Xiaomi’s Yellow Spots: 7 Reasons and What to Do About Them

Have you noticed strange yellow spots on your Xiaomi smartphone screen and don't know what it is? Don't panic - 80% of the time, the problem is solvable without expensive repairs. Yellowness on the display can appear due to software failures and physical damage to the matrix. In this article, we will examine all possible scenarios, from banal overheating to factory defects, and also give clear instructions on how to diagnose the problem and what to do in each case.

Xiaomi features (including Redmi models, POCO and flagship series - use of AMOLED- and IPS-It's the type of screen that often determines the nature of the yellow spots. AMOLED yellowness may be associated with the burning of pixels, and IPS — We have collected data on 14 popular Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and identified patterns that will help you to more accurately determine the cause of the problem.

We warn you right away that if you have spots after a fall or impact, you'll probably need to change the display, but 40 percent of the time, it's software errors, incorrect settings, or external factors that can be fixed on your own in 10 to 30 minutes, and let's start with the simplest.

1. Phone overheating: why the screen turns yellow when loaded

One of the most common causes is overheating of the processor or battery, above 45.°C. Many AMOLED-The arrays start to turn yellow, especially at the top of the screen (where the sensors are located). This is a protective reaction of the display: manufacturers specially program the change in color temperature so that the user notices overheating and takes action.

How to check:

• 🔥 Launch a heavy app (like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) and watch the screen in 10-15 minutes.
• 🌡️ Install a temperature monitoring app (for example, AIDA64 or CPU Monitor).
• ☀️ See if a yellow spot appears in the place where the phone touches your fingers (often the upper right corner warms up).

What to do:

• 🛑 Close all background applications through Settings → Annexes → Launched.
• ❄️ Remove the case and let the phone cool in the shade (not in the fridge!).
• 🔄 If the problem recurs, check the heatpaste (relevant for older Xiaomi models 2018–2020).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is heated to 50°C+ In simple (no games or charging), this may indicate a malfunctioning battery, in which case the yellow spots are only a symptom of a more serious problem.

2. Software failures: when firmware or settings are to blame

In 30 percent of cases, the yellow spots are software artifacts, and they may appear after an update. MIUI, custom firmware installations or even a bug in a particular app, like 2023, Xiaomi users 12T They complained of yellowness after updating to MIUI 14 - the problem was solved in the patch V14.0.4.0.TLBMIXM.

How to diagnose:

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → long tap on "Switch off" → "Safe Mode. If the spots are gone, the third-party app is to blame.
2. Check if yellowness only appears in a particular app (like Chrome or Instagram).
3. Go to Settings. → Display. → Color mode and try to change profile (from "Auto" to "Standard" or "Saturated").

Instructions for resetting screen settings:

Open the Settings → Display

Select Color Mode → Reset to factory

Reboot the phone.

Check the screen for spots.-->

If the reset didn’t help, try rolling back the update:

Settings → About Phone → System Update → Click on the icon "⋮" → Select the service pack → Select the previous version

⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback may cause data loss if you do not back up. Before the procedure, save photos and contacts to Mi Cloud or your computer.

3.Damage to the matrix: physical defects of the screen

If the yellow spots are static (they don't disappear when rebooted, they don't change shape) and localized in one place, it's likely that the matrix itself is damaged.

• 💥 Cracking of the backlight (often after a fall).
• 🔧 Separation of the plume (the problem of Xiaomi Redmi Note) 9/10 after 2–3 years).
• 🔋 Bloating of the battery pressing on the screen (dangerous!).
• 🏭 Marriage in the factory (conducted by the POCO X3 redmi 9A).

How to check:

For models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 11T, 12 Pro, 13 Ultra) is characterized by pixel burnout — when static interface elements (navigation panels, icons) leave a trace:

1. Open a white image (for example, through Google Photos).
2. Look at the angle – if the spots are visible on white, it is a physical defect.

4. Getting moisture: what to do if the phone is wet

Yellow spots after contact with water are a classic symptom of contact corrosion or backlight damage. Even if the phone did not sink, moisture could get through microslits (for example, when used in the bathroom or in the rain). IP53/IP68: Redmi 9C, POCO M3, Xiaomi Mi A3.

