Problem: screen is off – time is unknown
Have you ever caught yourself pulling your phone out of your pocket just to watch the time? Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO, and Mi line) offer a solution — Always On Display (AOD), which displays hours, notifications, and even basic information on a screen that is off. But not all users know how to set it up correctly or why it stops working.
In this article, we will analyze not only the standard way to turn on the clock on the locked screen, but also hidden settings for models with a high-performance screen. AMOLED-Displays, bypasses for devices with LCD, And it's also a problem that we can solve, from not having an item on the menu to quickly running out of battery. MIUI 14+ function AOD It can automatically shut down when the charge is low (less than 15%), but this behavior can be changed through hidden development settings.
Which Xiaomi models support Always On Display?
AOD is not available on all Xiaomi devices, but it depends on the type of screen and firmware version.
- 📱 AMOLED-Displays: All models from 2019 (e.g. Mi 9, Redmi) K20 Pro, POCO F3 The technology allows you to highlight individual pixels without energy consumption on the entire matrix.
- 🔋 MIUI 12 and above: even if you have AMOLED, old-fashioned (MIUI 11 and below) the function may not be.
- ❌ LCD-screens: models with IPS or LCD (For example, the Redmi Note 8, POCO M3) supportive AOD due to technical limitations.
To find out if your phone has AMOLED, go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specifications → Screen. If it says AMOLED or Super AMOLED, you’re in luck!
| Xiaomi model | Screen type | Support for AOD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Pro | AMOLED, 2K | Yes. | Supports animated watch styles |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | AMOLED, 120Hz | Yes. | Requires MIUI 14+ |
| POCO F4 GT | AMOLED, 120Hz | Yes. | The function is turned off when playing |
| Redmi 10 | IPS LCD | No. | Alternative: button highlighting |
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) function AOD It may not be on the menu, but it can be activated through the ADB-This is in the section on hidden settings.
Standard way to turn on the clock on the screen off
If your smartphone supports Always On Display, follow these steps:
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to the Screen section (or Display on some firmware).
- Select Always On Display (can be called a Locked Screen Watch).
- Activate the slider at the top of the screen.
- Customize the watch’s style, brightness and additional information (date, notifications, battery charge).
On models with MIUI 14 and newer, advanced settings are available:
- 🕒 Schedule: You can set the working time AOD (for example, only during the day).
- 🔄 Auto-disconnection: with a low charge or in your pocket.
- 🎨 Styles: from minimalist numerals to animated themes (e.g. Morph or Neon).
Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)
Make sure that the battery charge is > 20%
Turn off the power saving mode
Update the firmware to the latest version-->
If the Always On Display item isn't on the menu, don't get upset. It may be hidden - read about it in the next section.
Hidden Settings: How to Enable AOD if It’s Not on the Menu
On some firmware (especially POCO or Redmi with custom builds), the AOD function can be disabled by default. Here are two ways to return it:
Method 1: ADB-commands (for advanced)
This method requires connecting the phone to the computer and installing it. ADB-If you're not familiar with the command line, skip this section.
adb shell settings put global always_on_display_enabled 1Once you have completed the command, restart your phone. Always On Display should appear in the screen settings.
Method 2: Through the test menu (without PC)
On some models (for example, Xiaomi 11T) you can activate AOD through the engineering menu:
- Open the Phone app and type ##6484##.
- In the menu, select the MIUI AOD Test.
- Activate the option and restart the device.
⚠️ Warning: Not all test commands are safe. Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you know their purpose - this can cause malfunctions in the phone.
What if the AOD is turned on but immediately goes out?
Alternatives for devices without AMOLED: highlighting buttons and notifications
If you have Xiaomi with LCD-screen (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M4 Pro, the full-fledged Always On Display is not available:
- 🔘 Blink buttons: In the screen settings, enable Touch buttons to illuminate. When notified or charged, the buttons will flash.
- 🔔 Smart screen: Ambient Display (in some firmware) shows notifications when lifting the phone.
- 📱 Third-party apps: Always On AMOLED Or Glance Plus imitate. AOD, But it's using up more batteries.
For owners of POCO M3 Pro 5G and similar models with LCDs, there is a life hack: use live wallpaper with a watch (for example, Clock Widget from Google Play) and set them to display on a locked screen through Settings → Screen Lock → Widgets.
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If you check the time at night often, turn on Dark Theme mode in your AOD settings and reduce the brightness to 10-20%, which will reduce eye strain and battery consumption.
How to reduce battery consumption when using AOD
The main fear of users is that Always On Display will quickly discharge the phone. AMOLED-screen consumption is minimal (1-3% It can be cut in an hour, but it can be cut even more:
- ⏳ Schedule: set up AOD only for working hours (for example, from 8:00 to 22:00).
- 🌑 Color scheme: use dark themes and minimalist watch styles (white text on black background).
- 🔋 Adaptive brightness: Turn off and set a fixed value at the level 20-30%.
- 🚫 Extra information: Turn off notifications and dates display – leave only hours.
On models with MIUI 13/14, there is a hidden option Ultra-Energy Saving Mode for AOD.
- Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the AOD Optimization option and turn it on.
| Setting up | Battery consumption (in 8 hours) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AOD with animation | 12-15% | Beautiful, but voracious. |
| AOD without animation (static clock) | 5-8% | Optimal balance |
| AOD + notifications | 15-20% | Cost depends on the number of notifications |
| AOD in a dark topic | 3-5% | The best option for saving |
Typical problems and their solutions
Even after you set it up correctly, Always On Display can crash, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
Problem 1: AOD turns on, but goes out after a few seconds
Reasons:
- The proximity sensor is false (thinks the phone is in your pocket).
- Power saving mode is on.
- The auto-disconnect timer has worked (for example, on Xiaomi 12 Pro AOD it turns off after 10 minutes without moving).
Solution: Turn off the Auto-Switch-off option in your pocket in the AOD settings and check the sensors through the Sensor Test app.
Problem 2: The clock is not displayed correctly (time or date is lost)
Reason: Conflict with the watch widget on the home screen or failures in the time service.
Decision:
- Go to Settings → System → Date and time.
- Turn off and turn on date and time autodetection again.
- Remove the watch widgets from the main screen.
Problem 3: AOD doesn’t work after MIUI update
Reason: Reset screen settings or bugs in a new firmware.
Decision:
- Reset the screen settings: Settings → Screen → Reset settings.
- Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory → Cleanup → Cache of the system.
- If it does not help – rollback to the previous version of MIUI (instructions in the FAQ section).
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On models with MIUI 14+, resetting AOD settings often solves the gray screen problem when the feature is turned on. Remember to reboot the phone after the changes!