How to get back the colors on the screen Xiaomi: eliminate black and white mode in 5 minutes

Did you turn on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone and suddenly the screen turned black and white? Don't panic - it's not a break in the display, but an activated read or save mode function. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 clicks, but sometimes you need to deep tune the system. In this article, we will discuss all the possible causes of the monochrome screen and how to turn it off, including hidden MIUI functions that are not written in the official instructions.

Black and white on Xiaomi can appear after a firmware update, accidentally pressing a button combination or activating special functions for the visually impaired. In rare cases, a graphics driver malfunction is the fault. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 models - instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14. If your smartphone is older than 2020, some menu items may be called differently, but the logic remains the same.

The reasons for the appearance of black and white screen on Xiaomi

Before you start fixing, it's important to understand why the screen lost color.

• 📖 Reading mode is a function that reduces eye strain by filtering blue light and turning to shades of gray.
• 🔋 Ultra-saving mode – at a charge level below 5%, the system automatically switches to a monochrome interface, disabling background processes.
• 👓 Color filters – a special tool for people with color blindness (can work accidentally through a triple press on the power button).
• 🤖 Failure of the graphics driver – after falling, overheating or unsuccessful update, the system loses access to the color profile.
• 🔄 Firmware error - in rare cases bugs MIUI This leads to the forced inclusion of the black and white regime.

On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K60 Pro: Monochrome mode can be activated automatically when you activate Always on Screen (AoD) with minimal power consumption, and check if you have third-party apps like Digital Wellbeing or Twilight that can force you to change the color gamut.

Method 1: Turn off reading mode (the fastest method)

In 70% of cases, the black and white screen appears because of the activated reading mode, it turns off in 3 steps:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the "Read Mode" icon and tap it, and if it's not there, move on to the next step.
3. Open Settings → Display → Reading Mode and move the slider to the “Off” position.

On some MIUI firmware, the read mode may be called "Vision Protection" or "Blue Light Filter." If the colors are not returned after turning off, check the schedule: it may be on timer (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00).

⚠️ Attention: POCO F4 GT redmi K50 Gaming Reading Mode may conflict with Game Turbo. If the monochrome screen is left after the shutdown, restart the device.

Method 2: Deactivation of ultra-saving mode

When the battery power drops below 5%, Xiaomi automatically goes into ultra-saving mode, which, among other things, turns off the color palette of the interface.

1. Connect your smartphone to charging (even for 10 minutes – this is enough to get the charge level above the critical threshold).
2. Open the settings → Battery → Saving mode.
3. Turn off the option "Ultra-Savings mode" (if it is active).
4. Restart the device – sometimes changes are only applied after the reboot.

If charging is not available and the screen remains black and white, try manually turning off the savings via the power menu:

1. Press the power button for 3-5 seconds until the off menu appears.
2. Slip on the item "Savings mode" (if it is illuminated).
3. Confirm the blackout.

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), ultra-saving mode can block access to graphics settings, in which case only a charging connection or a forced reboot (press the power button + increase the volume for 10 seconds) will help.

Method 3: Resetting color filters (for visually impaired)

The MIUI Color Filter feature is designed for color-impaired users, but is sometimes activated accidentally through a triple tap on the power button or gestures to turn off:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Color filters.
2. Move the top slider to the "off" position.
3. If the filter is enabled through gesture, turn off the "Fast Turn on" option in the same menu.

On some firmware, the path may differ: Settings → Additional settings → Special features → Color correction.

If the screen remains black and white after the filters are turned off, check the gesture settings:

1. Open the settings → System → Gestures.
2. Find the item "Triple press of the power button".
3. Make sure that the option “Color filters” or “Reading mode” is not selected there.

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If the colors are distorted after disabling the filters (for example, green or red predominates), calibrate the screen in the Settings menu → Display → Color Mode → Color Calibration.

Method 4: Reboot the graphics driver (for technical failures)

If the black and white screen appeared after a fall, overheating or updating the system, the problem may lie in the failure of the graphics driver, in which case the software reboot of the graphics subsystem will help:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification “You are a developer” appears.

Additional settings → Developer parameters

"Fix it up. GPU-flooding"

"GPU-rendering"

Reboot your smartphone.

If after the restart the problem remains, reset the graphics settings:

1. In the developer’s settings menu, find “Reset GPU settings”.
2. Confirm the action and wait for the automatic reboot.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with Mediatek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 12) 4G) discharge GPU It can cause a short-term flicker of the screen after it's turned on.

For models with AMOLED-displays (e.g., Xiaomi) 13T Pro) after discharge GPU Calibration of colors: Settings → Display. → Color mode → Set up manually.

Method 5: Resetting settings to factory (last resort)

If none of the previous methods worked, you will have to reset your settings completely, and this will delete all data from the device, so first:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 🔐 Make sure you know the username and password from your Mi Account (required to unlock after resetting).
• 📧 Save important files to your PC or cloud.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select "Erase all data."
3. Enter a password (if requested) and confirm the action.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After reset, the smartphone will turn on in a factory state with a color screen. If the problem was a software failure, it will be fixed. If the black and white mode remains, this indicates a hardware malfunction (damage to the plume of the display or graphics chip).

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Factory reset eliminates 99% of the software causes of a black and white screen, but erases all data. Use this method only if other methods have not worked.

Additional checks (if nothing helps)

If after all the manipulations the screen remains monochrome, follow these steps:

• 🔌 Check the display plume: on models with a removable back cover (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The plume may have moved away after the fall. Carefully press the screen with your hand - if the colors are back even for a second, the problem is contact.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware: go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest version MIUI.
• 🔍 Check out third-party apps: uninstall programs to customize the screen (e.g. Night Shift, Blue Light Filter).
• 🔧 Safe Mode Test: Press the power button before the turn off menu appears. Tap and hold the turn off until the safe mode prompt appears. Confirm and check if the color has returned. If so, the problem is in the third-party software.

For models with IR-a blaster (for example, Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) check if the screen is in conflict with the remote control. Turn off the Infrared Port function in the settings.

If your smartphone is warranty-free and hardware checks indicate a malfunction, contact Xiaomi Service Center. In the description of the problem, state: "Black and white screen after [specify action: drops/updates/connects charging]. Color filters and read mode are disabled, reset did not help."

FAQ: Frequent questions about the black and white screen on Xiaomi