How to turn off the image on the Xiaomi TV, saving the sound

The situation when the user needs to leave the audio play on the smart TV, but turn off the screen matrix itself, is much more common than it seems at first glance. Owners of Xiaomi Mi TV devices and Mi Box consoles often look for a way to turn the gadget into a background music center or audio system for podcasts without spending extra energy on the display illumination. The standard Android TV menu does not always offer an obvious “Sound Only” button, which forces users to look for workarounds and hidden system functions.

There are several effective ways to do this, ranging from simple keyboard shortcuts to installing specialized software. Understanding the architecture of the Android TV operating system allows you to manipulate power saving and video output modes. In this article, we will discuss each option in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your model and use case.

Disabling the display not only reduces power consumption, but also prolongs the life of the panel, preventing the potential burn-in of static interface elements during prolonged listening. OLED-panels, though LCD/LED Matrices are also prone to degradation during heavy operation. Let's take a look at how to properly configure your Xiaomi TV audio-mode.

Use of built-in energy saving functions

The easiest and safest way to disable an image is to use the standard system settings. The PatchWall Operating Shell or the standard Android TV on Xiaomi TVs have flexible settings for sleep and energy saving timers. Going to Settings → General → Eco-mode, you can activate the automatic screen shutdown function after a certain period of inactivity or when playing audio.

Some models, especially the new Mi TV P1 or Q1 series, have a separate "Audio Only" option in the media playback menu. If you use a built-in player or Google Photos app for a music slideshow, check the settings of a particular application. Often you can find a switch that turns off the screen, leaving only the audio channel active.

It is important to note that standard functions may not work properly with third applications. If the system timer turns off the screen too quickly or, conversely, does not respond to the lack of video stream, a deeper intervention in the settings will be required, in which case the power consumption decreases slightly, as the processor continues to decode the video stream, even if it is not displayed.

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Try running a video on YouTube, curling the app and running a music track – on some firmware versions, this forcibly disables the video stream, leaving only sound.

Configuring through remote control

Many users don't realize that the Xiaomi Remote has hidden or little-known button combinations. Depending on the firmware version and the console model (Bluetooth or IR), (long press) a power button or a special button can trigger a quick action menu. Try pressing the Home button or the gear button.

There is also a method of "jamming" the backlight through the image menu. Go to Settings → Image → Image Mode and select Eco or Mode Mode. Then lower Brightness, Contrast and Backlight to the minimum values (0). The screen will become virtually black, but technically will remain on.

• 🔘 Press and hold the button "Menu" or "Settings" on the remote for 5 seconds to call the engineering menu (carefully, do not change unknown settings).
• 🔘 Use voice search: press the microphone button and say “Switch off screen” (only works with active Google Assistant and scripts installed).
• 🔘 Back button combination" +"Down sometimes emulates a command to go to sleep without stopping the media player.

This is the most universal method, because it doesn't require any additional software, but it doesn't guarantee a 100% shutdown of the matrix, it just minimizes the glow, and to save power and completely shut down the video part, it's better to consider software solutions.

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The reduction of brightness to 0 is a software emulation of the switch off, the matrix continues to consume current, although significantly less than during normal operation.

Third-party screen management applications

The most effective way to get full control of the display is to install specialized apps from the Google Play Store, and there's a whole class of utilities that are designed specifically to turn Android TV into an audio system, and they intercept the system commands for controlling the power of the screen.

One of the most popular solutions is the Screen Off or TV Sleep Timer app. Once you install it, you get a button in the interface that forcefully turns off the screen, leaving any audio player running, whether it's Spotify, Yandex Music or a YouTube browser. Some apps even allow you to set up automatic screen turn on when you touch the remote.

It is worth considering that some TV manufacturers block the ability of third-party applications to completely disable the matrix at the driver level, in such cases, the application can only send a signal to go to standby mode, which the system ignores if there is active media playback. In this case, it will help. ADB-debugging.

⚠️ Note: When installing applications from unknown sources (not from the official Play Market Store), you take responsibility for the security of your data.

Using ADB commands for advanced users

For those who are not afraid of the command line, the most reliable method is the use of the ADB protocol (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to send low-level commands directly to the TV operating system, bypassing the interface limitations. You will need a computer connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the TV.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → On TV. → Build and press 7 times quickly. In the "Developers" menu that appears, turn on "Debugging by" USB". Then on the computer, using the utility ADB, plug in IP-TV address.

adb connect 192.168.1.XX


adb shell input keyevent 26

Keyevent 26 emulates the power button. To turn off the screen without turning off the TV completely, a backlight state change command is often used. However, there is no universal command, because it depends on the drivers of a particular panel.

adb shell settings put system screen_brightness 0

This method ensures that the backlight is software-free. Use the 255 command (or 100 depending on the Android version) to return brightness. This is the only way that works on 100% of Xiaomi TVs, regardless of the shell version.

Comparison of methods of disabling the image

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have organized all the methods considered in a comparative table, each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals: saving electricity, protecting the screen or simply comfort.

As you can see from the table, third-party apps are the best balance for the average user, providing a user-friendly interface and a sufficient level of control, and the ADB method is recommended only for advanced users who understand the principles of the Android operating system.

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If you use a TV as a permanent music station, consider buying a TV. HDMI-Dummy Plug, which emulates the presence of a monitor and can help control video output on some devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)