How to remove the circle on the screen Xiaomi: reasons and solutions

A white or colored circle suddenly appears on your Xiaomi screen that doesn't disappear when you reboot? This problem is common among users of all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Mi 11 Ultra. The circle can be static or blinking, interfere with the sensor or even block part of the screen. In 80% of cases, software failures are to blame, but sometimes the cause lies in hardware malfunctions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of a circle on the Xiaomi screen, from firmware bugs to matrix damage, and give you step-by-step instructions to fix the problem, including hidden developer settings, factory resets, and even self-repair options. And at the end of the article β€” FAQ Answering frequent user questions.

Why does a circle appear on the Xiaomi screen?

A circle on the screen is not a fault of its own, but a symptom of one of the 5 major problems, most often caused by:

  • πŸ”„ GPU failure (GPU) β€” especially after updating MIUI or custom-fixing.
  • πŸ“± Damage to the sensor layer (digitizer) – circles appear in places of physical pressure or after a fall.
  • πŸ”Œ Application conflict – some games or programs (e.g., with a AR-effects) can leave artifacts on the screen.
  • πŸ”‹ Overheating or battery discharge - at a critical charge level (<15%) The system can display circles as a warning.
  • πŸ› οΈ Hardware malfunctions - detachment of the matrix plume, oxidation of contacts or factory marriage.

On Xiaomi Redmi 9, Poco X3 and other models with AMOLED-The circle often appears due to the burning of pixels, especially if a static element (for example, a charging icon) has been displayed for a long time. IPS-Matrixes (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi) A3) circles are usually associated with damage to the backlight or sensor.

⚠️ Warning: If the circle appears after a phone drop or moisture hits, do not try to reflash the device - this can aggravate the problem.

Method 1: Reboot and check in safe mode

Start with the simplest thing, force reboot. Press the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the phone turns off and re-engineered. If the circle is gone, the problem was temporary. If not, go to safe mode.

Safe mode only loads system applications, which helps to identify a conflict with the software:

  1. Press the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
  2. Press and hold the item "Switch off (or turn off power)."
  3. Confirm the transition to safe mode (on some models you need to select OK in the window that appears).

In safe mode:

  • πŸ” Check if the circle has disappeared. If so, it's one of the apps installed that's to blame.
  • πŸ“Œ Remove newly installed programs (especially games, launchers, or applications with interface overlays).
  • πŸ”„ Restart your phone in normal mode.
πŸ“Š How often do you reboot your Xiaomi?
Once a day.
Once a week.
Only when it's bugging.
Never.

Method 2: Resetting graphics and animation settings

If the circle appeared after updating MIUI or changing the display settings, reset the graphics settings:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ The phone.
  2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
  3. Return to Settings β†’ Additional settings β†’ For developers.
  4. Find the Hardware Acceleration Visualization section and:

If the circle is associated with a rendering bug, these actions will help eliminate it. On Xiaomi Mi 10 and Poco F3, it is also recommended to disable the USB debugging option in the developer menu - it sometimes conflicts with graphics drivers.

What to do if there is no β€œDevelopers” item?
If after 7 clicks on "Version" MIUI" Developer mode is not activated, check: 1. Your account has administrator rights (not a guest). 2. Your phone is not connected to a corporate network with restrictions (MDM). 3. Version MIUI not modified (custom firmware may require manual activation through ADB).

Method 3: Update or roll back firmware

Circles on the screen often appear after the MIUI update - especially if the firmware was installed over the air (OTA) with an interruption of the process.

  1. Check the current firmware version in Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version.
  2. If the version is unstable (e.g. MIUI Beta), roll back to stable:

For Xiaomi models on Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Poco X3 Pro, Redmi K40), you can use fastboot mode to flash:

fastboot flash boot boot.img


fastboot flash system system.img




fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention: Flashing through fastboot erases all data! pre-backup through Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Backup and reset.

Xiaomi modelRecommended Firmware MethodProbability of eliminating the circle
Redmi Note 10 ProUpdate via Recovery75%
Mi 11 LiteRecoil on a stable MIUI80%
Poco F3Fastboot firmware90%
Redmi 9AReset via Safe Mode60%

Method 4: Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

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

Phone fell or was hit?|The circle appears when you press the screen?|The screen blinks or changes color?|The phone overheats in the processor area?|The circle is visible even on the boot screen (logo) MI)?-->

Pay attention to the nature of the circle:

  • πŸ”΄ Red or green circle – damage to the backlight or plume of the matrix.
  • βšͺ White circle with blurred edges - detachment of the sensor layer (digitizer).
  • πŸ”„ Blinking a circle – malfunction of the graphics chip or contacts on the motherboard.

