How to set up a screen timer on Xiaomi devices: the full guide

Xiaomi's smartphone or TV screen is one of the world's biggest energy consumers. A constantly burning display not only drains the battery, but also tires the eyes, especially in the evening. Fortunately, the manufacturer has a screen timer feature that allows you to automatically turn off the display after a given period of time, which is useful in a variety of situations, from watching movies before bed to saving charge during charging.

In this article, we will explore all the ways to set up a screen timer on Redmi, POCO and Mi TVs, learn how to turn off automatically through system settings, third-party apps, and even a voice assistant, and we will also talk about hidden features that will help make using the device even more convenient.

Important: Features may vary slightly depending on the device model and the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. But the basic principles remain unchanged, so the instruction will fit most Xiaomi gadgets of recent years.

What is a screen timer and why you need it

A screen timer is a feature that automatically turns off the display after a certain period of time, and it works whether you're using the device actively or it's just lying around.

• 🔋 Battery savings – the screen consumes up to 30-40% Smartphone energy, and its disconnection prolongs the working time.
• 👁️ Eye protection – reduces eye strain, especially when reading or viewing content in the dark.
• 🛡️ Security – prevents accidental tapping if left unattended.
• 🎬 Convenience for media - on Mi TVs TV Not to worry about manually turning off after viewing.

On Xiaomi smartphones, the screen timer is often confused with autolock (time before going to sleep when inactivity). But these are different functions: Autolock only works if you are not interacting with the device, and the timer will turn off the screen anyway - even if you are reading a book or watching a video.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO Redmi with custom firmware screen timer can conflict with the mode "Always On Display". AOD In Settings → Screen. → Always On Display.

How to set up a screen timer on a Xiaomi smartphone

In most Xiaomi smartphones (starting with MIUI 12 and later), the screen timer function is built into the system settings.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Screen section.
3. Select the screen timer (or auto-turn off screen in some versions).
4. Activate the switch and set the desired time (from 5 minutes to 2 hours).

If your version of MIUI or HyperOS doesn’t have a separate screen timer option, try an alternative way:

Settings → Special features → Universal access → Screen timer

On some devices (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12), the feature may be called Auto-Switch Off when inactive, but it works in a similar way. If neither option worked, then your model does not support the built-in timer, you will have to use third-party apps (see below).

Make sure your phone is at least 20% charged

Turn off the power saving mode

Check the version. MIUI/HyperOS In Settings → The phone.

Close background applications that can block the timer-->

Screen timer on Mi TV and Redmi TV

On Xiaomi TVs, the screen timer feature is called Sleep Timer, and it works a little differently, and it's designed to automatically turn off the TV after you've finished watching, for example, if you've fallen asleep during a movie, to set it up:

1. On the remote, press the Menu button (or Settings on new models).
2. Select Settings → System settings → Timer.
3. Activate the Sleep Timer and set the time (from 10 to 180 minutes).
4. Press OK to save the settings.

On Google TVs (e.g. Mi TV Q2 2023), the path is different:

Settings (cogs) → Preferences → Sleepy timer

Unlike smartphones, on TV, the timer is triggered once and shuts down after it's turned off. To use it regularly, you have to manually turn it on every time. Some models also have the option to turn it off when playback is complete, which automatically turns off the TV when the movie or series is over.

Every night.

Sometimes when I watch movies.

Only to save charge.

Never used it.-->

Third-party applications for screen timer

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t have a built-in timer or its functionality is limited, you can use third-party apps, which offer more options: flexible time settings, exceptions for certain applications, and even a schedule by day of the week.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 🛠️ Screen Off Timer is a simple application with a minimalist interface, allows you to set a timer from 1 minute to 24 hours.
• ⏱️ Sleep Timer – supports separate profiles for different scenarios (reading, video, music) and can automatically reduce brightness before turning off.
• 📱 Automate is an advanced automation tool that allows you to create a rule that says, "If the screen is on for more than X minutes." → Turn it off. It requires a basic knowledge of the flow of automation.

To install any of these applications:

1. Download it from Google Play (or APKMirror if the app is not available in your area).
2. When you first start, grant permission to Manage screen settings (necessary to turn off the display).
3. Set up time and additional settings (such as YouTube or Chrome exceptions).

⚠️ Note: Some screen timer applications request permission for Special Features or Overlays over other windows.This is necessary for their operation, but only grant such permissions to high-rated vetted programs.

Screen timer via voice assistant

If you're too lazy to go through the settings, you can turn on the screen timer with voice commands, and Alice (from Yandex) or Google Assistant will do this, and the main condition is that the voice control function is activated on the device.

For Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with the voice command OK, Google or hold the Home button.
2. Say, Set the timer to turn off the screen in 30 minutes.
3. Confirm the action if the assistant requests permission.

For Alice (if installed as a default assistant):

Alice, turn on the screen timer for 1 hour.

This method has limitations:

• ❌ It does not work on all models (depends on the support of voice commands in the system). MIUI).
• ❌ The timer is reset after the device is restarted.
• ❌ Some versions of Alice may not recognize the team the first time.

If the voice assistant refuses to follow the command, try an alternative formulation: Turn off the screen after 45 minutes or Set a sleep timer for 1 hour.

💡

To make voice commands work faster, add Alice or Google Assistant shortcuts to the home screen. To do this, keep your finger in the free space of the screen → Widgets → select the right assistant.

Common problems and their solution

Sometimes the screen timer on Xiaomi doesn’t work correctly: it doesn’t work, resets or turns off the screen too early. Here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the screen settings to factory:

Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset screen settings

On some HyperOS devices, the screen timer may conflict with Adaptive Brightness. Turn it off in Settings → Screen → Adaptive Brightness before setting.

Additional chips: timer for reading and night mode

In addition to the standard screen timer, Xiaomi has two more useful features that are worth configuring:

• 📖 Read timer – automatically turns off the screen if you don’t flip through the page for a long time in reading apps (for example, WPS Office or Google Play Books. Included in Settings → Screen. → Timer for reading.
• 🌙 Night mode with a timer -- not only reduces brightness, but also turns off the screen after a predetermined time. → Screen. → Night mode. → Schedule.

For Mi TVs, there's a hidden feature: if you press the Menu remote while you're on your sleep timer → Settings → Eco mode, the screen will go out, but the sound will remain. This is convenient for listening to music or podcasts before bedtime.

💡

The combination of a screen timer with night mode not only saves charge, but also reduces harmful blue radiation, improving sleep quality.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen timer on Xiaomi