How to disable the sensor on Xiaomi: all ways for smartphones and smart gadgets

Why users want to turn off sensors on Xiaomi and when they really need to

Sensors in Xiaomi smartphones and smart devices are an integral part of modern technology, responsible for automation, control accuracy and additional functions. However, there are situations when turning off one or more sensors becomes necessary. For example, the proximity sensor may malfunction during calls, causing the screen to go out at the most inopportune moment. Or the gyroscope begins to “glut” in games, giving out incorrect data about the device’s tilts. In some cases, users simply want to save battery power by turning off the sensors that are currently unnecessary.

But it's important to understand that not all sensors can be deactivated through standard MIUI or HyperOS settings. The manufacturer restricts access to critical components (such as an accelerometer or compass) as shutting them down can disrupt the system. However, there are legal and non-obvious ways to circumvent these restrictions, from using hidden engineering mode menus to installing specialized applications. In this article, we'll look at all the working methods for different types of sensors, including those that don't officially support shutdown.

Before you start manipulating, answer two questions: what sensor is bothering you and are you prepared for the possible consequences? Some changes can lead to unstable operation of the device or even cancel the warranty. If you are not sure, you should contact the Xiaomi service center.

What sensors can be turned off on Xiaomi without root rights

Without super-user permissions (root), access to disable sensors is severely limited, but in standard MIUI/HyperOS settings or through hidden menus, you can deactivate the following sensors:

• 📱 The proximity sensor is responsible for turning off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear, often "glutting" when using protective glasses or covers.
• 🔄 Light sensors, which adjust the brightness of the screen automatically, and turn it off will allow you to manually set a fixed level of backlight.
• 📶 NFC-chips, used for contactless payments and data transfer, you can turn off if you don't use the function to save power.
• 🎮 Gyroscope - in some models (for example, in some models, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) It can be deactivated through game settings.

But sensors like an accelerometer, a compass, a barometer, or a fingerprint scanner, you can't turn off without root or special tools, and they're critical to the system, and deactivating them can cause malfunctions.

If your model supports HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), some sensor settings may be located elsewhere than in MIUI.

Disabling the proximity sensor: 3 ways to MIUI and HyperOS

The proximity sensor is one of the most problematic sensors in Xiaomi smartphones, and it often works falsely, especially if the phone has a thick protective glass or a magnet case installed, and here are three proven ways to turn it off:

Method 1: Call settings (most secure)

This method works on most devices with MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Calls section → Additional settings.
4. Find the approach sensor option and turn it off.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for experienced users)

If you don't have the right option in your call settings, try the engineering menu. Warning: don't change other options in this mode to keep your phone running!

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Proximity Sensor.
3. Click Disable or uncheck Enable.
4. Reset the device.

Method 3: By means of ADB-commands (universal method)

If the first two fail, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which requires connecting the phone to your computer, but does not violate the warranty.

Download Google’s Platform Tools, connect your phone in USB debugging mode and execute the command:

adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0

To get it back, replace 0 with 1.

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If the proximity sensor is turned off, the screen does not go out during calls, turn on the "In pocket" mode in the screen settings. This will prevent accidental pressing.

How to disable NFC on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The NFC module is useful for contactless payments and data transfer, but if you don’t use it, you can turn it off to save battery life. Depending on the Xiaomi model, the path to settings may differ.

For MIUI 12-14:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing.
2. Select NFC.
3. Move the slider to the off position.

For HyperOS (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi K60/K70):

1. Go to Settings. → Wireless networks.
2. Then, add a little more (or more).
3. Find the NFC and turn it off.

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), the NFC option may be hidden in the Google Pay or Mi Pay menu. If you don't find it in the basic settings, check out these apps.

Disabling the gyroscope and accelerometer: possible risks and workarounds

The gyroscope and the accelerometer are the sensors that determine the position of the device in space, and they're critical for gaming, AR-applications (e.g., applications, Pokémon GO), It's not possible to turn them off through Xiaomi's standard settings, but there are workarounds.

Method 1: Turning off the screen autorotation (partial solution)

If you are prevented by the automatic rotation of the screen, you can turn it off without interfering with the operation of the sensors:

1. Swipe down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the Autoturn icon and tap it to turn it off.

This will not deactivate the sensors themselves, but will stop using their data to rotate the screen.

Method 2: Using applications to simulate shutdown

Apps like Sensor Disabler (requires root) or MacroDroid (runs without root) allow you to create rules that ignore data from a gyroscope or accelerometer for specific applications, such as preventing a game from using phone tilts.

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You can't completely shut down a gyro or accelerometer without root rights, and all of the bypass methods only limit the use of their data, but they don't deactivate the sensors themselves.

If you do decide to get root permissions to disable these sensors, remember: this cancels the warranty and can lead to unstable device operation. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+), after unlocking the bootloader, the encryption of data stops working, which reduces security.

Disabling the light sensor: pros and cons

The light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen depending on the ambient light, which is convenient in most cases, but sometimes it does not work correctly, for example, in harsh light conditions (sunlight through a window) or when using the phone in a dark room with a bright light source nearby.

To turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Find the option Automatic Brightness (or Adaptive Brightness in HyperOS).
3. Turn off the slider.

And then you'll have a fixed brightness, and you'll be able to manually adjust it, and this method has its pros and cons.

If you've decided to leave the automatic adjustment, but the sensor isn't working properly, try recalibrating it.

1. Open the engineering menu with the code ##6484##.
2. Select the Light Sensor.
3. Press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen.

What to do if the sensor does not turn off: alternative solutions

If none of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have firmware limitations, and you can consider the following options:

• 🔧 Update the firmware – sometimes in new versions MIUI or HyperOS, you'll have additional sensor settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Using custom firmware — like LineageOS or Pixel Experience — gives you more freedom to set up sensors, but it requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to a loss of warranty.
• 🛠️ Contacting a service center – if the sensor is not working properly (for example, it is constantly working for no reason), it may be physically damaged.
• 🔄 Resetting – in rare cases, sensor failures are associated with software errors. Try resetting to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings), but don’t forget to back up your data!

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Before installing custom firmware, check its compatibility with your model on the XDA Developers forum. Some firmware may not support all device sensors.

If the problem is related to a particular application (e.g., the game is misreading the gyroscope data), try:

• Update the application to the latest version.
• Clear his cache in Settings → Apps.
• Disable the permission to access the sensors in Settings → Applications → Permissions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about switching off sensors on Xiaomi