White bar on the screen Xiaomi while watching video: 7 ways to fix the problem

Why does Xiaomi have a white bare screen during the movie?

You run your favorite movie on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but instead of immersing yourself in the plot, you get an annoying white bar on the sides or bottom of the screen.This problem is common for many Xiaomi smartphone users, regardless of the model or version of MIUI. It is most often manifested in YouTube, Netflix, Kodi applications or when playing local video files.

The reasons for white bars can be divided into two categories: software (system settings, applications or codecs) and hardware (physical screen limitations or damage). 80% of the time, the problem is solved without going to the service center — just change a few settings or update the software. But there are more complex scenarios when the white bar signals a malfunction of the matrix or display controller.

In this article, we will explore all possible ways to eliminate white bars on Xiaomi screens, from basic to advanced, including hidden developer settings and hardware malfunction diagnostics, learn how to distinguish a software bug from a physical defect, and what actions to take in each case.

1. Checking aspect ratio and video scaling

The most common reason for white stripe is the discrepancy between the sides of the video and the screen of the smartphone. Xiaomi smartphones most often have a display with a ratio of 20:9 or 19.5:9, while most films are shot in 16:9 (Full HD) or 21:9 (CinemaScope), when playing such content, the system can add black or white fields to fill the screen.

To remove the band, try changing the display mode directly in the player:

• 🎬 On YouTube: tap the screen → Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Choose the aspect ratio → Try the options Stretching, Screen Size or Cutting.
• 📺 V MX Player or VLC: During playback, swipe up to open the toolbar → Select the aspect ratio icon (usually looks like a rectangle) → Experiment with Fit to Screen or Fill modes.
• 📱 In a standard player MIUI: press the screen → icon ⋯ → Reproduction settings → Screen mode.

If the white bar appears only in one application (for example, in Netflix), check its settings: some services forcibly add fields for copyright compliance (for example, when playing content in the Internet). HD-Quality on non-certified devices).

2. Developer settings: forced permission change

If the standard player settings don't help, you can try to change the display settings at the system level, which requires activating the developer mode and making adjustments to the GPU.

First, turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row (you will be notified "You became a developer!").
3. Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new section for developers.

Now go to Settings → For developers and find the following parameters:

• 🔧 Forced scaling - set the value Unplugged (if enabled).
• 🖥️ Minimum width – try to reduce the value to 360 dp or 400 dp (the default is usually 411 dp).
• 🎨 Simulate additional screens – if the option is active, turn it off.
• 🔄 Turn off absolute volumes – turn on this option (may help with scaling issues in some applications).

After changing your settings, restart your smartphone and check if the white bar has disappeared. If the problem persists, return the settings to their original state - some of which can affect the performance or stability of the system.

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If after changes in the developer settings, the screen began to flicker or artifacts appeared, reset the settings of this section to standard: in the upper right corner of the Developer Menu, click on three dots and select Reset Settings.

3. Update MIUI and display firmware

White bars can appear due to bugs in the current firmware version. Xiaomi regularly releases updates to fix video display issues, especially after major MIUI or Android updates.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download and install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).

If the update didn't work, try updating the display firmware separately.

• 📱 Install the official Mi app PC Suite on the computer.
• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB (Turn on the debugging. USB developer-setting).
• 🔄 In the program, select the Update. → Check for updates to display drivers.

It’s also worth checking for updates for the specific app that is experiencing the problem. For example, on YouTube, display bugs are often fixed in new versions. Update the app via Google Play or, if you use APK, download the latest version from the official website.

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Upgrading MIUI to the latest stable version solves the white bar problem 60 percent of the time, according to user reports on Xiaomi and 4PDA forums.

4. Checking physical damage to the screen

If the white bar always appears — not only while watching the video, but also on the home screen or menu — it may indicate a hardware malfunction.

• 💥 Damage to the display plume (for example, after falling or disassembling the phone).
• 🔌 Oxidation of matrix contacts (due to moisture or condensate ingestion).
• 🖥️ Disrupting of the screen controller (manifested by a vertical or horizontal band of fixed width).

Do a quick diagnosis:

1. Try to shake the screen with a light press on different areas (if the band changes intensity or disappears - the problem is in the plume).
2. Connect your smartphone to an external monitor via USB-C → HDMI adapter. If there is no bandwidth on the external screen, the phone matrix is faulty.
3. Run the display test in the engineering menu: ##283## or through the MIUI Hidden Settings app (display test section).

If the tests confirmed a hardware problem, contact the service center. Self-repair of the Xiaomi screen without experience is fraught with deterioration of the situation (for example, damage to the touch screen or detachment of the matrix).

5. Resetting and screen calibration

If the white bar appeared after a system update or installing a new application, the cause may be a failure in the settings of the GUI, in which case, resetting the screen parameters or a complete recalibration will help.

Method 1: Reset application settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app where the problem occurs (e.g. YouTube).
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Screen calibration

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 11 or Redmi K40) have a hidden display calibration feature:

1. Enable the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → For developers → Screen Calibration.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to adjust white balance and contrast).

Method 3: Hard reset (if nothing worked)

If the problem persists, reset to factory settings. Pre-backup data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. To reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

6.Alternative solutions: disabling MIUI Optimization before player replacement

If the standard methods didn’t work, try less obvious but effective ways to do this:

One of the most radical but effective methods is to install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) that will eliminate the limitations of MIUI, but will require unlocking the bootloader and may be warranty-free. For detailed firmware instructions, look for the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums for your model.

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Before installing custom firmware, check if it supports Widevine L1 (necessary for watching Netflix/Disney+ in HD).Some build Widevine to L3, which will render video on streaming services in low resolution.

7. When to contact the service center?

If you've tried all the ways, but the white bar is still there, it's time to see a specialist. Here are the signs that the problem is hardware and requires professional intervention:

• 🔍 The strip is always visible, even on the charger screen or in the BIOS (loading).
• 🔥 The screen is heated at the place of appearance of the strip.
• 🎯 The strip changes color (for example, turns green or purple).
• 🔊 Along with the strip appeared artifacts of sound (wheezing, interruptions).
• 💥 The strip appeared after falling or getting moisture.

The cost of screen repair Xiaomi depends on the model:

• Redmi Note 10/11: 3 000–5 000 ₽ (matrix-replacement + plume).
• POCO X3/X4: 4 000–6 500 ₽.
• Mi 11/12: 8 000–12 000 ₽ (because AMOLED-screen).

Before the service visit:

1. Check if they use original parts (on forums, they often complain about fake screens with poor color reproduction).
2. Ask for a warranty for repairs (at least 3 months).
3. If the phone is warranty, contact only official Xiaomi service centers.

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Don’t settle for “budget” repairs with unoriginal parts – cheap matrices often have less brightness, distorted colors and can quickly fail.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the white stripe on the Xiaomi screen

If none of the suggested methods worked, leave a detailed description of your problem on the Mi Community or 4PDA forums – it is possible that other users have faced a similar situation and found a unique solution for your Xiaomi model.