How to completely or temporarily disable touchscreen on Xiaomi smartphones

Touchscreen on Xiaomi smartphones is both a major advantage and a potential problem. In some situations, users need to temporarily or completely turn off the touchscreen: for example, when using the device as a media player for children, while repairing the display, or if the sensor began to malfunction and react to touch spontaneously. Unlike button phones, where it was enough to remove the battery, modern smartphones require more complex manipulations.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to disable touchscreen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from standard MIUI features to hidden commands for developers. It’s important to understand that turning off the sensor completely prevents you from interacting with the phone through the screen, so most methods involve alternative ways of controlling (for example, via USB OTG or ADB). If your goal is simply to block random taps, you may also need standard features like Mode for children or Screen Lock.

Before you start settings, make sure that your device unlocks the bootloader (if you plan to use ADB or Fastboot), and back up the data.Some methods can result in a reset or even a device blink if performed incorrectly.

1. Standard ways to lock touchscreen without turning off

If you don’t need to deactivate the sensor completely, but rather prevent accidental taps, use the built-in MIUI features. These methods do not require super-user rights (root) and are suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5.

The easiest way is to activate the mode for children:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Regime for children.
• 🔒 Set a password (required!) and select the apps that will be available.
• 🎮 In this mode, the screen is blocked from random pressing, but remains sensitive to unlock gestures.

For a more rigid lock, use PIN-coded screen lock or pattern lock, but note that this does not turn off the sensor completely - it will respond to unlock. Alternatively, the Pocket Mode Protection feature (Settings → Display → Pocket Mode), which ignores accidental touches when the phone is in your pocket.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and later, Child Mode may not be available on some models, in which case use third-party apps like Kids Place or AppLock, but they also don't turn off the sensor completely.

2. Disabling the touchscreen through the Developer Settings

Hidden developer settings in MIUI allow you to deactivate touch input, but this method does not work on all devices and may require additional manipulation.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified of becoming a developer!).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now look for the option to turn off touch input (Disable touch input or Touch screen off). On some firmware, this feature may be called differently or not. If there is no option, try an alternative way:

• 🔧 Turn on the debugging. USB developer-setting.
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and use it. ADB-team (more on this below).

On devices with MIUI 13 and older, sometimes turning off gestures: go to Settings → Display → Navigation Type and select Buttons instead of Gestures. This will not turn off the sensor completely, but will reduce the number of false positives.

3.Use of ADB to deactivate the sensor

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is the most reliable way to disable touchscreen on Xiaomi, but it requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.This method works on most models, including the Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi 10 and POCO F4, regardless of the version of MIUI.

First, install ADB on your PC:

• 💻 Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.
• 📂 Unpack the archive in any folder (for example, C:\adb).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC through USB and select the File Transfer Mode.

Now run the following commands in Command Prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux):

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter:

adb shell settings put system touchscreen_off 1

To return the sensor to working condition, use:

adb shell settings put system touchscreen_off 0

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI This command may not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case try an alternative method through Fastboot (described below) or use apps like Touchscreen Toggle (requires root).

4. Disabling touchscreen via Fastboot

If ADB didn’t work, try disabling the sensor via Fastboot, a firmware mode available even on locked devices, a technique that is suitable for models with an unlocked bootloader (e.g. Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and press the Power button + Volume down to log into the Fastboot.
2. Connect the device to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
3. Check the connection by the team:

fastboot devices

1. Enter the command to disable the touchscreen:

fastboot oem touch off

To turn the sensor back on:

fastboot oem touch on

On some devices, a different command can be used instead of oem touch, such as fastboot oem. disable_touch. If the command is not recognized, check the documentation for your model in forums like XDA Developers.

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If after disabling the touchscreen via Fastboot, the phone stopped responding to the buttons, connect it to the PC and use the command fastboot reboot to restart.

5. Disable the sensor with root rights

If your Xiaomi has Magisk or another root rights manager installed, you can turn off the touchscreen through the system files, which gives you maximum control, but requires caution - wrong actions can lead to a device blink.

The safest way to do this is to use the Touchscreen Toggle app from Magisk Modules:

• 📱 Install Magisk Manager and check root status.
• 🔍 Download the Touchscreen Toggle module from the Magisk repository.
• ⚙️ Activate the module and restart the device.
• 🖐️ After the reboot, the touchscreen will be disabled until the next activation via Magisk.

For manual shutdown via Terminal (requires root):

su


echo 0 > /sys/class/touchscreen/touchscreen0/enable

To turn back:

su


echo 1 > /sys/class/touchscreen/touchscreen0/enable

The path to the sensor file may vary depending on the model. To find the right path, use the command:

ls /sys/class/touchscreen/

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without root or through unverified applications can lead to loss of warranty and unstable operation of the device. MIUI 14+ HyperOS and some paths can be protected by DM-Verity, which requires additional manipulation.

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Using root rights gives you maximum flexibility, but increases the risk of system damage, and is recommended only for advanced users.

6.Alternative methods: physical locking and third-party applications

If software isn't suitable, consider physical or semi-software solutions, such as:

• 🛡️ Touch-blocking protective film – special films with a metallized layer that interrupt the sensor signal.
• 📦 Lock case – some cases (for example, for Xiaomi Pad 6) have a hard cover that physically prevents pressing.
• 🔌 USB OTG + mouse/keyboard – connect peripherals and control your phone without touching the screen.

Among the third-party applications stand out:

• 📱 Touch Lock – locks the sensor for a certain time (requires Accessibility Service).
• 🔒 Screen Off and Lock – Turns off the screen but leaves the device functional for calls.
• 🛠️ Button Mapper – allows you to reassign hardware buttons for control without a sensor.

Note that most third-party applications do not shut down the sensor completely, but only limit its functionality. ADB, Fastboot or root.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off the touchscreen on Xiaomi, users experience common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have unique limitations.

1. Check out thematic forums (e.g. 4PDA or MIUI SU).
2. Update your firmware to the latest version of MIUI or HyperOS.
3. Contact Xiaomi Service Center – some models allow you to officially disable the sensor (for example, for corporate customers).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions