How to turn off sleep mode on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped with advanced energy-saving systems that automatically extinguish the display in the absence of active user action.This feature, known as sleep mode or screen timeout, is designed to save battery power, but in certain situations it can cause significant discomfort. For example, when reading long articles, viewing recipes while cooking or using the navigator, the screen can go out at the most inappropriate moment, requiring constant touch of the display to activate it.

Users often look for ways to turn off this mechanism completely or significantly increase the time before it is triggered. It is worth noting that standard system tools completely prohibit sleep without third-party applications, as this contradicts the logic of the Android operating system. However, there are a number of effective configuration methods that allow you to minimize the likelihood of accidental screen quenching or make the device work in “always on” mode when connecting to charging.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can manage your sleep timer, customize your special features and use third-party software to solve this problem. You will learn about the hidden features of MIUI and the new HyperOS shell that will help you adapt your smartphone behavior to your individual needs, whether it is work, entertainment or specific use cases.

Basic setting of screen timeout in the system

The first and most obvious step is to change the standard time interval after which the display goes into an inactive state, which is to open the main settings menu of your Xiaomi device, find a section that can be called Screen or Lock and Protect, depending on the version of the installed firmware, and this is where the basic backlight control options are located.

Inside the menu, you'll need to find "Sleep Mode" or "Screen Time Out," and clicking on it will show you a list of available time slots, and the system offers options ranging from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, or even 30 minutes on some models. Selecting the maximum value is the first thing you need to do to minimize inconvenience. OLED-screens can lead to the risk of pixel burnout in a static image.

If a standard maximum of 10 or 30 minutes is not enough, there are additional options that depend on the model. On some devices with the HyperOS shell, a “Do not turn off” feature that only activates when the charger is connected, this is the ideal solution for those who use a smartphone as a stationary control panel or a displayboard.

It is important to understand the difference between simply cancelling the screen and completely locking the device. The setting of a timeout affects only the backlight of the matrix. If after the screen is damped, you also need to enter a password, this is regulated in a separate item on the security menu. For comfortable use without permanent switching, it is also recommended to configure facial recognition, which will instantly activate the display when you lift the smartphone.

Use of the “Do not turn off” mode when charging

One of the most useful but often hidden features in Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to prevent sleep during charging.This is especially true for scenarios where the phone is used as a desktop clock, a navigator in a car or a smart home panel. Unlike permanent manual switching on, this mode works automatically and does not require user intervention.

To activate this feature, you need to go to advanced developer settings or special features, depending on the version of MIUI. In newer versions of firmware, this option is often hidden in the Developer menu. To get there, you need to click on the build number several times in the About section. Once you unlock the developer menu, find the item "Do not turn off the screen" or "Stay awake" and activate the switch.

⚠️ Warning: Constantly operating the screen at maximum brightness during charging can lead to significant heating of the case and accelerated wear of the battery. Use this mode with caution and monitor the temperature of the device.

An alternative method that does not require access to the developer menu is often found in standard applications. For example, in the Clock app, when using an alarm clock or timer, the screen often does not go out automatically, and some modes of display in the Always On Screen (AOD) menu allow you to keep the image on the display, albeit with a reduced brightness for the safety of the matrix.

Using Do Not Turn Off when charging turns your smartphone into a versatile tool: you can display currency charts, video from surveillance cameras, or text books without interruption, and the key is to ensure that the device is cooled well by removing the protective case if it causes overheating.

Special features and screen retention

In the arsenal of the MIUI and HyperOS shells, there are tools designed for people with disabilities that can be adapted for ordinary users.A feature known as Screenhold or Advanced Settings allows you to control the behavior of the display using a front-facing camera or proximity sensors.

One of these features is the Enlarged Screen or Magnifier mode, which sometimes prevents the system from falling asleep while it is activated. However, a more effective method is to use the Keep Screen On feature if it is available in your version of the firmware under Special Features, which analyzes the presence of a face in front of the screen and prevents it from going out even if the timeout has expired.

