How to turn off the active screen on Xiaomi

Modern. OLED-displays in Xiaomi smartphones allow you to display information without turning on the main screen, creating the effect of a getting stuck clock or calendar. Known as Always-on Display, this feature is useful for a quick look at time, but can annoy some users or consume a precious battery charge at the wrong time. Many owners of Redmi and Xiaomi series devices are wondering how to quickly deactivate this mode or adjust its operation to their needs.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can control your active screen function, where you can find the settings in different versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shell, how to set a smart schedule, and why sometimes the screen doesn’t go out even after locking, and not only the standard methods, but also the hidden nuances that will help you optimize your power consumption.

Before you get to specific steps, it’s important to understand that the management of Always-on Display may vary depending on your smartphone model. IPS-In the matrix, the function may be downsized or not, whereas flagship models offer enhanced personalization capabilities.

Basic setting and disabling of the function

The easiest way to remove the constant display of information is to completely disable the function in the system settings, which requires you to open the main menu and find the Settings section. Depending on the firmware version, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Usually the desired item is in the category responsible for the appearance or lock.

Once you log into the settings menu, you'll need to find the Lock Screen subsection, or Always On, where you have the main switch that activates or deactivates the mode, and if you want to just turn off the function, just put the switch to the inactive position, and then the screen will go out completely when you lock it.

However, if you want more flexibility, the system offers a choice between fully shutting down and setting your schedule: You can choose the option “Schedule” so that the screen only turns on at certain hours, or “10 seconds after touching”, which is the middle ground between functionality and energy savings.

It’s worth noting that on some models with AMOLED matrices, disabling this feature can visually change the look of the widgets on the desktop if they were associated with Always-on Display. Make sure that after changing the settings, you check what the lock now looks like and update the wallpaper or widgets if necessary.

Management through timer and schedule

For those who don’t want to completely abandon the convenience of Always-on Display, but want to save battery, the ideal solution is to adjust the time slots. The system allows you to set a specific time on and off the function. For example, you can set an active period from 8:00 to 23:00 to avoid the phone glowing in a dark room at night.

To set this up, go to the Settings menu. → Lock screen → Always on. Select Schedule, and you'll see two sliders or time input fields: "Enable in" and "Switch off in." Set the desired values, and the system will automatically control the pixel lighting according to your schedule.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the time on your device is set to automatic mode via the network.If time is knocked down, the active screen may turn on in the wrong hours you planned, resulting in battery drain during the day or no information at night.

Another useful option is Smart Schedule, which uses data about your activity. A smartphone can analyze when you normally use your phone and adjust the screen to your habits. However, manual mode is often more predictable and reliable for most users.

Using a schedule is especially important for people with irregular work schedules, and you can create multiple profiles if your firmware supports scripts, or simply change the schedule manually when you switch to summer/winter time or change modes.

In the pocket mode and proximity sensors

One of the common problems users face is when the active screen doesn't turn off when the phone is in your pocket or bag, and not only does it waste power, it can lead to accidental taps, and the Mode in your pocket or proximity sensor is responsible for fixing this situation.

Always-on Display settings often feature an option that allows the screen to go out when the phone is in the dark or closed with a case. If this function is not working properly, the proximity sensor located at the top of the screen may be contaminated.

There is also a hidden setting that forcefully turns off the screen when you put the device in your pocket. To activate it, go to Settings → Lock the screen and find Mode in your pocket. Make sure it is activated. This will prevent false positives and save battery power when you are not using the gadget.

If the proximity sensor continues to malfunction even after cleaning, try restarting the device. In rare cases, a software failure can block the signal from the sensor, and a simple restart of the system restores the normal operation of the module.

Design style and personalization

Even if you choose to keep the feature active, you can change the look of it to make it less intrusive or more informative. MIUI and HyperOS shells offer a wide range of styles, from classic analog watches to minimalist digital indicators. A change in style can help reduce visual noise.

To change the design, go to the Always On screen menu and select Style or Format. Here you will find a gallery of pre-installed options. Some show only the time, date and battery level. Choose the one that contains the minimum of information if your goal is maximum discreteness.

You can also set your own image as a background for an active screen, but it is worth remembering that a static image, especially a light one, is not a very good one. OLED-The system automatically darkens bright areas and slightly shifts the image, but abuse of bright images is not recommended.

If you use third-party themes from Themes, they can override the system settings of the active screen, in which case, to turn off the feature, you may need to either change the theme to a standard one, or find the settings inside the theme itself.

Shutdown problems and system failures

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the active screen does not turn off despite all the correct settings, the screen continues to burn in your pocket or at night, ignoring the schedule, this can be caused by a conflict of programs or a mistake in the operation of sensors.

The first step in solving the problem is to clear the cache of system applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the Screen Lock (or Keyguard) app and select Clear Cache.This will not delete your data, but will reset temporary files that may have caused the crash.

If cleaning the cache didn’t help, check to see if Do Not Disturb mode is on with special display settings. Some third-party widgets can block the screen from going to sleep. Try temporarily removing recently installed widgets or apps that work with the lock screen.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen is constantly on and the phone is very hot, turn off the device immediately or go into flight mode. Prolonged operation of the display at maximum brightness in a confined space (for example, in a case) can lead to overheating of the battery.

In extreme cases, if the software methods do not help, you may need to reset the settings to factory.Be sure to back up the data before that, as this step will remove all information from the device.

The Impact of Always-on Display on Autonomy

The main question that users are concerned about when deciding to turn off the active screen is how much it will affect battery life. OLED technology is designed so that the black pixels are actually turned off and do not consume energy, so a black background with white digits consumes charge minimally.

However, the constant operation of the display and backlight controller (even partial) gives its load, and experts estimate that the Always-on Display mode can consume 0.5% to 1% charge per hour, depending on the brightness and number of burning pixels, per day this can be anywhere from 10% to 20% of the battery capacity.

If you are critically important to maximize the life of your smartphone, for example, on a long hike, turning off this feature will be one of the effective steps to save energy along with reducing brightness and turning off GPS.

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For maximum charge savings, use a simple or digital style with minimal elements. Avoid animated wallpaper for the active screen, as it consumes much more energy.

It’s also worth considering that on older smartphone models, battery wear may already have occurred, and any additional energy consumption will be more noticeable. On newer devices with large batteries, the impact of Always-on Display may be almost invisible in everyday use.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The optimal balance between convenience and energy savings is to use schedule or 10 seconds after touch, only when the battery is critically low or if the function is causing discomfort.