The screen on Xiaomi Redmi itself darkens and lightens - how to remove the flicker once and for all

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi Redmi screen periodically dims and then suddenly returns to normal brightness? or does the image start to pulse as if the phone is "breathing"? This problem is found on models from the Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 13C, And the reasons can be software failures or hardware malfunctions, and 80 percent of the time, screen flickering is eliminated without a service center, so it's enough to diagnose the source of the problem correctly.

In this article, we will look at all possible causes of spontaneous blackouts, from the banal on-on power saving mode to damage to the display plume. You will receive step-by-step instructions for each situation, including hidden settings. MIUI, And if the problem turns out to be hardware, we'll tell you how to minimize the risks of self-repair or choose a reliable service.

We warn you that some “people’s” methods (such as knocking on the case or heating with a hairdryer) can aggravate the breakdown and deprive you of warranties. We have collected only those solutions that have been tested on hundreds of devices and do not violate Xiaomi’s policy.

1. Check the basic brightness and energy saving settings

Start with the simplest – perhaps the problem lies in the automatically activated functions. MIUI. Most often, the screen will spontaneously darken due to the:

• 🌓 Adaptive brightness – the system adjusts the backlight to the lighting, but sometimes fails.
• 🔋 Energy saving mode – limits brightness to save charge.
• 🌙 Dark topics with automatic activation – can conflict with sensors.
• ⏱️ Sleep schedules – some firmware mutes screen at night.

How to check:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Turn off the Adaptive Brightness slider and manually set a comfortable level (e.g. 70%).
3. Go to Settings. → Battery → Power saving mode and deactivate it.
4. In the Settings section → Display. → Select Dark Theme "Off" or "Manual Mode».

If the flicker disappeared after this manipulation, the problem was software, but if the screen continues to blink, move on to the next step.

2. Diagnostics of the illumination sensor and proximity sensor

On all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (except for budget models without sensors) two sensors are responsible for automatic brightness control:

• 💡 Light sensor – determines the level of external light.
• 👁️ Proximity sensor – turns off the screen during a call (may be triggered falsely).

If they are contaminated or damaged, the screen will darken chaotically, and you can check their performance using a secret engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484##.
2. From the Manual Test menu, select the Light Sensor.
3. Direct light to the top of the screen (where the sensors are located) – the value should vary from 0 (dark) to 5000+ (flashlight).
4. Go back and select Proximity Sensor, cover the sensor with your hand, and the value should change from 5 (far) to 0 (close).

If the sensors do not respond:

• 🧹 Clean the top screen frame of dust and dirt (use a soft brush).
• 🔧 Reset sensor settings through Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting sensor settings.
• 🛠️ If the problem persists, a replacement of the sensor module (cost) is required. ~500–1500 ₽ service).

💡

Before cleaning the sensors, turn off your phone and use a flashlight to see their location accurately – usually two small holes to the left of the front camera.

3. Application conflicts and system lags

In 30% of cases, third-party apps cause screen flickering, especially those that:

• 🎮 Use overlay over other windows (messenger, launchers).
• 🔄 Optimize the battery or clear the cache (e.g. Clean Master, DU Battery Saver).
• 🌐 Work with geolocation in the background (maps, taxis).

How to identify the culprit:

1. Launch your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button) → long tap on "Switch off» → «Safe regime»).
2. If the flicker is gone, the problem is in the app. Remove the newly installed programs.
3. Check the Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Special access → Overlay on top of other apps and disable suspicious ones.

It can also cause a flicker to overload the system.

• 📱 Free memory: Settings → The phone. → Memory (must be) >1GB free).
• 🔋 Processor Temperature: Use the App AIDA64 (norm°C to the plain).
• 🔄 Background activity: Settings → Battery → Battery usage (look for apps with abnormal consumption).

Remove the cache of system applications|

Disable Auto-Run Unnecessary Programs|

Check the temperature of the processor|

Run it in safe mode.-->

4. Failures of firmware and MIUI updates

Firmware errors are a common cause of screen flickering, especially after updates MIUI. Symptoms:

• 🔄 The screen flashes when unlocking or switching between apps.
• 📱 Artifacts (stripes, dots) appear along with the change in brightness.
• 🔧 Brightness settings are reset after resetting.

Decisions:

1. Reset the display settings: Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset display settings.
2. Clean the firmware cache: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Threefold (⋮) → Clear the update cache.
3. Reverse to the stable version MIUI: Download the firmware from the official website (choose Stable, not Developer). update.zip And put it in the root of the memory. + Power, select "Install Update».

If the problem persists after the update, check the error logs:

adb logcat | grep -i "display\|brightness\|drm"

Look for error lines E/ — They will point to a specific module causing the failure.

5. Hardware malfunctions: plume, display, battery

If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware.

How to check the plume yourself:

1. Carefully press the top and bottom of the screen (close to the frame).
2. If the flicker is increased or disappears when pressed, the plume is to blame.
3. Check if the battery is bloated: put the phone on a flat surface and spin it, and if it's playing, the battery needs to be replaced.

Decisions:

1. Turn off hardware acceleration for problem applications: Settings → Annexes → [Select the application] → Additionally. → Hardware acceleration → Otknock.
2. Reset the graphics settings: Settings → Display. → Advanced settings → Resetting the schedule settings.
3. Update the driver. GPU via Google Play: Install the Device Info app and check the driver version in the section «GPU».
4. Install a custom core (for advanced users): For example, KernelSU or Perseus for Snapdragon devices.

If the flicker only appears in games, try:

• 🎮 Lower the graphical settings in the game (disable shadows, lower the resolution).
• 🔧 Enable “Performance Mode” in Settings → Special facilities → Performance mode.
• 📱 Close all background applications before launching the game.

💡

On the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi 10 with Snapdragon 680 processor often helps to roll back the driver. GPU Up to version 660.08 (you can download it from the 4PDA).

7.When to contact the service: signs of critical breakdowns

If you have tried all the methods, but the screen is still flickering - most likely, the problem requires professional intervention.

• ⚡ The screen goes completely off for a few seconds and then comes back.
• 🔥 There is a smell of burning or the phone is warming >60°C to the plain.
• 💥 On the screen, physical damage is visible (cracks, divorces, bubbles).
• 🔋 The phone turns off at 30-50% charge and does not turn on without recharging.
• 📵 The flickering is accompanied by extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling).

How to choose a reliable service:

1. Check reviews on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS (look for mentions of warranty).
2. Ask if they use original parts (Xiaomi should have the Mi logo on the plumes).
3. Check whether you have a job guarantee (at least 3 months).
4. Avoid services that offer a “cheap Chinese equivalent” – such parts often fail after 1-2 months.

⚠️ Note: Official Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Service) are more expensive to repair, but you get a 1-year warranty and original parts. Unofficial workshops may offer prices 2-3 times lower, but the risk of re-breaking is higher.

Average prices for repairs in Moscow (2026):

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen flickering on Xiaomi Redmi