Signs of moisture:

• 💦 Spots appear 1-3 days after contact with water.
• 🔌 The phone is poorly charged or disconnected when connecting charging.
• 🔊 Distorted sound in the dynamics (wheezing, silence).

What to do at once:

Turn off your phone (don’t restart!)

Extract. SIM-memory-card

Get your phone wet with a napkin (don't rub it!)

Put in a bag of silica gel (or rice) for 24-48 hours

Do not turn it on until it is completely dry!-->

If the spots have already appeared:

• 🛠️ Disassemble the phone (if you have experience) and check the display plumes for corrosion.
• 🔧 Clean the contacts with an alcohol solution (at least 90%).
• 📱 If the screen flickers or does not respond to touches, you need to replace the display.

⚠️ Warning: Never dry your phone with a hair dryer or battery, which can aggravate corrosion and melt the internal components, and the optimal drying temperature is room temperature (20-25).°C).

5. Factory marriage: how to return the phone under warranty

If yellow spots appeared on a new phone (in the first 1-6 months of use), it can be a factory defect, especially in low-end models Redmi and the Redmi model. POCO, And they were collected in factories in India or China, and service centers said that in 2023, the most common complaints were made about the use of the drug:

• Redmi Note 11 – Yellow stripes on the edges of the screen.
• POCO X4 Pro - spots at the top of the display.
• Xiaomi 12 Lite – uneven backlighting (“the cloud effect”).

How to proceed:

1. Check the warranty card (usually 12 months).
2. Take photos of the defect from different angles (required with the screen on!).
3. Contact the official Xiaomi service center (list on the website) mi.com/ru/service).

What to say on the service:

"The phone [model] with the serial number [specify] has a defect in the screen, yellow spots that don't disappear when you reboot. Please do a diagnostic as warranty. The phone didn't fall, it didn't get wet, the defect showed itself through the restart. [X] months."

The period of repair under the warranty is up to 14 days. If they refuse, demand a written refusal with a reason (this is necessary to contact Rospotrebnadzor).

💡

Under the Consumer Protection Act (Article 18), you are entitled to free repairs or replacements of your phone, unless the defect is caused by your actions.

6. Burnout. AMOLED: can be corrected?

If you have Xiaomi with AMOLED-screen (Xiaomi 13, 12 Pro, 11T Yellow spots can be caused by the burning of organic LEDs, which is inevitable, but can be slowed down or adjusted.

Causes of burnout:

• 🕒 Long display of static elements (navigation panels, icons).
• 🔆 High screen brightness (over 70%) for a long time.
• 🔋 Using the phone at extreme temperatures (below 0)°C or higher than 40°C).

How to reduce the effect:

• 🔄 Enable wallpaper auto-changer (Settings) → Wallpaper. → The driver).
• 🌑 Use a dark theme and hide the navigation bar.
• 🛠️ Calibrate the screen through the engineering menu (instruction below).

Calibration instructions (for experienced users):

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##3644633##


2. Select "Color Test" → "Screen Calibration"




3. Follow the instructions on the screen (don't interrupt the process!)

If the burnout is critical (the spots are visible on a white background), only replacing the matrix will help.The cost for Xiaomi flagships is from 8000 to 15 000. ₽.

💡

To check the extent of burnout, open a pure black image in full screen mode. All shadows or spots are burnt out pixels.

7. When should I carry my phone for repair?

There are 5 signs that self-repair is impossible and you need to contact the service:

1. Yellow spots are accompanied by screen flickering or stripes.
2. The phone does not respond to touches in the area of spots.
3. Spots grow over time (especially after heating).
4. The screen is swollen or there are bubbles on it.
5. The problem occurred after a fall or impact.

Cost of repair depending on the problem:

Where to repair:

• 🏢 Xiaomi’s official service centers – a guarantee for work, but more expensive.
• 🔧 Unofficial workshops are cheaper, but the risk of poor quality spare parts.
• 📦 Self-substitution – only if you have experience (Xiaomi displays are sold on AliExpress and in Russian stores).

⚠️ Note: When replacing the display in an unofficial service, a lock on the IMEI (model MIUI 12+). To unlock, you will need to contact the official service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about yellow spots on Xiaomi