Smartphone owners often face a situation where the display of the device behaves unpredictable: it goes out too early, then, on the contrary, continues to burn, showing unnecessary pictures or logos. The concept of “savenger” in the Xiaomi ecosystem and the MIUI shell can be interpreted differently, which causes confusion among users.
Incorrect operation of these functions can significantly reduce the battery life of your gadget. In addition, the constant glow of pixels can lead to the effect of burning out the matrix, especially on the device. AMOLED-screens that are widely used in the models Redmi and Mi. Understanding the differences between these modes is the first step to competent settings.
In this article, we will take a look at all the possible screensavers and how to turn them off, learn how to control a sleep timer, block the start of the screensaver while charging, and adjust the settings of Always On Display, which will make using your smartphone more comfortable and energy efficient.
Differences between timeout, screensaver and AOD
Before we get to specific actions, we need to make a clear distinction between the concepts, because they are often scattered in the settings menu, and the time out, or the time before going to sleep, determines how long it takes for the screen to go out after the last touch, which is a basic energy saving parameter.
A screensaver is a feature that is activated normally when a device or dock is charged, and instead of a black screen, the phone starts showing clocks, calendars, gallery photos, or simply changing colors. On older models, this was fashionable, but now it's more often annoying.
The third element is Always On Display (AOD), which is a technology that allows time and notifications to be displayed on a screen that is off without fully turning it on. Unlike the classic screensaver, AOD uses minimal pixels and energy, but can be visually perceived as a permanent screensaver.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling all backlight features may cause you to miss an important call or message if you don't set up notifications via LED or vibration.
It's important to know which part you want to deactivate, and users often look for ways to remove the screensaver, simply by going to sleep quickly, and other times, you need to turn off the slideshow while charging so that the phone doesn't distract at night.
Setting the time of transition to sleep mode
The most common request is for changing the time it takes for the screen to go out when it is inactive. In the MIUI shell, this parameter is not hidden deep, but finding it the first time is difficult because of the abundance of other settings. The standard value is usually 30 or 60 seconds, which is not always convenient.
To change this setting, you need to open the main settings menu. Find a section that could be called Screen and Brightness or simply Screen. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the item name may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same.
Inside the section, find the "Sleep Mode" or "Screen Time Out" option, and if you click on it, you'll see a list of available intervals. The system will offer options from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, or even "Do not turn off." The latter option is strongly discouraged for everyday use, as it is guaranteed to cause the matrix to burn out and the device to overheat.
☑️ Checking screen settings
If you choose to take too short a time, like 15 seconds, the phone will go out right while reading text, which is annoying. Too long, like 5 or 10 minutes, will result in a quick battery drain if you forget to lock the phone manually. The optimal balance is considered to be an interval of 1-2 minutes.
It's worth noting that in some use cases, like navigation or screen reading, the system can automatically extend the time before shutdown, a smart feature that analyzes your interaction with the device, but you don't have to rely on it completely, you'd better set a comfortable base value.
How to turn off the screensaver while charging
Many users notice that when you put your smartphone on charge, the screen lights up and starts showing the clock, the weather or photos, which is the classic screensaver. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, this feature is often hidden in the Developer Menu or special lock sections.
To start, check the standard lock settings. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and personalization → Screen lock. There may be a wallpaper log or wallpaper carousel that sometimes behaves like a screensaver. Turn off the "On when charging" option if it's active.
If you don't find the right switch in the normal settings menu, you may have the function hidden in the developer menu. To get there, you need to quickly click on the MIUI version number 7 times in the About Phone section. Once you have the "You're a developer" message, go back to the main settings menu.
In the advanced settings, look for the "Additional" or "Extended Settings" section, and then "Developers" section. Scroll down to the "Screen" or "Hardware" block. There should be "Daydream" item. When you enter it, turn off the switch or select "No" as the source.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Screen timeout | Screen and brightness | 30-60 seconds. |
| The Screensaver (Daydream) | For developers | Off. |
| Always On Display | Wallpaper and personalization | Scheduled. |
| Wallpaper carousel | Screen locking | Turned off (if not necessary) |
Turning off the screensaver is especially important if you use your phone as an alarm clock at night, and if you keep your screen burning, it will interfere with sleep and create extra light pollution in the room, and it will also reduce the load on the battery, which is important for preserving its life.
