How to turn on and configure the active screen (Always On Display) on Xiaomi: the complete guide

The Active Screen (AOD) feature on Xiaomi smartphones allows key information — time, date, battery level and notifications — to be displayed even when the device is locked. This technology not only adds convenience, but also saves time: no longer need to unlock the phone to check an hour or missed messages. However, not all users know how to properly activate and configure AOD, especially on new models of Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi’s flagship 13/14.

In this guide, we’ll look at all the ways you can turn on your active screen, from standard MIUI settings to hidden features for older devices, which models support AOD, how to minimize battery consumption when you use it, and what to do if the feature suddenly stops working, and a unique lifehack for devices without official support for Always On Display through third-party apps.

What is Always On Display and Why is it Used?

Always On Display (AOD) — This is a screen mode where some of the pixels are still active even when you lock your smartphone, AOD Minimal energy consumption thanks to technology AMOLED-displays where black pixels are actually turned off, and color pixels are illuminated point-by-point.

The main advantages of the function:

🕒 Quick access to time – no need to press the power button or pick up the phone to see the clock.
📱 Real-time notifications – Icons of missed calls, messages from Telegram, WhatsApp and other apps are displayed.
🔋 Battery control – always see the percentage of charge without unlocking.
🎨 Personalization – Choosing the style of watches, color schemes and animations.

But AOD There are also disadvantages. The main one is increased battery consumption (although the main one is the battery consumption). AMOLED-It's minimal on screens. IPS-The display function may not be available or not work properly, and some users complain of "getting used" to the constant illumination of the screen, which interferes with sleep (solved by turning off at night).

📊 How often do you use Always on Display?

Constantly.

Only in the daytime.

Disconnected because of the battery

I don't know what it is.

No, not on my device.

What Xiaomi smartphones support Always on Display

The Always On Display feature is not available on all Xiaomi devices, and its support depends on two factors: the screen type and the MIUI firmware version.

Screen type	Support for AOD	Examples of models
AMOLED/Super AMOLED	Yes (full)	Xiaomi 13/14 Pro, Redmi K50 Pro, POCO F5 Pro, Black Shark 5
AMOLED (budgetary)	Yes (limited)	Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro, Xiaomi 11 Lite
IPS LCD	No (or through workarounds)	Redmi Note 11, POCO M5, Xiaomi 10T Lite
E-Ink (ink)	Yes (special regime)	Xiaomi Civi 2 (secondary screen)

Important: Even if your smartphone is equipped with AMOLED-In the display, the function can be hidden in settings, for example, on some devices. POCO AOD It's disabled by default because of aggressive battery optimization, and it's version-dependent. MIUI:

📱 MIUI 12 and newer – full support with style settings.
📱 MIUI 11 – Limited functionality (time and charge only).
📱 MIUI 10 and older — AOD may be absent or work unstablely.

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To check the screen type of your smartphone, go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specifications → Display. If AMOLED is specified, then AOD should be supported.

Method 1: Enabling AOD through standard MIUI settings

If your smartphone officially supports Always On Display, it can be activated in a few steps, and the instructions are suitable for most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices on MIUI 12-14:

Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
Go to the Screen section (or Display on some firmware).
Select Always On Display (can be called Active Screen or Screenlight).
Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
Set up the display parameters: 🕘 Clock style (digital, analog, minimalist). 📅 Date and day of the week. 🔋 Battery level of charge. 🔔 Notifications (appendix icons).

Ready.

Save.

Once activated, the screen will remain on in minimal mode even when locked. To check the operation, lock the device, in a few seconds, backlight with selected elements will appear.

The screen is locked, but you can see the time.|The battery level is displayed|Notifications appear in the form of icons|The brightness is automatically adjusted depending on the lighting.-->

If Always On Display is not on the menu, then your model does not support the feature at the firmware level. In this case, move to Method 2 (bypasses).

Why can AOD be missing from the settings?

On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with AMOLED), the feature is hidden due to regional firmware restrictions. The solution is to change the region to India or Europe via Settings → Additional → Region (requires a reboot).

Method 2: Activate AOD on unsupported devices

If your Xiaomi smartphone doesn’t have official support for Always On Display (e.g., budget models with a high-end device). IPS-You can use bypass methods, you can use bypasses:

Method 1: Appendix Always on AMOLED

The third-party Always On AMOLED app emulates the work of AOD, but has limitations:

⚠️ It only works on AMOLED-screens (on screens) IPS It'll put a lot of battery on).
⚠️ Requires permission to Overlay on top of other applications.
⚠️ Can conflict with system notifications.

Instructions for setting:

Download Always On AMOLED from Google Play.
Launch the application and provide all the permissions requested.
Enable AutoRun option in the battery settings (Settings → Applications → Always On AMOLED → AutoRun).
Choose the display style and set up the work timer.

