Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 5 budget smartphone often face the need to leave the display on for a long time. This may be necessary when reading technical documentation, viewing recipes in the kitchen, navigating in the car or showing presentations. The standard behavior of the Android operating system in the shell of MIUI is aimed at saving charge, so the screen goes out after a short time of inactivity, which creates inconvenience in specific use scenarios.
The solution lies in deep tuning system settings that are hidden by default from the average user. Sleep timer is the main control tool, but it has time constraints. To achieve the goal of keeping the screen from going out at all, you need to activate hidden functions and understand the operation of proximity sensors. In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from simple menu settings to the use of engineering codes.
It is important to understand that the constant burning of the display significantly affects the autonomy of the device and can lead to heating of the case. The IPS matrix installed in Redmi 5 is sensitive to static image, although the risk of burning out pixels here is lower than that of AMOLED counterparts.
Basic setting of the screen lock timer
The first step to increase the backlight time is to change the standard lock settings. In the MIUI shell, these settings are in the lock and security section. You need to go to Settings, then select the Lock screen and find the Sleep mode option, and here the system will offer several time slots, ranging from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.
Choosing a maximum value of 10 minutes can significantly reduce the frequency of touches to activate the screen. However, if you want the image to remain visible longer, standard interface tools will not be enough. Some users mistakenly believe that the choice of "Never" is available on this menu by default, but most versions of MIUI for Redmi 5 this option is not without additional manipulation.
It should be noted that increasing the sleep timer does not cancel the light sensor if the autobrightness is turned on. In bright sunlight, the screen may behave differently than indoors. For stable operation, it is recommended to turn off automatic brightness adjustment by manually setting the slider to a comfortable level to avoid sudden dimming or, conversely, excessive heating from maximum brightness.
If you don't have the standard time range, move to the next section, which describes how to force the system to sleep, which requires access to a developer menu that is hidden for security reasons.
Activation of the “Do not turn off the screen” mode for developers
The most effective way to get Xiaomi Redmi 5 to keep the screen down is to use a special feature in the developer menu. This mode is designed for app testing, but is great for household needs when you need constant lighting. To get to the desired menu, go to Settings -> About phone and find the line MIUI Version. You need to quickly click on this line 7-10 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer.
Once you activate the hidden menu, go back to the main settings menu and select the option "Additional Settings." In the list that opens, find the "Developers" section. Inside this vast menu, you should scroll down to the debugging block. We're interested in the "Don't Turn Off the Screen" option (or "Stay awake" in the English version).
☑️ Activation of the developer mode
⚠️ Warning: This function only works when the charger is connected. If you turn off the cable, the screen will start to go out according to the set sleep timer. This is a protective mechanism that prevents the battery from completely draining in the forgotten on state.
So this is a different way of doing this, and one of the things that you do is you use more power, so you have to connect to the grid, OLED-There is no danger of burnout here, as in Redmi 5 there is a IPS It's a matrix, but a static image is not desirable. Change the content on the screen periodically or turn on the screensaver if it's available in your version of the firmware.
Using third-party apps to block sleep
If the built-in system seems uncomfortable or requires a mandatory charging connection, you can use third-party software. Google Play or GetApps (Mi Store) store there are many utilities that emulate clicking on the screen or block the system sleep timer. Popular applications like Caffeine, Keep Screen On or Screen On allow you to control the backlight directly from the notification curtain.
The principle of operation of such programs is simple: they create an invisible layer on top of the interface or send signals to the system about user activity, preventing the lock timer from working. For Redmi 5 with its 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM, it is important to choose light applications so as not to overload the Snapdragon 450 processor. Heavy programs can cause micro-latency in the interface.
| Title of the annex | Type of work | Resource consumption | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | TIMER/Toggle | Minimum | No. |
| Keep Screen On | Permanent lockdown | Low. | Got it (free) |
| Screen On - Stay awake | Flexible setup | Average. | There is. |
| MIUI Hidden Settings | System access | Minimum | No. |
When installing such applications, MIUI can aggressively close them in the background to save energy. To avoid this, you need to go to the application settings, select the Battery and set the No Limits mode. It is also recommended to fix the application in memory (lock in the menu of running applications) so that the memory cleanup does not affect it.
Security of Third Party Applications
The impact of proximity sensor and smart lock
Users often confuse turning off the screen on a timer with quenching the display by the proximity sensor. In Redmi 5, the sensor is located at the top of the case next to the speaker. If you hold the phone in your hand so that your finger or cover covers this area, the screen can go out instantly, even if the sleep timer is set for 10 minutes. This is a standard behavior to save charge during a conversation.
To solve this problem, you can calibrate the sensor or temporarily disable the lock function in your pocket. Go to the Settings -> Screen Lock menu and find Mode in your pocket. Disabling this feature will prevent accidental screen quenching, but increase the risk of false presses in the bag. To calibrate in the engineering menu, enter the code ##6484# and select the Proximity sensor test.
Another cause of sudden quenching could be the Smart Lock feature or similar security settings that lock the device under certain conditions. Check if you have set up automatic locking rules when disconnecting from Wi-Fi or moving away from a trusted device. MIUI also has a Pocket Mode feature that can be too sensitive.
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If the screen only goes out in the case, check whether the protective glass or the case itself covers the area of the proximity sensor.
Problems with energy saving and optimization of MIUI
MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving policy. Even if you set a long sleep timer, the system can force the screen to go out if it thinks the application is not active or the device is not in use. This is especially true for background processes. In the battery settings, Settings -> Battery and performance should check the power consumption profile.
Switching to a profile Performance can help, as in this mode the system less restricts background processes and brightens the backlight. However, in the Saving Energy profile, the screen will go out faster, regardless of your timer settings. Make sure the saving slider is not activated if you need stable display operation.
And there's also the Adaptive Brightness feature, which is trained in your habits, and if it doesn't work properly, the screen can behave in an unpredictable way. Resetting brightness training statistics can sometimes help to fix the situation, and you have to click on the gear on the brightness menu (called by swiping from the top right corner) and find the appropriate reset, if that's available in your Android version.
⚠️ Warning: Prolonged screen performance at maximum brightness in high performance mode will lead to significant heating of the Redmi 5 body.The metal body removes heat well, but holding a hot phone in your hands can be uncomfortable.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Screen Customization
Can a permanent screen damage the Redmi 5 matrix?
Why does the screen go out even when I look at it?
Will the alarm go off if the screen doesn’t go off?
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The best way to leave the screen on is to use the developer mode “Do not turn off the screen” when charging or install a lightweight third-party timer application for battery life.
To sum up, screen life management on Xiaomi Redmi 5 requires a holistic approach: Standard settings provide only partial control, while activating hidden menus and understanding sensors allow you to fully adapt the device to your needs.