Why does the screensaver turn on itself?
Managing Always On Display (AOD)
Always On Display has become the standard for Xiaomi’s flagship and mid-range smartphones, allowing you to see time and notifications without touching your phone, but not everyone likes that the screen never turns off completely, even in your pocket (although the proximity sensor should be extinguishing it).
To control this feature, go to Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Always On Display and Screen Lock. Here you will find the master switch. If you want to completely disable this type of screensaver, just turn the switch to the "Off" position.
But the complete abandonment of the function makes you uncomfortable. It's better to set up the mode of operation. The system offers several options: "Always on", "Schedule" or "10 seconds after touching." Scheduled mode is the most reasonable compromise.
By setting a schedule from 8:00 to 23:00, for example, you’ll get rid of the glowing screen at night, but keep the functionality in the daytime.It also saves battery power during the night hours when the phone usually lies motionless. Modern versions of HyperOS add a smart AOD feature that brightens when you look at the phone.
⚠️ Note: In some models with LCD-screen-work AOD It is software-based and can consume much more energy than it does on a computer. AMOLED. Owners. LCD-It is recommended to disable this function completely.
It is important to consider that the constant operation of even a part of the pixels contributes to the wear of the matrix. Although modern technology minimizes this risk, periodic complete switching off of the screen (through setting the schedule) will prolong the life of your display.
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Use In-Pack mode in the AOD settings if available.This will prevent accidental switching on of the screen when the phone is in your bag or pocket, saving battery life.
Problems with the hung screen and software failures
Sometimes users are looking for a way to turn off the screensaver because the screen just stops going out or goes out, but immediately lights up again. This is not a setup, but a software glitch or application conflict. Often the culprit is an application that requests permission to work in the background or access the screen.
The first thing you need to do is check which app is waking up your phone. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Statistics. See if there are any programs on the list that you haven't used but have consumed a significant charge. It could be the "culprit."
Step two is Safe Mode. Reset the phone to Safe Mode (usually you need to press the off button on the screen and then keep your finger on the "off" button on the menu for a long time), If the problem has disappeared in Safe Mode, then the third-party application is to blame.
It’s also worth checking your smart behavior settings. In Settings → Special features, gesture or gaze controls may be active that keep the screen from turning off, for example, “Don’t turn off the screen while you’re looking at it” may not work properly.
- 📱 Check battery statistics to identify 'gluttonous' apps.
- 🔄 Reset application settings or remove newly installed software.
- 🛡️ Scan the device with built-in antivirus Security for malware.
If the screen goes out but lights up again after a second without notice, it could be a sign of the faulty proximity sensor or the power button sticking, in which case software methods will not help, you will need a diagnosis in the service center.
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If the screen behaves chaotic after installing the firmware update, try clearing the Recovery partition cache, but don’t do a full reset (Wipe Data) until you make sure the problem isn’t in the apps.
Third-party applications to replace the standard screensaver
Standard MIUI capabilities may seem limited, so many users install apps from Google Play to create unique screensavers. Popular options include AOD for AMOLED, Screeno or watch widgets.
These applications require broad permissions, including the right to “over other windows” and access to sensors, which creates potential security holes and increases battery consumption.
Often, these apps conflict with the system optimization of Xiaomi's battery, which can force the screensaver to close and it won't work, and to avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings of a particular application and select "No restrictions" mode.
Third-party solutions are justified if you want a specific design that is not in stock firmware, but for basic functions (time, date, notifications) standard HyperOS or MIUI tools are enough and they work more stable.
Can you completely remove screen burnout on Xiaomi?
Why did the settings of the screensaver disappear after the MIUI update?
Does live wallpaper affect battery consumption as a screensaver?
In conclusion, screensaver and screen mode management on Xiaomi is a balance between aesthetics, functionality and energy saving. Proper timeout settings, disabling unnecessary screensavers and wisely using AOD will allow you to enjoy your smartphone without unnecessary inconvenience.
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Regularly change static elements on the lock screen (for example, through the wallpaper-carousel function with a large interval) to prevent uneven wear of pixels in the same zone.