Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the device's screen lights up on its own, showing various widgets, watches or photos. This phenomenon, known as a screensaver or screensaver, can be annoying, especially at night when the sudden glow of the screen interferes with restful sleep.The feature is useful for those who use the phone as a desktop clock, but most users it only consumes battery power.
With MIUI and the new HyperOS, managing this is hidden quite deep in the system settings. Many users search for a switch on the desktop or lock menu without knowing that the item is in the developer or special features section. Understanding the exact path to setup will save you time and nerves.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where the screensaver switch is located, how to adjust the activation time and what to do if the function is not working correctly. We will also look at the nuances of the screensaver when charging is connected, since this is the standard behavior of the system that can be changed.
What is a screensaver in MIUI and why it is needed
Xiaomi’s screensaver is a screen display mode when the device is in standby mode and connected to a power source. Initially, this feature was created to prevent the matrix from burning out on older types of screens, but in modern AMOLED and IPS displays, it acts as a display display. The screensaver can show the time, date, notifications or slideshow from your photos.
However, the constant activation of the screen leads to increased energy consumption. If you leave your phone on charging at night, the screensaver will constantly illuminate the room, which can interfere with the production of melatonin and impair sleep quality. In addition, frequent turning on the screen without your participation can be mistaken as accidental pressing or failure of the touch screen.
⚠️ Warning: Prolonged display of a static image at high brightness can theoretically contribute to uneven wear of pixels, although on modern panels the risk is minimal.
Disabling this feature is especially important for users who use their devices as alarm clocks or navigators in the car. In such scenarios, spontaneously turning on the screen distracts and creates unnecessary light noise. A full understanding of how the screen activation algorithm works when charging will allow you to flexibly control the behavior of the smartphone.
Where to find settings screensaver in the phone menu
Finding the right switch can take time, as the configuration logic in MIUI often changes from version to version. In most current firmware, the path to managing the screensaver is through the special features menu. You need to open the Settings app and scroll through the list to the Additional Settings or Advanced Settings section.
Then the algorithm of actions depends on the version of the shell. In the classic MIUI 12-13, the desired item is often located inside the Special Opportunities menu. In newer versions, such as MIUI 14 or HyperOS, developers could move this parameter to the Screen section always on and the screensaver, if this option is made separately.
☑️ Checking the location of settings
If a standard search through the settings menu doesn't produce results, you can use the built-in search. At the top of the settings screen, there's a search bar where you just type in the word "savenger" or "screensaver." The system will suggest you go to the desired menu item, which greatly speeds up the process, which is especially convenient if the menu items were renamed when localized.
Step-by-step instruction to disable the screensaver
Once you've found the partition, the deactivation process takes a few seconds. The settings interface usually suggests choosing the source of the images or the activation time. To completely remove the screensaver, you need to find a switch called Enable the screensaver or Use the screensaver and put it in an inactive position. The color of the slider will change from blue or orange to gray.
Some firmware versions may require additional action. For example, if you select the activation time "Never", the screensaver can still be considered on the system. So it is recommended not only to turn off the common switch, but also to check the settings of the timer. Make sure that the Start after paragraph does not set a minimum time that can provoke random switching.
After making the changes, remember to leave the settings menu. Android applies the changes instantly, but to guarantee it is recommended to lock the screen and unlock it again, this will check if the unwanted effect has disappeared. If the screen stopped lighting up when you connect the charging in standby mode, then the procedure is successful.
Adjustment of activation time and conditions
If you don't want to shut down the screensaver completely, but you want to limit it, the system provides flexible setting tools. You can adjust the conditions under which the screen will light up. Most often, the screensaver only activates when the smartphone is connected to the charger. This makes sense, because the constant operation of the screen quickly drains the battery.
You can select a time slot from the settings menu. You can choose "Never," "In 1 minute," "In 5 minutes," and so on. You can choose the option to Never actually turn off the function completely, even if the main switch is active, and it's a convenient way to temporarily cancel the function without losing the settings of the image source.
Also worth paying attention to is the source of the content. The screensaver can draw images from the system gallery, from the album you choose, or only show the clock. If you want to minimize visual noise but keep the function active, choose the source of the Clock or the Black Screen, which will create a minimalist look that attracts less attention in the dark.
| Setup parameter | Description of action | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Activation or deactivation of the function | Off (for savings) |
| Start through | Downtime before switching on | Never. |
| Source | Where to get images | Clock/Photo album |
| Show when charging | Condition of connection of power | As you wish. |
Screen getting stuck problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screensaver is not just displayed, but sticks. The screen is constantly on fire, does not go out after the timer expires or does not respond to touch. This can be caused by a software failure in the service SystemUI or a third-party launcher conflict, in such cases, the standard switching off of the toggle may not help, since the process is already stalled.
The first step in solving the problem is to reboot the device. This trivial action clears RAM and restarts all system services, including the one responsible for the screensaver. If the problem recurs after a reboot, it is worth checking for system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix such bugs.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen is constantly on and the phone is getting very hot, immediately turn off the charger. Prolonged overheating can damage the battery or adhesive base of the display.
In more complex cases, you may need to clear the Settings cache or reset the settings to factory settings. However, before drastic measures, try running your phone in Safe Mode. If this mode doesn't turn on the screensaver, then the conflict is causing one of the apps you installed. Delete the recently installed programs one by one to find the culprit.
Impact of Design Themes and Third-Party Applications
MIUI is famous for its design theme, but customization is often the source of problems. Third-party themes downloaded from Themes store can replace the system locker and screensaver service with their counterparts, such analogs can incorrectly handle commands to turn off the screen, ignore timers or conflict with the proximity sensor.
If you notice that the problem occurred after you installed a new theme, try switching to a standard design temporarily. Go to the Themes app, select My Account or Standard profile, and apply the theme by default, which will determine if the reason is due to the visual design.
Also, memory cleaner applications or phone accelerators can have an impact, and they can aggressively terminate system processes while leaving background visualization services hanging, and it’s worth checking out apps that request permission to “mask over other windows.” This is the permission often required for screensaver operation, and having third-party software can lead to unexpected screen switches.