Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often strive to personalize their device as much as possible, turning it into a unique gadget. One of the most sought-after features that adds premium and convenience to the device is the Always On Display (AOD) mode. This technology allows you to display time, date, notifications and even images without having to unlock the phone or wake the screen up full on.
However, many users are faced with a situation where this feature is either hidden in the depths of the menu or does not work as you would like — for example, it turns off too quickly or does not activate at all. In the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS, energy saving algorithms can aggressively limit the background processes, which affects the operation of the active screen. Understanding the intricacies of the setting will help you to use the potential of the display at full power.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn on the active screen on Xiaomi, adjust its schedule and select the appropriate styles. We will also discuss the effect of this feature on the autonomy of the device and consider methods to circumvent restrictions for models where AOD is not formally declared by the manufacturer.
What is Always On Display and Why is it Used?
Always On Display is a mode of operation of OLED and AMOLED arrays, in which some of the pixels remain active while the rest of the screen is off, creating the effect of a constantly burning dial or static image. Unlike traditional LCD screens, where the backlight works evenly, only individual subpixels are involved, which minimizes power consumption.
The main purpose of implementing this feature in the MIUI shell was to increase the information content of the interface: the user no longer needs to touch the phone or press buttons to find out the current time or see if a new message has arrived in the messenger, which is especially convenient in situations where the phone is lying on the table or in the pocket of a transparent case.
⚠️ Attention: The constant operation of a large number of pixels at high brightness can lead to uneven burnout of the matrix after several years of operation.
Modern AOD implementations in Xiaomi smartphones support dynamic elements, such as animated characters, changing wallpapers or interactive touch-responsive widgets, and the functionality is constantly expanding with each firmware update, offering new use cases.
Checking the compatibility of your device
Before you start settings, you need to make sure that your technical device supports this function at the hardware level. The key requirement is the presence of a matrix such as AMOLED or OLED. On IPS screens, it is almost impossible to implement a quality AOD without significant energy consumption and the risk of burnout, since it illuminates the entire display area.
Most of Xiaomi’s flagship models, starting with the Mi 9 series and later, as well as all Xiaomi 11, 12, 13, 14 and Poco F series devices (starting with the Xiaomi 11, 12, 13, 14 and Poco F series). F2 Pros are equipped with suitable displays, but in the budget segment, where they are often used IPS-This function may not be programmatically available even if the screen is theoretically capable of such a function.
To quickly check the type of your screen and support the function, you can use the following algorithm:
- 📱 Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
- 🔍 Go to Wallpaper and Personalization (or just Wallpaper).
- ⚙️ Find the Always On screen. If you have one, your phone supports the technology.
- 📉 If there is no item, check the section Lock screen in the main settings of the system.
Sometimes manufacturers hide the feature in different menu locations depending on the operating system version. In HyperOS, the logic of the item layout may have changed compared to MIUI 14. If you don't find an item, try searching by settings by typing in "AOD" or "Always on."
Why are there no AODs on some AMOLED screens?
Step-by-step instructions for activating the permanent screen
The process of enabling the feature is quite simple, but it requires careful consideration when choosing the parameters of work. The standard activation path in current versions of the firmware is as follows. First, you need to get into the personalization menu, where all the visual settings of the interface are concentrated.
Once you log in to the Always on screen menu, you'll see the activation switch. Put it in the "On" position. The system will immediately suggest you choose a display style. This can be a classic analog dial, large numbers, animation or even your own photo from the gallery. The choice of style is a matter of taste, but it's worth remembering the contrast of the image.
☑️ Activation. AOD
An important step is to adjust the schedule. By default, the smartphone may offer "Always On" mode, but this is not always optimal. You can adjust time intervals, for example, from 8:00 to 23:00, so that the screen does not light up or interfere with sleep at night, or set up the turn on only when you receive notifications.
For users who want the screen to burn continuously throughout the day, you need to select the appropriate item in the settings of the time of display. However, even in this mode, the system can turn off the display after a long downtime (for example, 10 seconds) to save charge, if you do not set the "Always on" mode with the "Infinite" timer.
| Setup parameter | Description of action | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | Adjustment of pixel glow | Car or 30-40% in the afternoon |
| Timer. | Duration of combustion | 10 seconds or "Always" |
| Pocket mode. | Disconnection when placed in a pocket | Included (required) |
| Lift up | Activation when taking up hands | At your discretion. |
Style customization and display personalization
The MIUI and HyperOS shells offer a wide range of visual designs. You can choose a static image that just shows time, or dynamic themes where elements move. For minimalist lovers, black backgrounds with thin white lines are perfect for black with the pixels of the AMOLED arrays turned off.
Special attention should be paid to the "Style on schedule" function, or the ability to set different dials for day and night, which allows you to make the interface more functional: during the day - informative and bright, at night - dull and unobtrusive. Some themes support color change depending on the time of day automatically.
⚠️ Attention: Using complex animated themes with high frame rate can significantly increase energy consumption compared to static black and white dials.
You can also set which apps will wake up the screen or display icons in AOD mode. This is useful for tracking important calls or messages, but can be a source of constant visual noise if you set up too many sources.
💡
Use dark wallpaper for Always On Display.The black color on AMOLED screens means the pickle is off and does not consume energy, prolonging battery life.
Impact on battery and energy efficiency
The question that users are concerned about is: How much does Always On Display put down the battery? The answer depends on several factors: battery capacity, type of theme installed, brightness and, of course, running time. On average, AOD mode consumes 0.5% to 1.5% of charge per hour.
If you leave the screen on for 24 hours, the charge loss can be from 10% to 20%, which is quite acceptable for modern batteries with a capacity of 4500-5000 mAh. However, if you use bright animations or high brightness, the consumption can increase by one and a half to two times.
To minimize the impact on autonomy, it is recommended:
- 🔋 Set a timer to turn off (for example, 10 seconds after touching).
- 🌙 Use the “Night” mode or set up a work schedule.
- 🎨 Choose static, mostly black themes of design.
- 📉 Disable detailed notifications, leaving only hours.
It should be noted that the constant operation of the screen in AOD mode does not lead to critical overheating of the device, since the load on the processor is minimal. The main consumption goes precisely to the glow of the matrix. Modern power controllers in Snapdragon and Dimensity chipsets effectively manage this process.
💡
The optimal balance between functionality and autonomy is achieved using black and white static dials with a shutdown timer after 10 seconds.
The solution to the problems: why AOD does not work on Xiaomi
Despite the ease of setting, users may find that the active screen is not turned on or is spontaneously turned off, most often the problem lies in the aggressive settings of the MIUI energy saving system. If the phone is turned on Ultra-energy saving or 100% battery, the system can block the work of background elements of the interface.
Another common reason is conflict with the themes of the design. Third-party themes downloaded from Themes store may not have proper AOD support or overlap system settings, in which case it is recommended to switch to a standard theme or theme certified for your model.
Also worth checking for system updates. Early versions of MIUI or HyperOS may have had bugs that were patched in security patches. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and check for updates.
If standard methods don’t help, try clearing the Wallpaper and Personalization app cache:
Settings → Apps → All apps → Wallpaper and personalization → Clean → Clear cache.In rare cases, the problem may be with the proximity sensor. If the sensor is contaminated or covered with a tight case, the phone can "think" what is in the pocket and extinguish the screen. Wipe the top of the screen and check the operation without the case.