Method 2: Mode "Rise to wake up"

If AOD is not available, an alternative would be to raise to wake up:

Go to Settings → Screen → Raise to wake up.
Activate the switch.
Now, when lifting the phone, the screen will briefly turn on with displaying time and notifications.

⚠️ Note: This method does not replace the full AOD, But it reduces the frequency of unlocking the device. On some firmware, the function may not work stable (for example, on the computer). POCO X3 Pro MIUI 13).

Method 3: Custom firmware (for advanced)

If you are ready for experiments, you can install custom firmware with AOD support, for example:

🔧 Pixel Experience for Xiaomi and POCO).
🔧 LineageOS with Always On Module.
🔧 Xiaomi.eu (unofficial firmware with advanced settings).

Warning: Install custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and may result in loss of warranty.For more detailed instructions, see the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.

Customization of style and appearance of AOD

One of the advantages of Always On Display on Xiaomi is customization, you can choose the style of the watch, the color scheme, and even add personal elements.

Open the Settings. → Screen. → Always On Display.
Click on Style or Appearance.
Choose one of the available templates: 🕰️ Digital watches are a classic format with seconds. 🕒 Analog Clock - A Hand-Dial. 🎨 Minimalistic – only time without unnecessary elements. 🌙 Dark theme – black background with lighting.

📅 Date and day of the week.
🔋 Percentage of battery charge.
🔔 Notification icons (can be turned off to save energy).
Save the changes.

Some devices (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra) have dynamic styles that change depending on the time of day or weather, and you can download additional themes through Mi Themes.

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The simpler the AOD style (the fewer illuminated pixels), the less battery life, the better the black background with white or green text.

How to reduce battery consumption when using AOD

The main fear of users when activating Always On Display is the fast discharge of the battery. AMOLED-The screens energy consumption is minimal (about 1-3% per hour), and to reduce it even more will help a few tips:

⚡ Turn off notifications – app icons are updated more often than time, which increases consumption.
⚡ Choose a dark theme – the black background is not illuminated, saving charge.
⚡ Set a timer - turn it off AOD At night or at certain hours (Settings) → Always On Display → Schedule).
⚡ Reduce brightness - some firmware has a backlight adjustment AOD.
⚡ Use adaptive brightness – the screen will dim in the dark.

To check the actual battery consumption:

Activate AOD and use your phone for 2-3 hours.
Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
Find the screen or always on display, and you will find the percentage of the expenditure.

⚠️ Warning: If the battery consumption exceeds 5% per hour with active AOD, Check the device for background processes. It may not be Always On Display's fault, but another app (like Facebook or TikTok in the background).

What to do if Always On Display is not working

Sometimes Always On Display can turn off spontaneously or not at all.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
AOD is not included	Function disabled in settings	Check the settings → Screen → Always on Display
The screen goes out in 10 seconds.	Power saving mode activated	Turn off the settings → Battery → Power saving mode
AOD is not operating smoothly.	Conflict with the MIUI shell	Update the firmware to the latest version
No AOD item on the menu	The model does not support the function	Use third-party applications (see Method 2)
AOD is only activated after unlocking	Approximation sensor failure	Restart the device or reset the screen settings

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the screen settings:

Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
Select Reset Screen Settings (does not affect data).
After restarting, reset the AOD.

For devices with MIUI 13/14, cleaning the cache of the com.android.systemui system application (requires developer rights) can also help.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Always On Display on Xiaomi

🔹 Why? AOD Notices do not show notices?

Apps probably have disabled notification rights on the locked screen. To fix: Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification settings. Select a problem app (like WhatsApp). Activate Show on the locked screen. Also check if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled.

🔹 Can we set up? AOD on display only time without date?

Yes, most MIUI 12-14 firmwares can disable date display. To do this: Open Settings → Screen → Always On Display. Click on Style and select a minimalist template. Turn off the Show Date (if available) switch. On some devices (e.g. POCO F4), this option may not be available.

🔹 Why? AOD It eats a lot of battery on my Xiaomi?

If the consumption exceeds 5% per hour, the problem may be: 🔋 Too bright lighting (reduce in settings) AOD). 🔋 Active notifications (disable unnecessary notifications). 🔋 Background processes (check Settings) → Battery). 🔋 Battery malfunction (if your phone is older than 2 years) Also make sure you have AMOLED-screen-on IPS AOD Consumes 3-5 times more energy.

🔹 How to turn off AOD overnight?

MIUI has a built-in schedule for Always On Display: Go to Settings → Screen → Always On Display. Select Schedule or Timer. Set the interval, for example, from 22:00 to 7:00. Save settings. If there is no option, use MacroDroid to automatically turn off AOD over time.

🔹 Does it work? AOD On the Redmi Note 11 (IPS-screen)?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. IPS LCD-It's a display that doesn't support point-lighting of pixels: 📱 Use the application Always On AMOLED (But the battery will go down quickly). 📱 Activate to wake up as an alternative. 📱 Install custom firmware with support AOD (riskily).