The motion sensor (accelerometer and gyroscope) in Xiaomi smartphones is responsible for automatic screen rotation, control gestures and fitness tracking functions. However, many users want to turn it off - whether to save battery power, eliminate false positives or solve problems with games / applications where the sensor interferes. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of deactivation, including hidden MIUI settings and alternative methods for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.).
It's important to understand that completely disabling motion sensors can affect some functions, from automatically rotating the screen to pedometering in Mi Fitness. But if you're ready for that, read on. We'll also show you how to selectively disable only individual sensor functions without affecting others.
1. Standard shutdown via MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in options, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-14 models and does not require superuser rights.
- Open the Settings → Display.
- Find the Autoturn (or Screen Turn) item and turn off the slider. ⚠️ Warning: This only turns off the automatic screen rotation, but does not deactivate the sensor itself).
- To completely disable, go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Sensors (the item may be missing on some firmware).
If there is no Sensor on the menu, then your version of MIUI does not support manual disabling through the interface, in which case move on to the following methods.
2. Disconnection through Developer Mode
Hidden MIUI settings allow the sensors to be deactivated at the software level.
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").
Settings
For developers
Entering
- 🔄 Disable the accelerometer sensor (if any).
- 🔄 Turn off the gyroscope sensor.
- 🔄 Disable the proximity sensor (not related to movement, but often search together).
Important: Some firmware may not have these options or be blocked, in which case only disabling through ADB will help (see next section).
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If the device starts to glittle after the sensors are turned off in developer mode, restart it. Some functions (such as navigation gestures) may require restarting the system.
3. Disconnect sensors via ADB (for power users)
This method requires connecting your phone to your computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on all Xiaomi models, but irreversibly turns off the sensors until the next flash. If you're not sure about what you're doing, skip this section.
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB: Download Platform Tools from Android. Unpack the archive into any folder on your PC.
Connect the phone:
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings → For Developers.
- Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable.
- In the Platform Tools folder, open the command line (Shift + PCM → Open the PowerShell window here).
- Follow the commands: adb shell su pm disable com.android.sensorprivacy ⚠️ Warning: Su command requires root rights. If they don't exist, use the alternative command: adb shell settings put global. sensor_blacklist "accelerometer,gyroscope It temporarily locks sensors until reboot.
Install Platform Tools on PC|
Enable debugging over USB on your phone |
Connect the phone with the original cable |
Make a backup copy of the data |
Check for root rights (if necessary)-->
Selective shutdown of sensor functions
If you only need to turn off individual sensor functions (such as autorotating or gestures), but leave the pedometer running, use these methods:
| Function | How to turn off | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Screen reversal | Settings → Display → Autoturn | The screen will not rotate when you turn the phone. |
| "Lift to unlock" gestures | Settings → Screen lock → Gestures | The phone will not turn on when lifting. |
| Shagomer (Mi Fitness) | Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Rights → Physical activity | The number of steps will no longer be counted |
| Vibration when moving | Settings → Sound and vibration → Vibration when touched | Tactile responses will be shut down. |
Note: Some features (such as Game Turbo in games) may automatically enable motion sensors. To avoid this, disable Game Improvements in the settings of the respective app.
5. Disconnect sensors through third-party applications
If the standard methods didn't work, you can use apps from Google Play.
- 📱 Sensor Disabler – allows you to disable individual sensors without root rights (does not work on all Xiaomi models).
- 🔧 MacroDroid – Creates rules for automatically disabling sensors in certain conditions (e.g. when you start a game).
- 🛠️ Tasker – Advanced tool for controlling sensors through scripts (requires customization).
⚠️ Note: Applications to disable sensors may conflict with MIUI Before using, back up your data and check the reviews for compatibility with your model.
What happens if you turn off all the motion sensors?
Hardware shutdown (extreme case)
If the software fails, you have to physically shut down the sensors, which is an irreversible process that requires disassembling the phone and can lead to a loss of warranty, and we don't recommend using this method unless absolutely necessary.
How it works:
- 🔧 Motion sensors (accelerometer/gyroscope) are located on the motherboard next to the processor.
- 🔧 They can be turned off by cutting the appropriate tracks or removing the chip (sweeping station is required).
- 🔧 On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) sensors are combined with other sensors – their disabling can disable the camera or microphone.
Alternative: If the problem is false positives, try recalibrating the sensors via the engineering menu (type ##6484## or #4636## and select Sensor Test).
7. Frequent problems and their solutions
When you turn off the motion sensors, Xiaomi users encounter typical errors. Here's how to fix them:
- 🔄 Sensors turn on again after reboot: This happens due to system services MIUI, Solution: Use it. ADB for permanent shutdown (see Section 3) or Sensor Disabler with autostart option.
- 🎮 Games don't run without a gyroscope: Some games (like Genshin Impact) require working sensors.Solution: turn off sensors selectively (only auto-rotate) or use a gyroscope emulator via Mock Locations.
- 🔋 Battery consumption increased after shutdown: Paradoxically, some users are seeing an increase in energy consumption. Reason: the system is constantly trying to initialize the sensors that are disabled. Solution: return the standard settings or update the firmware.
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If the phone brakes or overheats after the sensors are turned off, return the standard settings immediately, which is a sign of conflict with MIUI system services.