The sensor on Xiaomi stopped working: 7 proven ways to return to work

Touch screen is one of the most vulnerable elements of Xiaomi’s smartphone, and failure to do so can turn the device into a useless brick. The problem ranges from partial insensitivity to total disregard for any action. 80 percent of the time, it’s not mechanical damage, but software failures or incorrect settings. However, without proper diagnosis, you risk wasting time on unnecessary manipulation or even making things worse.

In this article, we will discuss all possible causes of a broken sensor on Xiaomi (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi models), offer step-by-step recovery instructions, and tell you when to contact the service center. Special emphasis is placed on diagnostics without disassembling the phone - this will help save on repairs if the problem is solved software. For convenience, we have collected unique sensor testing codes that are not published in standard manuals.

1. Quick diagnosis: how to understand what exactly broke

Before you start repairing, you need to determine whether the sensor module itself is to blame or whether the software is to blame.

• 🔍 Check the touch response in safe mode. Press the power button, hold until the turn off menu appears, then press and hold "Switch off power" until you reboot in Safe Mode. If the sensor is running, it's third-party software that's to blame.
• 📱 Touch screen test via engineering menu. Enter ##6484## (for MIUI 12+) or #4636## → Equipment test. If the screen doesn't respond to the test, it's a hardware problem.
• 🔌 Connect the mouse via OTG If the mouse cursor is moving and the touch is not working, it's the touch layer (digitizer) that is broken.
• 🔋 Check charging. Sometimes, when it's below 5%, the sensor turns off to save power. Connect the charger for 30 minutes and try again.

If none of the tests work, move on to the next section. Importantly, don't confuse a broken sensor with a system freeze, which is the last time the phone doesn't respond at all, not even to the volume buttons.

2. Software failures: how to return to work without repair

In 60 percent of cases, the sensor stops working because of firmware errors, application conflicts, or misconfigurations.

Forced reset

Press the power button and both volume buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds until the phone vibrates and reboots. This method works if the sensor freezes due to a temporary MIUI failure.

Resetting sensor settings

Go to Settings → System → Additional → Special Features → Touchscreen and select “Scaling Reset.” If this item is missing, use an alternative method:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).
2. In the address bar of the conductor enter \\192.168.x.x\ (IP Your phone on the local network).
3. Go to /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ and delete settings.db.
4. Reset the device.

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If the sensor becomes worse after recalibration (e.g., misses when typing), recalibrate via the engineering menu (#2664###).

Updating or rolling back firmware

Sensor failures often occur after the MIUI update. Check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If the problem occurred after the update:

• 📥 Reverse to the previous version via the Mi Flash Tool (instruction below).
• 🔄 Install stable global firmware if you have a custom or betta version.
• 🛠️ Clear the update cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.

For firmware rollback:

1. Download the desired version of MIUI from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Unpack the archive and place the folder in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Press Volume Up + Power to Enter Recovery.
4. Select Install update.zip (control – volume and power buttons).

3. Hardware malfunctions: when without repairs can not do

If the software methods didn't work, the problem is probably hardware, and let's look at the most common causes and ways to fix them.

Damage to the sensor plume

The plume connecting the sensor module to the motherboard often moves away or rubs itself when falling.

• The sensor works in “bands” (reacts only to part of the screen).
• Touches are recorded with a delay or double press.
• The screen flickers when you press it.

Solution: Take the phone apart (you'll need a plastic spatula and a suction cup) and check the density of the plume, if it's damaged, replace it. The cost of the plume for popular models (Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3) is 300-800 rubles.

Cracks or detachment of the digitizer

If the screen crashes but the image is still intact, the touch layer is damaged, and the only way to change the screen module is to replace it. Importantly, on Xiaomi models with AMOLED- screens (e.g. Mi 11, Redmi K50), the sensor and display are a single unit, so you have to change the entire unit.

Warning: when replacing the digitizer on the AMOLED- screens, glass protection is required, otherwise the new module will quickly fail. In service centers, an additional 500-1 500 rubles are charged for this.

Moisture ingestion or oxidation of contacts

If the phone fell into water or was in a wet environment, check the moisture indicator (usually under the tray for SIM- cards - red dot).