You also need to look at the proximity sensor settings, and sometimes the screen goes out not by the timer, but by a false alarm of the sensor, closed by a protective glass or case, and in the special features section, you can find sensor calibration or random press locking, the setting of which can indirectly affect the stability of the screen.

• 📱 Check the “Special Features” section of the system settings to find alternative management methods.
• 👁️ Use facial recognition to instantly activate the screen instead of constantly pressing a button.
• 🔧 Calibrate the proximity sensor if the screen goes out during a conversation or reading.

Some users have successfully used One Hand mode, which also changes the behavior of the interface and can prevent the standard transition to sleep mode in certain applications. Experimenting with these settings, you can find a combination that will make using the smartphone as convenient as possible for your tasks.

Third-party apps to block sleep

If the built-in capabilities are not enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and there are many utilities designed specifically to keep the screen on, which work by creating a transparent layer over other windows or using system APIs to block sleep.

One of the most popular and reliable solutions is the Keep Screen On app or its counterparts, such as the Caffeine, which is simple: once an application is launched or a widget is activated on the desktop, the system is instructed not to go to sleep. Some applications allow you to adjust timers, for example, keep the screen on for exactly 2 hours, and then automatically return the standard settings.

Permissions required by such annexes:


Over other apps (Draw over other apps)




- Starting at boot (optional)




Access to system settings (for automation)

When choosing an app, pay attention to reviews and installs. It is important that the program does not consume a lot of resources and does not cause conflicts with Xiaomi’s security system. Often such applications require special permissions, which must be confirmed manually in the phone’s security settings.

⚠️ Note: Installation of applications from unknown sources or use of modified versions of popular programs can lead to a leak of personal data.

Using third-party software gives you flexibility that is not available in standard firmware. You can create profiles: for example, for the Yandex.Navigator application, the screen never goes out, and for the browser, only during the day, this granular setting allows you to save battery at the rest of the time.

Comparison of settings in MIUI and HyperOS

With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, the menu structure and the location of some features have changed, users who have moved from the classic MIUI can find it difficult to find the usual switches, and understanding the differences between these shells will help to set up the device faster.

In MIUI, screen settings have traditionally been in deep menus, often requiring a transition through multiple layers of nesting. In HyperOS, Xiaomi is striving to unify the interface, so many features have been moved to more logical sections or combined into general device management categories.

The key difference between HyperOS and the other is that it is more aggressive in optimizing the background processes, which can cause third-party screen-holding applications to close faster than MIUI, so you need to manually add the application to the battery exclusion list, allowing it to run in the background without restrictions.

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When you switch to HyperOS, reset your display settings. Old configurations from MIUI can conflict with new energy management algorithms, causing the screen to run unstable.

The new shell also features improved widgets, so you can take the Read Mode or Don't Turn Off switch (if supported by plugins) directly to your desktop for quick access, eliminating the need to go deep into the settings menu every time.

Battery Optimization and Impact on Sleep

Xiaomi’s energy-saving system is known for its rigor: it can turn off the screen itself or close applications it considers energy-intensive, ignoring your timeout settings, and to prevent this, you need to properly configure battery optimization for specific use cases.

Go to the Battery section and find a list of applications. Select the program you want to keep the screen on (like a navigator or a reader). Select the No Limits mode for power consumption, which will signal to the system that the application is prioritized and should not be subject to energy savings.

• 🔋 Turn off Ultra-energy saving if you need a long screen, as this mode severely limits the functionality.
• ⚡ Use the original charger for Do Not Turn Off mode to avoid overheating and trottling.
• 📉 Reducing the screen refresh rate to 60 Hz will help reduce heat during prolonged work without sleep.

Also worth mentioning is the Adaptive Brightness feature. In some cases, autobrightness algorithms can mistakenly reduce the brightness to zero, which visually feels like a screen is off even though the device is working. Turning off autobrightness in static conditions can solve this problem.

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Comprehensive approach to setup: a combination of maximum timeout, proper battery mode and, if necessary, third-party software gives a better result than using one method.

Remember that completely shutting down sleep is always a trade-off between convenience and autonomy. Use these methods wisely will allow you to enjoy continuous screen operation where you need it and save battery life the rest of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)