How to permanently disable the light sensor on Xiaomi Redmi: from autobrightness to engineering menu

The light sensor on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a useful feature for automatically adjusting the brightness of the screen, but not everyone likes it. Some complain about the incorrect operation of autobrightness (the screen dims at inappropriate moments), others want to save battery power, and others just prefer manual adjustment. In this article, we will examine all the ways to turn off the light sensor, from standard MIUI settings to hidden commands for experienced users.

It's important to understand that the light sensor and the autobrightness function are not exactly the same thing: the sensor physically measures the level of ambient light, and the avlubraznost uses this data to change the backlight of the screen. We'll show you how to turn off both, and how to completely deactivate the sensor at the system level if standard methods do not help. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (including HyperOS), and for most Redmi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 13 Pro).

1. Disable autobrightness through standard settings

The easiest way is to deactivate the auto-regulation of brightness in the settings menu, which will not turn off the light sensor itself (it will continue to work for other functions, such as Reading in the Dark), but the screen will not spontaneously dim or flare up.

Instructions:

Open the Settings → Screen.
Slip the Brightness slider.
Remove the tick from the item Automatic brightness adjustment (or switch the switch to the off position).
Manually set a comfortable level of brightness.

On some firmware (for example, on the Redmi Note 12 with HyperOS), the path may be slightly different:

📱 Settings → Display. → Brightness and colour → Autobrightness
🔄 If there is no item, update it. MIUI last-minute.

⚠️ Warning: After turning off autobrightness, the screen may appear too bright in dark rooms. We recommend manually reducing brightness in the evening to avoid straining your eyes.

📊 How you usually adjust the brightness of the screen?

Automatic (light sensor)

Manual (fixed value)

I'm using night mode.

Ignoring.

If you need to completely deactivate the light sensor (for example, due to malfunction or application conflict), this can be done through an engineering menu. This method requires caution - improper actions can disrupt the work of other sensors.

Step-by-step:

Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## (some models may run ##36446337##).
You will be taken to the MTK Engineer Mode (or Qualcomm Engineer Mode, depending on the processor) menu.
Go to Hardware Testing → Sensors → Light Sensor.
Click Disable or uncheck the Enable Light Sensor.
Save the changes and restart the phone.

After that, the light sensor will stop working for all functions, including autobrightness and Adaptive Mode in MIUI. To get it back, repeat the steps and turn the sensor on again.

☑️ Preparation for work with the engineering menu

Make a backup copy of the dataCharge your phone at least 50%Remember the current screen settingsDo not interrupt the setup process

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) K50) The engineering menu can be blocked. In this case, use the method of using the ADB (described below).

3. Disconnect the sensor via ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can turn off the light sensor using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is suitable for users who are ready to work with the command line, the advantage is that the changes take effect immediately and are not reset after the MIUI update.

What you need:

🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode).
🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (cmd or terminal).
Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of your Redmi).
Disable the light sensor with the command: adb shell settings put system auto_brightness 0 (It'll turn off the autobrightness).
To fully deactivate the sensor, use: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.weather2 (some firmware may require a different command).

Once these commands are done, the light sensor will be turned off at the system level. To bring it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.weather2

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If the screen becomes too dim after the sensor is turned off, try resetting the brightness settings with the adb shell settings delete system command. screen_brightness

4. Problems after disconnecting the light sensor and their solution

Turning off the light sensor can have unexpected consequences, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
The screen has become too bright/dull	Autobrightness disabled, but manual tuning lost	Manually adjust the brightness in Settings → Screen
The function of reading in the dark does not work.	The light sensor is responsible for activating the dark theme.	Turn on Dark Mode manually or use a schedule
The battery goes down fast.	The screen is operating at maximum brightness	Set brightness to 50-60% and turn on Adaptive backlight (if available)
No gestures are working to lift to unlock	Some gestures depend on the proximity sensor, which can be coupled to the light sensor.	Check your gesture settings in Settings → Screen → Lock

If you experience persistent failures after the sensor is turned off (for example, the phone overheats or spontaneously reboots), try:

🔄 Return the sensor settings to the original state through ADB.
📱 Reset the screen settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting screen settings.
🔧 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs are fixed in new firmware).

5. Alternative methods: applications and custom firmware

If none of the above methods have worked, you can try third-party solutions, and note that using informal tools can disrupt the stability of the system or lead to the loss of warranty.

Options:

📱 Sensor Disabler (requires root rights) QuickShortcutMaker – allows you to find hidden settings MIUI.
🔧 Custom firmware: Install LineageOS or Pixel Experience, where autobrightness is more flexible. Use Magisk modules to turn off sensors (for example, Disable Flags).

Warning: Installing custom firmware or obtaining root rights will void Xiaomi's warranty and may result in a device blink.Before experimenting, make a full backup via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool.

What is a breech and how to avoid it?

Brick: A condition of the phone that stops turning on or loads just before the logo. To avoid a blink when working with firmware: Always check firmware compatibility with your Redmi model. - Don't interrupt the firmware process (even if the phone is long hanging at one stage). - Use official tools (Mi Flash Tool, Fastboot). - Before the firmware, check the feedback on forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

6.How to check if the light sensor is working after switching off

If you have disabled the sensor but are not sure if it worked, you can check its status in several ways:

Method 1: Through the Sensor Test

Enter the code in the phone app: ##4636##
Select Sensor Information.
Look at the Light sensor bar – if the value does not change when the lighting changes, the sensor is turned off.

Method 2: Using a third-party application

📊 Install Sensor Test or AndroSensor from Google Play.
🔦 Open the Light tab – if the graph is flat, the sensor is inactive.

Method 3: Checking Auto Brightness

🌞 Turn on autobrightness in the settings.
🔦 Point a flashlight on the screen – if the brightness does not change, the sensor is turned off.

💡

If the light sensor is turned off at the system level (via ADB or engineering menu), it will not be turned on back in the standard ways. You will need to repeat the same commands with the enable option or reset the phone settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off the light sensor on Xiaomi Redmi

❓ Can I turn off the light sensor without root rights?

Yes, most methods (standard settings, engineering menus, ADB) do not require root, but to completely disable the sensor at the kernel level (for example, through the Sensor Disabler), superuser rights will be required.

❓ Why after switching off the sensor, the screen began to blink?

This may be due to conflict in brightness settings. Try: Reset the screen settings to Settings → System → Reset settings. Update MIUI to the latest version. Manually set fixed brightness (e.g., 50%).

❓ Does turning off the light sensor affect the camera?

No, the light sensor and the camera use different sensors, but on some Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro), the light sensor can affect the Auto-HDR in photos. If the image quality deteriorates, try turning the sensor back on.

❓ Can the light sensor be turned off for specific applications only?

Standard means MIUI — No, but you can: 📱 Use Tasker or MacroDroid to automatically disable autobrightness when running certain applications. 🔧 Install Xposed Framework (requires root) and App Settings module for individual brightness settings.

❓ Why After Updating MIUI light sensor turned on again?

Updates MIUI Sometimes reset user settings, especially if they have been changed through ADB Or an engineering menu to avoid it: 📝 Write down all the commands used. ADB and reuse them after updating. 🔧 Use Magisk modules to permanently disable the sensor (e.g., Disable Sensors Module).