How to remove the gray screen on Xiaomi: reasons and solutions

A sudden change in the color rendering of the display of a Xiaomi smartphone often causes panic among users. Instead of the usual bright colors, the owner sees a faded, gray or completely black and white picture, this behavior of the device can be caused by both the accidental inclusion of special accessibility features and more serious software failures.

Before you bring your gadget to the service center, it's worth analyzing the latest steps. Often the problem lies in the activated "Electronic Ink" mode or the system charge saving function, which limits the color palette to reduce the load on the eyes or battery. It usually takes no more than a few minutes to restore normal operation.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at all the possible reasons why the screen has turned gray and provide step-by-step troubleshooting instructions. We will look at standard MIUI settings, hidden developer settings, and forced system restart methods.

Activation of the electronic ink mode and reading

The most likely cause of gray or black and white images is Read Mode, which is designed to make text content more comfortable, mimicking the appearance of a paper book. In some versions of the HyperOS or MIUI shell, this mode can switch to the "Electronic Ink" state, which completely removes color.

To check and disable this feature, go to the Control Center. Swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain, and find an icon with an eye or book image. If it is active (backlit), just click on it to deactivate. Settings are also available along the Settings → Screen → Read Mode path.

Within the read mode menu, look for the "Advanced" tab, which can be the "Classic" or "Paper" display option, but also the "Black and White" option, which causes the display to ignore the color channels, and switch the slider to an inactive state to return the saturated colors.

⚠️ Attention: Color Limitation in the Special Options section can work independently of read mode. Check it separately if switching read modes doesn't help.

It is worth noting that some users accidentally activate this mode through quick commands or gestures. If the problem returns periodically, check the automatic activation settings on a schedule.

Energy savings and system constraints

The second common reason for color reproduction changes is an aggressive energy saving policy: When the battery power drops below a critical level (usually 10-15%), Xiaomi’s system can automatically go into ultra-saving mode, in which the interface is simplified and the color gamut becomes monochrome to minimize the power consumption of the matrix.

To get out of this state, just plug the device into the charger or manually turn off the savings mode. Go to Settings → Battery and select Performance or Balanced. Turning off Ultra-Savings mode will instantly return the same brightness and colors.

Sometimes a system failure prevents the interface from updating immediately after switching power, which requires a full reboot of the smartphone. Press the power button and select Reboot or use the Volume Up + Power combination to force a restart.

• 🔋 Check the battery level – at a low percentage, the system can limit the functions itself.
• 🎨 Make sure that the “Themes” section does not use a specific monochrome design style.
• 📱 Reboot the device after turning off the power saving mode to reset the graphics cache.

It is important to distinguish between software color restriction and physical matrix degradation.If the screen remains gray even after full charging and rebooting, the problem may be deeper.

Setting up special features and accessibility

Deep in the Android and MIUI settings, there's a section that's designed for people with visual impairments that also affects color reproduction, and the color correction or color blindness function can be activated by accident, such as a child or by accidentally tapping a menu, which causes colors to be distorted or completely disappear.

To find this setting, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. In some firmware versions, this item is immediately in the main settings menu. Find the section associated with Color or Visualization.

Here you'll see the Color Correction switch. If it's active, try changing the correction mode (like Protanomalia to No) or turning the function off entirely. Also check for the Grayscale slider, which is often used for digital detox but can be turned on by mistake.

There is another hidden option available through the developer menu, which we'll talk about below, but the standard accessibility settings are the first place to look for the cause of the gray screen.

Using Developer Mode and Debugging

For advanced users who have experimented with system settings, the developer menu may be a source of problem, with many technical parameters in this section, one of which directly affects color display, such as the color space anomaly simulation feature.

If you or an app has changed this setting, the screen can turn black and white. To fix this, you need to log back into the developer menu. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. If the menu is hidden, activate it by quickly tapping the build number seven times in the About Phone section.

In the list, look for the Color space simulation, which should be the default "Disabled" option, and if you choose "Monochrome," "Protanomalia," or any other option, change it to "Disabled," which will immediately return normal color reproduction.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when changing the settings in the “Developers” section. Changing other settings may result in system instability or data loss.

Also in this section, you can find the "Show touch" or "Arrangement of elements" option, which does not affect color, but helps in the diagnosis of the touch layer.

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To quickly find a hidden setting in the developer menu, use a page search (three dots in the corner) and type in the word “color” or “simulation.”

Comparison of methods of solving the problem

Different causes of a problem require different approaches to solving, and here is a table that will help you quickly identify the source of the problem and choose the right method of fixing it, which will save time and eliminate unnecessary actions.

Note the symptoms: If the screen only turns gray in certain apps, the problem may be the theme settings or the app itself. If Xiaomi’s entire interface is monochrome, follow the instructions above.

As you can see from the table, most problems are solved by software, but if the last paragraph describes your situation, the software methods will be powerless.

Hardware malfunctions and resetting settings

If none of the software methods helped remove the gray screen on Xiaomi, there is a high probability of hardware failure: it can be damage to the display plume after a fall, failure of the screen power controller or degradation of the matrix itself.

Before you carry your phone for repair, try resetting your settings to factory settings, which will eliminate the possibility of deep software conflict. Remember that the reset will delete all your personal data, photos and contacts, so be sure to back up important information to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer.

To reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. Once rebooted, the phone will look like new. If the screen is still gray, it confirms the need to replace components.

• 🔧 Check if the display plume is compressed (relevant after changing the glass or battery).
• 🌡️ Pay attention to the heating of the case – overheating of the processor can cause image artifacts.
• 📉 A sharp drop in brightness and grayness may indicate a malfunction of the backlight circuit.

In the case of hardware failure, self-repair is possible only with the experience and tools, otherwise it is better to consult specialists for diagnosis.

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If the factory reset did not eliminate the gray tint of the screen, the problem is hardware in nature and requires the intervention of the service center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)