Calibration of the gyroscope on Xiaomi: fixing failures and improving accuracy

The gyroscope in Xiaomi smartphones is responsible for determining the spatial position of the device, from the turns of the screen to the work of augmented reality in games and applications. However, over time, this sensor can begin to “lie”: the screen spontaneously rotates, games with the help of a computer. AR-It's floating, and functions like Gestures or Unlock Raises don't work properly, and most of the time, it's just calibration, but few people know how to do it correctly.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways Xiaomi calibrates a gyroscope, from standard MIUI tools to hidden engineering menus and third-party apps. You’ll learn why the sensor is going crazy, how to check its performance, and what to do if the calibration doesn’t work. Instructions are right for most models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13/14.

Signs of a gyroscope malfunction: when calibration is needed

The gyro rarely fails completely, often with inaccurate data, and here are the key symptoms that signal calibration:

• 📱 The screen rotates arbitrarily even when the phone is fixed (for example, lying on the table).
• 🎮 In games with AR (for example, Pokémon GO Harry Potter: Wizards Unite: objects float or turn with a delay.
• 🔄 The unlock function is unstable – sometimes it doesn’t turn on the screen, sometimes it reacts to false movements.
• 📲 In apps like Google Street View or Compass, the image twitches or turns in jerks.
• 🚫 Gestures (e.g., double tapping to wake up) work multiple times.

If you see at least 2-3 signs from the list, most likely, the gyroscope requires calibration, especially after a phone drop, MIUI update or reset.

Calibration Preparation: What to Do in Advance

Before you start calibrating, follow a few simple steps to avoid errors:

1. Check the physical condition of the phone. If the smartphone fell or was hit, it may be that the gyroscope is mechanically damaged, in which case calibration will not help.
2. Update MIUI. Some firmware versions have had sensor bugs. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.
3. Turn off the automatic rotation of the screen. This will help you understand whether calibration solves the problem, you can do this through the Notification Panel or in Settings → Display → Autopivot.
4. Make sure there is no magnetic interference.The gyroscope can crash near magnets, speakers or metal objects.

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If the gyroscope starts to gag after placing the magnet case (for example, to attach to the holder in the car), try to remove the case and restart the phone, often enough to restore the sensor.

It is also recommended to restart the device before calibration – this will reset temporary errors in the operation of the sensors.

Method 1: Calibration through the engineering menu (for advanced users)

The most reliable method is to use the hidden engineering menu (Engineer Mode), which is on all Xiaomi smartphones, which allows you to manually reset the data of the gyroscope and accelerometer.

To get on the menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##6484## (some models may run ##4636##).
3. Select Sensor Test (or Sensors).
4. Find the Gyroscope Sensor (gyroscope) in the list and tap it.
5. Press Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen – usually put the phone on a flat surface and wait 10-15 seconds.

After calibration, restart your phone.If the engineering menu doesn't open, it's possible your Xiaomi model requires a different code or the menu is blocked by the manufacturer.

Method 2: Calibration through the Sensor app (without root)

If the engineering menu is not available, use the free Sensor Test app (or similar, for example, the Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite), which allows you not only to test the sensors, but also to reset their readings.

Instructions:

1. Download Sensor Test from Google Play.
2. Open the app and select the Gyroscope tab.
3. Place your phone on a perfectly flat surface (like a table).
4. Click on the calibration icon (usually a circular arrow or a Calibrate button).
5. Wait 10-20 seconds for the app to collect data.
6. Reboot the phone.

The app will show the current values of the gyroscope along the X, Y and Z axes. If after calibration they are close to zero (for example, 0.1-0.3), the sensor works correctly. If the values "float" in the range of ±1.0 and above, it is possible that the gyroscope is damaged.

Install the application from the official store

Close all background programs

Put the phone on a flat surface (without tilting)

Turn off the cover (if it has a magnet)

Reboot the phone after calibration-->

Method 3: Reset sensor settings via MIUI (no applications)

MIUI has a hidden sensor reset feature that helps in 70% of cases.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the MIUI version until you become a developer!
3. Return to the main Settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Find Sensor Reset (or Sensor Reset) and click on it.
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This method resets all sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, compass), so after the reboot, some functions may need to be re-tuned, such as Autoturn or Gestures.

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Resetting sensors through the developer menu is the safest way, as it does not require third-party applications and does not affect the warranty.

Method 4: Calibration through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try resetting the gyroscope through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → For Developers.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB drivers (you can download from Android Studio).
3. Open the command line (cmd) and enter:

adb shell


su




echo 1 > /sys/class/sensors/gyro_sensor/calibration

If the command doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings

Once you have completed the commands, restart the phone.This method doesn’t work on all Xiaomi models, as the path to the sensor may be different.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB The wrong commands can cause the system to fail. If you're not sure what you're doing, skip this method.

Table: Compatibility of calibration methods with Xiaomi models

If your model is not in the table, try universal methods (Sensor Test or reset in MIUI). New flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) may need to update the firmware to the latest version.

What if calibration doesn’t help?

If after all attempts the gyroscope continues to work incorrectly, the reasons may be more serious:

• 🔧 Mechanical damage. A gyroscope is a fragile sensor, and even a small impact can make it go downhill.
• 🔄 Software failure MIUI. Try resetting your phone to factory settings (Settings) → Reset settings. Pre-reverse the data!
• 📱 Some models (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro) had sensor bugs in certain versions. MIUI. Check the forums (for example, 4PDA) update-in.
• 🧲 If there are magnets in the phone (such as a case or holder) all the time, the gyroscope will malfunction.

⚠️ Warning: If the gyro stopped working after a phone fell into the water or hit hard, don't try to calibrate it programmatically.

If none of these methods worked, contact a Xiaomi authorized service center. In some cases, the gyro can be soldered over, but more often, a replacement motherboard is required.

FAQ: Frequent questions about gyroscope calibration on Xiaomi