Buying an original smartphone accessory often comes with the expectation of instant magic, but reality makes its own adjustments. Many owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices face a situation when, after installing a proprietary magnetic cover, the screen does not go out automatically, and the “pocket mode” function does not work. This is not a marriage or a breakdown of the gadget, but only a feature of software logic that requires manual adjustment.
Unlike conventional overlays, the smart case is equipped with a magnet that interacts with the Hall sensor inside the phone's body. However, in order for this bundle to work correctly, the system needs to inform you of the presence of a new accessory. Often this happens automatically, but in the latest versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells, manual user intervention is required through a hidden menu or display settings.
In this guide, we'll take a look at all the nuances of activation, from basic checks to engineering menus. You'll learn why a magnet is ignored and how to make a device respond to a lid closing. The key is to position the magnet accurately relative to the sensor, a 2-3 millimeter shift can completely disrupt the function. Let's figure out how to turn a conventional protection into a full-fledged intelligent accessory.
Principle of operation and compatibility of accessories
The basis of the interaction between the smartphone and the case is magnetic induction technology. Inside the accessory is a small magnet, and at the top of the phone body is a sensitive element, the Hall sensor. When you close the lid, the magnetic field changes, and the sensor sends a signal to the operating system to change the state.
However, not all models support this feature natively. Budget series often lack the necessary hardware, even if the software settings menu is present. It is important to understand that the smart case only works in tandem with the corresponding hardware. If your Xiaomi or Poco specifications do not mention Smart Cover support, software activation may not work.
⚠️ Warning: Using unoriginal cases with too powerful magnets can cause compass and navigation applications to malfunction.Always check the quality of the accessory before buying.
Calibration is also important for proper operation, and sometimes the system forgets the standard sensitivity parameters after updating the firmware, which requires resetting the sensor settings or recalibrating through special codes, and without this step, the phone can assume that the lid is open even when it is tightly closed.
The first step should always be to check the standard interface settings. In most modern shells from Xiaomi, the cover control function is made in a separate item. To access it, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Screen or Screen Lock section, and there can be a switch "Smart Mode" or "Coverage Mode".
If the standard path doesn't get you the right result, try searching by settings. Type the word "cover" into the search box. The system will highlight the desired menu item, which can be hidden in the depths of the Special Features submenu. Activating the toggle switch usually requires rebooting the device to apply the changes.
📊 Have you found a cover setting in the standard menu?
Found immediately / Found through search / No such setting / Use a third-party application
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, this menu item may not be visually available but may be active in the system code, so you can use calibration apps or engineering code input to help you, and you can't ignore system updates, because new patches often fix peripheral errors.
When standard methods are powerless, the MIUI engineering menu comes to the rescue. This is a hidden part of the system designed to test hardware components. To get there, open the Phone app and type in the combination ##6484##. If the code didn't work, it may have been changed in your version of the software and you'll need to use special applications from the Play Market store.
Once you're in the testing menu, you'll find the sensor-related section, which can be called Sensor, Hall Sensor, or Missensor, and you can see the current state of the magnetic field, and when you put the case down, you'll see the change in values. If you have a reaction, but the system doesn't block the screen, try to find the Calibration button and start the calibration process by following the instructions on the screen.
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
If the standard code doesn't work, try downloading QuickShortcutMaker or Activity Launcher, which can be used to find hidden activity «CIT» Or the Hardware Test, and run it directly bypassing dialing, and installing the Xiaomi Sensor Test helps, and be careful when you change the settings in the engineering menu. Inexperienced interventions in other parts, such as radio module or battery settings, can cause the device to operate unstable. Activating a smart case is a safe procedure, but requires care. After calibration, be sure to restart the smartphone so that the new sensitivity values are stored in memory. ADB For advanced users who are not helped by standard methods, there is the possibility of activating the function through debugging. USB. This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and having an installed driver. ADB. First, you need to activate the developer mode by seven times clicking on the build number in the About Phone menu, and turn on the Debugging by USB». Once connected to a PC, open the command line and enter a command to check the status of the sensor. Often you need to force support for the case through the system database. The command can look like entering a value into the system settings table. However, using the command line requires precision: one syntax error can cause the command to simply fail. smart_cover_enabled 1 This command is universal for many Android-based devices, but in MIUI It may be called something else. It is recommended to pre-examine the forums dedicated to your smartphone model. If the command is successful, the changes will take effect immediately or after the reboot. This is the deepest level of customization available without flashing the device. Compatibility table and activation codes Different smartphone models may require different approaches to activation. Below is a table that will help you navigate the methods for popular series of devices. Remember that the software is constantly updated and the location of the items may change. Device activation method Whether Xiaomi Mi (old) Auto/Screen settings No Often works out of the Redmi Note box Engineering menu No Requires Poco F/X ADB sensor calibration command Yes Hidden feature in Xiaomi 11/12/13 Global firmware Settings/Auto No Support in HyperOS If your model is on the list requiring the use of a PC, make sure that the USB cable is working properly and transmits data, not only charges the device. Cheap cables are often the cause of failures when trying to connect to a computer. Also check that the computer has the current drivers for Android, the first to react to the case, even to the magnet after the accident. Rings on your fingers, magnetic holders in your car, or cases with metal inserts can interfere with the Hall sensor. The second common cause is a software conflict. Recently, an installed application can intercept control of the proximity sensor. Try running your phone in Safe Mode, and if it's running correctly, it's a problem in one of the apps you've installed. ⚠️ Attention: If the screen goes out in your pocket without a cover, it's a sign of sensor malfunction or contamination. Clean the top of the screen and speaker with a soft cloth. It's also worth checking the integrity of the accessory itself. Over time, the magnet in the case can demagnetize or shift inside the material. Check with another, obviously serviceable case, if such a possibility exists. This will help you understand where the root of the problem lies: in the phone or in the accessory. 💡90% of smart case problems are solved by calibrating the Hall sensor or replacing the defective accessory with the original (FAQ) Why the Smart Case Doesn't Work After the Update MIUI? System updates often reset user settings or change the logic of the drivers. After the update, you need to recheck the item in the screen settings or recalibrate sensor through the engineering menu. Sometimes the function temporarily disappears from the menu and reappears after the reboot. Can you use any magnetic case? No, you need a case that's specially designed for your model to work properly. The magnet has to be right in front of the Hall sensor. In universal cases, the magnet can be displaced, which will lead to incorrect function or its complete absence. Does a smart case affect battery consumption? The case itself does not consume energy because it does not have its own power. However, if the Hall sensor is faulty or constantly triggered due to interference, this can lead to frequent wake-ups of the processor, which indirectly increases the charge consumption. How do you know if the Hall sensor is broken? If the sensor values do not change on the magnet lift, and the calibration does not help, perhaps hardware failure. Also, the sign of failure is the chaotic behavior of the screen and compass even without the case.