How to set up Xiaomi to keep the screen from going out: all the ways for different scenarios

Why Xiaomi’s screen is going out and how to fix it

You read an important article, watch a video, or play a mobile game, but Xiaomi's screen suddenly goes out - a familiar situation? This is due to factory power saving settings that automatically turn off the display after 30-60 seconds of inactivity, a feature that saves battery life but often interferes with everyday use.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to turn off the screen auto-turn on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones – from standard MIUI settings to hidden features for developers. We will look at solutions for different versions of the firmware (including MIUI 12/13/14), and explain how to return the settings back if something goes wrong.

Important: some methods can increase battery consumption. If you want to keep the screen from going out only in certain applications (for example, YouTube or Google Maps), use specialized methods from the last sections of the article.

Method 1: Change the Autolock Time in the Settings

The easiest method is to increase the timeout of auto-turn off the screen through the standard menu.This works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the version of MIUI.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
  2. Go to the Screen (or Display in older versions).
  3. Select Sleep Mode (can be called Autolock or Screen Timeout).
  4. Set the maximum value of 10 minutes or 30 minutes (not available on all models).
  5. Press Ready or go back to save.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F3 or Redmi Note 11) the maximum time can be limited to 5 minutes.

Make sure your smartphone is at least 20% charged |Close all background apps |Check the MIUI version in the About Phone settings |Backup important data (optional)

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Method 2: Always on Display Mode (AOD)

The Always-On Display feature (AOD) Available in most modern smartphones Xiaomi AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K50, POCO F4). It allows you to display time, notifications and other data even when the screen is off".

How to turn on:

  1. Go to Settings → Screen.
  2. Select the Always On Display (or Ambient Display).
  3. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
  4. Configure the information displayed (time, date, notifications, battery).

⚠️ Attention: AOD does not disable autolock completely - the screen will be dimly illuminated, but the full image will disappear through a predetermined timeout.

Xiaomi (flagship series)|Redmi (budget/average)|POCO (play-production)|Another brand-->

Smartphone modelSupport for AODMax. Screen timeout.
Xiaomi 13/13 ProYes.30 minutes.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+Yes.10 minutes.
POCO X5 ProYes.5 minutes.
Redmi 10ANo (LCD-screen)5 minutes.

Method 3: Disable Autoblocking through Developer Settings

If standard settings don't allow you to increase the timeout to the desired value, you can use the developer mode, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires activation of the hidden menu.

Step 1: Activate the Developer Mode:

  1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
  2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (the notification “You became a developer” will appear).

Step 2: Turn off the autolock:

  1. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → Developer settings.
  2. Find the option to turn off automatic lock (or stay awake).
  3. Activate it – now the screen will not go out when connected to charging.

⚠️ Note: This only works when the charger is connected. Use Method 4 to completely disable the autolock.

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If there is no “Disable Automatic Lock” option, upgrade your MIUI to the latest version or use alternative methods in this article.

Method 4: Using applications to lock the screen

If the system settings don't work, you can use third-party apps that allow you to flexibly adjust the behavior of the screen depending on the applications or connected devices you run.

Top.-3 apps:

  • 🔹 Keep Screen On is a simple toolbar for keeping the screen on. Works through notification.
  • 🔹 Caffeine – activates constant backlighting when you run selected apps (e.g. Chrome or Waze).
  • 🔹 Screen Alive – supports smart rules (for example, do not turn off the screen when connecting via Bluetooth to the car).

How to set up Keep Screen On:

  1. Install the app from Google Play.
  2. Run it and grant permission to Overlay over other applications.
  3. Turn on the switch in the main window.
  4. Add a shortcut to the notification bar for quick management.

⚠️ Note: Some applications may conflict with system optimizations MIUI. If the screen starts to blink or spontaneously shut down, turn off the power saving for this application in the battery settings.

What to do if the application does not work?
1. Check if the No Limits mode is enabled for the application in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Application Selection). 2. Reboot your smartphone – sometimes this helps to reset system services conflicts. 3. Try another application from the list (for example, Caffeine instead of Keep Screen On).

Method 5: Set up exceptions for individual applications

If you want your screen to stay on-screen only in specific apps (like Google Maps or YouTube), use the built-in battery exclusion feature.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Settings. → Battery.
  2. Choose App Choices (or Battery Optimization).
  3. Find the app you want in the list (like Waze).
  4. Choose a mode for it without restrictions.
  5. Save the changes.

Some apps (like YouTube Premium) also have a built-in screen lock feature:

  • 🎥 Launch the video on YouTube.
  • Tap the screen to open the control panel.
  • Click on the icon. 🔒 (lock) in upper right corner - the screen will not go out until the end of playback.

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Application exceptions are the safest way to do so, as they do not affect the overall screen time in other scenarios.

Additional Advice and Warnings

Before you completely disable autolock, consider a few important points:

  • 🔋 Battery consumption may increase by 15-30% Use this mode only when connected to a charger or in critical situations.
  • 🛡️ Security: If the screen is not locked, anyone can access your phone. Set a short lock timeout in the security settings.
  • 🔄 System errors: on some firmware MIUI The screen may be overheated for a long time.

If after the changes the screen began to behave unstable (blinks, spontaneously turns off), reset the screen settings:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
  2. Select Reset Screen Settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
  3. Confirm the action and restart the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi screen setup

Can I completely remove the screen lock?
Technically yes, but it requires root rights or use ADB-Without root, the maximum timeout time is 30 minutes (on some models), and to completely shut down you need access to system files, which voids the warranty.
Why did the screen settings reset after the MIUI update?
This is standard behavior for major updates. Once you install a new version of MIUI (e.g., 13 to 14), some custom settings are reset to factory settings. Return them manually through Settings → Screen.
The screen goes out during the call - how to fix?
This problem is related to the proximity sensor. Check it: Dial the code ##6484## in the phone app. Select Test Proximity Sensor. If the sensor doesn't respond, contact the service center - it may be contaminated or damaged.
How to make sure that the screen does not go out when connecting to a Bluetooth device?
Use the Screen Alive app (from Method 4). In its settings, there is the option “Smart Lock” where you can specify the conditions for holding the screen (for example, when connecting to a car radio or headphones).
My Xiaomi doesn't have the "Always on display" item. Why?
Function AOD Available only on smartphones with AMOLED-If you have a model with a screen. LCD (Like Redmi. 9A or POCO M3), This item will be missing. Use alternative methods from the article.