → Quick settings and make sure the Brightness switch is active.

This method is convenient for operational adjustment, but has a limitation: the step of change in brightness is fixed (usually 5-10%).

Method 2: Accurate settings in the Display menu

If you need to set the brightness to 1%, use the screen settings section, where you can turn off automatic adjustment, which often works incorrectly (for example, in dark rooms, the screen becomes too dim).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Slip on Brightness.
4. Turn off the Automatic Brightness Switch if it is active.
5. Move the slider manually to set the desired lighting level.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO X5 Pro) this menu may display a warning about the risk of pixel burnout at maximum brightness. Use a backlight level above 70% only when necessary - for example, in direct sunlight.

Method 3: Automatic Brightness – How to Set Up Right

The automatic brightness feature in MIUI uses a light sensor to adjust the screen's illumination to ambient conditions, which is convenient in theory, but in practice, many users are faced with the screen becoming too dim at dusk or, conversely, blinding in the dark, the reason is incorrect calibration of the sensor or outdated training data.

To adjust the automatic brightness correctly:

1. Activate the function in Settings → Display → Brightness.
2. Place your phone in the environment where you use it most often (like on your desktop or in bed).
3. Manually adjust the brightness to a comfortable level.
4. Set your settings by clicking on the sun icon next to the slider (appears in MIUI 12 and later).

If the automatic brightness still works unstable, try resetting the sensor settings:

Settings → Display → Brightness → Additional → Reset adaptive brightness

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) The light sensor may not be available, in which case the automatic brightness function will not be available.

Method 4: Hidden brightness settings through engineering menu

If standard methods do not produce the desired result (for example, the minimum brightness is too high or the maximum is insufficient), you can use the engineering menu, which is suitable for experienced users and requires caution - incorrect changes can lead to malfunctions in the screen.

Instructions for accessing hidden settings:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###.
2. Select Hardware Testing → Sensors → Light Sensor.
3. Here you'll see the current light sensor values. For manual calibration, press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen.

To change the minimum/maximum brightness threshold:

1. In the engineering menu, go to Display → Brightness.
2. Change the Minimum brightness (for example, from 20 to 10) or Maximum brightness (from 255 to 300 if supported by the screen).
3. Save the settings and restart the phone.

Warning: changing the parameters in the engineering menu can lead to unstable screen operation or even damage to the matrix (especially on the screen). AMOLED-If you're not sure, you better use other ways.

Method 5: Using ADB to Remove Brightness Limits

Manufacturers (including Xiaomi) often set software limits on the minimum brightness of the screen to avoid problems with reading text in the dark. AMOLED-This restriction can be removed through ADB, Getting access to lower levels of backlight (useful for using your phone at night).

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
2. Activate the developer mode on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
3. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put system screen_brightness_setting_minimum 1 Here. 1 — Minimum brightness (can be determined from the 1 before 10).
5. Reset the device.

To return the standard settings, do:

adb shell settings delete system screen_brightness_setting_minimum

⚠️ Warning: Too low brightness (below 5%) by AMOLED-It can cause flickering or uneven lighting, and if you see artifacts, return the standard settings.

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Before using ADB, back up your MIUI settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help you quickly recover your system when you crash.

Solving brightness problems on Xiaomi

If your Xiaomi screen gets too dim, spontaneously changes brightness, or doesn’t respond to settings, the reasons could be both software and hardware.

If none of the methods worked, the reason may lie in damage to the plume of the display or malfunction of the matrix. In this case, we recommend contacting an authorized service center Xiaomi - self-repair can lead to loss of warranty.

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Before visiting the service, check whether the mode is activated "Dark theme" or "Read mode" - they can also affect the perception of brightness of the screen.

Additional tips for setting up the screen on Xiaomi

In addition to adjusting the brightness, MIUI has several useful features that will help make screen use more comfortable and safe for vision:

• 🌙 Reading mode: Reduces blue light and adds warm shades. Activates in Settings → Display. → Read mode. You can set a schedule (for example, from 21:00 to 7:00).
• 🔄 Adaptive refresh rate: On models with 120Hz screen (such as Xiaomi 12 Pro) you can enable automatic switching between 60 and 120Hz to save battery: → Display. → Screen refresh rate.
• 👁️ Eye protection: Reminds you to rest. Included in Settings → Display. → Eye protection, you can set a timer and brightness limit for children.
• 🎨 Color profile: on AMOLED-You can use saturated, standard and gentle modes on the screens, and you can choose from the use case (e.g., "Tender" is better for reading).

For POCO and Redmi owners with Snapdragon processors, it’s helpful to know that in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For developers), you can activate the Force 4x MSAA option. It improves anti-aliasing in games, but can slightly affect brightness and autonomy.

If you use your phone in the sun, look for models that support HBM (High Brightness Mode), for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra. These can briefly increase the brightness to 1200-1900 nits for better readability in bright light.

FAQ: Frequent questions about brightness on Xiaomi