The situation when Xiaomi smartphone refuses to rotate the image when changing the position of the body, familiar to many owners of devices based on MIUI. This is not just a minor inconvenience, but a serious ergonomic violation that prevents you from comfortably watching videos, reading or printing messages. Most often the problem lies in software settings that are easy to fix, but in some cases, hardware sensors or system conflicts are the culprits.
In this article, we will explore in detail all the possible reasons why the autorotation of the screen stopped working on your device. We will go from the banal locking settings to the complex manipulation of the engineering menu that will help return the usual functionality to your gadget. Understanding the principles of the accelerometer and gyroscope will allow you to quickly diagnose a malfunction.
Before you panic and bring your phone to the service, it's worth checking the software. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by switching the switchboard in the notification curtain or simply restarting the system, but there are also more hidden settings that can block the change in orientation in certain applications.
Major software settings and locks
The most obvious but often overlooked reason is the activated turn-blocking mode. In the MIUI shell, this setting is controlled by a control center that is accessed by swipe down from the top right corner (or top-down, depending on the Android version).
If the curtain is clean, it’s worth checking the settings of a particular app. Some programs, especially video players and browsers, have their own internal orientation settings that override system commands, for example, YouTube can force the “only vertical” mode to be turned on, which ignores the position of the phone.
⚠️ Warning: Some "optimizers" and antiviruses installed from third-party sources may have screen-blocking features to save battery power.
You should also look at the "Enlarged Text" feature or special features. If you've turned on the visually impaired mode, the system can force portrait orientation to prevent the interface from "breaking" when zooming fonts. Check Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features.
Diagnostics of sensors: Accelerometer and Gyroscope
If software locks are excluded, the problem is likely to be the accelerometer, which is responsible for determining the position of the device in space. Xiaomi smartphones often experience a software failure when the sensor sticks in one position and does not respond to physical changes in the orientation of the phone.
To check the sensors, there is a hidden engineering menu in MIUI. To get there, open the Phone app and dial ##64663#. In the menu that opens, select "Accelerometer." Put the phone on a flat surface and press the calibration button.
- 📱 Place your smartphone on a solid horizontal surface with the screen upwards.
- 🔄 Press the Calibrate button and wait for a vibration or a beep.
- 📐 Turn the device to different edges by following the instructions on the screen.
- ✅ After passing the test, press “Pass” to save the results.
If the test shows an error or the sensor is not responding to flips, the problem may be hardware, the sensor may have moved away from the board after a fall or moisture hit, in which case software calibration will not help, and you will need to disassemble the device to check the plume.
What to do if the engineering menu code doesn’t work?
Impact of MIUI system updates and bugs
Often users notice that the screen stops turning immediately after the update of the operating system. Xiaomi developers regularly release security patches and new versions of MIUI, which may contain software bugs that affect the operation of system services, including orientation services.
In such cases, cleaning the cache of system services helps, and this procedure is not to be afraid, it does not delete your personal data, photos or contacts, but only resets temporary files that may have been damaged during the update.
To do the cleaning, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. In the list, find system processes related to the interface (often called “System UI” or “System Interface”). Go to the application information and select “Clean” → “Clean Cache”.
| Type of failure | Probable cause | Method of decision | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| The screen is not responding. | Locking in the curtain | Disable the lock at the control center | Low. |
| The turn comes with a delay | Sensor pollution/software bug | Calibration of the accelerometer | Medium |
| It only works in one application. | Settings of a specific application | Checking the settings inside the program | Low. |
| Chaotic rotation of the interface | Gyroscope malfunction | Service repair or replacement | Tall. |
☑️ Checklist before resetting settings
Conflicts of third-party applications and launchers
Installing alternative shells (launchers) or window management applications can conflict with the system rotation service. If you recently installed a program to split the screen, create floating windows or widgets with a fixed orientation, try temporarily removing them.
Special attention should be paid to applications that request permission to change system settings. Such programs can intercept control of the accelerometer. Check the list of permissions in the Settings section → Applications → Permissions → Other permissions.
Also, the problem can be caused by “heavy” themes that are not optimized for your version of Android. If you use a custom theme from the Mi Themes store, try switching to a standard classic style to eliminate the impact of the graphical interface.
⚠️ Note: Apps for screen recording or PC image broadcasting can block the turn if their settings have a fixed stream resolution.
Hardware problems and physical damage
When software methods are powerless, you have to consider the possibility of physical failure. Xiaomi smartphones, like any electronics, are sensitive to impact. Even if the screen is intact and the phone turns on, the microscopic accelerometer crystal inside the case could get damaged when it falls.
Another reason could be the battery bloating, and if the battery is bloated, it can push the insides of the case, shifting the boards and disrupting the sensors. Visually inspect the back of the phone, if it has moved away or there are gaps, the problem may be in the swollen battery.
In rare cases, the culprit is a plume that connects the main board to the daughter, where additional sensors are often located. Oxidation of contacts due to moisture (even condensate) can lead to periodic failures.
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Try to tap your finger gently, without pressing hard, on the back cover in the area of the camera. If after that the screen suddenly turns over, then the contact of the sensor is broken or it is stuck.
Radical methods: Resetting and flashing
If none of the above methods work, the last software option is a full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), which will remove all data from the phone, so be sure to back up important files to the cloud or to your computer.
To reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. Once rebooted, the phone will look like new. If the screen doesn’t turn on a clean system without apps installed, then the probability of hardware failure is 99%.
In some cases, flashing the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool helps, which allows you to replace damaged system files with original ones, but this method requires certain skills and is risky for inexperienced users.
⚠️ Note: Flashing or resetting will void the warranty if there are traces of interference with software not provided by the manufacturer.
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If after a complete reset and check in safe mode the screen does not turn, the problem is hardware in nature and requires replacing the accelerometer in the service center.