Many Xiaomi smartphone users are faced with a situation where the device interface refuses to respond to a change in the position of the case in space, which is especially annoying when watching videos or reading documents when the device needs to be held horizontally. In the MIUI operating system or its new version of HyperOS, this function is responsible not only for the system sensor, but also software limiters that can be activated by accident.
Unlocking the auto-rotation function is not just a single button, but a complex setup that affects the accelerometer and gyroscope. Sometimes the problem lies in the banal lock through the notification curtain, and in other cases, a deeper diagnosis of system settings is required. Understanding the mechanics of these components will allow you to quickly regain the comfort of using the gadget.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to activate this feature, from standard methods to using an engineering menu, why the screen does not flip in certain applications and how to force the system to respond to your actions.
Standard activation through the notification curtain
The fastest and most obvious way to control the display orientation is in the control center, and on current Redmi and Poco models, these settings are accessed by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen, and there's an icon here that visually displays a circular-arrow lock or just a turn symbol.
If the icon is blue or red (depending on the subject), the autorotation function is disabled. You need to click on it to deactivate the lock. In some versions of the MIUI shell, the logic can be inverted, so it is worth checking the status of the screen after the switch.
Note that in some scenarios, the system may ignore the position of the phone if the application running does not support horizontal mode.Standard galleries and video players usually respond instantly, whereas some social networks may require additional action.
⚠️ Note: If after unlocking the button in the curtain, the screen still does not respond to the turn of the device, perhaps the problem lies not in the software limitation, but in the physical damage to the sensors or the presence of a magnetic case that operates the sensor.
Settings in the screen menu and special features
If the quick setup doesn't work, you should go deep into the system menu. The path to the desired settings usually goes through the Settings → Screen section, and there may be extended settings that affect the behavior of the interface when you change orientation.
However, there is a separate, less obvious section on Xiaomi devices that is often overlooked: the special features menu, where you can find subtle device management settings. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Special features.
In the list that opens, find the tab that controls physical interaction with the phone, where you can have a switch that allows you to turn, even when the system is inclined to block it, and activation of this option requires confirmation through biometrics or pin code.
☑️ Checking screen settings
It’s also worth noting that newer firmware versions have a one-handed control feature that can conflict with horizontal mode. If you’re using a smaller interface, try temporarily disabling it for check.
Management through the Security app
A unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the powerful built-in Security app, which controls not only viruses, but also many system constraints, including screen locking, and sometimes the turn settings stick to the level of this system module.
Run the Security app and find the Memory Cleanup or Accelerate section, and some versions of the interface have a floating widget or an extra button to block orientation, and clicking on it can instantly solve the problem without having to go deep into the menu.
Also, this app often hides optimizers that can force the system to change behavior to save energy. Check the Battery section inside the security application and make sure that the energy saving mode does not block the accelerometer from working.
Hidden functions of the Security application
If you notice that after cleaning the memory, the rotating function is reset, add the application in which you watch the video to the exception list or the “lock” in the task manager, which will prevent the process from unloading from memory and keep the sensors working correctly.
Diagnostics and calibration of sensors
When software switches fail, there is a high probability that hardware sensors will fail, and Xiaomi engineers have provided a special engineering menu available through code to diagnose them, a powerful tool to test the health of the gyroscope and accelerometer.
Open the Phone app and dial ##6484##. The CIT menu will open for you. In the test list, look for "Gyroscope" and "Accelerometer."
Follow the instructions on the screen to do the test, you'll need to put your phone on a flat surface or rotate it at certain angles, and if the phone doesn't respond to movement or shows incorrect data, calibration is required.
| Parameter of the test | Normal value. | Sign of malfunction | Action. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerometer X | 0 ± 0.5 m/s² | Values are galloping or equal to 0 when moving | Calibration via CIT |
| Gyroscope Z | 0 ± 5 deg/s | Constant drift of value | Reset or reset |
| Reaction Time | < 100 ms | Reaction delay of more than 0.5 seconds | Checking the CPU load |
| Status | Pass | Fail | Contact the service |
After passing the tests, the system can suggest calibrating the sensors. Accept and perform all the motions that the engineering menu shows, which often returns sensitivity to the screen.
⚠️ Note: Entering the engineering menu is for diagnostics. Do not change the parameters manually unless you know exactly what they are responsible for, as this can cause the entire device to malfunction.
Problems with turning in specific applications
Users often complain that the screen doesn’t flip in just one particular app, like YouTube or the browser. In such cases, the problem is rarely with the Xiaomi smartphone itself. Many apps have their own internal settings that block system commands.
Check the settings of the application itself. For example, video players often have a separate orientation lock button right in the playback interface. In browsers (Chrome, Safari), the turn can be blocked if the site is designed only for the mobile version.
Also worth mentioning is the "Share Lock" or "App Lock" feature, which, if activated, will lock the screen in the current orientation, no matter how you turn your phone, and to exit this mode, you usually need to press the volume and power buttons at the same time.
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If the screen doesn’t turn in just one app, try clearing its cache through Settings → Apps → All Apps → Select the app → Clear the cache.
Third-party launchers (desktop shells) can also intercept orientation control. If you're using a non-standard launcher, try temporarily switching to the standard MIUI interface to see if the problem will go away.
Resetting and system update
If none of the above methods worked, there may have been a build-up of software errors in the system, and updating the operating system to the latest version available often contains corrections for sensor-related bugs.
Go to Settings → About your phone and check for updates. If you have a firmware beta installed, consider returning to a stable branch, as test builds are more likely to have errors.
In the extreme case, when the problem is critical and disrupting use, you can reset all settings, which will return the phone to factory status, and remember to back up the data to the cloud or to your computer before doing so.
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Resetting settings to factory settings eliminates 95% of software conflicts associated with incorrect operation of system sensors and MIUI services.