How to turn off monochrome mode on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

The monochrome (black and white) mode on Xiaomi smartphones can turn on accidentally — after updating MIUI, activating the function to save charge or due to a failure in the settings of special features. On the surface, it looks like the screen has lost all colors: the interface, photos and videos are displayed in gradations of gray, as in old movies, while the phone itself works normally — calls, notifications and touch input are not broken.

The causes of monochrome mode are divided into two groups: software (settings enabled) and hardware (screen or plume damage). 90% of the time, the problem is solved through the phone menu in 1-2 minutes. In this article, we will discuss all ways to turn off the black and white screen on Xiaomi Redmi, POCO and other models with the shell of MIUI 12-14, and also tell you how to avoid re-activation of the mode.

Why is Xiaomi using monochrome mode?

The black and white screen is not a malfunction, but a function of the operating system, and it can be activated in the following cases:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: after installing a new firmware version, some settings are reset to factory ones, including Gradation mode in special features.
• 🔋 Super-saving mode: with a low battery charge (less than 5-10%), the system automatically switches to monochrome mode to reduce the load on the processor and screen.
• 👓 Color filter function: designed for users with color blindness, but can be activated accidentally (for example, through Quick Settings or voice assistant).
• 🎮 Game mode: Some profiles in Game Turbo forcefully turn off colors to reduce load on the game GPU.
• 🛠️ System failure: rarely, but it happens that after overheating or a sharp power outage, the settings are reset.

If the screen became monochrome after the phone fell or moisture hit, the problem may be damage to the plume of the display or matrix. In this case, the software methods will not help, you will need a diagnostics in the service center. To distinguish between hardware failure and software failure, try connecting the phone to the TV via HDMI (via an adapter) or start Safe Mode (safe mode). If the external screen is colored, the firmware is to blame, if monochrome is faulty display.

Method 1: Disconnection through “Special Opportunities”

The most common option is to activate Gradation in the visually impaired settings, which removes all colors from the screen, leaving only black, white and shades of gray, to turn it off:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Special Opportunities section → Improved visibility.
3. Find Gradation Gradations (or Color Filter in newer MIUI versions).
4. Move the slider to the off position. or uncheck the tick.

If Gradation Gradation is not available, check the optional settings → Color Mode. On some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 11) the function is hidden under the name Color Correction.

Find the section "Special Opportunities"|Check the item "Gradation of gray"|Turn off the color filter|Reboot the phone-->

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14, the path to setup may be different. If you don't find a section, search the settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) and type in the "gray gradation" query».

Method 2: Exit from battery super-saving mode

The monochrome screen may be triggered by the activation of super-saving mode, which limits performance and turns off colors to extend running time.This mode is activated automatically at a critical charge level (usually below 5%) or manually through the notification panel.

To turn it off:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the Notification Panel.
2. Find the Super Economy icon (the battery icon with a leaf) and tap it.
3. If there is no icon, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
4. Choose Balanced or Performance.

After switching off the super-savings, the colors should return within 5-10 seconds.If the screen is monochrome, check the battery power - at levels below 3%, some Xiaomi models block color reproduction before connecting to charging.

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To avoid automatically enabling supersavings, set a limit in battery settings: Settings → Battery → Battery Mode → Settings → Turn off automatic switching

Method 3: Resetting color reproduction settings through the Laboratory

MIUI has a hidden Lab (or Additional Settings) section where you can reset the screen to factory settings, which helps if the monochrome mode came after experimenting with the display settings (for example, after color calibration).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Scroll down and select Additional Screen Settings (or Lab on older versions).
3. Find Reset Color Settings or Restore Default Values.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).

After the reset, the phone will reboot and the colors will return. If there is no Lab section, try an alternative path:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times to unlock hidden settings)


→ Return to “Settings” → Additional settings → Laboratory

⚠️ Warning: Resetting color settings will also return brightness, contrast, and screen temperature to factory values. If you used custom profiles (like Reading or Movies), they will have to be reset again.

Method 4: Restart in Safe Mode

If the monochrome mode is caused by a failure in a third-party application (for example, a launcher or a program to adjust the screen), Safe Mode will help, it loads only system services, and all user applications are disabled.

To run Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
2. Slip and hold the "Switch Off" option (or Reboot on some models).
3. Confirm the transition to safe mode (notification will appear).

After downloading, check if the color is back, if so, the problem is in one of the installed applications, to find the culprit.

• 📱 Remove recently installed programs (especially launchers, themes, or screen customization utilities).
• 🔍 Check the permissions of applications in Settings → Annexes → Permit management.
• 🔄 Return to normal mode through reboot.

If the screen remained monochrome in Safe Mode, the reason is not in the software, but in the settings of the system or hardware.

Method 5: Reset all settings (last option)

If previous methods didn't work and the screen is still monochrome, you'll have to reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, so use it as a last resort. Back up first via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Select Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will reboot, and you'll see the screen of the initial setup. The monochrome mode should disappear. If the problem persists, it's a 100% hardware fault (damage to the plume or matrix) that needs repair.

How to prevent the re-enactment of monochrome mode?

To prevent the black and white screen from appearing again, follow these tips:

• 🔌 Turn off automatic switching to Battery Mode (see Method 2).
• 🔒 Block access to Special Opportunities through Settings → Password and security → Application lockdown.
• 📱 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, bugs with spontaneous activation of color filters have been fixed.
• 🛡️ Install a reliable antivirus (such as Mi Security) to avoid malware crashes.

If you use Game Turbo or other performance profiles frequently, check their settings: some modes (such as Extreme Performance) may force the color rendering to reduce the load on the GPU.

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Before installing custom themes or launchers, check the reviews of other users - some modifications conflict with the system color settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about monochrome mode on Xiaomi