Xiaomi’s smartphone screen is one of the most energy-consuming components of the device, and statistics show that up to 30 percent of the battery goes to the backlight of the display, even if you’re not actively using your phone. Optimizing your energy consumption helps you adjust the screen’s timeout (automation timeout), which determines how many seconds the display goes out after the last touch or press of a button.
Many Redmi, POCO or Mi users experience screens go down too quickly, such as while reading an article or watching a photo. Others, on the contrary, want to reduce timeout to save charge. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to adjust screen expiration time on Xiaomi smartphones, including hidden MIUI and HyperOS features, and explain how to get around the system limitations.
Important: The settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14 or HyperOS) and the device model, but the overall algorithm remains the same for all smartphones of the brand, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5.
Where is the screen repayment time setting in Xiaomi
The basic timeout setting is hidden in the Screen or Display menu, and to get there, follow the following steps:
- Open the "Settings" app»** (⚙️ desk-top).
- Scroll down and select the Screen section (in some versions of MIUI, Display).
Most firmware has standard values: 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and Never. However, in some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50), the list can be reduced to 30 seconds - 2 minutes.
If you don't have Sleep Mode on your menu, check Lock and Protect → Additional settings. Sometimes they hide advanced screen settings.
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On smartphones with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14), the path to settings can look like this: Settings → Display → Advanced → Screen Timeout.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a “Never” option and how to get it back
Many users have noticed that the new MIUI versions have removed the “Never” option, which is due to Xiaomi’s policy of optimizing power consumption, but there are two ways to get around the restriction:
In HyperOS, the “Never” option can appear after resetting the screen to factory settings (Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting screen settings).
⚠️ Warning: Keeping the screen on significantly reduces battery life. If you use this feature, keep the device charging or monitor battery levels.
How to set screen repayment time for individual apps
Sometimes you need to keep the screen up while a particular application is running, like reading a book on Google Play Books or browsing navigation in Yandex.Maps, and there are two solutions to this:
- 📖 Built-in function "Reading": in MIUI There's a read mode that turns off the auto-disable screen. It's activated by swiping down the notification panel. → Reading.
- ⚙️ Application settings: Some programs (such as YouTube or Waze) have their own lock screen options. Go to the app settings and find Do not turn off the screen.
- 🤖 Automation: Use the MacroDroid or Tasker app to create a rule: If X is open → timeout».
For example, in Google Maps, the path to settings is: Settings → Navigation → Screen settings → Do not turn off the screen while navigating.
Enable reading mode in MIUI
Check the settings of the target application
Install MacroDroid for Automation
Disable battery optimization for the application-->
Hidden Repayment Time Settings in Xiaomi (ADB-team)
For advanced users who are ready to work with ADB, there is a way to unlock additional timeout options, which is suitable for models on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, where standard settings are limited.
You'll need:
- A computer with ADB Tools installed.
- Developer Mode and USB Debugging on your smartphone.
- USB-plug-in.
Next, execute commands in the terminal (command line):
adb shell settings put global screen_off_timeout 300000Where 300,000 is time in milliseconds (in the example, 5 minutes).
- 15,000 - 15 seconds
- 60,000 - 1 minute
- 120,000 - 2 minutes
- 600,000 - 10 minutes
- 2147483647 - "Never" (maximum value)
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can cause system failures. Before experimenting, back up your data.
How to return standard settings after ADB
Table: Optimal screen repayment time for different scenarios
The choice of timeout depends on how you use your smartphone, below are recommendations for situations:
| Use case scenario | Recommended timeout | Reason. |
|---|---|---|
| Battery savings | 15-30 seconds | Minimal power consumption, but the screen goes out too quickly for comfortable use. |
| Reading or viewing photos | 2-5 minutes | Enough time to not be distracted by the unlock. |
| Navigation (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) | "Never" or 10 minutes. | It prevents the screen from turning off during movement. |
| Games | 5-10 minutes | The gameplay is often interrupted by pauses, but a long timeout reduces battery life. |
| Documentation work | 1-2 minutes | Balance between convenience and energy saving. |
For most users, 1-2 minutes is the best option, allowing you to interact comfortably with your phone without unblocking, but does not significantly affect battery life.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Sometimes the screen's time-out settings don't work properly. Consider situations and ways to fix them:
- ⏳ The screen goes out before the set time: check if the power saving mode is turned on (Settings) → Battery → Power saving mode: In this mode, the system ignores user timeout settings.
- 🔄 Settings are not saved after rebooting: reset the Settings app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Clear the cache).
- 📵 No “Sleep Mode” item on the menu: upgrade to the latest version of the firmware or reset the screen settings (see section above).
- 🔋 The screen doesn't go out at all: check if Do Not Disturb or Read is active, and a damaged proximity sensor may also be the cause.
If the problem persists, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version or contact Xiaomi Service Center. In rare cases, the failure is associated with hardware malfunctions (for example, damage to the screen plume).
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Before contacting the service, check the smartphone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode). If the problem disappears, the third-party application is to blame.
How to extend screen time without damaging the battery
If you need to keep the screen on longer, but you don’t want to sacrifice autonomy, use these tips:
- 🌓 Use dark themes: AMOLED-On screens (installed in most modern Xiaomi) black pixels do not consume energy. → Screen. → Dark subject.
- 🔦 Reduce brightness: even a 20 to 30 percent decrease saves a lot of charge. Activate Adaptive Brightness in screen settings.
- ⚡ Turn off the Always-On Display (AOD): If your model supports the constant time display function (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi K60), Turn it off in Settings. → Screen. → Always-On Display.
- 📴 Set up Adaptive Shutdown: Some firmware has a feature that analyzes your behavior and automatically adjusts the timeout. → Battery → Adaptive screen shutdown.
Also, look at the background. Apps like Facebook, Instagram or Telegram can prevent your phone from going to sleep. Check the activity of the apps in Settings → Battery → Battery use.