How to test multi-touch on Xiaomi: from basic tests to deep diagnostics

Xiaomi's touchscreen is not just glass, it's a complex system that can recognize up to 10 or more simultaneous touches, but what if the screen starts to glittle, doesn't respond to touch in certain areas, skips swipes, or behaves unpredictably when using gestures? The problem may lie in a malfunction of the multi-touch matrix, and it needs to be diagnosed as early as possible before the problem becomes critical.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods of testing multi-touch on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — From hidden engineering menus to specialized applications, you'll learn how to identify dead zones on a screen, check how you respond to multi-finger gestures, and even assess the latency of response, and if you already have a problem, we'll tell you what to do next: contact the service or try to fix the problem yourself.

Why Xiaomi’s multi-touch system might not work properly

Before we get to diagnostics, it's important to understand what exactly could have gone wrong. The multi-touch machine fails to function properly for a number of reasons, and not all of them are related to physical screen failure.

Here are the most common culprits:

• 🔧 Software failures: Firmware errors MIUI, conflicts after the update or incorrect operation of sensor drivers, for example, after updating to the MIUI 14 Some of the users of Xiaomi 12T complained about the “jumping” cursor when entering the text.
• 💥 Physical damage: Falls, impacts or even heavy pressure on the screen (for example, if the smartphone was in the back pocket and sat on it.
• 🔋 Overheating or moisture: Getting liquid under the screen or prolonged work in high temperatures (for example, playing Genshin Impact at maximum graphics settings) can disrupt the touchpad contacts.
• ⚡ Poor repairs: If the screen has already been changed, the problem may lie in a poorly glued plume, improper calibration or the use of non-original spare parts (especially relevant for the Redmi Note 10 and other popular models).

Interestingly, sometimes multi-touch bugs because of the contamination of the screen, for example, if there are greasy traces or dust particles on the surface, the sensor may perceive them as false touches, so always wipe the display with a soft lilaless wipe before diagnosis.

Method 1: Built-in engineering menu (without installing applications)

Any Xiaomi smartphone has a hidden engineering menu where you can test multi-touch without third-party software. 9A Xiaomi 13 Ultra, but the menu interface may be slightly different.

To open the multi-touch test:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##6484## (some firmware runs ##36446337##).
3. If the code didn’t work, try ##4636##, then go to the Hardware testing tab. → Touch Screen.

In the menu that opens, you'll see a grid of numbers or colored dots, and your task is to swipe your finger across the screen.

• ✅ If the finger is a continuous trail – multitouch works correctly.
• ❌ If the track is interrupted or some areas do not respond, the sensor is damaged.
• ⚠️ If the screen reacts to touches with a delay (the trace appears after 0.5-1 seconds), the problem may be in the drivers or overheating of the chipset.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F4) The engineering menu may be blocked by the manufacturer, in which case use alternative methods from this article.

Charge your smartphone at least 30 times%|Make sure your hands are not moisture free.|Take off the cover and the protective film.|Close all background applications-->

Method 2: Testing with ##36446337#

This method is similar to the previous one, but opens up an extended diagnostic menu where you can check not only multi-touch, but also other components of the smartphone. POCO, issued after 2018.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter ##36446337## (or #3644637## on older models).
3. Choose the Touch Screen Test or Multi-Touch Test.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually swipe diagonals or touch all corners of the display).

In this test, you will get more detailed information:

• 📊 Number of supported touches (e.g., “10 touches” means that the screen can recognize up to 10 fingers at a time).
• 🎯 Real-time touch coordinates (useful for detecting bias or "jumping" cursor).
• ⏱️ Response delay in milliseconds (normal – up to 50 ms; if more, the screen slows down).

In the models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) in this menu you can also check the uniformity of the backlight and the presence of broken pixels.

Method 3: Applications for testing multi-touch

If the built-in tools don't give you the full picture, third-party apps will come to the rescue, offering more flexible customization and visualization of problems.-3 Verified utilities for Xiaomi:

1. Touch Screen Test (by K-Var)

• 🔹 Checks up to 10 simultaneous touches.
• 🔹 Shows the trajectory of the fingers in different colors.
• 🔹 There is a mode of testing gestures (swipes, pinches).
• 🔹 Supports MIUI 12-14 without root rights.

2. MultiTouch Tester

• 🔹 Displays the coordinates and pressure of each touch.
• 🔹 Ghost touch test (when the screen reacts on its own).
• 🔹 Compatible with POCO Launcher and other shells.

