Xiaomi’s Smart Cover: How to Turn On and Configure in 5 Minutes

Xiaomi’s smart covers have long since ceased to be just screen protection, turning into full-fledged accessories with advanced functionality, from displaying notifications to controlling music through the user interface. NFC-But many people have a problem: they bought the cover, and it's not clear how to turn it on and set it up properly. The official documentation is often silent about the nuances, and there are a lot of conflicting tips on the Internet.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to activate the smart cover on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO (Including models from 2023 to 2026, explain why the feature may not work, and show hidden features that even support is silent about. MIUI 15 or Redmi Note 12 on MIUI 14: The manual is universal. And if you're just planning to buy, at the end of the article, there's a comparison table of how covers can be compatible with different models.

What is Xiaomi’s Smart Cover and How Does It Work?

Smart Cover is a case with a built-in magnetic sensor and sometimes NFC-It's a chip that interacts with a smartphone:

• 📱 Automatic on/off screen when opening/closing cover.
• 🔔 Display notifications on a closed screen (time, missed calls, messages).
• 🎵 Managing music through gestures or NFC (on some models).
• 🔋 Saving battery power through optimized sleep.

Not all covers are the same: cheap versions (up to 500)₽) They usually only support basic functions, but premium functions (1500).₽+) They can have an extra display or touch zones, like a cover for Xiaomi. MIX Fold 3 allows you to view notifications without opening the case, and for Redmi K70 — screen-locking.

The smart cover is running through the magnetic Hall sensor built into the smartphone. When you close the case, the magnet in the cover activates the sensor, and the phone goes into sleep mode. When you open it, the screen instantly turns on. If the function doesn't work, the problem may be:

• ⚠️ Disabling Hall sensor in settings.
• ⚠️ Incompatibility of cover model and phone.
• ⚠️ A damaged magnet in a case.

Preparation before inclusion: compatibility check

Before you customize the cover, make sure it is compatible with your smartphone. Xiaomi releases cases for specific models, and even superficially similar covers may not work. For example, the smart cover for Xiaomi 13 will not work for Xiaomi 13 Lite due to the different location of the Hall sensor.

Check the compatibility on the table:

If you bought a universal cover (without specifying the model), check:

1. The presence of a magnet in the upper left corner of the case (usually marked with a sticker).
2. The matching of the camera and speaker connectors.
3. Support NFC (If you need a quick control function).

⚠️ Note: Some third-party covers (such as Spigen or Ringke) may block the Hall sensor due to the wrong location of the magnet.

Step-by-step: how to include a smart cover

If the cover is compatible, we'll move on to the setup, and most of the time, activation is automatic, but sometimes you need to manually adjust it.

1. Set the cover on your phone and make sure the magnet is on the top (near the front camera).
2. Close and open the case, the screen should turn on/off. If not, move on to the next step.
3. Activate the Hall sensor in settings: Settings → Display. → Screen locking → Smart lockdown → Insert "Smart cover"
4. Set up the display of notifications (if supported): Settings → Always on screen. → Smart cover mode

If you don't have a smart cover on the menu, your phone model or firmware doesn't support the function, and then an alternative way to do it through the developer mode will help:

Make sure the cover and phone are compatible|

Check for magnets in the cover|

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Reset the screen lock settings (if the function does not work)-->

For models with NFC-chip (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) additional functions available:

• 🎶 Fast music control – double tap on the cover for pause/playback.
• 📞 Answering a call without opening the case (swipe on the screen).
• 🔒 Unlocking by NFC (requires settings in the settings → Connection and sharing → NFC).

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, the smart cover feature may conflict with the power saving mode. If the screen does not turn on when you open the case, turn off battery optimization for system applications in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

What to do if the smart cover doesn’t work

If the cover does not respond to the opening/closing after setting up, check the following points:

If the problem persists, try resetting the lock settings:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset Lock and Security Settings.
3. After rebooting, re-set the smart cover.

On some firmware (e.g, MIUI EU Or custom) the smart cover function can be disabled at the kernel level, in which case only flashing to the official version will help. MIUI Global/China.

Additional functions: NFC and gesture-control

Original Smart Covers for Flagship Models (Xiaomi 14, MIX Fold 3) supports advanced functions through NFC. For example, you can set up:

• 🎵 Player control - double touch for pause, swipe for track switching.
• 📸 Quick camera start – opening the case immediately activates the camera app.
• 🔦 Turning on a flashlight - triple touch on the cover.

To set up:

1. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → NFC.
2. Enable the option Smart Tags.
3. Attach the cover to the back of the phone (where it is located) NFC-antenna) and follow the instructions on the screen.

In the models with AMOLED-The display (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) is available with the function "Always On Display" (AOD) It allows you to see the time, the date and the notifications even when the cover is closed:

Settings → Always on screen → Smart cover mode → Select display style

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If you have a cover with NFC, But the phone doesn't respond to touch, try attaching any of the covers to the phone. NFC-tag (such as from a credit card) – sometimes it helps to wake up the chip.

Xiaomi Smart Cover Comparisons: Which One to Choose

There are three types of smart covers for Xiaomi on the market:

1. Basic (300-800)₽) — only lock the screen, without NFC display.
2. S NFC (1000–1500₽) — Music management, quick action.
3. Premium (2000–3500)₽) — Additional display for notifications, touch zones.

In the table below is a comparison of popular models:

For most users, the best choice is the cover of the NFC. It doesn't cost much more than the base one, but it adds a nice touch, and if you want a second display (like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip), you'll have to fork out for a premium version for the first time. MIX Fold.

⚠️ Note: When buying a cover on AliExpress or Wildberries, pay attention to reviews about compatibility with your Xiaomi model. Often Chinese sellers indicate the wrong model in the description, and the real cover may not fit.

Alternative ways to use a smart cover

In addition to the standard features, the smart cover can be used in unusual ways:

• 🔒 Hidden unlock – if the phone has a Smart Lock set up, the case can unlock the device without entering a pin code (setting in Settings). → Security → Smart Lock).
• 📱 Quick App Launch – Tasker or MacroDroid can configure opening of certain applications when you open/close the cover.
• 🔋 Battery savings – if you turn off Always On Display and use the cover to view notifications, battery consumption will decrease by 10-15%.

For advanced users, there is a way to customize custom actions through ADB. For example, you can make it so that when you close the case, you turn on "Do Not Disturb" mode:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging.
2. Adb shell settings put global settings smart_cover_action 1 (where 1 — closing-out, 0 — opening).
3. To link a specific action (e.g., inclusion) DND) Use Tasker.

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A smart cover can work not only as a protection, but also as an automation tool, which can run scripts, save battery life, and even improve security (e.g. locking your phone when you close your case).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s smart covers