How to turn on backlight on Xiaomi: a complete guide to indicators

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the question of activating various light signals that help navigate the device in the dark or signal missed events. In modern models of manufacturers, the classic LED notification indicator is rarely found, so the company has implemented alternative solutions such as flashing the screen or using the display in Always On Display mode. Understanding the difference between the backlight of the navigation buttons, screen and notifications is critical for comfortable use of the gadget.

Customizing the visual settings of MIUI or HyperOS allows you to personalize your device to your needs. You can set the blinking when you make an incoming call to keep the call from being missed, even if the phone is down. Also, many users want to know how to bring back the navigation buttons on models where it was hidden software. It's important to know that the screen blinking function depends on the particular matrix model and firmware version.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods for activating light indicators. We will look at the regular system tools, hidden engineering menus and third-party applications that can compensate for the lack of hardware LED. Follow the instructions to configure your Xiaomi as conveniently as possible.

Setting up the screen blinking at notifications

Since many modern Xiaomi smartphones lack a separate LED indicator, the developers have implemented a screen blinking function, which causes the display to flash briefly when a new message or call arrives, even if the device is locked. To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings menu and find the corresponding section, which can be called differently depending on the version of the shell.

Usually, the way to set up is to open Settings, then go to Additional Features or Special Features. You should look for the item associated with notifications or light indications. If standard methods fail to find an option, you can search the settings by typing in the "blink" or "indicator" query.

• 🔔 Open Settings and select Additional Features.
• 💡 Find the Light Indication or Screen Blinking.
• ✅ Activate the Blink screen switch for incoming calls and notifications.
• 🔇 If necessary, set exceptions for quiet hours or specific applications.

It should be noted that the screen blinking function consumes more power than a regular LED, so it is recommended to use it moderately. If you are in a place where charging is not available for a long time, it is better to switch to audio signals or vibration response. Also make sure that the proximity sensor is not covered with a case, as this can affect the operation of sensors associated with the awakening of the screen.

Activation of navigation buttons backlight

On devices with touch buttons navigation (three stripes or a triangle at the bottom of the screen), the question often arises about their backlighting. In most modern models Xiaomi with AMOLED or IPS screens, the buttons are illuminated by the display itself, and there is no separate physical light source underneath. However, in some cases or on older models with mechanical buttons, backlight control is available through the system menu.

If you have a touch-sensitive device and want to change the time of their burning or brightness, check the Advanced Settings section. There may be a button where the backlight timeout is adjusted. In newer versions of MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS, these settings are often hidden or integrated into the overall control interface.

⚠️ Note: Many models of the Redmi Note series and POCO There's no design for a separate button light, and you're not going to be able to find it in the settings because the backlight is the lower part of the screen.

For users who have switched to gesture navigation, the issue of highlighting buttons is no longer relevant, as the physical or touch controls at the bottom of the screen are completely turned off. If you use the classic three buttons, their visibility in the dark depends solely on the brightness of the display. Make sure you do not have the "Only when unlocked" mode, if such a option is available in your version of the software.

Always on Display and its settings

Always On Display (AOD) is a modern replacement for traditional notification backlighting, which allows you to display the time, date and icons of missed events on the screen without consuming a significant amount of power due to the features of AMOLED-matrixes.

In the AOD settings menu, you can choose the display style, color, and even schedule. For example, it's useful to set the mode to turn on only at night or 10 seconds after touching the phone, which helps save battery while maintaining the functionality of constantly monitoring notifications.

For owners of devices with LCD-In such cases, the system may offer a simplified version, where only time or notifications appear on a black background when the phone is raised. If the function is not available in the menu, it can not be activated software without obtaining Root rights and deep modification of the system.

Use of indicator substitute applications

If you don't have enough built-in visual notification tools, Google Play offers a variety of LED-enabled apps, like NotifyBuddy, LED Blinker, or Notify Light, which use a screen or flash to signal events, and allow you to adjust color, blink frequency, and app priority.

However, the use of such utilities has its disadvantages: constant operation of the application in the background can increase battery consumption, as well as require special permissions to access notifications and the system. In addition, on some devices with aggressive optimization of MIUI memory, such applications can be unloaded by the system, stopping working.

When choosing an app, consider only being able to customize when the screen is off, which will prevent annoying blinking while watching videos or reading, and check if the app you choose supports your specific model range, as compatibility may vary.

Hidden functions and engineering menu

For advanced users, you can access hidden settings through an engineering menu or special codes. Entering the combination ##6484## opens the hardware testing menu where you can check the operation of all sensors and indicators. Here you can sometimes find options for calibrating the approximation sensor, which affects the screen quenching.

There is also code ##4636## that opens the test menu, and you can find additional network and phone settings in the Phone Information section, although direct backlight control is rare here. Be careful when changing the settings in the engineering menu, as incorrect settings can lead to unstable device operation.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the values in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. Resetting to the factory settings may not help if critical calibration parameters have been changed.

Some users try to activate hidden button highlighting via commands ADB. For example, the settings put system command button_backlight_timeout 10000 It can change the button burning time on some devices, but this method does not work on all versions of Android and requires a connection to a computer and drivers. ADB.

adb shell settings put system button_backlight_timeout 5000

Problems with illumination and ways to solve them

If the backlight or indicators stopped working correctly, the cause may be a software failure or physical damage. Often, a simple reboot of the device or resetting the settings to factory (pre-backup of data) helps. It is also worth checking for system updates, as developers often fix bugs associated with display management.

If the screen stops lighting up when notified, check the power saving settings. Ultra-energy saving or aggressive background optimization can block the indicators. Add important applications to the exclusion list or allow them to auto-start.

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If the screen goes out too quickly, increase the timeout in the display settings, but remember that this will speed up battery drain. The optimal time is 30-60 seconds.

Physical problems, such as broken pixels at the bottom of the screen (where the buttons are) or damage to the plume, require a service center. Self-repair of the display is complex and requires special equipment. If the device is guaranteed, any self-opening will lead to its loss.

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Software-based light recovery techniques help 90 percent of the time, and if the reset and software update didn't work, there's a hardware malfunction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)