Have you ever noticed that your Xiaomi device — whether it’s a smartphone, TV or tablet — has black bars on the sides of the video, games don’t take up the entire display area, and some apps are displayed with ugly bezels? That means that the full screen mode is turned off or configured incorrectly. A feature that many users don’t even know can dramatically change the perception of content: movies will look theatrical, games will be more immersive, and the interface will seem more modern.
But what is full-screen mode on Xiaomi really? It's not just stretching the picture to the edges of the screen (which often spoils the proportions), but intelligently adapting content to the display parameters, taking into account the aspect ratio, resolutions and even the features of a particular application. On Mi TVs or Redmi Smart TVs, this feature is called Zoom Mode or Picture Size, and on smartphones, Full Screen Display or Immersive Mode. And while on Android devices it usually works out of the box, on TV sets and TVs it often have to be manually configured.
In this article, we will look at how full screen mode works across Xiaomi devices, where to find it in the settings, and why it is sometimes best not to turn it on as much as possible. You will also learn how to circumvent the limitations of some apps (for example, YouTube or Netflix) that block video stretching, and what to do if after activating the mode the image becomes blurred or cropped.
What is Full Screen Mode and Why You Need It
Full Screen Mode is a feature that allows content to occupy the maximum possible screen area, removing system panels, black fields (so-called letterbox) and adapting the aspect ratio.
- 🎬 Films and TV shows without black bars on top and bottom (for example, when watching a movie in 21:9 on the screen 16:9).
- 🎮 Games without frames, with an extended review (important for shooters or races).
- 📱 Apps occupy the entire screen, hiding the status bar and navigation bar (relevant for smartphones).
- 🖥️ Desktop on Mi TVs TV flat-out.
But it's not that simple. It's that content is created with different aspect ratios.
- 4:3 - Old movies, some TV shows
- 16:9 – Most modern video and TV shows
- 21:9 – movie format, games, some YouTube videos;
- 18:9 or 19.5:9 are the screens of modern smartphones.
When the content ratio doesn't match the screen ratio, black fields appear, and full-screen mode is designed to solve this problem, but it's not always perfect.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs, forced image stretching (Zoom or Stretch option) can lead to distortion of proportions – for example, round objects will become oval and faces disproportionate. Use this mode only for content where screen area is critical (games, some sports broadcasts).
On Xiaomi smartphones (like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5), full-screen mode works differently: it hides system interface elements (notification and navigation panels), but does not affect the proportions of content. This is useful for immersive video or game viewing, but can interfere with everyday use (for example, when you need to quickly open notifications).
How to turn on full screen mode on Xiaomi TVs
On Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV and other models of the brand, full-screen mode is configured via the image menu. The instructions are relevant for MIUI TV firmware and Google TV (on the new models).
- Turn on the TV and open any content (such as USB video or streaming).
- Press the Menu button on the remote (or Settings on the new voice-controlled remotes).
- Go to the Image section (Picture in English firmware).
- Select Picture Size or Aspect Ratio.
- You will have several options: Auto (Auto) – the TV chooses the mode depending on the content; 16:9 – the standard format for most videos; 4:3 – for old content; Stretching (Zoom or Stretch) – forced filling of the screen (can distort the image); Panorama – cuts the top and bottom for a wide view; Movie – retains the original proportions with black fields.
Auto mode is optimal for most cases, but if you need to make the most of the screen (for example, for games on the Mi Box), choose Stretching or Panorama. Remember that in these modes, the image quality can deteriorate - especially noticeable on large TVs (55" and above).
Make sure the content supports the right aspect ratio
Remember the current settings (take a picture of the screen)
Check if the face or text is distorted when stretched.
Turn off image processing (HDR, noise reduction) for cleanness of the test-->
| Regime. | What's the point? | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile | Universal choice for movies, TV, YouTube | Sometimes it is wrong to define the format. |
| 16:9 | Modern TV series, news, sports | Cuts the edges at the cinema at 21:9 |
| Stretching | Games, Smart TV interface, some sports broadcasts | It distorts proportions, blurs the picture. |
| Panorama | Cinema with subtitles at the bottom, large-format videos | Cuts down important details from above/bottom |
⚠️ Note: on Xiaomi TVs with Dolby Vision support or HDR10+ Forced image stretching can turn off these functions. If the image becomes dull after the size change, check the settings. HDR on the menu Image → Additionally.
Full screen mode on Xiaomi smartphones: hide panels and frames
On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, full-screen mode works differently than on TVs, where it is responsible for hiding the system elements of the interface — the top notification bar and the bottom navigation bar — this allows applications (games, video players, browsers) to occupy the entire screen, which is especially valuable on devices with notch or hole cameras.
To activate the mode:
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select a Full Screen Display (FSD).
- Enable Hide the Navigation Panel and/or Hide the Status Bar.
- For individual applications (for example, games), you can configure exceptions in the Application menu in full screen mode.
💡
On Xiaomi TVs with Google TV (Models 2022 and newer), full-screen mode is customized not only in the image menu, but also through Settings → Screen and Sound → Screen Mode. Here you can choose between Original, Stretching and Adaptive (recommended).
If you often watch content with a non-standard aspect ratio (for example, old 4:3 movies or large-screen 21:9), consider buying an ultra-wide screen TV (for example, Xiaomi Mi TV LUX Transparent Edition with a ratio of 21:9).