How to remove a scratch from the screen of the Xiaomi phone at home: safe and risky methods

Scratches on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone is a problem that faces almost every owner after 1-2 years of active use.+, POCO F5 Or Xiaomi 13 Ultra doesn't guarantee 100% micro-damage protection, sand in your pocket, keys, falling on asphalt, and there are noticeable stripes on the display that spoil the appearance and annoy you when scrolling.

The service center will charge 1,500 to 4,000 rubles to polish the screen (depending on the model), and even more to replace the glass. But not all scratches require professional intervention. 80% of surface damage can be repaired at home with improvised tools or inexpensive materials, the main thing is to correctly assess the depth of the scratch and choose a method that will not aggravate the situation.

In this article, we will examine:

• 🔍 How to determine if you can remove a scratch yourself (and when it is better not to risk it).
• 🧴 TOP-7 Ways to Remove Scratches: From Toothpaste to Professional Polyroles.
• ⚠️ What You Should Never Do (A List of Errors That Will Ruin Your Screen Forever).
• 📱 Features of processing Xiaomi screens with oleophobic coating and 3D-glassy.

1. How to assess the depth of the scratch: when you can polish, and when - only a replacement

Before you start removing a scratch, you need to know how deep it is, and that depends on whether you're going to use home polish or you're going to have to bring your phone to the service.

1. Nail check: gently swipe the nail across the scratches. If the nail is caught, the damage is deep (perhaps to the touch layer), polishing here is useless and dangerous: you can damage the matrix.
2. Water test: drip water on a scratch. If it spreads out evenly, the damage is superficial. If the water is collected in a groove, the scratch is deep.
3. Lighting with a flashlight: point the light at an angle. Small scratches will be barely noticeable, deep ones will be clearly visible as dark lines.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro, Redmi K50 Ultra) deep scratches often damage not only the glass but also the organic LED layer. Attempting to polish can lead to dead pixels or uneven backlighting.

2.Preparation of the phone: what to do before polishing

Incorrect preparation can nullify all efforts or even ruin the screen.

Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-memory-card

Wipe the screen with a waxless napkin (for example, for glasses)

Remove the remaining fat with alcohol (at least 70% concentration)

Stick with paint tape the frame of the phone and speakers

Make sure there is no dust in the room (work on a clean desk)

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Pay special attention to cleaning. Even small dust particles under a napkin can leave new scratches. For Xiaomi with an oleophobic coating (e.g., smear-like smear, POCO X5 Pro) use isopropyl alcohol - it will not damage the protective layer, unlike acetone or solvents.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use wet wipes for cleaning – they often contain silicones, which after polishing can create stains. Also avoid paper towels: their fibers scratch the glass.

3. TOP-7 How to remove scratches from the screen Xiaomi at home

We'll take you from the most gentle to the most aggressive, start with the first and move on to the next, only if the last one doesn't work.

Toothpaste (for small scratches only)

It's the most controversial method, but it works with the right approach, and it's good for scratches that don't feel like a nail.

• 🪥 Use abrasive-free whitening paste (e.g. Colgate Optic White or Splat Whitening).
• 🧼 Apply a drop of paste to a soft tissue (microfibra or flannel).
• ⭕ Circular movements with light pressure polish 1-2 minutes.
• 🚿 Remove the remains with a wet wipe, dry.

⚠️ Note: Do not use pastes with calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate (for example, R.O.C.S. Coral – they are too abrasive and can matovate glass.

Polyryle for glass (Displex, GOI)

More professional approach. GOI №2 (green) or a set of Displex cope with scratches up to 0.2 mm deep:

1. Apply a small amount of pasta on the felt circle (comes with Displex or sold separately).
2. Polish the screen with eight movements for 3-5 minutes.
3. Remove the remains with a dry wipe, then wipe with alcohol.

For Xiaomi with 2.5D-with glass (curved edges, like the Redmi Note 11 Pro) use soft applicators to avoid damaging the oleophobic coating at the edges.

Wax for the vehicle (temporary solution)

It won't remove the scratch, but it will make it less visible by filling in the microcracks, suitable for urgent "cosmetic repair" before selling the phone.

• 🚗 Take liquid wax without abrasives (for example, Turtle Wax Ice).
• 🧴 Apply the drop on the napkin, evenly spread over the screen.
• ⏳ Let dry for 10-15 minutes, then polish with dry cloth.

The effect lasts 1-2 weeks. Minus: the screen becomes more brands.

Baking soda (risky method)

Soda is a weak abrasive, but requires caution, and is only suitable for glass without oleophobic coating (old Xiaomi models until 2018).

Recipe:


1 tsp. soda + 2 tsp. water → stir until the state of gruel.

Apply the mixture for 30 seconds, then rinse. Don't rub too hard: soda can leave matte spots on modern coated glass.

3.5 Machine polishing (for experienced)

If you have a rotary polishing machine (for example, for a car), you can use it at minimum speeds (800-1000 rpm) with a soft circle, but this method requires skill:

• ⚙️ Set the speed not higher than 1000 rpm.
• 🔄 Use the pasta. GOI №1 (white) for final polishing.
• ⏱️ Do not handle one place for longer than 10 seconds.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner (in the screen), machine polishing can disrupt the sensor. Before the procedure, check the location of the scanner (usually at the bottom of the screen).

Replacement of glass (extreme case)

If the scratch is deep or the polishing techniques don't work, there's just a replacement.

To save you can order glass on AliExpress (price 2-3 times lower), but the quality can be worse than the original.

3.7. Folk methods that do not work

The Internet advises you to use petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or banana peel.

• 🍌 Banana peel contains starch that does not fill the scratches, but only leaves a sticky layer.
• 🛢️ Vegetable oil temporarily masks scratches, but after an hour they become even more noticeable due to fatty divorces.
• 🧴 Vaseline creates the effect of a “dirty screen” and attracts dust.

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The only “folk” remedies that work are toothpaste (without abrasives) and soda (very carefully), all other methods are either useless or harmful.

4. Features of processing Xiaomi screens with oleophobic coating

Since 2019, almost all Xiaomi smartphones (except budget lines) are equipped with an oleophobic coating – a thin layer that repels fat and moisture.

How to keep the coverage:

• 🧴 Use special polyres for oleophobic layer glass (e.g. Displex Oleophobic Coating Restorer).
• ⏱️ Do not polish for more than 5 minutes – prolonged friction destroys the coating.
• 🔄 After polishing, apply the recovery composition (sold in phone repair kits).

Check if your model has an oleophobic coating: drip water on the screen. If the droplet spreads, there is no coating; if it is going to be a ball, there is.

5 What Not to Do When Removing Scratches: 5 Deadly Mistakes

Some actions can irrevocably damage the screen.

1. Use sandpaper (even zero) and it leaves microcracks that then diverge.
2. Touch vibrations prevent even processing.
3. Use acetone or solvents. They corrode the glue that holds the layers of the screen together.
4. Pressure on the screen with force. This can lead to delmination.
5. Use window washing products (e.g. Mr. Proper) contain ammonia, which dims the coating.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with a subscreen front camera (for example, Mi Mix 4), aggressive polishing in the camera area can disrupt the transparency of the glass above the lens, which makes the photos cloudy.

6.How to Prevent Scratches: Preventing for Xiaomi

Better to prevent a problem than deal with the consequences.Tips for Xiaomi owners:

• 📱 Always use tempered glass (e.g. Spigen Glas.tR) EZ Fit for Xiaomi 13.It's cheaper than replacing the original screen.
• 👜 Carry your phone in your own pocket (not with your keys or coins).
• 🧼 Regularly wipe the screen with a lilac-free wipe (sand is the main enemy of glass).
• 🔄 Change the protective glass every 6-12 months – over time it loses strength.

For models with a ceramic screen (for example, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3) standard glasses are not suitable – you need special flexible protective films (for example, Whitestone Dome Glass).

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If you drop your phone a lot, consider corner airbag covers (like the Spigen Tough Armor) that quench the impact and reduce the risk of cracking when falling.

7. Frequent questions about scratches on Xiaomi screens