How to turn on button highlighting on Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Have you ever tried to press a Xiaomi smartphone button in the dark and missed? Touch or physical buttons highlighting solves this problem — but not all users know how to activate it. Depending on the model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.) and the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14), the process may be different, and some devices require additional manipulation through the developer settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to include backlighting, from standard options in the menu to hidden functions for advanced users. AMOLED-In the case of screens where button lighting is often turned off by default to save battery life, you will also learn how to set up automatic backlighting in low light and why some devices may not have this feature at all.

Why is the button lighting turned off by default?

Xiaomi often deactivates the button highlighting on new devices for two reasons:

• 🔋 Saving battery power – especially important for models with AMOLED-displays (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50), where each pixel of the lighting consumes energy.
• 🎨 Design solution: minimalist look without unnecessary light elements is considered more "premium" (for example, on the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
• ⚙️ Technical limitations on budget models (Redmi) A2, POCO M5) The lighting may be physically absent.

Interestingly, on older versions of MIUI (up to 11th), the buttons were automatically lit when the lights were lowered, but the new firmware has changed that logic, so the user now has to adjust it manually, either through the standard menu or through the developer settings.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (for most models)

If your smartphone supports button lighting, the easiest way to enable it is through the main settings menu, which is suitable for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 on most devices, including Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X4/X5, Xiaomi 11T/12T, and others.

Follow the path:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select the button lighting option (some firmware may call the button indicator or Night lighting).
4. Activate the switch to the position on..
5. Optionally, set Brightness and Attenuation Time (usually 1 to 10 seconds).

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure the battery is at least 20% charged.

Turn off the power saving mode (may block the backlight)

Reboot your phone if the button is inactive-->

If the button highlighting item is not on the menu, it means one of three:

• ❌ Your model does not physically support backlighting (e.g. Redmi). 9A or POCO C40).
• ⚙️ The function is hidden and requires activation through the Developer Settings (see Method 3).
• 🔄 You need to update the firmware (on some devices, the backlight appears after the update). MIUI).

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On models with an infrared light sensor (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro), the buttons can be illuminated automatically in the dark. Check the sensor by covering it with your finger in a dark room.

Method 2: Configure via “Button Mode” (for touch keys)

On devices with touch-sensitive navigation buttons (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F3), the backlight is controlled separately, and it is important not to confuse it with screen illumination – it is the light indicators under the touch panel.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Button Mode.
2. Select Full-screen gestures or Navigation buttons (depending on the current mode).
3. If you use buttons, tap the gear. ⚙️ near the button style.
4. Activate the button lighting option and select a color (usually white, blue, or red are available).

⚠️ Warning: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 9), touch button lighting only works when the screen is unlocked.

Method 3: Activate through Developer Settings (hidden function)

If standard methods didn’t work, it’s possible that the button highlighting is hidden in the developer menu, which is suitable for models where the feature is present but not displayed in the main settings (e.g. Redmi K40 or Xiaomi Mi 11).

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

Settings

Additionally. → Developer settings

force_dark_button_light

Button backlight

Turn on the switch and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Not all settings in the Developer Settings are safe. persist.sys.backlight_button or ro.hardware.button_light through ADB It can cause interface failures. If you're not sure, don't edit them!

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If the built-in methods don't work, you can try third-party utilities, such as the Button Mapper app (available on Google Play) that allows you to not only reassign buttons, but also control their backlight on some devices.

• 🔓 Root rights are required for full control (on most Xiaomi, this will result in a loss of warranty).
• 📱 It does not work on all models, it is tested on POCO X3 Pro and Redmi Note 10.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI settings may reset.

An alternative is MacroDroid, which can simulate the pressing of backlit buttons through automation, for example, you can set a rule: "If the illumination < 10 lux → turn on the backlight for 5 seconds." Minus is not a real button highlighting, but rather a workaround.

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The app side is the last option if other methods fail: risks: loss of warranty (in root), unstable operation, potential security vulnerabilities.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully activating the button highlighting, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the button highlighting completely stopped working after the MIUI update, try:

1. Reset the settings to factory (pre-make a backup!).
2. Reverse to the previous version of the firmware through Fastboot.
3. Contacting the service center is probably a problem in the hardware (for example, an LED burned out).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions