How to increase the sensitivity of the screen on the Xiaomi smartphone: a step-by-step guide

The sensitivity of the screen on Xiaomi smartphones is a key parameter that affects the usability of the device. If your Redmi, POCO or Mi does not respond well to touch, ignores light touches or requires strong pressing, the problem lies in the sensor settings or software restrictions. In 80% of cases, the situation can be fixed without going to the service center using standard MIUI tools or hidden developer functions.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for increasing sensitivity, including official and alternative solutions, you will learn how to calibrate the sensor, activate modes for gloves, change the settings in the developer menu, and even update the firmware if the problem is caused by software errors. We will pay special attention to models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), where the settings may differ from devices with IPS-matrix.

Before you start settings, check if the deterioration in response is due to physical damage, such as cracks in the glass, moisture or wear of the plume. If the screen only responds to strong presses in a certain area, this is a sign of hardware failure, and software methods will not help.

1. Calibration of the sensor through a hidden menu

Most Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in sensor calibration menu that doesn't show up in standard settings. This method works on devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X5 and Mi 11 Lite. Calibration resets the current response settings and redefined them.

To start the process:

  1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##6484###
  2. The Manual Test Mode menu will appear on the screen.
  3. Select the Touch Screen Test (touch screen test).
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen: swipe your finger along the lines and press the dots.
  5. After the test is completed, restart the smartphone.

โš ๏ธ Warning: Do not interrupt the calibration process, this may cause the sensor to fail. If the screen has stopped responding at all after rebooting, reset the settings via Recovery Mode. + Volume up when the phone is off).

Charge your phone at least 50%|Make sure there is no protective film on the screen.|Close all background applications|Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi during the test-->

Activation of the โ€œTouching with glovesโ€ mode

Glove Mode is originally designed to work with the screen in cold weather, but it can also be used to increase overall sensitivity, which increases the strength of the sensor signal, making it more responsive even to light touch, and is especially useful for devices with thick protective glass or high-sided covers.

How to turn on:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Go to Settings. โ†’ Display.
  • ๐Ÿ” Scroll down and find the Touch and Gestures section (on some models โ€“ Additional screen settings).
  • โ˜‘๏ธ Activate the touch switch in gloves or screen sensitivity.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart the device to apply changes.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for Redmi 10) may not have this option, so use an alternative method through the developer menu (described in the next section).

Yes, the function is in the settings.|No, there's no such clause.|I don't know, I haven't.|I'm using custom firmware.-->

3.Setting sensitivity through the developer menu

The Developer Options menu hides the advanced parameters of the system, including adjusting the sensor response, which is suitable for advanced users, because the wrong settings can worsen the screen performance. Before making changes, remember the current values of the parameters, which will help to return everything back if necessary.

Instructions:

  1. Activate the developer menu: go to Settings โ†’ About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version. the notification will appear โ€œYou became a developerโ€.
  2. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings โ†’ Developer settings.
  3. Find the Input section and activate it: ๐Ÿ”˜ Show touch (to visualize the response) ๐Ÿ”˜ Sensor sensitivity (if any) ๐Ÿ”˜ Debugging of the pointer (for diagnosis)

Sensor sensitivity

Pointer location

โš ๏ธ Attention: Maximum sensitivity settings can cause false positives (phantom touches) in wet weather or in your pocket. If you notice spontaneous pressing, reduce the value to 7-8.

What to do if the developer menu is gone?
If after updating MIUI, Developer Settings is gone, reset settings through Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset settings โ†’ Reset application settings. This will return hidden menus without losing data.

4. Update firmware and reset settings

If the sensitivity problem occurred after a system update or application installation, a software conflict may be the cause.

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update MIUI Up to the latest version (through Settings) โ†’ Updating the system).
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Cache Clearing (in Recovery Mode, select Wipe Cache).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Resetting to factory settings (save data in advance!).

For POCO and Redmi models with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), it is recommended to reflash the device to the official MIUI Global via Fastboot.

Xiaomi modelMinimum version of MIUI for stable sensor operationRecommended action
Redmi Note 10/11MIUI 13.0.4Update via OTA or Recovery
POCO F3/F4MIUI 14.0.2Reset the settings if the lags after the update
Xiaomi 12/13 seriesMIUI 14.0.5+Check the calibration after the update
Redmi 9A/9CMIUI 12.5.3Use the "Touching with Gloves" mode.

๐Ÿ’ก

Before resetting settings, untie your Mi Account in Settings โ†’ Xiaomi Account, otherwise, after rebooting, the device will require entering the password of the previous owner.

