Smartphone owners often face the need to customize their displays to suit their preferences. Standard factory settings may not seem bright enough or, conversely, too faded to the user's eyes. This is especially true for devices with OLED-matrixes, where the potential for color reproduction is huge, but by default is often limited by software.
Increasing color saturation makes the image more juicy, lively and attractive, which is especially noticeable when viewing photos, videos or using social networks. However, it is important to understand the line between pleasant brightness and unnatural color distortion. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to correct the color gamut on Xiaomi devices.
Before you make changes to your system settings, make sure you understand the way color profiles work. Too much saturation can lead to rapid eye fatigue during long-term reading, so the approach to setting up should be balanced and consistent, taking into account the type of matrix of your screen.
Built-in color profile settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The safest and easiest way to change color perception is to use the operating system’s regular tools. MIUI shells and the new HyperOS provide users with flexible tools to control the display without having to obtain root rights.
To access the options you need, go to Settings → Screen → Color Scheme and Saturation. Here you will see several preset modes, each of which handles the image signal differently. The choice of a particular mode directly affects how colors will look in the interface and applications.
Saturated mode is usually the default on many models, and it artificially amplifies the green and blue channels, making the picture "acid" but very bright. If your goal is maximum color brightness, this is the best option, although it does not have a reference color reproduction.
- 🎨 Standard Balance, Close to sRGB, Colors Look Natural.
- 🌈 Saturated – enhanced colors, high contrast and brightness of shades.
- 👁️ Eye protection – shifting the balance in the yellow spectrum to reduce eye strain.
- 🎨 Custom – manually configuring individual settings for advanced users.
⚠️ Note: Switching between profiles can take a few seconds. Do not press the buttons repeatedly so as not to cause a malfunction of the display driver.
Some firmware versions offer the option of Advanced Color Customization, which allows you to (finely customize) the hue, saturation and contrast separately for each primary color, allowing you to achieve exactly the result you are looking for without relying on presets.
📊 Which color profile do you like more?
Standard
Saturated
Paper
Custom
Use of reading and night mode
While the primary goal is often to increase brightness, sometimes color temperature correction is required for comfort.Reading and Night Mode in Xiaomi smartphones work by filtering the blue spectrum.This makes the image warmer, but can subjectively reduce perceived cold hues.
Paradoxically, turning off these features can visually refresh the image, returning it to cold colors, check if you have either Paper or Classic mode activated in the screen settings, these modes specifically desaturate the image, mimicking electronic ink.
To control these functions, use the Quick Access Panel or the Settings path → Screen → Read Mode. Here you can adjust the switch-on schedule and the degree of filter exposure. Completely turning off the blue light filter will return the display to its native color reproduction.
It is worth noting that constantly working in high saturation mode without interruptions is harmful to vision, and it is recommended to use automatic profile switching depending on the time of day or type of content.
| Regime. | Impact on colours | Recommended use |
|---|
| Standard. | Natural colors | Working with documents, web surfing |
| Saturated | Bright, deep colors. | Games, video viewing, photo |
| Paper | Black and white or sepia | Reading text, resting eyes |
| Full-screen | Optimization for content | Viewing videos in horizontal mode |
Settings through the engineering menu and hidden functions
For a deeper setup, enthusiasts often turn to the engineering menu, which is logged in through a set of code in the Phone app. The most common code for testing the display is ##6484##. This CIT (Customer Information Test) menu allows you to check the performance of the matrix.
Inside the test menu, you can find Display or LCD Test, and calibration is often available to reset color settings to factory or check for broken pixels, but direct saturation change through this menu on modern versions of MIUI is often blocked.
How to enter the engineering menu through ADB?
If the codes don’t work, you can try using them. ADB. Connect your phone to your PC, turn on debugging USB Enter the command: adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings. This will open the hidden settings sections if they are not removed from the firmware.> There's also a method of changing values through the Activity Launcher app, which allows you to find hidden activity in the system, find activity associated with com.miui.display, and try running hidden calibration menus. Change of unknown parameters can lead to incorrect display of the interface. ⚠️ Warning: Making changes to system activity through third-party launchers can cause the phone to malfunction. Use of third-party apps for color correction If built-in tools are not enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue. They work on top of the main interface, overlaying a color filter. The most popular tool is the Color Calibration app or its analogues, which require root rights. For devices without root access, there are applications that use accessibility service. They can change the gamut and the saturation software, like Screen Balance or Night Shift & Dimmer, and they don't change the system profile, they put a layer over the image. 📱 Color Calibrator – requires root, gives full control RGB. 🎨 Screen Adjuster – works without rights, changes the shade of the entire screen. 🌙 Twilight – mostly for night, but has manual filter settings. 🔧 Activity Launcher — to access hidden system menus, using such programs increases battery consumption, as the processor is forced to process additional video stream. In addition, there may be a slight input delay (input lag), which is critical for dynamic games. ☑️ Check before installing filters Is there root rights: Check compatibility with Android version: Take a screenshot of the current settings:Install the application from a reliable source: 0 / 1 The impact of design and wallpaper on perception Often the problem of fading is not in the settings of the screen, but in the content. MIUI Themes can override system colors. If you use a third-party theme, it can force its saturation settings to ignore system settings. Try temporarily switching to a standard theme, Classic or Default. If the colors became brighter, then the problem was the third-party design, and the wallpaper also plays an important role: dull, dark images on the wallpaper. OLED-screens can create the illusion of low display saturation. Use high-contrast wallpaper with bright colors to evaluate the real-world capabilities of the matrix. In the theme settings, there is often a "System style" item where you can choose to apply wallpaper colors to interface elements, which also affects the overall picture. It is important to understand that it is impossible to programmatically increase saturation above the physical limit of the matrix. IPS-The screens have a smaller color coverage compared to the expensive ones. AMOLED-If you see the color fading around the edges of the screen, it could be a technical defect or a feature of the viewing angle. IPS. For AMOLED In some cases, the effect of subpixel rendering is characteristic of screens, which can affect the clarity of colored borders. DPI (Screen density) in the menu "For developers». It doesn't change saturation, but it does make elements smaller and denser, which subjectively improves the perception of the picture. If there are spots on the screen, a pink or green shade that is not eliminated by resetting, you may need to replace the display module. ⚠️ Attention: Long-term display of static images with maximum brightness and saturation on the AMOLED Regular calibration of the light sensor also helps the system adjust brightness and contrast in automatic mode. Calibrate through the engineering menu or special applications if the automation is not working properly. 💡Maximum saturation is achieved by a combination of the profile "Saturated", disabling the read mode and using high-quality AMOLED-wallpaper. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why are colors paler after the firmware update? Manufacturers often change color correction algorithms in new versions MIUI Or HyperOS to improve autonomy or meet new standards, and you could reset your color profile to Standard. Check the settings in the Screen menu and switch to Saturated. Can you make colors like iPhones? Apple displays use a Display profile? P3 On Xiaomi, you can approach this by selecting Standard mode and, if available, adjusting the color temperature towards warmer shades (nearly the standard) 6500K). Saturated mode gives a cooler, brighter picture than Apple's: Does energy saving affect saturation? Yes, in energy-saving mode, the system can limit maximum brightness and change the color profile to reduce power consumption. Turn off the energy-saving mode to return full brightness and color saturation. Is it safe to use color-changing applications? Apps that run without root rights (via availability) are safe for the system, but can conflict with other programs. Apps that require root carry the risk of instability if you change the critical parameters of the display driver.