Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often encounter a situation where the device's screen lights up or changes the image while connecting the charger.This behavior, known as Ambient Mode or Ambient Display mode, is designed to inform the owner of the charge status without requiring the gadget to unlock.
However, for many, this feature becomes a source of irritation, especially at night when a bright screen interferes with sleep, and the constant glow of pixels can negatively affect the life of the matrix, especially when it comes to AMOLED technology.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to deactivate this feature, learn how to find the right settings in different versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shell, and what hidden parameters can affect the behavior of the screen when charging.
What is Ambient Mode and Why is it Needed?
Ambient Display is an intelligent system that puts the smartphone screen into a low-power state to display basic information. In the charging context, the device displays animations of battery charging, time and sometimes weather.
The basic idea is convenience: a single glance is enough for the user to know if the phone is charging. The system uses a separate communication channel between the processor and the display, which theoretically allows you not to wake the main CPU. However, in practice this does not always work perfectly, and the screen can light up to full brightness.
Some Xiaomi models have a "Raise to wake" or "Tap to wake" feature, which can conflict with charging mode. Vibration from a table or passing vehicle can activate the accelerometer, causing unwanted backlighting.
Turning off this feature is especially important for those who use a smartphone as an alarm clock or keep it in the bedroom.The constant glow in the dark not only interferes with rest, but also creates light pollution that can disrupt melatonin production.
Search for settings in the interface MIUI and HyperOS
MIUI and the new HyperOS have similar menu structure, but the location of specific switches may vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware.The standard path is usually through the Lock Screen section.
You need to go to the basic settings first, find the look and lock point, and in newer versions of the shell, it can be simply called Lock Screen, or combined with Wallpaper, and that's where the key display parameters are hidden.
Inside the menu, look for the Reim Ambient or Always-on Display option. Often manufacturers hide the charging behavior switch in the depth of the "Advanced" or "Advanced Settings" submenu. If you don't see the item right away, try scrolling down the list.
☑️ Algorithm of search settings
It is worth noting that on some global firmware versions, the function name can be translated as “Event Indicator” or “Clock screen when charging”.
Step-by-step instruction to disable the function
To ensure that you remove the annoying glow, follow a clear algorithm of actions. We will look at a universal method that is suitable for most modern models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.
First, unlock your device and go to the Settings app. At the top of the screen, search for settings by typing in "Ambient" or "Charge," which is the fastest way to get to the desired section without going through long menu searches.
If the search does not give results, we manually go:
- 📱 Open Settings and select the Lock Screen section.
- ⚙️ Find the Ambient Display (or Event Indicator) and click on it.
- 🔋 Find the switch When charging or Show when connecting and deactivate it.
- ✅ Make sure the slider turns grey, which means shutting down the function completely.
In some cases, especially on older versions of MIUI, the path may be different. Then try going through Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery settings. There is sometimes an option called Charging Animation that should also be turned off.
⚠️ Warning: After the function is turned off, the screen may stop showing the percentage of charge when it is off. Make sure you are satisfied with the lack of a visual indication of the charging process.
If standard methods don't work, you may have activated the "Advanced Always-on Display" feature, which can force the screen to turn on under certain conditions. → Always-on Display.
What to do if the menu item is missing?
Comparison of display modes on different models
The behavior of the screen when charging depends heavily on the type of matrix and the year of release of the device. AMOLED The matrices behave differently than the public sector IPS-screen.
Devices with OLED-It can display information by lighting only individual pixels, which is theoretically safe, but even in this mode, there is a risk of burning out static interface elements, such as a watch or a battery logo, if you keep your phone on charge for days.
Below is a table showing the differences in function behavior across different device series:
| Series of devices | Type of matrix | Charging behaviour | The risk of burnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi / Digital Series | AMOLED / OLED | Partial pixel glow | Medium (static) |
| Redmi Note (budget) | IPS LCD | Full lighting | Low (but battery consumption) |
| POCO F/X series | AMOLED | Animation + time | Medium. |
| Xiaomi Civi / Lite | AMOLED | Minimalist indicator | Low. |
Owners. IPS-Disabling the function gives a double benefit: light pollution disappears and the heating of the device decreases, since the backlight of the matrix is one of the main consumers of energy.
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Nana OLED-It is safer to use static black wallpaper if you can not completely disable Ambient Mode through the settings.
Use of Do Not Disturb Mode and Schedules
Often, users want to turn off the screen only at night, but not during the day, so you don't have to go into the settings every time, and the effective solution is to use Do Not Disturb.
In this mode settings, you can set a schedule, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00. In the advanced Do Not Disturb settings, there is often an option “Total Silence” or “Switch off the screen.” On some versions of MIUI, activating this mode automatically extinguishes the lock screen, even if the phone is charging.
You can also pay attention to Digital Well-being, which is where you can set up Sleep mode, which schedules the screen to monochrome mode and disables unnecessary notifications and backlights, a milder option than shutting down the system altogether.
Another method is to use automation scenarios. If your version of the shell supports scene creation, you can configure the trigger "When charging" + "Time from 23:00 to 07:00" → "Switch off the screen".
⚠️ Warning: Do Not Disturb mode can block important calls. be sure to add favorite contacts to the exclusion list to avoid missing an emergency call.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Applications
If standard settings fail, you can use deeper methods of managing the system, which requires a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility.
First, activate the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI Version seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC and type the following command in the terminal to try to change the global setting of Ambient Display:
adb shell settings put secure doze_enabled 0This command forcibly disables Doze (which is the basis of Ambient Display) at the system level. Be careful: this can affect the operation of notifications in sleep mode.
Alternatively, Google Play apps like Notification LEDs or Always On AMOLED allow you to take control of the screen and adjust your rules, such as, "If it's charging and time, the screen is black."
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Before using ADB commands, be sure to back up important data. Incorrect changes to system settings can lead to unstable interface operation.
Impact on battery and screen life
Many people wonder how much Ambient Mode affects wear, and if you have a modern smartphone with an AMOLED matrix, every pixel that burns degrades, and the blue subpixel burns out the fastest, which over time leads to a change in color reproduction.
When charging, the phone already heats up; the additional load on the display controller and backlight (in the case of IPS) only increases heat stress; turning off unnecessary functions during charging helps maintain a lower temperature, which positively affects the chemistry of the lithium-ion battery.
In addition, the constant operation of proximity sensors and accelerometers that monitor screen interaction in Ambient mode consumes charge. Although the flow is minimal, on a yearly scale this can amount to a noticeable loss of capacity.
So turning off the function is not just an aesthetic issue, but also a rational solution to extend the life of the gadget, especially for owners who leave the phone on charge all night.