5. Checking the physical condition of the screen

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be in the hardware.

  • ๐Ÿ” Protective glass/film: thick or poor-quality protections reduce sensitivity. Try removing them and testing the screen.
  • ๐Ÿ’ง Moisture under the screen: if the phone fell into the water, the contacts of the plume could oxidize. Visually inspect the connector (when disassembling) or take to the service.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Sensor plume: on older models (Redmi 5, Mi) A1) The plume wears out over time, and the sign is that the screen only responds to strong presses in one zone.

For self-diagnosis of the plume:

  1. Turn off the phone and remove the back cover (if it is removable).
  2. Disconnect the battery and find the plume running from the screen to the motherboard.
  3. Check if it has cracks, curls or traces of oxidation.

โš ๏ธ Note: Disassembling a Xiaomi smartphone without experience can damage flexible cables or break contacts. If you are not sure, contact an authorized service center. The average cost of replacing a sensor plume is 1,500โ€“3,000 โ‚ฝ.

6. Use of third-party applications

If standard settings don't work, you can try Google Play's customized tools, which don't replace system settings, but can temporarily improve response by optimizing touch processing.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Touchscreen Repair calibrates sensor and tests response zones.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ GLTools โ€“ speeds up gesture processing (requires root rights).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Sensor Box for Android โ€“ analyzes the operation of all sensors, including the sensor.

Before installing, check the reviews for the current version of the application โ€“ some utilities may conflict with MIUI 14. Also note that programs without root access have limited capabilities and will not be able to change the deep parameters of the system.

๐Ÿ’ก

Third-party sensor calibration applications work only superficially, they do not replace official settings and can impair performance with prolonged use.

7. Alternative solutions for specific cases

Some sensitivity issues are associated with unique use cases, and consider rare but relevant situations:

Case 1: The screen reacts poorly in games

In graphics intensive games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), the system can artificially reduce sensitivity to save resources.

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Turn on the game mode in the notification curtain.
  • โš™๏ธ In the game settings, disable Battery Optimization for the app.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Activate Performance in Settings โ†’ Battery.

Case 2: Problems after screen replacement

If the screen was changed in an unofficial service, a non-original module with a different controller could be installed.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Make sure the screen model is compatible with your device (ask the part-shop for a part certificate from the master).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Perform a complete reset - this will help the system to "get used" to the new sensor.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Re-show the device to the official MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.

Case 3: Sensitivity falls at low temperature

In the cold (<-10ยฐC), AMOLED sensors may lose responsiveness due to material properties.

  • โ„๏ธ Use the touch mode with gloves (described in Section 2).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Keep your phone closer to your body (such as in your jacketโ€™s inner pocket).
  • ๐Ÿ“ต Avoid sudden temperature changes (do not take the phone out of the heat in the cold immediately).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi screen sensitivity

๐Ÿ”น Why the screen only responds to strong presses?
This can be caused by: Wear of the touch layer (typical for devices older than 3 years); getting moisture under the screen (check the moisture indicator in the tray). SIM-Incorrect calibration after updating MIUI. First, calibrate (Section 1), then check the physical condition of the screen (Section 5).
๐Ÿ”น Can you increase sensitivity without root rights?
Yes, most of the methods in this article (calibration, glove mode, developer menu) do not require root. However, for deep customization (for example, changing the kernel parameters), superuser rights are necessary.
๐Ÿ”น Why After Updating MIUI The screen has become less sensitive?
This is a typical problem when switching to a new firmware version. Xiaomi developers sometimes change the touch processing algorithms to optimize the battery. Solution: Reset the settings (without deleting the data). Calibrate the sensor again. Turn off the Adaptive Brightness function in the display settings - it can conflict with the sensor drivers.
๐Ÿ”น How to check if the screen is installed on my Xiaomi?
Xiaomi's original screen has: Smooth backlight without yellowness at the edges. Mi or Redmi logo on the plume (visible when disassembled). Compatible with Always-on Display (on the edges). AMOLED-You can also enter the combination ##4636## in the engineering menu and check the sensor data in the Hardware info section.
๐Ÿ”น Does the protective glass affect sensitivity?
Yes, but the degree of influence depends on the type of glass: ๐ŸŸข Thin glass (0.1โ€“0.2 mm): almost no effect. ๐ŸŸก Oleophobic glass (0.3 mm): may slightly reduce responsiveness. ๐Ÿ”ด Armoured glass (0.5 mm)+): This can significantly reduce sensitivity, especially at the edges of the screen.