How to remove black and white mode on Xiaomi: all ways (including hidden)

The black and white mode on Xiaomi smartphones is not a breakdown, but a special feature that can turn on accidentally or after a system update. Many users are scared to see a monochrome screen, think that the matrix has broken or the firmware has gone off. In fact, 90% of the time the problem is solved with 2-3 touches on the screen - if you know where to look.

In this article, we will analyze all possible reasons for the appearance of black and white mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, and also give step-by-step instructions for turning it off – from simple methods through the menu to advanced methods using ADB. We will separately dwell on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14) and smartphone models, where the location of settings may differ.

Why the screen turned black and white: 5 main reasons

Before we get to the bottom of this, it's important to understand why the smartphone went into monochrome mode. Here are the most common scenarios:

• 🎛️ Random activation through special features settings (most often users touch the option when cleaning the cache or resetting settings).
• 🔄 Update MIUI, after which some display parameters are reset (especially relevant for betta versions of firmware).
• 🔋 Energy saving on some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 10 Pro automatically translates the screen in gray gradations to save charge.
• 🛠️ Failure of system applications, such as com.miui.accessibility or com.android.systemui.
• 🧪 Test mode (less commonly) that is activated via an engineering menu or after diagnosis at a service center.

If black and white came after a drop or moisture hit, the problem could be hardware, such as the display plume, in which case none of the software will help, and will need repair.

Method 1: Disconnection through “Special Opportunities” (fastest)

In 80% of cases, black and white is enabled through special settings to turn it off:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Special Features section (in some firmwares – Additional Features).
3. Choose Color Correction or Color Correction (the name may be different).
4. Move the slider to the off position. or uncheck the Gradation of the gray.
5. Confirm the changes by clicking Ready or Save.

If there is no Color Correction, try an alternative path:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Screen.
• 🎨 Slip on the Color scheme or Display style.
• 🖥️ Choose Standard instead of Gray Gradation.

Make sure your battery is over 15% |Close all background apps |Connect to Wi-Fi (if you need an update) |Check if power saving is enabled-->

Important! On some models (Xiaomi 12T, POCO X5 Pro) the option is hidden deeper, and if you don't find it, search the settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) and type in the "gray gradation" query.

Method 2: Reset display settings (if the first method didn't work)

If black and white mode does not turn off through special features, try resetting the screen settings to factory. This will not affect your data (photos, contacts, messages), but will return all display parameters to default.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → System system → Additionally.
2. Choose Resetting (not to be confused with Resetting to Factory!).
3. Slip on Reset display settings.
4. Confirm the action by entering the unlock password (if required).

After you reboot, check if the color has returned. If not, move on to the next method.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can turn off black and white mode via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is suitable for users who have experience with the command line.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell settings put secure accessibility_display_daltonizer_enabled 0


adb shell settings put secure accessibility_display_daltonizer 0

After you've done the commands, restart the device. If the screen is black and white, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings delete secure accessibility_display_daltonizer

💡

If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try reinstalling the drivers via the Mi Flash Tool or using the Mi PC Suite to automatically configure the connection.

Method 4: Verification of energy saving mode and background applications

On some Xiaomi models, black and white is activated automatically when the ultra-power saving mode is turned on.

1. Open the Settings. → Battery.
2. Put it on the power saving mode.
3. Make sure you choose the Off or Balanced option.

The problem may also be in the background of apps that force you to change the color scheme.

• 🌙 Apps for night mode (Twilight, Night Shift).
• 👓 Apps for Eye Protection (Eye Comfort).
• 🎮 Launchers with customization of the interface (Nova Launcher, POCO Launcher).

Close all background apps through Recent → Close everything and check if the color is back. If so, remove or update the problematic app.

💡

On the POCO F4 GT and Xiaomi 12S Ultra, black and white can be activated when the Game Turbo feature is activated in game settings. Turn it off if you play resource-intensive games.

Method 5: Update MIUI or reset to factory settings

If none of these things worked, the problem could be a system failure, in which case a firmware update or a full reset would help.

Option 1: Update via OTA

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

Option 2: Reset to factory settings (deletes all data!)

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.

On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and POCO F5 models, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account after a reset if Mi Cloud was enabled.

Table: Location of settings on different versions of MIUI

If your version of MIUI is not in the table, search by settings (magnifying glass icon) and enter keywords: gray gradations, color correction or daltonizer.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be:

• 🔧 Hardware - damage to the plume of the display or matrix (diagnosis is required in the service).
• 🦠 Viral – some malicious apps block color scheme changes (check the device through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).
• 🔄 Related to custom firmware - if you installed an informal MIUI, Some features may not work properly (the solution is to reflash the device via Fastboot).

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, do a quick check:

1. Press the power button and Volume up to enter Recovery.
2. If the recovery menu screen is colored, the problem is the firmware.
3. If monochrome - a malfunction of the display or plume.

💡

On the Xiaomi 11T Pro and Redmi K50 Gaming, black and white can appear when overheated.Let the phone cool for 10-15 minutes and check again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about black and white on Xiaomi