How to turn off the auto-turn off screen on Xiaomi: all working methods

Xiaomi’s smartphone screen, which suddenly goes out in the middle of watching a video, reading a book or playing a game, is a familiar problem for many users. By default, the MIUI system sets the screen timeout for 30 seconds or 1 minute to save battery power, but this is not always convenient, for example, when you are following a recipe in the kitchen, reading a long article or using your phone as a navigator in the car.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can turn off the screen on Xiaomi, from standard settings to hidden features for power users. The instructions are relevant for devices on MIUI 14, MIUI 13, MIUI 12 and older versions, including Redmi Note 12/11/10, POCO X5/F4, Xiaomi 13/12 and others. You’ll also learn how to get around system limitations if standard methods don’t work, and what hidden developer settings will help with this.

Before you start, keep in mind that the constant operation of the screen speeds up battery discharge and can cause the device to overheat. Use these methods only when necessary!

1. Standard method: changing the screen timeout in the settings

The easiest method is to increase the time to automatically turn off the screen through the settings menu, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones without any additional manipulation.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon on the home screen).
• 🔍 Go to the Display section (or the Screen in some versions) MIUI).
• ⏱️ Find the Sleep item after (or screen timeout) and tap it.
• 📝 Choose the maximum value available – usually 10 minutes or 30 minutes (on some models – Never).

If you don't have the Never option on your menu, it means the manufacturer has limited the maximum time, so move on to the following methods.

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On some Xiaomi firmware, the Sleep item after may be hidden in the submenu Additional or Advanced settings inside the Display section.

2.Use of the "Developers" mode (hidden settings)

If standard settings don't allow you to turn off the timeout completely, you can use the developer mode, which gives you access to additional system settings, including forced shutdown of the screen sleep.

How to turn on the developer mode and change the settings:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Scroll down and find the item "Do not turn off the screen (or Stay awake). Activate it."

After that, the screen will not go out when you connect to charging.Limitation: on some models, this option only works while the device is charging.

3. Applications for forced screen activation

If the system settings don't help, you can use third-party utilities. Google Play has several proven applications that block the screen from turning off:

• 🔄 Keep Screen On is a simple utility with the ability to add exceptions for individual applications (for example, only for YouTube or Google Maps).
• 🎮 Caffeine – allows you to keep the screen on by timer or until manually switched off.
• 📱 Stay Alive! – Advanced settings, including background and ignoring battery optimization.

How to set up Keep Screen On:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and grant permission to Overlay over other windows (in the security settings).
3. Turn on the switch Keep the screen on.
4. If necessary, add exceptions to the list.

Important: Some applications may conflict with battery optimization in MIUI. If the utility doesn’t work, add it to the exception list in Battery Settings → Battery Optimization.

4.Use of ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If you need to turn off the screen timeout completely at the system level, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer (e.g. Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Turn on the phone debugging over USB (Settings → For developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Your device name should appear as a confirmation of your connection.)

adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 3

This command will keep the screen on at all times, even without charging. To return the standard settings, use:

adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 0

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ADB-Teams can circumvent limitations MIUI, But you need to be careful, and misuse can disrupt the system.

If the screen still goes out after the command, check if the settings are reset after the restart, in which case you will need to repeat the procedure or use Tasker to automatically apply the command at start-up.

5. Set up exceptions for individual applications

MIUI has a built-in feature that allows you to turn off screen timeouts only for certain apps, which is handy if you want the screen to stay on, like only Google Maps or YouTube.

How to set up:

• 📌 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔎 Select the application you want (such as Waze or Book Reader).
• 🔄 Slip it on the Permit. → Additionally. → Sleep blocking (or keeping the screen on).
• 🔘 Activate the switch.

The list of applications for which this option is available depends on the version of MIUI. If this option is not available, try updating the firmware or using one of the applications from Section 3.

✅ Make sure the app is updated to the latest version

✅ Check if the battery optimizer is blocking it.

✅ Restart your phone after changing your settings

✅ Test your work in safe mode (if it doesn’t work)

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Alternative methods: gestures, accessories and workarounds

If none of the above methods worked, you can try non-standard solutions:

• 🖱️ Bluetooth mouse: connect wireless mouse to phone. Small cursor movements will reset sleep timer.
• 🔋 Constant charging: Some Xiaomi models don't turn off the screen when connected to a power source.Use power bank for mobility.
• 📱 Pocket mode FM-Transmitter: on older models (Redmi) 4/5) switching FM-radio kept the screen active.
• 🔄 Automation with Tasker: Create a task that simulates touching a screen every 30 seconds.

For the method with Tasker will require:

1. Install Tasker and AutoInput plugin.
2. Create a task with AutoInput → Simulate Touch.
3. Set up a repetition every 20-30 seconds.
4. Add a startup condition (for example, only when a specific application is open).

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If you use your phone as a navigator in your car, buy a magnetic mount with wireless charging, which will solve the problem of screen sleep and charge the device at the same time.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after applying all the methods, Xiaomi’s screen can continue to go out.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen turns off immediately after unlocking (after 1-2 seconds), this may indicate that the proximity sensor is malfunctioning. Check its operation in the engineering menu (#6484##) or contact the service center.

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Reset the settings to factory (pre-return backup).
• 📥 Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where there are no strict timeout restrictions.

⚠️ Warning: Installing custom firmware will void warranty and may lead to a device blink!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions