The sudden disappearance of colors or the transition of the display Xiaomi Redmi in black and white mode can be an unpleasant surprise for any user. Most often, the problem lies not in the physical breakdown of the matrix, but in a randomly activated software function designed to save vision or save energy. Understanding how the MIUI display control system works will quickly diagnose the cause and return the brightness to the image.
There are several main scenarios for why the screen may turn pale, from the E-book mode turned on to driver errors after the system update. The critical factor is the accuracy of the diagnosis: if the color is lost in only one application, the problem is local, and if the entire interface is affected by system settings. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes in detail and provide specific algorithms for action to fix them.
Before you panic and bring the device to the service, it is worth trying software recovery methods. Modern smartphones have flexible settings that are easy to confuse or activate by accidental touch. Restoring the standard color rendering takes only a few minutes if you follow the instructions below.
Checking and disabling the “Electronic Books” mode
The most common reason for color loss on Redmi and Poco smartphones is activated reading mode, a feature designed to comfortably view text that puts the display into monochrome mode, mimicking ink on paper, often by users turning it on randomly through the control panel or assigning it to a side button.
To check the status of this feature, you need to lower the notification curtain and carefully examine the icons. Look for an icon that resembles a book or a piece of paper. If it is illuminated, then the mode is active.
If you can't turn off the mode from the quick panel, you should go into the basic settings of the system. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for visual effects and vision protection.
- 📚 Go to the Settings menu and select Screen or Additional Settings.
- 👁️ Find the Reading Mode section and click on it for detail.
- 🔘 Make sure the reading mode switch is off.
- 🎨 Check if you have selected the subitem "Monochrome" or "Black and white", and switch to "Classic" or "Paper" with color.
⚠️ Note: In some versions of the firmware, read mode can be activated automatically on a schedule. Check the timer settings in the same menu to ensure that the screen does not turn black and white at certain times of the day.
You also need to look at the settings for specific applications, because it allows you to set the read mode selectively for individual programs, and if the color is only lost in the browser or the reader, the problem is in this particular point.
☑️ Diagnostics of reading mode
Settings of special features and color correction
The Android operating system that Xiaomi runs on has a section for people with disabilities, which includes color correction, color inversion, and monochrome settings, and random activation of these features often occurs when you change themes quickly or use third-party launchers.
To start, check if color inversion is enabled, and in this mode, the white background turns black and the colors look like a negative of the photo, which can be confusing, creating the illusion of no normal color, and you can turn this function off through the special features menu.
Then you should check the color scheme settings. Sometimes users change the color scheme to "Cold" or "Warm" to extreme values, which makes the image fade. Return the sliders to neutral position to restore natural shades.
- ♿ Open Settings and go to Advanced Settings (or Additional).
- 🧩 Select the option "Accessibility" and then the tab "Vision.
- 🎨 Find the Color Correction and make sure it is turned off.
- 🔄 Check Color Inversion and Gray Shades – both should be deactivated.
Importantly, newer versions of the HyperOS shell can move some items, so if you don't find them in the path indicated, search for settings by entering "color" or "mono."
Why is the monochrome mode turned on?
Problems with calibration and color profile
Each Xiaomi Redmi display (from the factory) has its own color profile, which determines the saturation and accuracy of color reproduction. The user can change this profile in the screen settings by choosing, for example, "Standard" instead of "Saturated." If the settings are down, the colors may appear faded.
To get back to the factory settings, you need to log into the screen control menu, so you can not only select a profile, but also fine-tune the color temperature, which is especially true if the screen has acquired an unnatural yellow or bluish hue.
In some cases, resetting the color profile settings helps, which will return all display parameters to the out-of-the-box state, eliminating software calibration errors.
- Go to Settings. → Screen.
- Find the Color Mode or Color Scheme.
- Select either Vivid or Standard to check.
- Use Color Temperature slider to adjust white balance.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using third-party screen calibration apps from unofficial sources. MIUI, causing artifacts of the image or the complete disappearance of color.
If the color reset still has a problem, it may be hardware or a deep system failure, but software conflicts should be ruled out before you can conclude that the color is broken.
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Use live wallpaper for quick check, if the dynamic wallpaper looks normal and the menu doesn't, the problem is the theme, not the screen.
The impact of design theme and third-party launchers
MIUI is famous for its customization capabilities through the Themes app. However, low-quality or corrupted themes can contain errors in the code that affect the display of colors throughout the system, a common reason why the screen has become dull or monochrome.
To check the impact of a theme, you need to switch to the standard design option, so if the colors are back, then the problem lies in the files of a particular topic, in which case it is recommended to delete the problem file and choose another theme.
It’s also worth checking out the installed launchers (third-party desktops), some of which have their own filters or “night reading” modes that override system settings.
The table below gives the main signs that the problem is caused by a theme or launcher:
| Sign. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Colors are distorted only in the menu | The launcher error | Change the desktop |
| Black and white screen in certain applications | Settings of the topic | Reset the topic to standard |
| Dim colors throughout the interface | Theme color profile | Check the screen settings |
| Artifacts of Color After Installation of Theme | Resource conflict | Delete the subject |
Resetting settings and reinstalling updates
If the software settings didn't work, there may have been a build-up of errors in the system that prevented the video driver from working properly, and in this case, the effective method is to reset all settings. Importantly, you need to back up the data before doing so, because this step will delete all personal information.
There are two ways to do this: a soft reset via the recovery menu and a full reset via the recavator. To start with, try a less radical method, which is resetting all your settings through the phone menu, which will bring the system settings back to factory settings, but save your files.
If the problem appeared after the firmware update, it can help rollback update or reinstall the current version of the software. Errors in the update process often lead to incorrect operation of hardware modules, including the display.
Path to reset: Settings → About phone → Resetting → Erase all data- 🔋 Charge the device to at least 60% before the procedure begins.
- ☁️ Sync important data with Mi Cloud or Google akka unt.
- 🔒 Enter the screen unlock password to confirm the operation.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed without interrupting the phone.
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Resetting eliminates 90% of color rendering errors caused by setting conflicts or system file failures.
Hardware malfunctions and diagnostics of the matrix
When all software methods are exhausted and the screen (still) does not show color, there is a high probability of hardware failure, which can be damage to the display plume, oxidation of contacts after moisture is ingested, or failure of the matrix itself.
For initial diagnostics, you can use the Xiaomi Engineering Menu, which allows you to check the performance of each pixel and color channel, regardless of the operating system, and this will help you to understand whether the display controller sees the signal.
If the test screen is missing colors or there are stripes, artifacts, broken pickles, the problem is physical, in which case software repair is powerless, and requires the intervention of specialists.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone falls or comes into contact with water, don’t try to “design” the screen with heat or pressure.
To start the screen test, enter the code ##64663## in the call menu. In the menu that opens, select the item associated with the display (usually called Display or Color Test).