How to turn the screen on Xiaomi smartphones: 5 proven ways

Rotating the screen on Xiaomi smartphones is a seemingly elementary feature, but many users are faced with the fact that it suddenly stops working or behaves incorrectly. The reasons can be different from accidentally disabled options in settings to software failures in the shell of MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to enable autorotation, including hidden settings and solutions for cases where standard methods do not work.

The feature of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices is that the manufacturer often reworks the MIUI interface, porting or hiding certain features. For example, in the latest versions of the shell (MIUI 14-16), the path to the screen rotation settings has changed, and in some models (for example, the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T) additional gestures are added to control orientation. We took into account all these nuances and prepared universal instructions that will suit both the budget Redmi Note 12 and the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

If you've tried turning the button on the notification panel before, but it didn't work, don't rush to reset the settings. You might be in the calibration of the gyroscope sensor or the conflict with the installed applications. You'll find step-by-step guides for each scenario, and you'll find a table of compatibility with different versions of MIUI.

1. Standard method: through the notification panel

The fastest and most obvious method is to use the notification bar, but even here, there are pitfalls: in some firmware, the autorotation button can be hidden or replaced with another function.

1. Unlock the screen and swipe from top to bottom to open the notification panel.
2. If the panel is displayed in a shortened form (with 4-6 buttons), swipe down again to open it completely.
3. Find a button that says "Turn Auto" or an icon of a phone with arrows in a circle. In MIUI 14+, it can be called "Orientation."
4. Slap the button once – if it lights up blue or green, the autoturn is turned on.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10A or POCO M5) The default autorotation button is not in the panel:

1. Click on the pencil icon (or Edit) in the upper right corner of the panel.
2. Find in the list of unavailable Autoturn buttons and drag it to the active area.
3. Save the changes.

If there is a button but does not respond to clicks, try restarting your smartphone – sometimes this helps to return the functionality without additional manipulations.

2. Including through system settings

When the notification bar doesn't work, you should look at the basic settings of the device. The path to the autorotation option may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic is maintained.

For MIUI 14–16 (2023–2026):

• 📱 Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
• 🔍 Go to the Display section.
• 🔄 Scroll down to Autoturn block and activate switch.
• 🎯 In some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) you can adjust the sensitivity of the sensor here – move the slider to the right for faster operation.

For MIUI 12–13 (2020–2022):

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additional settings.
• 🔧 Choose Special Opportunities.
• 🔄 Find the Autoturn screen and turn it on.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience), the path may be different. If you don't find the right section, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

Are the main settings open?

Is there a "Display" or "Additional settings" section?

Is the auto-turn switch activated?

Is the sensor sensitivity checked (if there is an option)?

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Calibration of the gyroscope sensor

If the autorotation is on, but the screen doesn't respond to the change in position of the smartphone, the problem may lie in the gyroscope settings that are lost, which is the sensor that determines the orientation of the device in space, and its calibration helps in 70% of cases when the function is not working correctly.

How to calibrate a gyroscope:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##6484###
2. You will be taken to the Manual Test Mode (Manual Test Mode) menu.
3. Select the Gyroscope Sensor (or Gyroscope Sensor in Russian).
4. Place your phone on a flat surface (like a table) and press Calibrate.
5. Wait until the process is completed (usually 10-20 seconds).

💡 Useful tip: After calibration, restart the device. If the problem persists, check the sensor in the Sensor Test app (available on Google Play). If the gyroscope doesn't respond at all, it may indicate a hardware malfunction.

4. Verification of conflicting applications

Some programs can block the autorotation of the screen, most commonly:

• 🎮 Games with forced orientation fixation (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
• 📺 Video viewing apps (such as YouTube or TikTok) where gestures control rotation.
• 🔒 Parental control or security software (such as AppLock or Clean Master).
• 📱 Launchers from third-party developers (for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher).

How to identify the culprit:

1. Close all running applications through the multitasking menu (button "□" oral).
2. Try turning the screen – if the function is working, the problem is in one of the programs.
3. Open the applications alternately and check after which the autoturn stops working.
4. For games and video players, try turning off the Fixed Orientation or Turn Block option in their settings.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) can also block the rotation. If the problem is only in them, update them via Google Play or roll back to the factory version in the app settings.

5. Resetting settings and extreme measures

If none of the previous methods worked, radical methods remain, and before you resort to them, make sure you back up important data, as some actions will lead to its deletion.

Option 1: Reset application settings

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔧 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset App Settings.
• 🔄 Confirm action. This will bring back all permissions and customizations to the factory applications, but it won't delete user data.

Option 2: Hard Reset (Hard Reset)

This method should only be used if the autorotation fails due to a serious software failure.

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power and Volume buttons for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (manage by volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the reset and wait for the reset.

After a hard reset, all data on the phone will be deleted, including photos, contacts and installed apps, a method recommended only as a last resort when other methods have not worked.

Through the notification panel

Through system settings

Calibration of the gyroscope

Removal of conflicting applications

Resetting settings

Another way.

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6. Features for specific Xiaomi models

The manufacturer often makes changes to the functionality of autorotation for different product lines, and in the table below we have collected key nuances for popular models:

💡 A useful tip: If you have a model with AMOLED-screen (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro or Redmi K50 Pro, check if the Always-On Display is on, and in some firmware, it blocks the autorotation to save energy.

Alternative solutions: third-party applications

If the built-in tools don't help, you can use third-party utilities to control the orientation of the screen, and they are especially useful for devices with unofficial firmware or outdated versions of MIUI.

Top.-3 motion-switch:

• 🔄 Rotation Control allows you to capture the orientation for each application separately.
• 📱 Set Orientation is a simple utility for forced switching between portrait and landscape modes.
• 🛠️ Tasker is an advanced automation tool that allows you to create a rule for auto-turn depending on the application you are running or the time of day.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party orientation management applications, consider the following points:

• Some utilities require permission Special features (configured in Settings → Special features → Special features Services).
• On devices with MIUI 14+, protection against changing system settings can work, in which case you will have to temporarily disable MIUI Protection in the security settings.
• Forced turn apps can conflict with games or banking programs, blocking them from running.

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The side of the autorotation app is useful, but it can reduce the security of the device. Use them only if the built-in methods do not work, and download the utilities exclusively from the official Google Play.

Frequently asked questions