Many Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners periodically face a situation where the device’s display stops responding to touch properly, which can manifest itself in the form of missed swipes, “dead” zones or, conversely, too high sensitivity, causing random taps.
MIUI and the new HyperOS have a number of software tools that allow you to adjust the operation of the touch layer without going to the service center. Before you carry the device for repair, you should try calibrating or changing the input settings through the engineering menu and standard settings sections. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods.
Standard response settings in the MIUI menu
The first thing that a user who is experiencing input problems needs to do is check the basic settings of the system. In modern versions, Xiaomi firmware has hidden the direct slider sensitivity, but left important switches that affect the display, often solved by activating the mode of operation with the protective glass.
To access these options, you'll need to go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and this is where you can find the Gloves Mode option, and when you turn it on, the display controller increases sensitivity by reading touches even through a dense material, which can help if you have a thick protective glass.
However, be careful: turning on this mode on a normal screen without gloves can cause the phone to react to accidental touches in your pocket or when you hold it sloppy. If after turning on this option, the screen becomes too nervous, it is better to return the setting to its original state.
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If you use a cheap protective glass thicker than 0.5 mm, turning on the glove mode may be the only way to restore a normal response without replacing the accessory.
Also in the display settings section, you should pay attention to the refresh rate if your Redmi supports high hertz. Sometimes reducing the frequency from 90 or 120 Hz to 60 Hz can stabilize the sensor on older models where the controller is experiencing loads.
Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration
The most accurate way to adjust sensitivity is to use a hidden engineering menu, which is designed to diagnose and test hardware components, including touchscreen, and is accessed through a special dial menu.
To get there, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code didn't work, try the alternative ##4636###, although the former option is more common for CIT tests. The list that opens will need to find the item associated with the display test (usually called Touchpanel or TP Test).
Inside the test, you'll be asked to swipe your finger across all areas of the screen, and the system will determine whether there are areas that are dead or areas that are oversensitive, and after you pass the test, you'll often see a button to calibrate or reset the sensor.
☑️ Checking in the engineering menu
It's important to understand that the engineering menu is not a toy, that changing the parameters without understanding their purpose can lead to malfunctioning of the device, and if you're not sure what you're doing, it's best to limit yourself to testing, without changing the hidden odds.
What if the code doesn't work?
Reset sensor settings via ADB command
For advanced users who have not been helped by standard methods, it is possible to reset the touchscreen calibration via USB debugging. This method requires connecting the smartphone to a computer and having an installed ADB (Android Debug Bridge) package.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging on USB.” Connect the phone to your PC and allow debugging on the device screen.
Open the command line on your computer in the ADB folder and enter a command to reset the calibration. Most often, a command is used to delete the calibration file:
adb shell rm /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.dbOnce the command is executed, the device needs to be restarted, and when booted, the system will create a new setup file with factory-specific sensor-feeling parameters, which often solves the floating sensor problem caused by software failures.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Introducing the wrong command can lead to the deletion of important system files. Make sure you copy the commands without errors.
It is worth noting that on newer versions of Android with enhanced protection, this method may not work without root rights, in which case only a full reset to factory settings through the Recovery menu remains.
Effects of protective glass and films
Often, the cause of the reduced sensitivity of the screen is not a software failure, but a physical barrier in the form of protective glass or film. Cheap accessories can have a thick adhesive layer or low transparency for the touch signal.
If you recently replaced glass and noticed a problem with input right after that, it's probably the accessory that's the thing, and quality glass is labeled 2.5D or 3D and has an oleophobic coating that also affects your finger slip.
The table below shows the main signs of problems associated with protective coatings:
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The screen doesn't respond in corners | Glass is not suitable in size (black frame covers the sensor) | Replacement of glass with a model with a smaller frame |
| Random taps | Fat spots or static electricity on film | Scrubbing the screen with microfiber, humidifying the air |
| You gotta push hard. | Thick glass or airbag | Switching on glove mode or changing glass |
| "Dead Zones" in the centre | Mechanical damage to the sensor under glass | Diagnostics in the service, replacement of the module |
Sometimes, just cleaning the screen with an alcohol solution helps, and the dirt and fat create an extra layer that distorts the electrical signal from the finger to the touchscreen.
Diagnostics of hardware faults
If software methods and replacement of the protective glass did not help, there is a high probability of hardware failure. The sensor layer (digitizer) can fail due to a fall, moisture or factory defect, in which case the sensitivity adjustment is meaningless.
Notice how the screen behaves, if the cursor twitches on its own, chaotic presses ("ghost touches") appear, or part of the screen has stopped responding completely, which is a sign of damage to the plume or the sensor itself. It is also worth checking the battery: a swollen battery can press on the screen from the inside, causing false positives.
To check, you can run the built-in Xiaomi test. Enter the code ##64663## (or through the CIT menu as described above) and select the Touchpanel test. Swipe all squares. If some sectors do not light up or light up on their own without touching, you need to replace the module.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone falls into the water, even in small quantities, the oxidation of the sensor contacts can occur gradually.
In some cases, it helps to warm up the device lightly (only if you are sure that there is no moisture inside), because in the cold, the sensitivity of the capacitive screens decreases.
Resetting to factory settings as an extreme measure
When none of these methods work, the last software method is the Hard Reset, which removes all apps, photos, and settings, bringing the phone back out of the box, often eliminating deep driver conflicts.
Before the procedure, be sure to back up your data to the Mi Cloud or your computer. To reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all data. The device will restart and begin a long cleaning process.
When you turn on, don't rush to install all the apps at once. Check the screen on a clean system. If the problem persists even on the factory firmware without third-party software, it's a 99 percent hardware malfunction that requires a visit to the service center.
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If after a complete reset and flashing touchscreen works incorrectly, software methods to solve the problem is no longer possible – requires replacement of hardware components.
Remember that reinstalling firmware through your computer (Fastboot method) can also help if the system partition is damaged, but it requires more in-depth knowledge.