Setting the screen off time on Xiaomi phones: all ways

The smartphone screen is one of the top energy consumers, and turning it off automatically when inactive helps save battery power. - On Xiaomi phones (including Redmi models and the likes of the two). POCO) You can flexibly adjust the time to turn off the screen, from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, or turn off the timer altogether, but not everyone knows where these settings are hidden, especially when it comes to firmware. MIUI differentiation.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can change your screen time, from standard settings to hidden features for power users, how to set your timeout to save battery, why you sometimes reset after an update, and what to do if the menu item you want to use is gone, and how to get around system limitations if you want the screen to never go out while charging or when specific applications are running.

Where to find the screen time settings in MIUI

Most versions MIUI (12 to 14) the path to screen timeout settings is the same, but may vary slightly depending on the phone model:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Always On and Lock (or Lock Screen in older versions).
3. Slip on the item Sleep mode or Time before the screen is turned off.
4. Choose the appropriate interval: 15 seconds to 10 minutes or Never (if available).

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or XP) POCO F5) This item may be in the Additional settings section. → Screen. If you don't see the menu you want, try searching by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) and enter the request "Switch off time».

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On the phones with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) Too short a timeout (15-30 seconds) can cause static interface elements to burn-in, the optimal time for such displays is 1-2 minutes.

The table below shows the differences in settings for popular versions. MIUI:

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a “Never” option and how to get it back

Many users are faced with the fact that the menu Sleep mode is missing the option Never — the screen goes out in a maximum of 10 minutes. MIUI to save battery power, but it can be bypassed in several ways.

The first method is to use the developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option Do not turn off the screen while charging and turn it on.

The second way is to use third-party apps like Keep Screen On or Caffeine, which mimic user activity, but note that these programs can drain the battery faster and require additional permissions.

If you need to keep your screen from going off only in certain apps (such as in the navigator or while reading), use the built-in Sleep Exceptions feature:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Sleep exceptions.
2. Select the apps you want to turn off screen timeout for.

How to set different screen time off for different scenarios

MIUI It allows you to flexibly manage your screen timeout depending on the context, whether it's charging, using specific applications, or even geolocating:

• 🔌 During charging: activate the option Do not turn off the screen when charging in the developer settings (see previous section).
• 📱 For individual applications: Use Sleep Exceptions (the path above) or apps like Tasker for automatic control.
• 🕒 Scheduled: Google Assistant or Automation MIUI You can create a rule that will change the timeout at a given time (for example, increase to 10 minutes in the evening).
• 📍 By geolocation: With MacroDroid or Automate, set up an automatic timeout change when connecting to your home Wi-Fi or at work.

For example, if you use your phone as a navigator in your car, add Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator to the sleep exceptions.+ Reader or FBReader can set a timeout of 5-10 minutes to keep the screen from fading during a long downtime on one page.

Check the version. MIUI In Settings → The phone.|Activate the Developer Mode (if necessary)|Add frequently used apps to Sleep Exclusions|Set up automation for geolocation or time of day (optional)|Check battery consumption after changes to Settings → Battery

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On infrared-ported phones like the Redmi Note 10 Pro, you can go even further: set up smart rules through the Mi Remote app. IR The screen will remain on while you are using the remote.

What to do if screen time settings are reset after the update

Xiaomi users often complain that after the update MIUI or reset settings, the screen turn off time returns to the default value (usually 30 seconds or 1 minute:

• 🔄 Resetting user preferences for major updates (e.g., with a MIUI 13 on MIUI 14).
• 📱 Firmware errors, especially in beta versions.
• 🔧 Battery optimization conflicts that reset settings to save energy.

To avoid permanent resets, follow these guidelines:

1. Turn off automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update.
2. Create a backup of settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Use it. ADB-Timeout commands (suitable for experienced users).

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If after the update the screen settings are missing, first check the Settings section. → Annexes → Application management → All applications → Settings and reset cache for the Settings system application.

For advanced users, there is a way to fix the timeout through ADB (Android Debug Bridge. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 600000

Where 600,000 is millisecond time (10 minutes) and then the setting won't reset even after the reboot.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB requires an unlocked bootloader and may result in a loss of warranty.Do not change other system settings without understanding the consequences.

Hidden MIUI features for screen control

In addition to the standard settings, the MIUI There are hidden screen-control capabilities that few people know about:

• 🌓 Adaptive lighting: in Settings → Screen. → Adaptive brightness can be enabled automatic adjustment of not only brightness, but also the screen switch-off time depending on the illumination.
• 👁️ Read Mode: When this mode is activated (in the notification curtain), the screen timeout automatically increases to 5 minutes.
• 🔄 Double touch to wake up: in Settings → Always on screen and lock → Double tap to wake up can enable quick unlocking method without power button.
• 🎮 Game mode: in Game Turbo (the icon in the notification curtain during the game) you can turn off screen timeout and notifications.

Another little-known feature is gestures for screen control, such as some models (Xiaomi). 11T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) You can swipe across the screen to turn it off (no power button:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Gestures.
2. Turn on the swipe option down to turn off the screen.

If you use Google Assistant a lot, you can set up a voice command to change your timeout. Say, "OK, Google, set the screen time to 5 minutes," and the assistant will perform the action (you need to set up in Google Home).

How to check if the screen is draining the battery too quickly

After changing the screen time, it is important to track how this affected battery consumption. Too long a timeout can significantly reduce battery life, especially on phones with a small battery (for example, Xiaomi 12 Lite with a battery of 4300 mAh).

To check the impact of the settings:

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. Look at the flow chart for the last 24 hours, and if the screen is over 40 to 50 percent, the timeout is too big.
3. Slip on the screen to see detailed statistics (activity time, brightness, etc.).

Optimal settings for a balance between convenience and savings:

• 📱 For everyday use: 30 seconds – 1 minute.
• 🎮 For games and videos: 5-10 minutes (or turn off timeout in game mode).
• 📖 Read: 2-3 minutes (or use reading mode).
• 🔌 When charging: you can increase to 10 minutes or turn off the timeout.

⚠️ Note: If after increasing the time of the screen off, the phone began to warm up strongly, check the background processes in Settings → Annexes → App management: It is possible that an app (like Facebook or TikTok) is actively using resources even in standby mode.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting the screen time, users often make mistakes that lead to unexpected consequences, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Another common problem is that gestures that fail after a timeout change, for example, double tapping to wake up may stop working if the screen time is set to Never.

1. Return the timeout to the standard value (1-2 minutes).
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Check the gesture settings in Settings → Additionally. → Gestures.

If you notice that the screen began to spontaneously turn off even when actively using, check:

• 🔋 Energy saving mode (can forcefully reduce timeout).
• 🛠️ System updates (in some versions) MIUI There are bugs with screen control).
• 📱 Third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher may conflict with system settings).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions