Have you taken a Xiaomi smartphone horizontally, but the screen persists in vertical orientation? Or, conversely, the image spontaneously flips at the slightest tilt, POCO And Mi. 80 percent of the time, it's not hardware failures, it's software failures or settings that are wrong, but how do you pinpoint the cause and fix it without going to the service?
In this article, we will analyze all possible reasons why autoturn stopped working on your Xiaomi – from the banal disconnected sensor to hidden firmware bugs. MIUI. You’ll get step-by-step instructions with illustrations, self-diagnostic tests, and solutions that work even on older models like the Redmi Note 4 or Mi. A1. And if the problem turns out to be hardware - learn to distinguish a faulty gyroscope from a damaged plume.
Warning: Not all tips from the internet are safe, for example, resetting to factory settings via Fastboot can lead to loss of IMEI We have also been using some Xiaomi models from 2020 to 2022, so we have given special warnings and suggested alternatives to the risk.
1. Check the basic settings of the autoturn
Start with the simplest: maybe the autorotation function is just disabled in the settings. MIUI The path to this option has changed several times, so we will give current options for different versions of the shell.
For MIUI 12-14:
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Slip on Autoturn (or Screen Orientation).
- Make sure the switch is active (blue).
For MIUI 11 and older:
- Press the button Recent Appendices (square) → Click on the Autoturn icon in the lower menu.
- Or: Settings → Additionally. → Crash-turn.
Make sure the function is enabled in the screen settings|
Check the Quick Settings Panel (Swipe Down)|
Reboot the smartphone after the changes |
Try turning on/off the autorotor in safe mode-->
If the switch is gray and inactive, it's a deeper problem, maybe a SensorService malfunction or a conflict with installed applications.
⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) autorotation function may conflict with the corporate shell POCO Launcher.Try temporarily switch to standard launcher MIUI.
Testing of sensors: gyroscope and accelerometer
The autoturn of the screen depends on two sensors:
- 🔄 Accelerometer - determines the position of the device in space (tilt, rotation).
- 🌀 Gyroscope - fixes the angular speed of rotation (needed for a smooth rotation).
If one of them is faulty, the autorotor won't work.
Method 1. Through the engineering menu:
- Open the Phone app.
- Dial ##4636## → Choose Equipment Testing.
- Scroll down to the Sensors section and see the Accelerometer and Gyroscope values.
Method 2. Diagnostic applications:
- 📱 Sensor Test (shows all sensors and their current values).
- 🛠️ Phone Doctor Plus (checks the performance of the gyroscope and accelerometer).
- 🎯 GPU Test (testing sensors in the 3D-mode).
| Sensor. | Normal values | Signs of malfunction |
|---|---|---|
| accelerometer | Indications vary with inclination (e.g. X: -9.8–9.8 s/h²) | Values are always 0.0 or do not respond to movement |
| gyroscope | Indications vary with rotation (e.g. Z: 0.1–3.0 rad/s) | No reaction to turns or jump values |
| Magnetometer | Changes when the magnet is applied | It affects the accuracy of the compass, but not the autoturn |
If the sensors don't respond, it's a hardware problem (chip or plume damage), and if they do, but the autorotation doesn't work, it's the software's fault.
accelerometer|
gyroscope|
Both at the same time |
I don't know, I haven't.-->
3. Conflicts with applications and launchers
Often, autoturns are blocked by third-party programs or launchers, such as:
- 🎮 Compulsory Orientation Games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
- 📺 Streaming apps (YouTube, Twitch) in immersive viewing mode.
- 🔒 Launchers from third-party developers (Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher).
- 🛡️ Antiviruses or optimizers (e.g. Clean Master, 360 Security).
How to find the culprit:
- Restart your smartphone in Safe Mode (press the power button) → Hold the power down. → Choose Safe Mode).
- Check if the autorotor works, and if so, there's a problem in one of the apps installed.
- Remove suspicious programs, starting with the last ones installed.
Pay special attention to applications with permissions android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS or android.permission.CHANGE_CONFIGURATION. You can find them through settings. → Annexes → Permits → Special access.
