Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped with highly sensitive accelerometers that automatically detect the position of the device in space. However, users often face a situation where the image is “stuck” in vertical mode or, conversely, is not fixed when watching video, which can cause serious discomfort, especially when reading books or watching movies in the prone position.
The main reason for this behavior is often activated orientation lock or software failure in the MIUI (or HyperOS) interface. Android security sometimes prioritizes commands running applications, ignoring the physical rotation of the case. Understanding where the sensor settings hide allows you to instantly regain control of the device.
In this article, we will take a look at all the possible ways to control the orientation of the display, how to use standard system tools, where to find hidden engineering menus for calibrating sensors, and what to do if the refuses screen turns even after rebooting, and we will look at the nuances of working with different versions of the shells of Chinese and global production.
Control through notification curtain and control center
The fastest and most obvious way to change the display's orientation is to use the Quick Settings Panel, which is brought to the fore in the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS for user convenience, and just swipe down from the top of the screen to open the curtain.
In the menu that opens, you need to find an icon with the image of the lock surrounded by arrows, or simply the words "Orientation." If the icon is illuminated in a bright color, then the lock function is active and the screen will be fixed in the current position.
Sometimes the icon can be hidden in the second page of the control panel, which requires you to swipe the panel left or right, depending on the firmware version. In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, the switch can be called "Autoporate" and work on the principle of turning on, not turning off the lock.
It is worth noting that in new versions of HyperOS, the control center logic has been changed. Now the orientation switch can be located in a separate media unit or be combined with other system functions. If you do not find a familiar icon, try to deploy the panel fully by pressing the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots), and add the orientation widget manually.
Setting the turn in the system menu
If the notification curtain is difficult to access or the icon is not working, you can always use deep system settings, which is more reliable because it addresses system parameters directly, bypassing possible bugs in the curtain interface.
To move to the necessary parameters, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- 🔄 Find the Screen or Display section (depending on localization).
- 🔓 Select “Screen Turn” or “Orientation».
- ✅ Activate the switch if it is turned off.
In some firmware versions for China (CN), the path may be different, where settings are often hidden in the section Additional → Special features. Global versions usually have a more logical structure, where the display management is placed in a separate category immediately after the section About device.
☑️ Checking screen settings
It's important to understand that the settings in this menu take precedence over the settings of individual apps, and if you don't have to turn, neither YouTube nor the gallery can deploy the image, even if the permissions are in the apps themselves, so diagnostics should always start with checking this global parameter.
Use of hot keys and gestures
Modern Xiaomi smartphones support advanced gesture control, which allows you to change orientation without touching the screen. This is especially useful when your hands are wet or the device is in a protective case with thick sides, making it difficult to get through thin icons.
One effective but little-known way is to use a combination of navigation buttons, which sometimes uses a long-term menu or home button on devices with the classic three buttons at the bottom of the screen (Back, Home, Menu), but this method depends on the specific version of the launcher and is often turned off by default to prevent accidental clicks.
A more versatile solution is to use the function “Quick commands” or “One-handed control”:
- 🖐️ Enable in the settings "One-handed management».
- 📐 Smash from the bottom corner of the screen to the center.
- 🔄 In the mini window that appears, find the turn button.
- 📱 Click on it to fix the screen.
Also worth mentioning is the One-Hand Mode feature, which reduces the usable screen area by shifting the content downwards. In this mode, turning the screen may not work properly due to a change in the design resolution of the visible area. Before trying to flip the image, make sure that this mode is turned off.
⚠️ Note: On some models with AMOLED-And when you activate the forced horizontal mode in the interface, you can see a short-term flicker with the screens and the refresh rate of 120 Hz. LTPO, changing the frame rate, and is not a defect.
Calibration of the G sensor
If the software switches are active but the screen is not responsive to the phone's physical movements, the problem may lie in the calibration of the accelerometer.The G-sensor is a microelectromechanical system that can get lost over time, especially after falls or prolonged static charging in an unusual position.
To check and adjust the sensor in Xiaomi smartphones, there is a hidden engineering menu, accessed through a set of special code in the Phone app. Enter the combination ##6484## or ##4636##. If the code did not work, perhaps your version of the firmware blocks access to the phone. CIT-menu.
The procedure for action in the engineering menu:
- Find the G-sensor or Accelerometer test.
- Place your phone on a completely flat horizontal surface.
- Press the "Calibrate" button.
- Wait until the process is over and check the values (they should be close to 0 on the X and Y axes).
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
Once the calibration is successful, the device must be fully restarted, the system only reads new sensor data at start, and if the autorotation does not work after this procedure, there is a high probability of physical damage to the sensor, which requires contacting the service center.
Specificity of work in annexes
It's important to distinguish between system lock and application constraints. Many programs, like Instagram, TikTok, or banking apps, are designed for vertical use, and you can't flip the screen with any system settings, because the developers didn't put that capability in the interface code.
At the same time, video players and browsers can behave differently, for example, in YouTube, the turn is automatically when horizontal, but some file managers require manual confirmation. Below is a table of compatibility of popular applications with auto-rotate on MIUI.
| Annex | Landscape support | Nuances of work |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Complete. | Automatic turn when stowing the phone |
| gallery | Complete. | Possible blocking in slideshow mode |
| Chrome browser | Complete. | Requires inclusion in browser settings |
| No. | Vertical mode only (except Reels) | |
| Google Maps | Partial | The map is rotated, the interface remains vertical. |
Third-party video players, such as VLC or MX Player, are also worth special attention. Their settings often have their own orientation switch, which takes priority over the system one. If the player has a Portrait, then the system settings will not be able to deploy the video to the full screen.
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The VLC video player for Android has a "Shake Turn" feature, which you can turn on in the playback settings to change your orientation with a simple brush movement without touching the screen.
Solving problems and eliminating mistakes
There are times when all the settings are correct, the sensor is calibrated, but the screen continues to "glut", which can be caused by overflowing cache system process responsible for the interface (System UI), in which case helps to clean temporary files.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find System Interface or System UI. Click Clear and select Clear Cache. Don’t be afraid to delete the cache, it won’t affect your personal data, photos or contacts, but it will reset the temporary display settings.
If that doesn't work, check to see if Do Not Disturb or special features are on, and sometimes, Eye Control or Head Switch may conflict with the accelerometer, intercepting orientation control.
⚠️ Note: If the screen flipped and "stuck" in this position, and the touchscreen works incorrectly (the coordinates of the press do not match), try to make a forced reboot by pressing the power button on the 10-15 That'll reset the touchscreen controller.
In rare cases, the problem is magnetic cases. The powerful magnets used to fix the cover of the bookcase can work the compass and the accelerometer. Take off the case and check the rotation. If the problem is gone, then the accessory is incompatible with the location of the sensors in your Xiaomi model.
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90% of screen rotation problems are solved either by removing the lock in the curtain or cleaning the cache of the System UI application. Hardware breakdowns are extremely rare.