How to make Xiaomi phone not switch off from inactivity: the complete guide

Why Xiaomi is turning off inaction and how to fix it

You leave your Xiaomi smartphone on the table with your timer or recipe on, but after 5-10 minutes the screen goes out and the device is locked? This is not a breakdown, but the work of energy-saving MIUI algorithms. The manufacturer adjusts the automatic shutdown of the display to save battery power, but in some scenarios this interferes: while reading, watching videos, using a navigator or when the phone works as a surveillance camera.

The problem is compounded by the fact that newer versions of MIUI 14/15 often reset standard latency settings after updates or reboots. In addition, on budget models Redmi and POCO (for example, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro), the manufacturer artificially limits the maximum screen activity time to 30 minutes — even if you set more.

It’s important to understand that you can’t completely turn off your screen timeout on Xiaomi without root rights, but you can significantly increase the time of inactivity or simulate user activity. The methods differ for different versions of MIUI and models – below you will find solutions for all cases.

Method 1: Standard screen waiting time settings

The most obvious, but often ignored, way to change screen timeouts is to change the system settings, which in MIUI 14/15 has changed the path to this setting, and in some firmware it is hidden behind additional menus.

To find the setting:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Scroll down and select Sleep after inactivity (older versions of the screen timeout).
3. Set the maximum value possible. Most devices are 30 minutes, but flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) can be 1 hour.

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If Sleep is not on the Display menu after inactivity, try the path: Settings → Battery and Performance → Sleep mode.

Limitations of the method:

• 🔋 On budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5) maximum time - 10-15 minutes.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI settings can be reset to default values.
• ⚡ With prolonged screen operation at maximum brightness, the battery sits down 2-3 times faster.

Method 2: Developer Mode and Hidden Parameters

MIUI has hidden settings that circumvent the limitations of a standard timeout, and you need to activate the developer mode to enable it, which is safe and does not require root rights.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row. You will be notified of becoming a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Find the option Do not turn off the screen while charging and activate it. Now, when you connect to the charger, the screen will not go out.
5. To completely turn off the timeout (without charging), find Stay Active and turn it on.

Warnings:

⚠️ Warning: Stay active may cause the screen to overheat during prolonged operation (more than 6 hours). AMOLED-displays (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F5) It's fraught with pixel burnout.

If you want the screen to stay on only certain apps (like YouTube or Google Maps), use the Block App feature:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application lockdown.
• 🔒 Add the necessary programs to the list (for example, a navigator or player).
• ⏱️ Now, when these apps are running, the screen won’t lock, even if you’re not interacting with the phone.

Method 3: Third-party applications for simulated activity

If the system settings don't work, you can use utilities that mimic touching the screen or turn off timeout software.

How to set up Tasker to automatically control the screen:

1. Install Tasker and open it.
2. Create a new task (+ → New task).
3. Add Display → screen timeout and set the value of 3600 seconds (1 hour).
4. Return to creating a profile (Profile → Application) and select programs that need to turn off timeouts (such as Waze or VLC).
5. Save your profile. Now, when you run your selected apps, the screen won't go out.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Stay Alive may conflict with Xiaomi system optimizers (e.g., Xiaomi, MIUI If the phone starts to brake after installation, add the utility to the exception list in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

Method 4: ADB-Teams for Advanced Users

If you're ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can manually change the system settings of the timeout. This method does not require root, but you need basic command line skills.

Instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive on your computer.
2. Turn on USB debugging on your phone (Settings → Developer).
3. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
6. Set maximum waiting times (for example, 1 hour = 3600 second: adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 3 where 3 — The “always on” mode (alternatives: 1 — only when charging from the network, 2 — upon USB-connection).

Additional commands:

• 🔄 Reset the timeout to standard: adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 300000 (where 300000 — time in milliseconds, for example, 300000 = 5 minute).
• 📱 Timeout: Adb shell settings get system screen_off_timeout

After completion ADB-Changes will persist even after the reboot, but may reset after a major update MIUI. If the team doesn't work, check to see if it's blocked. MIUI Optimization – Turn off optimization in the developer settings (Disable) MIUI-optimisation).

Method 5: Physical solutions (if software doesn't help)

If none of these methods worked, you can go to the trick of tricking the system into simulating user activity, and these methods do not require software installation or setting changes:

• 🔌 Low-current charging connection: Some Xiaomi models don't turn off the screen if detects charging, but not at full power.Use a weak adapter (5V/0.5A) Or connect the phone to USB-port.
• 📱 Use of wireless charging: on many devices (Xiaomi 13, POCO F4 GT) When wirelessly charging, the screen timeout increases to 1 hour automatically.
• 🎵 Playing "empty" audio: run in the background audio file with silence (can be created in Audacity). MIUI Resetting time out when playing media.
• 🔄 Cyclical notification update: set up Telegram or Gmail to send blank notifications every 5 minutes – this will reset the inactivity counter.

For models with an infrared port (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50), you can use the remote control as a “crut”:

1. Open the Mi Remote app.
2. Choose any remote control (for example, for air conditioning).
3. Point the phone's IR port to the wall and press any button, and the system will record "activity" and reset the timeout.

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Physical methods are a temporary solution, and they can lead to increased battery consumption or overheating if used continuously.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Users often encounter problems when trying to disable screen auto-turning, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

Another common problem is that the screen turns off, but the phone stays unlocked, and this is because of the MIUI Smart Lock feature, to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Lock the screen.
2. Choose Smart Lock.
3. Turn off the options Lock when cleaning your phone in your pocket and Lock when turning off the screen.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions