Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to quickly control the display. The question of how to turn off the screen on shaomi arises for various reasons: from the desire to save battery power to specific use cases where the device must work in the background with the display turned off. Standard lock button is not the only option, and the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS offers many tools for flexible settings.
There are several levels of "off" that can be instant locking, setting up automatic quenching after a certain time, or using software methods to emulate shutdowns without interrupting applications, and understanding these mechanisms allows you not only to improve comfort of use, but also to extend the life of the battery.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from simple physical actions to advanced developer settings, learn how to set up a smart shutdown when placing your phone in your pocket and what hidden features can come in handy in the daily operation of your device.
Standard methods of blocking the display
The most obvious and common way to turn off the screen is to use a physical power button. On most modern Xiaomi models, this control is located on the side of the body. Short pressing puts the device into sleep mode, quenching the matrix and blocking touch input. This is a basic method that is familiar to every user.
However, you can find alternatives in the system settings that can be useful if the power button is inconvenient or damaged. → The lock screen is often available with the option "Double tap to turn off the screen." By activating the double tap over the free desktop area, you can extinguish the display with a single finger movement.
Also worth mentioning is the lock function through the control panel, which is that swiping from top to bottom gives you access to widgets. Although there's no default "Switch off" button, some design themes or third-party plugins can add a shortcut, which is especially useful when using large-sized phablet phones.
It's important to distinguish between locking and shutting down completely. When you lock the screen, the operating system keeps working, the background processes are running, and the notifications come in, the display only stops emitting light, which is the main consumer of energy in the active state.
Setting timeout and sleep parameters
Automatically shutting down the screen is a critical feature for saving charge. If the display burns too long after the last touch, the battery discharges many times faster. You can configure this setting in Settings → Screen and Brightness → Sleeping Mode. Here, the user is asked to choose a time interval from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.
The optimal value for most scenarios is 30 or 60 seconds; less time can be uncomfortable when reading long texts, when you do not need constant interaction with the touchscreen; more value should be set only when using navigation or recipes, where the phone must constantly show information.
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If you watch videos or read from your phone often, set a timeout for 2-5 minutes, but be sure to turn on the proximity sensor to keep the screen going out in your pocket.
It's worth noting that some models with AMOLED-matrixes have "Always On Display" (AOD) mode, in which case the screen is technically not turned off completely, but takes time and notifications at a minimum number of pixels, which consumes significantly less power than the usual mode, but still consumes charge.
⚠️ Warning: Setting a timeout of more than 5 minutes can cause a matrix burn (burnout of static interface elements) on the computer. AMOLED-screens, if left unattended in the bright sun.
Using sensors and gestures to control
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with a set of sensors that allow you to automate the process of turning off the screen. The most useful in this context is the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the case, usually next to the conversational speaker, its main task is to turn off the screen during a phone conversation when you bring the device to the ear.
And then there's the useful "Mode in your pocket" feature, which uses the same proximity sensor to detect where your phone is in a confined space, so if you put your phone in your pocket or your bag, the system automatically turns off the backlight even if the timeout hasn't expired yet, preventing accidental tapping and heating.
- 📱 Mi gestures: allow you to control navigation and lock swipes, bypassing the screen buttons.
- 🔒 Smart lock: A feature that keeps the screen unlocked while the device is in a safe place (at home), and requires a password in other locations.
- 🌑 Dark theme: Although it doesn't turn off the screen, using a black background on the screen AMOLED Significantly reduces power consumption by simulating off pixels.
To activate these features, go to Settings → Lock screen or Settings → Additional settings. You can find switches for different use cases here. Not all models support a full set of functions, as this depends on the hardware stuffing of a particular device.
Software Methods and Applications of Assistance
If standard tools are not enough, third-party solutions come to the rescue from the Google Play store. There are specialized applications that add floating buttons to instantly turn off the screen or create complex automation scenarios, such as Screen Off and Lock or Power Button to Volume Button.
Special attention should be paid to launcher applications. Replacing the standard shell with a custom launcher often gives access to advanced interface management functionality. You can assign a screen shutdown for a long press of the widget, for shaking the device or even for a voice command through Google Assistant.
adb shell input keyevent 26For advanced users who have connected the phone to a computer, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method is available.The command above emulates the pressing of the power button. This can be useful when creating automation scripts or if the physical button on the device completely fails.
How to install ADB on your computer?
Using third-party software requires careful consideration of permissions. Screen management applications often require rights to draw over other windows or access to special features. Trust only trusted developers with a good reputation.
Specifics of models with AMOLED and Always-On Display
Owners of flagship and mid-budget models Xiaomi with AMOLED-In these arrays, each pixel is lit independently, black means that the pixel is completely off, so the black background in the interface is actually the part of the screen that is turned off.
Always-On Display (AOD) keeps some of the pixels active for displaying watches and notifications. This creates the illusion that the screen is not turned off. However, energy consumption in this mode is minimal. If your goal is maximum savings, AOD is better to turn off in Wallpaper and personalization settings → Always-on Display.
| Type of matrix | Consumption in black | The risk of burnout | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMOLED | Minimum (pixels off) | High static. | Use a dark theme |
| IPS LCD | Standard (lighting works) | Low. | Cutting down on time-out |
| Always-On | Low (few pixels are active) | Medium. | Set up a schedule |
Setting up the AOD schedule allows the screen to go completely out at night or at certain hours, eliminating excess light in the dark and keeping the charge, a more flexible approach than turning off the feature altogether.
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Nana AMOLED-screens black color interface is equivalent to off areas of the display, which saves battery.
Solving problems with spontaneous inclusion
Often, users are looking for a way to turn off the screen because it lights up on its own, a common problem with the "Rise to Wake Up" function or app notifications, and if the phone is on the table and the screen lights up from a passing message, it can be annoying.
To eliminate this, you need to go to the notification settings. In the Settings → Notifications and Status bar section, you can turn off the screen light when messages arrive. You should also check the settings in the Additional Features → Raise to enable and deactivate this option if you do not need one.
- 🔔 Setting notifications: prevent specific apps from waking up the screen.
- 📶 Do Not Disturb: Blocks light and sound signals, leaving the screen dark.
- 🛡️ Accidental touch protection: check if this option is enabled in screen settings, it ignores touching in narrow areas.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen lights up in your pocket without you, check the cleanness of the proximity sensor.Dirt or protective film can block the sensor, making the system think the phone is near the ear.
Sometimes the cause can be a poor-quality charger. Cheap power supplies can cause interference in the network, which the touchscreen perceives as touch, and the system reacts by turning on the screen. Try replacing the cable or power supply for inspection.