PWM flickering (pulse-latitudinal modulation) on AMOLED-Xiaomi smartphone screens are one of the most talked-about issues among users, and this effect manifests itself as a subtle jitter of the screen at low brightness, which causes discomfort, eye fatigue and even headaches in sensitive people. IPS-Matrix where the lighting is constantly working, AMOLED uses pulsed pixel control, which leads to flickering at a frequency of 120 Hz to 480 Hz depending on the model.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to reduce or completely disable PWM on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO s AMOLED-It's important to understand that not all models can completely remove flicker, but it depends on the hardware limitations of the screen (DC Dimming will greatly improve usability. We tested the methods on Xiaomi. 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro and POCO F5 Pro MIUI 14/15 β The results are shown in the comparative table below.
1. enable DC Dimming in MIUI settings
The easiest and most official way to reduce PWM is to activate DC Dimming (constant flashing backlighting) mode, a feature available on most Xiaomi flagship models starting with the Mi 9 and Redmi K20 Pro. The main drawback of the method is a possible increase in power consumption by 5-12% (according to XDA Developers tests), but for many users this is a compromise for the sake of comfort.
To enable DC Dimming:
- Go to Settings β Display.
- Select Vision Protection Mode or Additional Screen Settings (name depends on the version of MIUI).
- Activate the DC Dimming switch (can be called the Flickerless or Permanent Backlight).
βοΈ Verification of work DC Dimming
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β οΈ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) DC Dimming only works at brightness below 30%. If this threshold is exceeded, the screen automatically switches back to PWM. AMOLED-Low resolution screens (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro).
2.Use of the Engineering Menu (MTK/Qualcomm)
If the standard settings do not have DC Dimming, you can try to disable PWM through the engineering menu. This method requires caution - incorrect settings can lead to damage to the screen or sensor failures. We recommend that you first back up the data and record the current display settings.
Instructions for smartphones on Qualcomm Snapdragon (e.g. Xiaomi 13, POCO F4 GT):
- Install the MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek) or Qualcomm Engineering Mode.
- Open the menu and go to the Hardware Testing β Display section.
- Find options related to PWM or Backlight (like PWM Duty Cycle).
- Set a value of 0 to turn off PWM or increase the frequency to a maximum (for example, 480 Hz).
What to do if the engineering menu is blocked?
On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) access to the engineering menu is limited. ADB-team:
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1Then try to reopen the engineering menu using the code ##4636## or specialized applications.
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β οΈ Attention: Changing the parameters in the engineering menu can lead to irreversible damage to the matrix if you set incorrect values. K50 Gaming setting the PWM frequency above 360 Hz caused image artifacts. Always write down the initial settings before changes!
3. Update of firmware and core
Manufacturers regularly release updates that optimize work AMOLED-For example, in the MIUI 15 for Xiaomi 14 has added the option Ultra DC Dimming, which reduces flickering by 40% compared to previous versions.Check the relevance of the firmware:
- Go to Settings β About the phone β System update.
- If you have a new version of MIUI or Android, install it.
- After the update, reset the screen settings to factory (Settings β Display β Resetting).
For advanced users, there is a custom kernel option (e.g. KernelSU or FrancoKernel) that supports advanced display settings. However, this requires unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.
| Xiaomi model | Support for DC Dimming | Max. frequency PWM (Hz) | The effectiveness of DC Dimming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Yeah (Ultra DC Dimming) | 480 | 90% |
| Redmi K60 Pro | Yes. | 360 | 75% |
| POCO F5 Pro | Yes (only <50% brightness) | 240 | 60% |
| Xiaomi 12T | Partially. | 210 | 50% |
4.Applements to reduce flickering
If hardware isn't working, you can use third-party tools, which don't completely remove PWM, but reduce its visibility by adjusting color temperature or applying filters.
- πΉ f.lux β regulates color temperature by reducing flicker contrast.
- πΉ Twilight β Adds a red filter that masks the screenβs jitter.
- πΉ Screen Filter β allows you to manually reduce the brightness below the system minimum, where the PWM is less noticeable.
β οΈ Note: F.lux applications may conflict with read mode MIUI. If artifacts appear after installation (for example, a green hue on Redmi) K40), Turn off the system night mode in Settings β Display. β Night mode.
5. Hardware modifications (for experienced users)
If software methods fail, the last option is to replace the screen with a model that supports LTPO or LTPO 2.0. These technologies dynamically adjust the refresh rate, reducing flickering. For example, the Samsung E5 screen (installed in the Xiaomi 13 Pro) has a minimum PWM due to the high frequency of 480 Hz.
The cost of replacing the screen with AMOLED with LTPO in Xiaomi service centers:
- π° Xiaomi 12 Pro - from 12,000 β½
- π° Redmi K50 Ultra - from 9,500 β½
- π° POCO F4 GT β 7,800 β½
π‘
Before replacing the screen, check its model through the app. AIDA64 (Some service centers have low-cost AMOLED-matrixless LTPO, What's not solving the SHIMS problem.
6. Alternative solutions: brightness and color temperature settings
If no methods help, you can try indirect ways to reduce the visibility of flickering:
- π Set brightness to 40-60% β in this range, PWM is less noticeable on most screens.
- π¨ Activate Dark Theme and Night Mode β Dark Pixels on the Dark Theme AMOLED non-shimmer.
- π Use Adaptive Brightness, but turn off Automatic Adjustment in Darker Spaces.
The Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70 have a hidden Super Resolution option that indirectly affects PWM.
- Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
- Go to Settings β Additional β For developers.
- Find the Force Super Resolution option and turn it on.
π‘
The most effective method is a combination of DC Dimming + dark theme + 50% brightness, which reduces flickering by 70-80% without significantly affecting autonomy.