Double screen on Xiaomi Redmi: why appears and how to remove forever

Splitting the screen on Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most annoying problems faced by smartphone owners in this series: the screen seems to “split” into two identical halves, repeat the image with a delay or show artifacts in the form of horizontal / vertical stripes. Most often the defect manifests itself after a fall, updating MIUI or overheating the device, but in 80% of cases the problem is solved software - without visiting the service center.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of splitting (from a graphics driver failure to physical damage to the plume), and provide step-by-step instructions for Redmi Note 12/11/10, Redmi 9/8, and more. We’ll focus on ways that work without resetting — so you don’t lose data. If your smartphone is still warranty, at the end of this article there’s a section on how to get a free repair through Xiaomi Service.

Why the screen on Xiaomi Redmi splits: 5 main reasons

Screen splitting rarely happens "just like that" - usually preceded by one of the following events: Analyze what's been happening to the phone in the last 24 hours:

• 🔄 Update MIUI — failure in the graphics driver after installing a new firmware version (especially relevant for the MIUI 14/15 Android-based 13/14).
• 💥 Physical impact - a fall, impact or strong compression of the body (even if there are no cracks, the plume of the display could be damaged).
• 🔥 Overheating – long game, charging with higher power 33W or being under direct sunlight.
• 🛠️ Self-repair – incorrect replacement of the battery, display or flexible plume (a common problem after changing the screen in informal services).
• 🦠 Viral software – malicious applications that change display parameters (for example, through ADB or superuser rights).

According to statistics from Xiaomi service centers, 60 percent of the time the software malfunctions, 30 percent of the time hardware malfunctions (plate, matrix), and only 10 percent of the time mechanical damage, which means that the chances of fixing the problem on your own are pretty high.

MIUI Updates |Falls/Blows |Overheating |Self-repair |I don't know-->

Method 1: Restart in Safe Mode (if the software is to blame)

If the split occurs after installing an application or updating, the first thing to do is check the phone in Safe Mode. This mode only runs system programs, which helps to identify a conflict of third-party software.

How to run Safe Mode on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Press and hold your finger on the “Switch off” (or “Switch off power”) option.
3. In the window that appears, confirm the transition to safe mode (click "OK").

After restarting, check the screen:

• ✅ If the split is gone → Remove recently added programs (especially launchers, optimizers or games).
• ❌ If the defect remains → reasons deeper (driver, firmware or iron).

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In Safe Mode, you see the watermark "Safe Mode" at the bottom of the screen. To get out, just reboot your phone.

Method 2: Reset graphics settings (for MIUI 12 and later)

MIUI 12/13/14 firmware has hidden graphics accelerator settings that can crash and cause artifacts to appear on the screen, and can be reset via developer mode:

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional settings → Developer settings.
4. Scroll down and find the “Hardware Acceleration” section.
5. Click “Reset graphics settings” and confirm the action.

After you reboot, check the screen. If there's a split left, move on to the next way.

Method 3: Update or roll back firmware

If the split appears after the MIUI update, try returning the old firmware version or installing a fresh patch.

Option 1: Update via Recovery (if the phone is turned on):

1. Download the latest stable firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (choose Fastboot or Recovery depending on the method).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of internal memory.
3. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
4. Select “Install update.zip” and confirm the installation.

Option 2: Recoil via Fastboot (if the phone doesn't respond):

You will need a computer with the Mi Flash Tool installed.

• 🖥️ Download the archive with firmware (Fastboot) and unpack it.
• 📱 Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down) + Nutrition).
• 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC and launch the Mi Flash Tool.
• 📁 Specify the path to the unpacked firmware and click "Flash».

Download Mi Flash Tool from the official website|Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Unpack the firmware in a folder without Cyrillic|Charge your phone at least 50 times%-->

Note: Fastboot erases all data from the device. If there are important files on the phone, try the non-reset methods first (methods 1 and 2).

Method 4: Check the display plume (if the phone fell)

If the split occurred after mechanical impact (fall, impact), most likely, the flexible plume connecting the display to the motherboard has moved away or damaged, in which case the software methods will not help, you need disassembly.

How to diagnose a plume problem:

• 🔍 Look at the screen from different angles, and if you tilt the phone, it converges or the distortion changes, it's a 100 percent plume.
• 🖐️ Carefully press the top of the screen (near the front camera) if the image is temporarily restored, the plume has moved away from the connector.
• 🔊 Check if there are any foreign sounds (squeaking, crunch) when pressing the body.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, there are two options:

If you decide to repair yourself, you will need:

- Plastic blades for disassembly,

- T3/T4 screwdriver,

- Hair dryer (to soften glue).

Without experience, it is better not to risk

Redmi Note 10 Pro

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If the phone is warranty, don’t disassemble it yourself! official Xiaomi service centers repair plumes for free within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Method 5: Calibrate the screen through the engineering menu

In rare cases, the split is caused by an incorrect calibration of the matrix, and you can fix this through a hidden engineering menu.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##3644633###.
2. Select “Touch Screen Test” or “Display” from the menu.
3. Find the Calibration item and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. Once completed, restart the phone.

If there is no calibration option in the engineering menu, try the alternative code: ##6484## (display test).

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On some Redmi models, the engineering menu opens with ##4636##. If none of the code works, the manufacturer has blocked access.

Method 6: Checking for viruses and malware

Some viruses (such as Android.Triada or Android.HiddenAds) can interfere with the GPU, causing artifacts on the screen, to rule out this cause:

Steps for cleaning:

1. Install antivirus (we recommend Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile).
2. Start a deep scan (not fast!).
3. Remove any threats you find.
4. Check the list of installed applications in Settings → Applications for suspicious programs (for example, with names like “System Update”, “Android Helper”).

If the virus has damaged system files, you may need to reset to factory settings.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you’ve tried all the ways, but the split screen is still there, it’s likely a hardware problem:

• 💻 Damage to the graphics chip (on the motherboard).
• 🔧 Display controller malfunction.
• 📱 Marriage of the Matrix (meeted on Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G Redmi 10 2022).

In such cases, there are two options:

1. Official Xiaomi Service (warranty repair or paid diagnostics). - Unofficial workshops (cheaper, but without warranty).
2. Replace phone: - If repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new Redmi, it is more logical to buy a new model. - Check the program trade-in (for example, in Svyaznoy or M. Video give a discount for the delivery of an old phone).

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On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and later, splitting the screen can be a sign of a memory chip defect, in which case the repair will cost 70-80% of the cost of the phone, and it is more advisable to buy a new device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about split screen on Xiaomi Redmi