How to set up a screen switch on Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones feature bright, high refresh rate displays that consume a significant amount of power. Properly adjusting the time to automatically lock is not just a matter of convenience, but a basic way to extend the device’s battery life throughout the day. Users often face a situation where the screen goes out too quickly while reading or, conversely, burns in vain, draining the battery.

With MIUI and the new HyperOS, power management algorithms can be aggressive, force-disabling the display to save resources. Understanding where the hidden switches are and how different modes affect the sleep timer will allow you to create a personalized scenario for your device. We'll take everything from standard settings to hidden developer features.

Also, when backlights are running, they are affected by running applications and system processes. Some programs may have priority and prevent the screen from going out while media playback or navigation is underway. It is important to distinguish between software failures and standard system behavior so as not to try to "cure" a working device by resetting settings.

Standard lock timer settings

The main way to control display activity time is in the basic menu of system parameters, where the user can choose a fixed time interval after which the backlight will be turned off in the absence of touch. The standard set of options is usually limited to several values that developers have considered optimal for the balance between comfort and energy saving.

To change these settings, you need to go to Settings and select the option Screen is always on and lock. In some versions of firmware, this path may look like Screen Lock or be inside the Screen menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the shell.

In the list that opens, you'll be asked to choose between 10 seconds and 10 minutes. Choosing "2 minutes" or "5 minutes" is the most common choice for those who read a lot from their phone. If you want the screen to go out instantly after you stop using, choose the minimum value.

It’s worth noting that setting the maximum value (10 minutes) can significantly reduce battery life, especially on AMOLED-matrixes. If you have the Always On Display feature on, the main screen will still go out on the timer, but the static picture will remain, continuing to consume energy, albeit in a smaller amount.

• ⏱️ 10 seconds – the minimum value for maximum savings.
• 📖 1-2 Minutes – the optimal balance for reading and viewing photos.
• 🎬 5-10 minutes – convenient for recipes in the kitchen or viewing schemes.
• 🔒 Locking – Immediate shutdown when you press the power button.

⚠️ Warning: Set a timer for 10 minutes increases the risk of accidentally tapping (a “pocket set”) if the phone is in a bag without a secure lock.

Once you have selected the right interval, the changes take effect immediately. You don't need to restart the device. If you haven't found the right item in the specified location, your version of the shell may be hiding it in the Advanced Settings section.

Effect of energy saving mode on display

The power saving systems in Xiaomi smartphones often take precedence over the user’s timer settings. When the charge saving mode is activated, the system forcibly reduces the time to turn off the screen, ignoring the 2 or 5 minutes you choose, so that the critically discharged device can last longer in standby mode.

There are two main levels of savings: normal and ultimate (or extreme). In normal mode, the restrictions are minimal, but the screen timer can be reduced to 15-30 seconds. In the ultimate mode, most applications are suspended, and the screen goes out almost immediately after touching.

You can check the active modes through the Battery menu. If the energy saving slider is shifted to the active position, the system will automatically adjust the brightness and sleep timer. To fully use long lock intervals, this mode must be turned off.

You also need to look at smart scenarios, and some Redmi and Poco models can analyze the charge level and turn on the limitations themselves, even if you didn't manually specify it, and you can turn off this behavior in the battery settings by unchecking the Autonomousity box or the like.

It is important to understand that when the battery is low (less than 20%), the system can force the activation of restrictions that you cannot get around without connecting to the charger, a protective mechanism that prevents the full discharge of the lithium polymer battery.

Always on Display and Lockdown

Technology Always on Display (AOD) It allows you to display the time, date and notifications on the screen off. AMOLED-And it's energy efficient because only individual pixels are lighting up. AOD It is directly related to how the main screen behaves when blocked.

The screen is always on and you can set the lock schedule for this feature. You can choose to display the information within 10 seconds after touching, on a schedule (for example, from 8:00 to 23:00) or constantly. Choosing the option “10 seconds” means that after this time the screen will go into a deep sleep state, but AOD can stay if allowed by the schedule.

