How to Make a Empty Screen on Xiaomi Devices: From TVs to Smartphones

Do you want your Xiaomi screen to display a clean picture without unnecessary interface elements? Maybe you need to hide the wallpaper for a photo shoot, create a minimalist background for streaming or just temporarily remove all the icons. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to make the screen empty on different devices of the brand – from smartphones on MIUI to TVs with PatchWall.

It’s important to understand that “empty screen” can mean different things: black backgrounds without wallpaper, hiding all widgets, and even completely disabling the interface while keeping the device running. We’ll look at options for all popular scenarios, including a unique method for Xiaomi Mi TVs using a service menu that is not documented in the official instructions.

Before you start, make sure your device is charged (for smartphones) or connected to the network (for TVs) – some operations can take several minutes.

1.Empty screen on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI 12–14)

On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones with a MIUI shell, there are several ways to achieve a blank screen. The easiest way is to use the built-in desktop customization features. Here is a step-by-step instruction:

Open Settings → Desktop. Here you will find options for managing icons, widgets and wallpaper. To remove all elements:

• 📱 Hiding icons: Go to Desktop Settings → Customize the layout and select "No icons" option, which will hide all the icons of the application, leaving only the notification bar.
• 🖼️ Black Wallpaper: Go into Wallpaper → My wallpaper and select a pure black background (available in the standard set). For a perfectly flat color, download the image from the RGB-code 000000.
• 🔄 Disabling widgets: Keep your finger on the blank screen → Widget settings → Remove all active elements.

If you need to completely remove even the notification bar (for example, for shooting a video), use the No-bezels mode in the screen settings. Note that in this case, the navigation gestures will work along the edges of the display.

Make a backup copy of the wallpaper|Remove unnecessary widgets|Check the battery charge (>30%)|Disable notifications for screen cleanliness-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) post-update MIUI 14 may miss the "No icons" option, in which case use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher with an empty desktop setting.

2.Empty screen on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Mi Box)

Xiaomi’s Android TVs with PatchWall can create a blank screen in a number of ways, and the most reliable is the use of a demo mode that disables all interface elements, while retaining the ability to control through the remote.

Instructions for Mi TV 4A/4S/5X and other models:

1. Press the Settings button on the remote.
2. Go to Device and General → Demonstration mode.
3. Activate the option and select the Empty Screen (or Black Screen depending on the version of the software).
4. Confirm the choice - the TV will restart with an empty display.

To return to normal mode, press any button on the remote and hold the Home for 5 seconds.

3.Using ADB for Forced Empty Screen

For advanced users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), there is a way to forcefully disable the display of all interface elements, a method suitable for Xiaomi smartphones and TVs with unlocked debugging over USB.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer installed ADB (download from the official website)
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the device (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock)
• 🔌 Cable USB (TV-set — OTG-adapter)

Do it in the command line:

adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

This command activates full-screen immersive mode, hiding the notification bar and navigation buttons. To return to the standard view, type:

adb shell settings put global policy_control null

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If, after application, ADB-commands the screen is too dark, check the brightness settings in Settings → Display. → Autobrightness. Sometimes immersive mode resets user settings.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with firmware below Android TV 11 this command can cause the interface to freeze. Before experimenting, check the software version in Settings. → On TV.

Part of the blank screen application

If the built-in methods do not suit, you can use specialized utilities from Google Play. For smartphones Xiaomi suitable:

• 📱 Blank Screen – creates a black screen over all windows (requires permission to display on top of other applications).
• 🖥️ Full Screen Immersive Mode – Expands Full Screen Mode for All Apps.
• 🎨 Minimalist Wallpapers – a collection of empty wallpapers with precise color setting (HEX, RGB).

For Mi TVs, the list of applications is limited, but you can install Kodi and use it in the "Empty Screen" mode (Settings → Interface → Screensaver → Black Screen).

The advantage of third-party solutions is flexibility: you can set a timer to automatically turn on the blank screen or link it to certain applications (for example, only for YouTube or Netflix).

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5.Empty screen through developer settings

The hidden section of Developer Settings on Xiaomi devices contains options for deep customization of the interface, including the ability to create a blank screen.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone (or About TV).
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. Return to the main settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.

For smartphones:

• Activate Debugging via USB (if you plan to use ADB).
• Turn off animation and set all values in animation = 0x – this will remove transitions between screens.
• In the Visualization section, select Simulation of the additional display and set the resolution of 1×1 (experimental method).

For Mi TVs, the developer's settings offer Force GPU Rendering, which, when activated, can temporarily "break" the interface rendering, leaving the black screen. Use with caution - this method requires a reboot to return to normal mode.

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The developer settings allow you to achieve an empty screen without third-party applications, but some options can lead to unstable system operation.

6. Empty screen for shooting or streaming

If your goal is to create an empty screen for recording video or broadcasting, consider the features of Xiaomi devices:

• 🎥 For smartphones: Use a combination of black wallpaper + icon-hiding + Do Not Disturb. Turn off the lock screen notifications in the security settings.
• 📺 For TVs: Activate Game Mode (Settings) → Picture → Image mode → The game that removes the majority OSD-element.
• 🔴 For streaming: In OBS Studio or Streamlabs add a Black background source on top of the device’s screen capture.

For professional tasks (for example, shooting reviews), consider using Xiaomi Mi TV Stick with a connected HDMI monitor – this will allow you to display an empty screen on the main device, controlling it from a smartphone.

Remember that some apps (like TikTok or Instagram) block screen recording with an empty background, and you’ll need to use an external camera or specialized software like ApowerMirror.

7. Frequent errors and their solution

When setting up a blank screen on Xiaomi devices, users face typical problems. Here’s how to avoid them:

If after manipulation, the device stopped responding to commands, perform a soft reset:

• For smartphones: Keep Power + Volume up to 10 seconds.
• For TVs: disconnect from the network for 1 minute, then turn it on again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions