Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a choice of accessories that not only protect the device from shocks, but also expand its functionality. A special place among them is a smart mirror case that turns the back or front panel of the gadget into an interactive information board. Many users buy such cases, waiting for instant operation, but often forget about the need for software activation through the system menu.
The principle of operation is based on the interaction of the magnetic Hall sensor built into the lid and the corresponding sensor in the case of a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone. When you close the lid, the magnet approaches the sensor, and the screen goes into a special standby mode, displaying time, date or incoming calls through a transparent window or translucent surface of the mirror. However, without the correct setting in the shell of the MIUI or HyperOS, the device will simply extinguish the screen, ignoring the accessory capabilities.
It's important to understand that not all models support advanced on-the-fly display. Basic protection and lid-close response always work, but to output beautiful time widgets or control music requires you to perform the actions in the system settings. Next, we'll discuss in detail how to make this accessory work exactly as the engineers intended.
Principle of operation and compatibility with MIUI
The fundamental basis of interaction is NFC technology or magnetic display, depending on the version of the accessory. Most original and high-quality third-party cases use a magnet that physically affects the sensor. Android system on Xiaomi smartphones responds to this change in the magnetic field by triggering the system process of locking the screen with a modified interface.
The MIUI shell has a built-in driver for these accessories, but it is often deactivated by default. The user must manually specify to the system what type of cover is installed. If this is not done, the phone will perceive the closure as a normal display shutdown. In newer firmware versions such as HyperOS, recognition algorithms have been improved, but the basic principle has remained the same.
⚠️ Note: Using cheap analogues without a magnetic tag can lead to the fact that the function of the "smart window" will not work at all, even if the menu has the appropriate settings.
Compatibility depends not only on the phone model, but also on the region of the firmware. Global versions sometimes have a reduced functionality compared to Chinese builds, where such accessories are more popular.
Activation through the "Themes" app
The most common and effective way to make a mirror case work on Xiaomi is to use the standard Themes app. This is where the configuration files that describe the behavior of the screen when the lid is closed are stored. Without downloading a special resource package, the phone will not realize that it is required to display information through a mirrored surface.
To get started, you need to open the app and go to the profile section, which is usually indicated by the person icon in the lower right corner, and then you need to find Settings and select Smart Windows, and you'll see a lot of design options from simple digital watches to complex animated scenes.
Choose your favorite design and click Apply. The system automatically downloads the files and reconfigures the lock interface. Then, when you close the cover, the screen should show the selected design. If this does not happen, try to restart the device so that the cache of the system is updated correctly.
☑️ Verification of activation
It's worth noting that some themes may conflict with the installed desktop widget or ad blocker. If the cover screen goes out too quickly after applying the theme or displays artifacts, try choosing a different style from the catalog. A variety of options allows you to find a balance between aesthetics and energy consumption.
Configuring the displayed information
Once the basic functionality is activated, the user can fine-tune what he or she will see when the phone is down or in his or her pocket. You can find a section on the Smart Window or Second Space (depending on the MIUI version) in the Settings -> Lock screen menu.
You can turn on or off the display of specific notifications here, for example, you can allow the content of messages from messengers to be displayed, but hide the text. SMS It's also available to adjust the time format: 12-hour or 24-hour, second hand or date.
| Parameter | Description of function | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Clock mode | Constant burning of time pixels | High. |
| On the alarm clock. | The screen only lights up when the alarm clock rings. | Low. |
| Timer. | Activation 10 seconds after closing | Average. |
| Always on. | It works similarly to AOD on AMOLED. | Maximum. |
The music control feature deserves special attention. When properly set up through a mirror window, you can switch tracks or pause the playback by simply tapping the lid in a certain area, which is especially convenient when the phone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker and lies in the bag.
The secret to energy saving
Solving problems with Hall's sensor
It's quite common for a mirror case to stop responding to the lid closing, and most often the problem is a software failure in the magnetic field sensor calibration, the system may have "forgot" that the accessory is connected, or a new software update has made changes to the port survey algorithms.
The first step in diagnosis is to check for physical contact, make sure the magnet in the case is not offset and fits tightly to the bottom or top of the smartphone (depending on the model), sometimes helping a simple reboot of the device, which resets driver errors.
If the reboot didn't work, you can try software resetting the sensor settings. To do this, the engineering menu (accessible by ##6484##) has hardware tests. Find the Hall Sensor test and check its response to the magnet application. If the test doesn't pass, the sensor itself or the plume may be damaged.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to disassemble the Hall sensor yourself without the skills of soldering chips - this can lead to a complete failure of the communication module.
In some cases, turning off and re-enable the function in the settings helps. Go to Settings -> Additional -> Smart Windows (the path may be different), turn off the switch, wait 10 seconds and turn on again. This forcibly initiates a reconnection of the service.
Features of working with AMOLED and LCD screens
The technology of making a matrix directly affects how the image will look in a mirror case. Owners of devices with AMOLED screens (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi Note 10 Pro) have the advantage: they can use Always On Display mode, when only individual peaks that form time digits are lit.
Nana LCD-screens (Redmi 9, Poco) M3) The backlights burn across the area, even if the black color is displayed, which means that using a smart window on these devices consumes significantly more energy. Manufacturers compensate with timers: the screen lights up for a few seconds and goes out so as not to put the battery on.
For AMOLED-The matrix is also characterized by the problem of pixel burnout with a long static picture. Modern Xiaomi firmware automatically shifts the image by several pickles every few minutes to prevent this effect, but users are still not advised to keep the clock on around the clock without interruption.
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For owners of LCD screens, it is recommended to set the screen turn off time in the smart window no more than 10 seconds.
Alternative applications for customization
MIUI is sometimes not enough for sophisticated users who want to see the closed lid currency rate, weather or complex widgets, in which case third-party applications from the Google Play Store, such as Always On AMOLED or Screen Off and Lock, come to the rescue.
These apps take control of the lock screen and can draw any graphics on top of it. GIF-Animation, create turn-on schedules (e.g., only at night) and adjust response to notifications more flexibly than the standard system.
- 📱 Always On AMOLED: Allows you to create your themes with pictures and text, supports GIF.
- 🔒 Screen Off and Lock: It allows you to turn off the screen with a volume button or double tap, emulating the work of a smart case.
- ⚙️ MacroDroid: A complex tool for creating macros, for example, if the lid is closed -> wifi".
Using third-party software requires broad permissions, including access over other applications and screen control, which can reduce the overall security of the device, so downloading such programs should only be from trusted sources.
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Third-party apps give more freedom in design, but consume more processor and battery resources than native Xiaomi solutions.