💡
If autorotation doesn’t work in just one app (like Google Maps), check its settings. Often there’s a separate switch to fix the orientation.
4. Firmware failures and system bugs
Mistakes in MIUI — The second most common cause of auto-rotation problems, especially in the case of:
- 📱 Smartphones with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
- 🔄 Devices after air upgrade (OTA), When the old settings conflict with the new version.
- 🛠️ Apparatus after unlocking the bootloader or obtaining root rights.
How to fix it:
Option 1: Reset sensor settings (without loss of data):
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the Reset sensor calibration and confirm the action.
Option 2: Cleaning the cache of system applications:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Open the menu (three dots) → Show system-based.
- Find SensorService and System UI, Clear the cache for both.
Option 3: Reverse the update (if the problem has occurred after the update):
- Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Slap the icon. ⚙️ → Remove the latest update (not available on all models).
⚠️ Note: On devices with unlocked bootloader (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO F3 etc.) resetting to factory settings via Fastboot can result in loss IMEI. In this case, it can only be restored through QCN-file-center.
5. Hardware malfunctions: what breaks physically
If the software methods didn't work, the problem is the hardware, and here are the most common hardware reasons.
| Malfunction | Signs. | Xiaomi models at risk |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to the sensor plume | The autoturn works periodically, especially after a fall. | Redmi Note 8/9, Mi 9T |
| Heap of gyroscope/accelometer chip | Sensors don’t respond at all, even in test applications. | POCO X3, Redmi 9A |
| Corrosion of contacts after moisture | Problems with auto-turning + Other sensors (lighting, approximation) | Any model without protection IP53/IP68 |
| Damage to the motherboard | Crash-turn + Other functions (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are unstable | Mi 10, Redmi K30 Pro |
How to diagnose:
- 🔍 Check if other sensors are responding (light, proximity, compass). If not, the problem is in the plume or board.
- 💧 Examine the charging connector and speakers for traces of corrosion (green plaque, white divorces).
- 📱 Check if there were any physical injuries (falls, impacts, water intrusion).
If you suspect a hardware malfunction, do not try to disassemble the smartphone yourself - on modern Xiaomi, sensor plumes are often soldered to the motherboard.
What to do if your smartphone falls into the water?
6. Features of specific Xiaomi models
Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique auto-rotating bugs, and here are the most common:
- 📱 Redmi Note 7/8/9 Pro: Conflict with Game Turbo. Solution: Disable Game Improvements in Settings.
- 📱 POCO F1/F2/F3: Launcher bug POCO Launcher.The solution is to install a standard launcher MIUI.
- 📱 Mi 10/11 Ultra: Problems after upgrading to MIUI 13. The solution is to roll back MIUI 12.5 or wait for a patch.
- 📱 Redmi 9/9A/9C: Defect of sensor plume in batches 2020 The solution is to replace the service plume.
For Xiaomi on Android One (e.g. Mi) A1/A2/A3) The problem often lies in the lack of sensor drivers after the update, in which case only flashing through Fastboot with an official image from Xiaomi will help.
Check if your model is in the list of devices with known bugs on the official website MIUI.
💡
If your Xiaomi Released is 2019-2020 (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi) 9T), It's very likely that the autorotation problem is related to the wear of the sensor plume, which is a disease of these models after 2-3 years of use.
7. Radical Methods: When Nothing Helps
If all the previous methods have failed, radical measures remain. Use them only as a last resort!
Method 1. Reset to factory settings (Soft Reset):
- Make a backup of the data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
- Go to Settings → Additional → Resetting settings.
- Select Reset all settings (does not delete files, but resets application settings).
Method 2. Flashing through Fastboot (for advanced users):
- Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
- Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
- Connect your smartphone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume down + Power).
- Select Clean All (full cleaning) and flash the device.
Method 3: Replacement of plume/sensors (service centre):
- Cost of replacing the sensor plume: 1,500–3,000 ₽.
- Cost of replacement of gyroscope/accelometer chip: 3000–6000 ₽.
- Repair period: 1-3 days.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon processor 8xx (For example, Mi 11, Black Shark 4) flashing through Fastboot can block the bootloader if you do not use an authorized Mi Account.