On Xiaomi AMOLED-The circle may be caused by the burning of organic LEDs by the screens (Mi 11, Black Shark) and can be checked using the broken pixel test":

  1. Install Screen Test from Google Play.
  2. Select the Black Screen test.
  3. If a circle is visible on a black background, it is a physical damage to the matrix.

πŸ’‘

If the circle appears after the screen is replaced, check the quality of the plume installation. On Xiaomi with an FPC connector (for example, Redmi Note 9 Pro), the plume must be fixed with a metal latch, otherwise the contact will be interrupted.

Method 5: Repair or Replace the Screen

If the circle is caused by physical damage, you'll need repairs.

  • πŸ”§ Replacement of the digitizer (touch layer) - is relevant if the circle responds to touch. Cost: from 1,500 β‚½.
  • πŸ“Ί Replacement of the matrix – if the circle is visible on the screensaver of the boot or in the Screen Test. Cost: from 3 000 β‚½ (for Redmi up to 10,000 β‚½ (for Mi 11 Ultra).
  • πŸ”Œ The plume soldering -- if the circle blinks when the phone bending. Cost: from 2,000 β‚½.

To replace the screen on Xiaomi, you will need:

  • New screen (e.g. Original LCD + Touch for Redmi Note 8 Pro)
  • A set of T2-T5 screwdrivers and plastic shoulder blades.
  • Dryer for softening of glue (temperature 60-80 Β° C).
  • Double-sided Scotch or B-7000 glue.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (Mi) 10T, Poco F2 Pro) matrix glued to the display frame. When disassembling, do not use metal tools - they will damage a thin layer of organic LEDs!

You can find step-by-step instructions for changing the screen for your model on YouTube (see "screen replacement phone model"). For example, for the Redmi Note 9S, the process takes ~40 minutes:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the SIM- card.


2. heat the screen edge with a hair dryer (2-3 minutes).




3. Put a plastic blade on the lower edge of the display.




4. Disconnect battery plumes and matrixes.




5. Set a new screen and assemble the phone in reverse order.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If the circle remains despite all attempts, consider the following steps:

  • πŸ“ž Contact the Xiaomi service center – if the phone is warranty, repair can be free (for example, in case of factory marriage of the matrix).
  • πŸ”„ Try to flash the phone through EDL-Mode is an extreme method requiring special equipment (Qualcomm 9008).
  • πŸ’° If the cost of replacing the screen exceeds 50% of the price of the phone, it is more logical to consider buying a new model.

On forums (e.g. 4PDA or XDA Developers), users share custom solutions, such as for Xiaomi Mi 9, turning off the Hardware Overlays option in the developer menu, and for Redmi 7, reinstalling the sensor driver via ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.touch

πŸ’‘

If the circle appeared after upgrading to MIUI 13/14, try to roll back on MIUI 12.5 - new versions have graphics rendering bugs on older chipsets (for example, Snapdragon 660).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the circle on the screen Xiaomi

The circle on the screen only appears in some applications. What do we do?
It's a conflict with software. Delete the problem app and check if the circle is gone. If it's not, clear the graphics driver cache: Go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ App Management. Find Google Play Services and click Clear Cache. Repeat for Google Play Store.
Can I remove the circle without changing the screen?
Yes, if it's software. Try: Reset to factory settings (Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Restore and Reset). Swipe your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions at xiaomiflash.com). Turn off hardware acceleration in the developer settings. If the hardware lap (sees on the MI logo when booting), repairs are essential.
After the screen was replaced, the circle remained.
Probable causes: Poor screen (especially if you bought a cheap Copy instead of Original), damaged plume or contacts on the motherboard, improperly connected display connector (on Xiaomi it is often fixed by a latch), return the phone to the master - the warranty is usually valid for 1-3 months.
The circle flashes when you press the screen. Is that the sensor?
It's probably a sign of damage to the digitizer. Do the test: Open Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Diagnostics (or install Touch Screen Test from Google Play). Check if the screen responds to touch in the circle. If the reaction is absent or unstable, you need to change the sensor.
How long will the phone last if you ignore the circle?
Depending on the reason: If the circuit is software, the phone will work, but there may be glitchy graphics. If the circuit is hardware (e.g., a plume detachment), over time, artifacts, flickering, or a complete failure of the screen may appear. AMOLED-Ignoring the burned pixels will cause the defect to spread, and we recommend that you fix the problem within 1-2 months to avoid aggravation.