How to turn the screen on the smartphone Xiaomi

Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the need to change the orientation of the image when watching videos or reading books. Standard behavior of the system involves automatic reaction to the turn of the device, but in some cases the screen can “stuck” in an upright position or, conversely, interfere with the rotation at the wrong time.

The MIUI shell interface and the new HyperOS offer multiple levels of display control. You can use quick switches in the notification curtain, adjust system settings through menus, or bring in additional features for specific applications. It's important to keep in mind that not all programs support horizontal mode, and this is not a phone malfunction.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to control display orientation. We will discuss software settings, how hardware sensors work, and how to solve common problems when the screen refuses to turn. Global turn blocking in the notification curtain takes precedence over settings inside most applications.

Using notification curtain for quick setup

The fastest way to prevent or allow the screen to turn is in the Quick Access Panel, which requires a top-down swipe to open the notification curtain, depending on the version of the operating system, the icon can be called "Orientation" or "Autoporate".

If the icon is illuminated in blue, the function is active, and the image will change position when the phone is tilted. If the icon is gray or crossed, the screen is fixed in the current orientation, most often in portrait. On some versions of the firmware, the activation of the lock is displayed as a lock with arrows.

With newer versions of HyperOS, management has become more intuitive, so you can not just turn on or off a function, but also choose a specific orientation if the system offers an extended widget, but in most cases, it is enough to simply switch the state of the button.

It's worth noting that the switch state in the curtain is maintained even after the device is rebooted, which means that if you block the turn for easy typing with one hand, the system won't reset this setting by itself, but you'll have to manually return the switch to active when autorotating again becomes necessary.

Configure the autoturn through the system menu

If you don't have an icon in the curtain or you prefer a deep setup, you can use the basic settings menu. The path to the desired option may vary slightly depending on the Android version and shell. Usually the settings are in the section responsible for displaying information on the display.

To access the settings, go to Settings, then select Screen or Display. In some versions of MIUI, the desired option is hidden in the sub-menu "Additional" or "Read Mode." Look for a switch called "Scream Turn" or "Orientation".

You can also find settings related to font size and interface scale that indirectly affect how content is perceived horizontally, and enlarged font can cause some elements to crop or display incorrectly in landscape mode.

It is important to understand the difference between system lock and in-app locking. System setup is global, whereas many video players and browsers have their own internal switches that can ignore the general rules if allowed by the software developer.

Application-specific orientation management

Some apps, like TikTok, Instagram, or bank clients, are vertical by default, and developers deliberately limit functionality because the interface of these programs is not adapted for horizontal viewing, and in such cases, no system settings will cause the picture to turn over.

Video players like YouTube or VLC usually automatically respond to a device's rotation, but there's often a position-fix option in the player's settings. If the screen doesn't turn when you start a video, check the settings inside the app, not just in the phone's system.

Browsers like Chrome or Mi Browser allow you to flip long pages in any position, but if you use browsing mode to read, the app can force you to keep vertical orientation for easy navigation. This is normal software behavior.

⚠️ Note: If the screen turns in games but doesn’t work in the gallery, the problem may not be in the phone settings, but in the format of the video file itself or the limitations of the Gallery app.

For some tasks, like drawing or tables, horizontal mode is critical. Make sure the application you use supports landscape mode. If there is no support, there are special emulator programs that can force a change of orientation, but their use requires the installation of additional software.

Sensor operation and screen calibration

The accelerometer and the gyroscope are responsible for determining the position of the smartphone in space, and these hardware sensors transmit data to the system, which decides whether to rotate the image, and if the sensors are not working correctly, the screen may turn with a delay or not respond at all.

Xiaomi phones have a hidden engineering menu to check the sensors. To get there, open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484##. In the CIT menu that opens, select "Accelerometer" or "Gyroscope" to check the device's tilt response.

If you physically turn the phone, the test menu values change, but the screen is not rotates, then the problem is software. If the values do not change or change in jerks, you may need calibration or hardware repair after the fall.

In rare cases, software calibration of sensors is required through special utilities available in the Play Market, but for most users, it is enough to simply restart the device to reset temporary errors in the operation of the sensors.

Solving Screen Turning Problems

If the screen stops responding to turns, the first thing you do is check if the lock in the notification curtain is on. This is the most common cause of "fault." Also make sure you're in an app that supports horizontal mode.

The second step is to reboot the smartphone, which clears the RAM and restarts the system services that run the interface, often after switching on, the phone starts to correctly determine the position in space.

If the problem persists, check for system updates. In Settings → A new patch may be available about the phone to fix display errors. Bugs in older versions of MIUI sometimes affect the accelerometer.

If the screen is twitching or constantly changing orientation without the phone rotating, it may be that the sensor is contaminated or damaged. Gently wipe the top of the screen and the body. If the phone has recently fallen, the sensor plume may have moved away, which requires access to the service.

Additional functions and widgets

Xiaomi's shell allows you to put the desktop orientation switch in the form of a widget, which is convenient for those who often have to change modes. The Switch widget allows you to add a quick access button to any system function.

There's also a floating window feature that allows you to run applications in a small window, and in this mode, rotating the main screen does not affect the orientation of the content in the floating window, which creates two independent spaces to work.

For people with disabilities, there are touchless phone controls in the "Special Capabilities" section, which can intercept orientation control, so if you've activated voice control, check its settings.

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Use Do Not Disturb Mode when watching movies horizontally so that notifications don’t overshadow the image or confuse focus.

Users can adjust the behavior of the lock screen. In some scenarios, such as using smart window cases, the system can ignore the rotation commands, prioritizing the operation of the accessories.

Frequently asked questions

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In 90% of cases, the problem with turning is solved by checking the switch in the notification curtain or restarting the device.