Xiaomi's screen is constantly going out at the most inopportune moment? It's annoying when you read a long article, watch a video, or play mobile games. By default, MIUI turns off the display after 30 seconds of inactivity to save battery power. But what if you want the screen to stay on longer -- or never shut down at all?
In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to undo the screen auto-turn on any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone – from standard settings to hidden features and third-party applications. All methods are tested on MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (Android 11-14) and are suitable for models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
- 🔧 Set up screen timeouts through standard system settings
- 📱 Use the “Developers” mode for advanced users
- 🎮 Make the screen not turn off in games or specific applications
- 🔄 Bypassing restrictions MIUI assisted ADB-commands without root)
- ⚡ Use third-party utilities if nothing helps
Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Some methods may not work on custom firmware or beta versions of the software.
1. Standard screen waiting time setting
The easiest way is to change the timeout in the system settings, which will not turn off auto-switching completely, but will increase the interval to 10 minutes (maximum in MIUI).
Instructions:
- Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
- Go to the Screen section (or Display in some versions).
- Select Sleep Mode (or Screen Timeout).
- Set the maximum value - 10 minutes.
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) post-update MIUI 14 this item may be called Time before the screen is turned off and be in the submenu Additional.
Make sure the "Always on screen" mode is turned on" (AMOLED-model)|
Check if the energy saving mode is activated |
Turn off Adaptive Brightness (may reset timeout)|
Update your firmware to the latest version (fixes screen bugs)
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If you need to ensure that the screen never turns off (for example, for a navigator or streaming), standard settings will not be enough – read on.
2. Mode "For developers": hidden opportunities
MIUI hides advanced settings behind the developer mode, and activating it allows you to turn off the auto-turn off of the screen completely, but with reservations.
How to turn on the developer mode:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
- Return to the main settings menu and open a new section → For developers.
Now find the option Do not turn off the screen (or Stay awake in English firmware), which will cause the display to remain active only while charging, and you will need additional actions to completely turn off the timeout.
| Setting up | The effect | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the screen down. | The screen does not go out when connected to charging | It doesn't work with the battery. |
| USB debugging | Unlock it. ADB-team | Requires a connection to the PC |
| Background processes → No restrictions. | Prevents the closure of applications | May increase battery consumption |
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If the option Do not turn off the screen is missing, update the firmware or reset the settings to factory (pre-make a backup!).
3. Apps that keep the screen on
If system methods don’t work, use third-party utilities, which are especially useful for specific applications (like YouTube or Google Maps).
Top.-3 tested applications:
- 📌 Caffeine adds a button to the notification panel to quickly turn on/off the "do not sleep" mode.
- 📌 Keep Screen On – allows you to configure exceptions for individual applications (for example, only for Waze or Twitch).
- 📌 Screen Alive – Supports gestures (shake phone to wake screen) and timers.
⚠️ Note: Applications from third-party sources (not from Google Play) may contain malicious code. Before installing, check for reviews and permissions that the program requests (for example, access to the software). android.permission.WAKE_LOCK There must be access to, and SMS — no).
How to set up Keep Screen On:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- Open it and select apps that you want to turn off timeouts for (like Chrome or Netflix).
- Activate the switch in the upper right corner.
- In Android settings, allow the application to change system settings (a request will appear after the first launch).
Why does MIUI block third-party utilities?
4. ADB-Teams: Turning off timeout without root
For power users, there is a way to completely disable screen auto-turndown through ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This doesn't require root rights, but it will require a computer and a computer. USB-cable.
Step-by-step:
- Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
- Turn on the phone to debug by USB (Settings → Additional → For developers).
- Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line (in the folder with ADB):
adb devices(Series numbered device should appear. If not, install Xiaomi drivers.)
adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 3This command will make the screen never turn off, even without charging.
adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 0⚠️ Attention: After this command is applied, the screen energy consumption will increase by 2-3 times. If you leave your phone unattended, the battery can run out in a few hours!
5 Special modes: games, reading, navigation
MIUI has built-in features to hold the screen in specific scenarios, often overlooked, but they are more stable than third-party applications.
Game Turbo mode:
- 🎮 Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Game Turbo.
- Add the game to the list (like Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
- Turn on the option to not turn off the screen during the game.
- Start the game – the screen will not go out even if you do not touch the display.
Reading mode:
- 📖 In Books or Browser applications, swipe down from the top edge of the screen.
- Click on the icon. 🌙 (or ⚙️) → Reading settings → Keep the screen down.
- The screen will be active until you close the app.
Navigation (Google Maps/Waze):
- 🚗 Launch the navigator and tap the icon ⚡ top-right.
- Select Navigation Settings → The screen is always on.
- In Google Maps, this option only works when you connect to a charging device.
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Integrated MIUI (Game Turbo) modes consume less battery than third-party applications because they are optimized at the system level.
Problems and Solutions: Why the Screen Is Still Dimming
Sometimes even after all the settings, the screen keeps turning off, and let's look at the typical causes and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The screen goes out after 30 seconds, despite the settings | Active mode of battery super-saving | Turn it off in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode |
| The screen retention app is not working | MIUI blocks background activity | Add it to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps |
| ADB-command is not applied | There is no permission to record settings | Adb shell pm grant [package_name] android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS |
| The screen flashes before turning off | Conflict with the function "Raise to activate" | Turn it off in Settings → Screen → Raise it for activation |
If the problem persists, try resetting the screen settings:
- Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
- Select Reset screen settings (does not affect personal data).
- Reboot the phone.
7. Alternative methods for advanced users
If none of the above has worked, consider these options:
- 🔧 Tasker + AutoInput: Create a task that simulates touching the screen every 29 seconds (requires settings).
- 🔧 Magisk modules: Install Disable Screen Off (requires root and Magisk).
- 🔧 Bone firmware: Firmware on the base AOSP (For example, LineageOS allows you to flexibly configure screen timeout.
⚠️ Note: Using Magisk or custom firmware can lead to loss of warranty and unstable phone performance.Before experimenting, make a full backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
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For models with AMOLED-On the screen (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) turn on the “Always on screen” mode (Settings) → Screen. → AOD). It shows time and notifications when the display is off, reducing battery consumption.