How to Increase Brightness Always On Display on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face a situation where the function of Always On Display (AOD) does not work as expected. Instead of a bright and clear image that pleases the eye, the user sees a barely noticeable silhouette of watches or notifications, this is especially noticeable when using the device in daylight or in good light conditions.

The problem of a dim screen in the mode of permanent display of information can be associated with several factors: from the software limitations of the system. MIUI HyperOS to physical features AMOLED-Many users mistakenly believe that brightness AOD It's not regulated separately from the main screen, but it's not quite. There are hidden settings and specific algorithms that we'll talk about later.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to brighten the event indicator in detail, we will look at the standard methods, the use of engineering menus and the features of the light sensor, and the right setting will allow you to enjoy the informative screen without compromising the autonomy of the device.

Why Always On Display on Xiaomi Can Be Dull

The main reason for low AOD brightness is the energy saving algorithm. Android, in conjunction with the MIUI shell, tightly limits the number of active pixels and their glow to prevent the matrix from burning out and excessive battery discharge. If you use a static image with high brightness for a long time, the risk of burn-in increases significantly.

Also, the light sensor plays a role: the smartphone automatically lowers the brightness of AOD in the dark to avoid dazzling the user, and tries to raise it in bright light. However, the calibration of the sensors on some Xiaomi models can be incorrect, which makes the phone “think” that it is in the dark, even when you are outside.

You also have to consider the age of the device. AMOLED-If your smartphone is a few years old, the physical wear of the matrix may be the main cause of the dim glow, and it will be impossible to fix this software.

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Use dark themes for AOD. The fewer glowing pixels and the darker they are, the less battery load and lower the risk of burnout, allowing the system to keep its brightness stable longer.

Basic brightness setting in the design menu

The first step should always be to check the standard settings. In the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the "Always on" functionality has been significantly expanded, so you can not only change pictures, but also influence how they are displayed.

To access the settings go to the Settings menu → Lock screen. In some firmware versions, this item is displayed separately in Settings. → Wallpaper and personalization → Lock screen.Look for Always On Display or Always On Screen and activate it if it hasn't already been done.

Inside the design menu, there is often a choice of styles available. Some styles, especially complex animations or live wallpapers, may have a software brightness limit to smooth out the animation and keep the charge. Simple dials or text notifications often look brighter and more contrasting.

• 📱 Choose the "Classic" or "Digital" style for maximum readability.
• 🎨 Avoid colored backgrounds if you want brightness – white text on a black background is more contrasting.
• 🕒 Set up a work schedule to AOD He didn't turn off in the daytime.

Note the brightness slider. It may not be present in the standard menu because the system relies on auto-tuning. However, some third-party themes available through the Themes app may have their own brightness settings that override the system.

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A standard menu doesn’t always give you complete control over brightness, but choosing the right dial style is the first and safest way to improve visibility.

Use of engineering menus and hidden codes

For more advanced users who are not afraid to experiment, there are special codes for entering the engineering menu, a hidden part of the system, designed to test hardware components, where you can check the operation of the light sensor and, in rare cases, influence its calibration.

Type in the Phone app code ##6484##. The CIT menu will open. Find the item associated with the Light Sensor or Light Sensor. Run the test and look at the current lux values. If you cover the top of the screen with your hand and the values don't change or change slightly, the sensor may be contaminated or defective.

In some firmware versions, you can recalibrate the sensor through the engineering menu, which will not increase the maximum brightness directly, but will make the system respond more correctly to changes in external light, raising the brightness of the AOD when it is really necessary.

Be careful when changing any settings in the engineering menu. Incorrect calibration can cause the screen to be too bright in the dark, causing discomfort, or, conversely, become unreadable in the sun.

The Impact of Theme and Third-Party Apps

The MIUI shell allows deep customization of the look, but third-party themes often contain bugs. A theme downloaded from a directory can force a low brightness for AOD elements, ignoring system settings. This is a common problem with themes that have complex visual effects.

Try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme, and if AOD returns to normal after that, it's a third-party theme code that's been a problem, and theme developers don't always take into account the brightness limits imposed by the system to protect the screen.

There are also third-party apps from Google Play that replace the standard AOD, such as Always On AMOLED or Screen Burn-in Tool, which often have their own, more flexible brightness settings, allowing you to twist it to the maximum.

However, using third-party software has its downsides: They can conflict with Xiaomi’s screen lock system, causing delays when unlocking or occasional phone wakes up in your pocket.

Problems with light sensor and autobrightness

The key to determining AOD brightness is the light sensor, which, if it doesn't work properly, will be dim even during the day, and often the problem lies in a protective film or case that override the sensor, which is usually located at the top of the screen or in the frame.

Check if the top end of the smartphone is glued, and even a transparent, poor-quality hydrogel film can distort the sensor readings, so the system can see less light than it actually is, and it doesn't increase brightness.

You can try calibrating the sensor software, and there are calibration apps that will take you through a cycle of low-to-maximum brightness under different lighting conditions, and then Android will re-engineer the luminance-to-lux graph.

If software methods don’t help and you are sure that the sensor is closed or faulty, you may need to contact a service center to replace the plume or the screen module itself.

Energy Conservation and Its Impact on AOD

The power-saving systems in Xiaomi smartphones are known for being aggressive, and if the charge-saving or ultra-energy-saving mode is on, the system forcibly limits the brightness of all interface elements, including Always On Display, to maximize battery life.

Check the battery settings. Go to Settings → Battery and make sure that no hard saving modes are activated. It is also worth checking the settings of the specific "Screen Lock" application in the application management section - sometimes the system limits the background activity of this component.

Also, when the charge level is low (usually below 20% or 10%), the smartphone automatically lowers the brightness of the AOD or completely turns it off, even if the settings say "Always." This is a standard behavior that cannot be changed without root rights.

⚠️ Warning: Attempts to circumvent power saving restrictions through root rights or modified firmware can lead to unstable device operation and loss of warranty.

Battery optimization can also kill the process responsible for rendering AOD if it finds it overly voracious. Add "screen lock" and "themes" to the battery optimization exception list.

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Aggressive energy savings are the most common cause of sudden AOD dimming. Check battery modes first.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)