Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where the screen goes out too quickly or, conversely, continues to burn at the wrong time. This is due to the complex energy saving system MIUI and HyperOS, which aggressively manages the power of the display. Understanding how exactly the lock timer works allows you not only to save charge, but also to make use of the gadget more comfortable.
Many users confuse automatic screen locking with Always On or Pocket Mode. In fact, these settings are in different menu sections and are responsible for completely different device scenarios. In this article, we will look at all possible reasons why your smartphone may go to sleep and learn how to manage them.
Modern Android shells require fine-tuning to the user's individual habits. If you read long articles or use your phone as a navigator, standard timeout settings can be uncomfortable. We'll look at both standard methods through menus and hidden features available through engineering codes and special applications.
Standard screen timeout settings
The most obvious and most commonly used way to control the time before locking is in the basic settings of the system. This is where you set the time it takes to go out if you don't touch it. To access these settings, you need to go to the Settings menu and select the Lock Screen.
In the list that opens, you will see the option Sleep mode (or “screen timeout”). By clicking on it, the system will suggest choosing a time from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. The choice of “Do not turn off” is not available on all models and versions of the firmware, as the manufacturer tries to prevent the matrix from burning out.
⚠️ Warning: Setting a maximum screen time or “Do not turn off” mode can lead to irreversible burnout of pixels on the screen. AMOLED-matrices and significant battery consumption.
If you don't have a standard time range, you can use the "Increased Time Out" feature, which activates automatically when the system recognizes that you're looking at the screen even if you're not touching it, which is easy to read, but requires a front-facing camera or proximity sensor.
Always on Display and its impact
The Always On Display (AOD) feature, which is often perceived by users as being unable to turn off the screen completely, is particularly noteworthy. Unlike normal sleep, AOD leaves a clock, date or notification on a black background, consuming minimal power, but for many it is an extra feature that you want to turn off.
To control this mode, go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display. Here you can not only turn off the function completely, but also configure its schedule, for example, it is convenient to set the display only from 8:00 to 23:00 so that the phone does not glow in the dark at night.
- 📱 Always visible until the phone is critically discharged.
- ⏰ Schedule: Turns on and off at your specified time.
- 👆 10 seconds after touching: the most economical mode, the screen lights up only when interacting.
It is worth noting that on some models of the Redmi Note series and POCO, the location of these settings may differ. If you do not find a paragraph in the specified place, search for settings by typing in the query "Always" or "Always".
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Use the search in settings (a magnifier at the top of the menu) by entering keywords like “time-out” or “lock” to instantly find the desired item, regardless of the version of MIUI.
In the pocket mode and proximity sensors
A common problem is when the screen goes out on its own while talking or watching a video, even though the timeout has not expired, the proximity sensor and the function "Mode in your pocket" are responsible for this.
Sometimes the sensor is not working properly because of the protective glass or dirt, in which case the screen can go out instantly when you put your hand up, and you can turn this function off in Settings → Lock screen by finding the switch Mode in your pocket.
However, completely disabling this mode is not recommended, as this will lead to constant random calls of contacts from a pocket or bag.
⚠️ Warning: If you turn off “Mode in your pocket”, be sure to use key locking in messengers and the Phone app to avoid accidental calls.
For advanced users, sensor calibration is available. In the engineering menu, available through the code set ##6484##, you can check the sensor's performance and reset it to factory settings if necessary.
Energy saving and battery settings
Xiaomi’s aggressive energy-saving policy can force the screen to turn off or limit background activity, which is visually similar to a quick sleep.The system analyzes running applications and can “sleep” those that are not optimized.
You can check the settings in the Battery section (or through the Security app» → «Battery. This is where you need to look at the performance profile. In Power Saving mode, the processor frequency decreases, and the screen can dim or go out faster than usual.
| Mode of work | Screen impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Saving energy | Decrease in brightness, quick time-out | Use only at low charge |
| Balanced | Standard system settings | Optimal for everyday use |
| Productivity | Maximum brightness, long time-out | For games and heavy tasks |
There's also the Ultra-Energy Saving feature, which turns your smartphone into a simple black-and-white phone caller, and in this mode, all the screen settings are tightly limited, and you can't turn them off using standard methods, you need to get out of the mode.
Hidden Developer Settings
Third-party screen management applications
If the built-in capabilities aren't enough, Google Play Store apps come to the rescue, allowing you to create complex scenarios, such as turning off sleep mode only when you start a particular application, such as a navigator or a reader.
One popular solution is the Keep Screen On app, or the "Caffeine" analogues, which add a quick button to the notification panel that temporarily cancels the system's timeout, which is more convenient than going deep into the settings each time.
- 🚀 Accessibility: these applications run on top of the system and do not require root rights.
- ⚙️ Flexibility: You can customize exceptions for specific programs.
- 🔋 Control: You decide when the screen should be on all the time.
When using third-party software, it is important to remember permissions. To work properly, the application will need access to screen surfaces and possibly permission to work in the background so that the system does not “kill” its energy saving process.
☑️ Checking before installing applications
Solving problems with sticking and sensor
Sometimes the screen doesn't go out because of the settings, but because of a physical problem - "ghost touches" or sensor sticking. Dirt, moisture or poor-quality protective glass can simulate touching a finger, resetting a sleep timer indefinitely.
To diagnose this problem, you can turn on the display of touches in the developer menu (Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer → Show touches). If you see points on the screen when you are not doing anything, it is a hardware problem.
In such cases, it helps to thoroughly clean the screen with an alcohol napkin, remove the protective glass or, in the worst case, replace the touchscreen in the service center. Software methods here will not help, since the system receives a false signal about the user's activity.
⚠️ Attention: Using a phone with cracked glass or a swollen battery can exacerbate sensor problems.Be careful when diagnosing.
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If the screen goes out chaotically or does not go out at all when the settings are turned off, check the physical condition of the sensor and the presence of contaminants in the upper part of the case.