How to set the time before switching off the screen on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners often experience a device display that goes out at the most inopportune moment, such as reading long articles, browsing recipes in the kitchen, or even typing. Standard MIUI settings often limit screen activity time to 30 or 60 seconds, which for many users is not a sufficient indicator of comfort.

There are several reasons why the display behaves this way: sometimes it is about basic energy saving, and other times it is about proximity or light sensors. Understanding the workings of Android and the shell from the manufacturer will allow you to flexibly manage the behavior of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to extend the life of the screen.

The most common reason for quick quenching is an aggressive power saving mode that forcefully reduces the timeout of backlights, so if you just upgraded the system or reset the settings to factory settings, the system could automatically activate restrictive profiles, and then we'll look in detail where to look for these settings.

Basic setting of timeout illumination

The first thing to check is the standard timer that allows the device to go to sleep, which is in the basic settings menu, but the path to it may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS. Usually the system offers a choice of fixed intervals: 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes and so on.

To change the setting, go to Settings, then select the Screen and Brightness (or just the Screen). Find Sleep Mode or Screen Timeout. Here you will see a list of available time slots. Choose the maximum value available on your list, such as 5 or 10 minutes.

Keep in mind that manufacturers rarely allow time to be set for more than 10-30 minutes through a standard menu, which is designed to protect the matrix from burnout and save battery life. If you don't have enough of the standard 10 minutes, you'll have to resort to third-party solutions, which will be discussed below.

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If the screen still goes out after 30 seconds after the maximum time is selected, check if the Pocket or Pocket mode is activated in the lock settings.

Time out is a trade-off between convenience and energy efficiency.

Use of the “Do Not Turn Off Screen” Mode for Developers

If the standard menu isn’t enough, there’s a hidden feature in the developer menu that allows you to keep the screen on while charging, ideal for those who use a smartphone as a desktop clock, a navigator in a car or a smart home control panel.

To activate this feature, you first need to access the hidden menu. Go to Settings → About the phone. Find the MIUI Version (or OS Version) bar and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row.

Now go back to the main settings menu, go to Additional → For developers. In the settings list, find the option Stay Awake. Activate the switch. Now, as long as the phone is connected to the power source, the backlight will never go out.

• 🔋 The function only works when the charger or power bank is connected.
• 📱 The setup is available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.
• ⚙️ Does not require the installation of third-party software or Root rights.

However, if you want your screen to stay on without charging, this method is not suitable, and in this case, it is worth considering installing specialized applications that emulate touch or video stream, preventing the system from going to sleep.

The proximity sensor problem and the case

A common cause of sudden screen blackout during a conversation or video viewing is a faulty or contaminated proximity sensor located at the top of the smartphone, often next to a conversational speaker. If the sensor "thinks" that the phone is in your pocket or pressed against your ear, it will force the array to be extinguished.

This is especially true with protective glass that is not cut out, or with tight covers that overlap the top face, and the sensor may become sloppy due to accumulated dust or grease, and wipe the top of the screen with a soft cloth.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen only goes out during calls, don't try to reset the system immediately. First check if your case covers the sensor area, and wipe the screen.

Some versions of MIUI have sensor calibration available, and in the Phone app, dial ##6484## (engineering menu) and select Proximity sensor and follow the on-screen instructions for checking and calibrating, and if the sensor is constantly showing values, you may need repairs.

There's also a software solution, and sometimes you have a "Mode in your pocket" option in your lock settings, and if you turn it off, the phone will stop responding to the sensor signals when you lock it, which can solve the problem of false positives.

Applications to prevent blocking

When you don't have enough system settings, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and they work on the principle of creating "fictitious activity" that keeps the system from going to sleep, and this is the most flexible way to customize the behavior of the screen to your needs.

One of the most popular and lightweight apps is Caffeine or its counterparts (like Keep Screen On). Once you install the notification curtain, a button pops up that activates the timer, and you can choose how many minutes you want to extend the screen life: 10, 20, 30 minutes or indefinitely.

Another interesting option is to use applications for specific tasks, such as e-readers often have their own "Don't Turn Off Screen" setting, which ignores the system timeout while the book is open, and similarly, navigators and video players work.

The impact of energy saving on the display

Xiaomi systems are known for aggressively optimizing memory and energy. If you have Power Saving or Ultra Savings on, the system can ignore your timeout settings and force the screen to go out ahead of time.

Check battery status. If the indicator is on yellow or you see a leafy battery icon in the status bar, the limits are active, and in this mode, the brightness can also be reduced, and the time to lock is reduced to a minimum to maintain charge.

To turn this off, tap the battery icon in the notification curtain or go to Settings → Battery. Select Balanced or Performance mode. In No Limits mode, the screen will behave predictably according to your timeout settings.

Also worth checking for specific application settings. MIUI has Activity Control, which can kill background processes or limit screen performance in certain programs. Go to Settings → Applications → Activity Control and make sure that the programs you need are not subject to strict restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The optimal timeout time for the balance between convenience and battery is 2 minutes. That's enough to read, but the phone won't run out of pocket if you forget to lock it.