If your phone does not support native AOD (for example, models with IPS-After the lock timer expires, the screen will be completely black, in which case the setting of the time before the switch is even more important, since there is no alternative way to display information.

Users often confuse the lock timer and the AOD timer. Remember that the main timer (for example, 2 minutes) counts the time to the deactivation of the desktop picture.

Using applications to hold the screen

Sometimes standard settings aren't enough, especially if you want to keep the screen from going out during temporary actions, but you don't want to change the global timer for the whole system.

One of the built-in features is “Pack Dial Mode” or “Screen Hold” which can be activated when video players or navigators are running. However, third-party solutions from Google Play can be used to manage it more flexibly. Apps like Keep Screen On or Caffeine add a quick switch to the notification curtain.

These programs work by temporarily stopping you from going to sleep, and you activate the function, and the screen burns until you turn off the option yourself or the battery runs out, which is convenient when reading long articles, following recipes, or showing information at a meeting.

When installing such applications, MIUI may ask for a lot of permissions, you must allow background work and access to screen control, otherwise the operating system will kill the process in a few minutes to save energy.

• 📲 Add the “Do Not Turn Off Screen” widget to your desktop for quick access.
• 🛡️ Check the permissions in the "Applications" section → Permits → Other permits».
• 🔋 Turn off aggressive energy saving for screen holder app.
• 🔔 Use the notification curtain to quickly turn on/off the function.

⚠️ Warning: Constant screen operation at maximum brightness using third-party restraints can lead to overheating of the device and accelerated degradation of the matrix.

Using these tools requires discipline, and forgetting to turn off the holder can cause you to find the phone to be completely discharged, even if it has been in your pocket all day, heated by the processor and screen running.

Hidden functions and settings of the developer

For advanced users, the Developer Menu is available on Android, hidden by default to prevent inexperienced users from changing critical settings, and in this section you can find settings that affect screen behavior that are not visible in the regular menu.

To activate the developer menu, you need to quickly click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Once the corresponding notification appears, a new item will appear in the “Additional” or “Extended settings” menu, and you can find the option “Do not turn off the screen” when charging, which is useful if you use the phone as a desktop clock or control panel.

Also in this section is the Screen timeout option, which duplicates the standard settings, but sometimes allows you to set more accurate values or reset to factory ones if the regular menu fails, but the bulk of the settings here are about debugging and animations, not power management.

Be careful about changing the settings on this menu. Turning on USB debugging or changing the minimum brightness can affect the stability of the interface. If you accidentally change something and the screen starts to behave strangely, there is a button to reset all settings at the top of the developer menu.

One hand mode is also a feature that affects content display, although it is not directly related to the off timer. Sometimes users confuse the downsizing of the interface with screen problems, so make sure that this feature is turned off if you are running a diagnosis.

Problems with proximity sensor and autobrightness

A common cause of premature screen shutdown is malfunction or contamination of the proximity sensor, located at the top of the smartphone, usually next to the speaker. If the sensor is closed with a tight case, contaminated or malfunctioning, the phone may "think" that you have brought it to the ear, and turn off the screen.

Autobrightness also plays a role in power consumption, but not in the lock timer. However, at low brightness, it may seem like the screen has turned off, even though it just got very dim. Check if Adaptive Brightness is enabled, which can darken the image heavily in the dark.

You can use the engineering menu to diagnose the proximity sensor. By dialing ##6484## (CIT), you will be taken to the hardware testing menu. Select the Proximity sensor test and check the screen's response to the upper body being closed with your hand. If the screen doesn't go out when closed or goes out without touching, the sensor needs to be calibrated or replaced.

Sometimes the problem is solved by simply resetting the sensor settings through the same engineering menu or removing the protective glass that covers the sensor. In rare cases, you need to flash the device to correctly operate the sensor drivers.

💡

Wipe the top of the screen with a soft cloth before calls – greasy traces can block the proximity sensor, which will cause the screen to go out during a conversation.

If the screen goes out on its own at random moments, and the timer has nothing to do with it, it is likely a matter of "sticking" the sensor or software conflict. Try to restart the device in safe mode to exclude the influence of third-party applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)