How to check your Xiaomi screen for faults: the full guide

The screen of Xiaomi’s smartphone is one of the most vulnerable elements of the device. Even a slight drop or pressure can lead to hidden defects: broken pixels, uneven illumination, sensor problems or color distortion. When buying a used phone or after repair, checking the display becomes a mandatory procedure, but even new devices are not immune to factory defects.

In this article, we will discuss 7 professional screen diagnostic methods that service centers use, but adapted for home conditions. You will learn how to identify defects that are not visible to the naked eye, what tests to run for AMOLED and IPS-matrixes, and what to do if problems are detected. All instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi lines: Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13 and other models from 2020-2026.

Important: Some defects (such as AMOLED burnout) will not show up until months of use, and we will show you how to detect them in advance and avoid costly repairs.

1. Visual Screen Examination: What to Look for First

Start with a basic check in bright light. Take your smartphone at a 45° angle to a light source (like a lamp or window) and turn it slowly.

• 🔍 Scratches and chips: even microscopic damage can lead to cracks over time. 2.5D-glass (e.g. Redmi 10).
• 💡 Uneven backlighting: On a white background (open notes or browser) check if there are any dark spots on the edges (the “cloud effect»).
• 🎨 Divorces and stripes: vertical or horizontal lines often indicate damage to the plume or matrix.
• 🖥️ Artifacts in Slope: If the angle of view changes the color inverts or there is an “oil effect”, this is a sign of a defect IPS-matrix.

For accurate diagnosis, use a magnifier with a 10-fold increase (cost ~ 300 rubles).Look at the edges of the screen - there are often microcracks that lead to complete detachment of the sensor from the matrix (repair will cost 50-70% of the cost of the phone).

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi screen has an oleophobic coating, don't touch it with your fingers unnecessarily - greasy marks can mask defects. Use gloves or a microfiber wipe.

2.Broken pixel test: step-by-step instruction

Broken pixels are dots on a screen that don't change color or that burn in the same color all the time.

• ⚫ The dead (black) do not glow at all.
• 🔴🟢🔵 The stains are lit red, green or blue.
• 🟣 Subpixels – glow incomplete color (for example, purple).

To verify:

1. Download the Dead Pixel Test app (available on Google Play) or use the online test.
2. Run the test on a clear white background, so you can see dead pixels.
3. Switch to red, green and blue, and it will reveal jammed pixels.
4. Check the gray background (50% brightness) - it is easier to notice subpixels.

Norm for Xiaomi: up to 3 broken pixels per IPS-screens and up to 1 on AMOLED. If there are more, this is a reason for replacement under warranty (provided that the defect is not caused by mechanical damage).

3. Sensor check: how to detect "dead zones"

Sensor malfunctions can be manifested as hanging touches, false presses or a complete lack of response in certain areas.

1. Open the Touch Screen Test app (or Settings → About Phone → All specs → Sensor Test on some Xiaomi models).
2. Swipe your finger across the screen and the program will show the trajectory in real time.
3. Pay attention to this: 🔄 Line skips – indicate damage to the sensory layer. ⚡ Spontaneous touches - a sign of oxidation of the plume. 📉 Reaction delays (more than 100 ms) – controller problem.

If the test is not available on the menu, use the service code:

##6484##

This code works on most Xiaomi based on MIUI 12-14, and after you enter it, you will open a menu with hardware tests, where you need to select Touch Panel Test.

⚠️ Note: On models with an ultrasonic sensor (such as the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2), standard tests may not work. In this case, use specialized utilities such as the Sensor Box for Android.

💡

If the sensor only reacts to wet fingers, it's a sign of damage to the conductive layer. Try to wipe the screen with alcohol (70% concentration) - sometimes this temporarily restores performance.

4. Diagnosis of backlight: how to find the "cloud effect"

Uneven backlighting (or “clouding”) is a common problem. IPS-And the screens are where there are gray spots on the edges. AMOLED This defect manifests as yellow divorces at low brightness.

To verify:

1. Set the brightness to 50%.
2. Open a black image (for example, through the Screen Test app).
3. Tilt the phone at an angle of 30-45° and look at the side.
4. Take a screen photo with another phone with the flash turned off – the backlight defects will be visible more clearly in the picture.

On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g., screens, POCO F4 GT) Check for automatic color correction:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Colors.
2. Choose Standard Mode (not Saturated).
3. Compare the white display with a piece of paper – it should not give blue or yellow.

If the colors are heavily distorted, it may be caused by:

• 🔧 Incorrect calibration in the firmware (solved by resetting the screen settings).
• 🛠️ Damage to the matrix (replacement required).
• 🔋 Overheating of the processor (check the temperature through the AIDA64).

💡

If the colors are dull after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version. Some builds (e.g. MIUI 14.0.4) have color profile bugs.

6 AMOLED burnout test (burn-in)

Burnout is residual images that are “imprinted” into the AMOLED-a matrix for long-term display of static elements (for example, navigation panels) to check:

1. Set the brightness to maximum.
2. Open a pure red, green or blue image (can be accessed via AMOLED Burn-in Test in the Play Market).
3. Carefully examine the screen for ghostly contours (for example, keyboard outlines or icons).
4. Change the background to gray – so the defects are visible better.

If burnout is detected:

• 🔄 Try the recalibration cycle: open a video with rapidly changing colors (such as this one) and leave it for 1-2 hours.
• 🛠️ With severe burnout, only a replacement matrix will help (cost for Xiaomi) 12T — ~12,000 rubles).
• ⚙️ Turn on changing the color gamut in the settings (Settings) → Display. → Colors. → Auto) to evenly "wear out" pixels.

Prevention of burnout:

• 🕒 Reduce the display time of static elements (e.g., use immersive mode).
• 🌓 Set dark themes and wallpapers.
• ⏱️ Limit brightness to 70% in everyday use.

7. Load check for artifacts

Some screen defects only appear under load, such as flickering at a high refresh rate or bandwidth when rendering graphics.

1. Install Throttling Test or GFXBench CPU.
2. Run the GPU stress test for 5-10 minutes.
3. Watch the screen: 🔥 The appearance of vertical stripes - a problem with the GPU or plume. ⚡ Flickering with a frequency of 120 Hz - a defect of the matrix (often found on the POCO X3 Pro IPS 120 Hz). 🖥️ Color distortion – overheating or malfunction of the video controller.

If artifacts have appeared, try:

• 🔧 Roll back the drivers GPU (via fastboot flash gpu [file name]).
• 🧊 Refrigerate your phone (put it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, but not in the freezer!).
• 🔄 Reset the screen settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the display settings).

If the problem persists, it may indicate a hardware defect that requires the intervention of a service center.

Frequent questions about screen check Xiaomi