How to turn the screen on Xiaomi smartphones: 5 ways + problem solving

Rotating the screen on Xiaomi smartphones is a seemingly simple feature, but many users are faced with the fact that it suddenly stops working or behaves incorrectly. In some applications, the screen rotates, in others it does not, and sometimes the autorotation turns off on its own after the MIUI update. The reasons can be different from accidentally pressing a button to a system failure. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn the screen, including hidden settings and engineering menus, and also explain how to fix typical errors.

The feature of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is that the manufacturer often changes the layout of options depending on the version of the MIUI (12, 13, 14) and the device model. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro, the path to turn settings is different from the Redmi Note 10. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most devices. If your model behaves differently, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

1. Standard method: through the notification panel

The fastest way to turn on or off autorotation is to use the notification panel, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model and version of MIUI.

To open the panel, swipe down from top to bottom across the screen (some models require double swipe). among the quick settings, find the Autoporot icon (usually it looks like a circular-arrow phone). If there is no icon, click on the pencil icon (✏️) Or edit to add it to the panel, and once activated, the screen will automatically rotate when the smartphone changes position.

• 🔄 Is the icon missing? Maybe it's hidden. Slide the panel to the left or press "More" (if there's one).
• 📱 Does the swipe work? On some models, for example, POCO F5) To call the full panel, you need to draw from the upper right corner.
• 🔧 Gray icon? So the function is disabled in the system settings (see next section).

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, the notification bar may be blocked in some applications (for example, in games or banking programs), in which case the autorotor will not work, even if it is turned on.

System settings: where to look for a turnaround

If the icon in the notification panel is inactive or not at all, check the system settings. The path may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic is maintained.

For most models (Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5, etc.) follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Screen section.
3. Find the Autoturn (or Screen Turn) item.
4. Activate the switch.

On older versions of MIUI (up to 12), the path might look like: Settings → Additional → Autoturn. If you don’t find an option, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top).

Make sure the function is enabled in the notification panel |

Check the settings in the "Screen" section |

Update MIUI to the latest version (if available) |

Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->

3. Checking the gyroscope sensor and accelerometer

If the autorotation is on, but the screen does not respond to the smartphone's turn, the problem may be the sensors. On Xiaomi smartphones, the gyroscope and the accelerometer are responsible for the turn, and you can check their work using built-in tests or third-party applications.

Method 1: Built-in diagnostics (works on most models):

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination ##6484## (on some models #4636###).
3. Choose Test Sensor or Sensors.
4. Check the sensors reaction when turning the device.

Method 2: App side: Install Sensor Test or Phone Doctor Plus from Google Play, and they will show you if the sensors are working correctly. If the gyroscope and accelerometer values are not changing when you turn, the sensors are faulty or disabled at the software level.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi) 10T, POCO X3) sensors may be disabled due to energy saving mode. Check the battery settings in the Settings section → Battery. → Energy saving regime.

4.Use of the engineering menu (for experienced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try turning on autorotation through the engineering menu, which is suitable for advanced users, because incorrect changes can lead to failures.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##36446337## (for some models #4636###).
3. In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing → Sensor.
4. Find Auto-Rotation or GSensor Calibration.
5. Activate the option and save the changes.

On some smartphones (e.g. Redmi 9 or POCO M3), the engineering menu may be blocked, in which case, try using the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek-based devices only).

Through the notification panel |

In the system settings |

Sensor checks |

Engineering menu|

Nothing helped.-->

5. Autorotation problems in individual applications

Often users experience a turnaround that works in the menu and on the home screen, but does not work in specific applications (for example, in YouTube, Google Maps or games).

• 📱 The app blocks the turn. Some programs (such as TikTok or banking apps) force the orientation of the screen to be fixed.
• 🔒 Developer settings. If you turn on Do Not Turn the Screen in the developer settings, the autorotor won't work.
• 🔄 The shell conflict. MIUI Some applications may conflict with system gestures.

Decisions:

1. For YouTube or video players: Enable full screen mode (double tap on video).
2. For games: Check the graphics settings in the game itself (sometimes there’s a separate turn switch).
3. For all applications: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the desired application and check the screen rotation permissions.

💡

If autorotating doesn't work on Google Chrome or other browsers, try turning on "For PC" mode in your browser menu. Sometimes this helps unlock the turn.

6. Resetting settings and extreme measures

If none of these things worked, you might have a system failure, which is where resetting or flashing your data will help, and we warn you, this will delete your data, so back up first.

Method 1: Reset screen settings (without data loss):

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset Display settings (or Reset interface settings).
3. Confirm the action.

Method 2: Hard reset (deletes all data):

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power + Volume button up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Factory Reset.
4. Confirm and wait for completion.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Gaming) after a hard reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your username and password!

💡

Before resetting, be sure to check if the autorotor is connected to the recent MIUI update. Sometimes a rollback to the previous firmware version helps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning the screen on Xiaomi