1. Take the phone apart and remove the battery.
2. Wipe the contacts of the sensor plume with an alcohol solution (90%+) or a special contact cleaner liquid.
3. Dry your phone in rice or silica gel for 12 to 24 hours.

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If after getting moisture sensor works, but with delays, do not postpone repairs – oxidation will progress, isoon will need to replace the plume or motherboard.

4.Firmware issues: When the sensor "dies" after the update

One of the most common scenarios is that the sensor stops working after the new version of MIUI is installed.

• 🐛 Firmware bug (especially relevant for betta versions).
• 🔧 Incompatibility of the core with iron (e.g., on POCO F3 after upgrading to MIUI 14).
• 📦 Damage to system files when updated over the air.

Decisions:

4.1. rollback to stable firmware via Fastboot

If the phone doesn’t respond to touch, but turns on, connect it to your PC and run the old version through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the archive with firmware (choose the Fastboot version).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool and Qualcomm drivers.
4. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
5. In the program, select the firmware folder and press Flash.

Make sure the battery charge is > 50% |

Download the firmware for your model (don't confuse the region!)|

Install Qualcomm drivers (if phone is not detected)|

Disable the antivirus (it can block the Mi Flash Tool)|

Make a backup of the data (firmware will delete everything!)

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4.2 Recovery via EDL- Mode (for “bricks”)

If the phone doesn't turn on at all (black screen, no button response), you'll need firmware in EDL- mode.

• 🔌 Authorized Xiaomi Account (for new models).
• 💻 Special cable EDL (or circuit test points on the board).
• 🛠️ Mi Flash Pro or QFilm.

Warning: The wrong firmware in EDL can finally kill your phone. If you're not sure, contact the service.

5.Temporary Solutions: How to Use a Phone Without a Sensor

If repairs are delayed and the phone is urgently needed, use these methods:

• 🖱️ Connect your wireless mouse via Bluetooth or wired via the OTG- adapter. In Settings → Special Options, enable "Mouse Control."
• 🎮 Use a gamepad. Connect an Xbox or PlayStation controller over Bluetooth and set up control in the Octopus app.
• 📱 Manage via PC with Mi PC Suite or scrcpy (required to be enabled) USB-debugging.
• 🔄 Activate the voice assistant. Say, "OK, Google," or press the assistant button on your headphones.

To enable USB- debugging without a working sensor:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Enter in command line: adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1 adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
3. Activate debugging through the mouse or keyboard.

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If you have a Redmi or POCO with a MediaTek processor, you can use the MTK Engineering Mode app to control without a sensor (access code: ##36446337##).

6.Prevention: How to prevent sensor breakdown

To make the sensor on Xiaomi last longer, follow these guidelines:

• 🛡️ Use a high-quality protective glass (at least 0.3 mm thick). Cheap glass can scratch the sensor.
• 🔋 Don't discharge the phone to 0%. In deep discharge, the sensor may shut down and not recover after charging.
• 🚫 Avoid overheating. Don't leave your phone in direct sunlight or on charge in your case.
• 🔄 Update your firmware regularly, but don’t install betta versions on your main device.
• 💧 Dry your phone immediately after getting moisture (even if it is "waterproof").

Note: if you use Xiaomi with a AMOLED- screen, never press the display turned off, it can damage the matrix and touch layer. Even light pressure when turned off leads to dead pixels.

7.When to contact the service: signs of a serious breakdown

Not all problems can be solved by yourself. Contact the service center if:

• 🔥 The sensor stopped working after falling from a height or being hit hard.
• 💦 The phone was in the water and the sensor did not recover after drying.
• 🔌 The screen flickers or spontaneously presses (a symptom of a departing plume).
• 🔄 The sensor works, but responds to touch in random places.
• 📵 The phone is not turned on or stuck on the logo MI.

The cost of diagnosis in official Xiaomi services - from 500 rubles. If the phone is warranty, repair can be free (but the warranty does not cover damage from moisture or mechanical breakdowns).

Before the service visit:

1. Make a backup copy of the data (if the phone is still turned on).
2. Write down the IMEI (on the box or under the battery).
3. Check if unlocking the bootloader is blocked (in some models, this will void the warranty).

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Unofficial services often offer “cheap” repairs using used parts, which can cause repeated breakdowns, and Xiaomi’s official services guarantee replacement modules for up to 6 months.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the broken sensor on Xiaomi