Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with high-quality AMOLED and IPS arrays that provide a bright picture, but sometimes become a source of unnecessary energy consumption. Users often face the need to completely extinguish the display or turn off functions that keep the screen active in the background. This can be caused by a desire to save battery power, remove distractions or solve the problem with sticking the image.
MIUI and the new HyperOS have many screen usage scenarios that are not always obvious to the average wearer, from constant time indications to forced application locks, all of which require detailed consideration, and understanding how to manage the state of the display will allow you to optimize the device to your needs.
In this article, we will look at all possible ways to turn off the screen, from standard timer settings to advanced locking methods through the engineering menu. You will learn to configure Always On Display, manage locking in games and eliminate software failures that interfere with normal matrix quenching.
Disable the Always On Display and Screensavers feature
One of the most popular features in mid-range and flagship smartphones is Always On Display (AOD), which allows you to display time, date and notifications on the screen off. However, on models with IPS-matrixes or low battery power, constant glow of pixels may not be desirable.
To remove this feature, you need to go to the system settings. The path usually looks like: Settings → The screen is always on and lock. In this section, you will find a switch that completely deactivates the display of information on the locked device. For owners of Redmi Note and Poco, the menu layout may vary slightly, but the principle remains the same.
⚠️ Note: In some models with AMOLED-screen-out AOD It can increase the time of autonomous operation on 5-10% Every day, every pixel burns energy.
It's also worth checking the Saverser settings. Unlike AOD, the screensaver only activates while charging the device if it's not in use. To turn it off, go to Settings → Screen → Screensaver and select the "No" option, which ensures that when you plug in the charger, the screen goes out after a set time, rather than showing a slideshow of photos.
Setting the screen shutdown and sleep timer
The basic way to control the display's activity time is to adjust the sleep timer, which is the interval at which the system forcibly extinguishes the backlight after the last touch. Standard values range from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, but the optimal time depends on your usage habits.
To change the setting, open Settings → Screen → Sleep Mode. You can choose the lowest possible value to make the screen go off almost instantly. This is especially useful if you often put your phone in your pocket where the sensor may accidentally activate, or if you want to save the battery as much as possible.
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Use a minimum sleep time (15 seconds) if your case has a magnetic fastener that may accidentally wake the screen when closing.
There is also a "Mode in the pocket" feature that uses the proximity sensor to lock the screen when the device is in a confined space. Make sure this option is activated in the Lock section to prevent accidental switching on. If the screen does not go out on its own, it is possible that the pollution sensor or software failure interferes with the correct operation.
- 📱 15 seconds – ideal for energy savings and protection from accidental pressing.
- ⏳ 1 minute is the standard value for comfortable reading without frequent unlocking.
- 🔋 5-10 Minutes – recommended only when viewing long instructions or recipes while the phone is lying on the table.
Forced screen locking in apps and games
Sometimes you have to keep the screen from going out while watching a video, but you have to block random touches, and in MIUI, you have a "Menu Lock" or "App Lock" feature that allows you to lock the current window, preventing you from leaving it and often blocking control buttons.
To activate this mode, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to apps (or a similar path depending on the OS version). Enable App Assignment. Then, when you open the desired application, swipe up to open the menu of running tasks, click on the application icon and select the pin icon.
☑️ Set-up of application anchorage
To exit the anchoring mode, you usually need to press the back and menu buttons at the same time (or swipe and hold if you're using gestures), a useful tool if you give your child a phone to play with or show someone a photo, and you want to make sure the screen isn't accidentally turned off or switched.
| Use case scenario | Recommended setting | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Reading books | Timer 2-5 min | Average. |
| Navigation in the car | Always on + Brightness of the car | High. |
| Watching video | Securing the annex | Depends on the content. |
| Waiting for a call | Timer 15 seconds | Minimum |
Control of proximity sensor and locking during conversation
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that the screen doesn't go out during a phone call or, on the contrary, goes out too early, because the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the case, works, and if lights hit it or it is contaminated, the system does not receive the "pull to the ear" signal.
There's a hidden engineering menu for diagnosing and calibrating the sensor.
##6484##Proximity Sensor
⚠️ Warning: If calibration doesn't work, check the protective glass. Too thick or improperly pasted glass can block the sensor, causing the screen to burn during a conversation, heating the speaker and expending charge.
Also worth mentioning is the Remote Control feature, which sometimes conflicts with sensors. If the screen is behaving unpredictably, try turning this option off in Settings → Additional Features → Remote Control. In rare cases, it is this service that interferes with the correct operation of the locking system.
What to do if the sensor is physically defective?
Disconnecting the screen through third-party apps and automation
Staffing isn't always enough for complex scenarios, for example, you might need to turn off the screen when you run a particular application or at a given time, and automating apps like MacroDroid or Tasker are ideal for that.
With MacroDroid, you can create a macro: "If X is running → Action: Screen is off," which allows you to turn your smartphone into an information panel or simply save power when you listen to music in the background, and installing these applications requires special permissions, such as the right to "Use on top of other applications."
- 🛠 MacroDroid – a simple interface, ideal for beginners, allows you to quickly create a trigger to turn off the screen.
- ⚙️ Tasker is a powerful tool for advanced users, allows you to program complex scenarios of system behavior.
- 📱 Black Screen is a specialized application that adds a widget or button to instantly quench the screen without using a physical key.
Using third-party software gives you flexibility, but remember to consume resources. Background automation can consume more power than just an active screen if the script is not configured correctly. Always check battery consumption after installing new utilities.
Problem Solving: The screen doesn’t go out or goes out on its own
If you're faced with a situation where the screen on Xiaomi is behaving randomly, there can be several reasons: from a software failure in the Android system to physical damage to the plume or matrix. The first step should always be to reboot the device - this clears the RAM and resets temporary errors of the display drivers.
The second step is to check for hot apps. Go to Settings → Battery and see if there are programs that consume energy in the background. Often the culprits are widget apps or weather widgets that keep the screen active to update data.
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If the screen goes out and immediately lights up again without your actions, this is a sign of an application conflict or a hardware malfunction of the proximity sensor.
In extreme cases, if nothing works, you may need to reset to factory settings. Remember, a full reset will delete all your data, so be sure to back up important files before starting the procedure. If and after the reset, the problem persists, there is likely a hardware breakdown that requires you to contact the service center.