3. Dead Pixel Test and Fix

• 🔹 Checks multi-touch with screen subpixels.
• 🔹 There are regimens for OLED and LCD-display.
• 🔹 Can identify problems with automatic brightness that indirectly affect sensor responsiveness.

You can download these apps on Google Play or via APKMirror (if your Xiaomi doesn’t support Google services). Check reviews before installing them – some utilities may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions.

⚠️ Warning: If multi-touch has started to work even worse after installing the test app, remove it and restart the smartphone. MIUI.

💡

Before testing, turn off the “One Hand” mode in the Xiaomi settings (Settings) → Additionally. → It can distort the results of multi-touch tests.

Method 4: Checking the multi-touch through ADB (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), You can do a deep diagnosis of multi-touch through the command line, and this is a method that's good for detecting hidden problems that aren't visible in standard tests.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with ADB-tools installed.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-Type-C Cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the command to check multi-touch: adb shell getevent -l This command will output the sensor event stream in real time.
4. Touch the screen with a few fingers. In the log, you'll see lines of view: /dev/input/eventX: 0003 0035 00000064 # X-coordinate /dev/input/eventX: 0003 0036 000000f0 # Y-coordinate /dev/input/eventX: 0003 003a 0000003c # Pressure.
5. If there are no changes in the log or coordinates jump when touching, the sensor is defective.

For a more detailed analysis, you can use the command:

adb shell dumpsys input

It'll show you all the active input devices, including the multi-touch sensor. touch_dev fts (for screens with FocalTech technology, which are installed in many Redmis).

Method 5: Multi-touch Testing Through Games and Gestures

If you don’t want to install apps or dig into ADB, You can test multi-touch in combat, with games and system gestures, and it's not going to give you accurate data, but it's going to help you identify obvious problems.

1. Test through games:

• 🎮 Start a game that requires multi-finger control, for example: PUBG Mobile (shooting) + movement + Genshin Impact (Character Change gestures) + Asphalt 9 (tilts) + brake + nitro).
• 👆 If the screen does not respond to a part of the touches or gestures are performed with a delay, the multi-touch does not work correctly.

2. Test through system gestures MIUI:

• 👉 Enable gesture navigation (Settings) → Display. → Navigation through the system).

Keyboard test:

• 📝 Open any field to enter text (for example, in Notes).
• 👆 Put two fingers on the screen and try typing third.
• ✅ If the characters are entered without errors, the multi-touch is fine.
• ❌ If extra letters appear or the cursor jumps - the sensor "mudders" the touch.

💡

Playing and gestures can help you identify multi-touch problems in real-world settings, but they don't replace full-fledged diagnostics. If the screen is acting strangely in games, make sure you check it through an engineering menu or a computer screen. ADB.

What to do if multi-touch on Xiaomi does not work

If tests show that there are problems with the multi-touch, don't panic. In most cases, the malfunction can be fixed without changing the screen.

1. Policy solutions:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes multi-touch crashes are caused by temporary errors MIUI.
• 📱 Reset the screen settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting display settings
• 🔧 Update the firmware: Settings → The phone. → Sometimes multi-touch bugs are fixed in new versions MIUI.
• 🧹 Clear the system partition cache (unlocked bootloader required): fastboot erase cache

Hardware solutions:

• 🛠️ Reconnect the screen plume (if you've been disassembling your smartphone recently) Often the problem is poor contact.
• 🔥 Check for overheating: if the smartphone is warming, the multi-touch can shut down for protection. CPU Monitor for diagnostics.
• 💧 Dry the device if it has come into contact with moisture, put it in rice or use silica gel for 24 to 48 hours.

3. When to contact the service:

• 🚨 If the multi-touch is not fully working (the screen only responds to one touch).
• 💀 If there is physical damage (cracks, dents, traces of oxidation under the screen).
• 🔧 If the multi-touch does not work properly after the screen replacement (it is likely that a non-original display module was used).

The cost of repairing a multi-touch service center depends on the model:

• Xiaomi Redmi 9/10: 3 000–5 000 ₽ (plume-replacement).
• Xiaomi 11T/12 Pro: 8 000–12 000 ₽ (due to the complexity of disassembly AMOLED-screen).
• POCO F3/X3: 4 000–7 000 ₽ (Often the problem is in the contacts, not in the sensor itself).

⚠️ Warning: If you choose to replace the screen yourself, buy an original display module with an article that matches your model. Cheap Chinese counterparts often have problems with multi-touch and color reproduction.

FAQ: Frequent questions about multi-touch on Xiaomi