How to remove scratches from the screen of the Xiaomi smartphone: from toothpaste to polishing

Scratches on Xiaomi screen are a problem that almost every smartphone owner faces. Even the protected glass Gorilla Glass (5-7 generations on the flagship Mi 11/12/13 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) do not save from microdamage when falling or contacting keys in your pocket. But do not rush to change the display: in 80% of cases, scratches can be repaired yourself without resorting to expensive repairs.

In this article, we will analyze 7 working methods - from budget (toothpaste, baking soda) to professional (polyrolysis, UV-You will know which products are safe for you. OLED-screen POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T, And which ones are only suitable for IPS-Redmi budget matrixes 10A. We will also explain why some “folk” tips (such as soda solution) can aggravate damage on oleophobic screens, and how to avoid this.

1. Scratching Diagnosis: When You Can Do Without Repair

Before you start removing scratches, determine their depth and type.

• 🔍 Microscratch (invisible when the screen is turned off, felt by the nail as roughness) - eliminated by polishing or paste.
• 📱 Surface scratches (visible in bright light, not clinging to the nail) – require special compositions (for example, Displex).
• 💥 Deep damage (touching the sensor layer or matrix) – only glass replacement in the service center.

Do the test: swipe the screen with a plastic card (not a metal card!) If the card "clings" - the scratch is deep, and home methods will not help. AMOLED-screens (Mi 11 Ultra, POCO X6 Pro) critical: these matrices are thinner IPS, Aggressive polishing can damage organic LEDs.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with Always-On Display (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), scratches in the constant light zone (hours, notifications) may become more noticeable after polishing due to changes in the refraction of light.

Budgetary methods: toothpaste and baking soda

The most affordable products are toothpaste (no abrasives!) and baking soda, suitable for shallow scratches on Gorilla Glass. Important: use only white paste without granules (for example, Colgate Total 12 or Splat Biocalcium). gel pastes and bleachers with abrasives (RDA > 50) will leave new microdamages.

Instructions for the use of toothpaste:

Apply 2-3 drops of distilled water on the screen | Dilute the paste to the consistency of sour cream | Use a microfiber wipe (not paper!) |Polish in circular movements for 3-5 minutes

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1. Mix the paste with a drop of water until a thick sour cream state.
2. Apply the mixture on the scratch with a cotton swab (not a finger!).
3. Polish the screen with a soft microfiber (as for glasses) in circular motions for 3-5 minutes.
4. Remove the remains with a wet napkin, dry the screen for 10 minutes.

For baking soda, the proportions are different: 1 tsp. soda per 2 tsp. water. The resulting gruel is applied for 1-2 minutes, then washed off. This method is more aggressive, so it is not suitable for Xiaomi with an oleophobic coating (for example, Mi 10T Pro - the coating is erased, there are divorces).

⚠️ Warning: After polishing with soda or paste, be sure to apply a new oleophobic coating (such as Liquid Glass Screen Protector).Without it, the screen will quickly get dirty, and the sensor may react less to touch.

3. Professional polishing: Displex, PolyWatch and analogues

For deep but not critical scratches (up to 0.1 mm), use specialized polishes:

• 🧴 Displex – Optimal for Xiaomi with Gorilla Glass (not suitable for Redmi Go plastic screens).
• 🔧 PolyWatch restores the transparency of glass, but requires strict compliance with the instructions.
• 💎 Diamond Paste – for sapphire-coated screens (Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha).

How to use Displex:

1. Clean the screen with alcohol (70% isopropyl).


2. Apply 1 drop of Displex on the scratch.




3. rub with a soft cloth (included) for 2-3 minutes.




4. Remove the residues with a dry napkin.




5. Repeat 2-3 times for deep scratches.

For POCO F4 GT or Xiaomi 12 Lite with a glossy coating after polishing may require gloss restoration – use UV-glass polish (applied as nail gel and dried with a UV lamp).

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Before polishing, take a picture of the screen in bright light – so you will objectively evaluate the result before and after the procedure.

4. UV-varnish and liquid glass: protection + scratching

Method UV-The lacquer is suitable for Xiaomi with IPS-screens (e.g. Redmi Note) 11S). Lacquer fills microcracks and creates a protective layer thick ~0.1 mm. It will be required:

• 💡 UV lamp (can be bought for a price) 500-1000 ₽).
• 🧴 Liquid nail polish (transparent, without glitter).
• 🧻 A hairless napkin.

Step-by-step:

1. Clean the screen with isopropyl alcohol (not conventional!).
2. Apply a thin layer of varnish on the scratch with a toothpick.
3. Lacquer the varnish with a napkin soaked in alcohol.
4. Dry under the UV lamp for 2-3 minutes.
5. Polish the screen with a soft cloth after drying.

For AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13, POCO X5 Pro) use liquid glass (e.g. Nano Liquid Glass). UV-It's a lacquer and doesn't distort the color of the matrix. It's applied similarly, but doesn't require UV drying.

5 What NOT to do: 5 dangerous mistakes

Some “tip” from the internet can irrevocably ruin Xiaomi’s screen.

• 🔥 Heating the screen (dryer, iron) - leads to detachment of the oleophobic coating and deformation OLED-matrix.
• 🧂 Salt or sugar – abrasives scratch glass harder than sand.
• 🧴 Acetone, gasoline, solvents - destroy the adhesive layer of the sensor and the oleophobic coating.
• 🪛 Metal scrapers – even “soft” steel leaves furrows on Gorilla Glass.
• 💦 Steam cleaning – moisture gets under the glass, causing corrosion of plumes (relevant for Xiaomi with an unsealed body, for example, POCO M3 Pro).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with Under-Display Camera (hidden front camera, like in the Mi Mix 4), aggressive polishing can damage the pixel matrix above the camera, which will lead to blurry images.

6. When there is only glass replacement

If it's scratched:

• 📉 Sensor sensitivity is impaired (the screen does not respond to touch in some areas).
• 🖥️ Distorting the image (colored stripes or “broken” pixels appear).
• 🔍 Visible when the screen is off as white lines (damaged matrix).

Replacement of the glass or display module is required.

The cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers:

For models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 12T Pro, POCO F4) It is often cheaper to replace the entire module than to glue a new glass - the risk of damage to the matrix during disassembly is ~30%.

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If you have colored vertical stripes on the screen after the fall, that's damage to the matrix plume, and polishing is useless, you need diagnostics in the service.

7.Prevention: How to Avoid Scratches on Xiaomi

To avoid having to remove scratches, follow the simple rules:

• 📱 Use a protective glass with hardness 9H (For example, Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit for Xiaomi 13).
• 👜 Wear your smartphone separately from your keys/coins – even in a Gorilla Glass case, it scratches when rubbing against metal.
• 🧴 Refresh the oleophobic coating every time 6 months (Liquid Glass sets are worthwhile) 300-500 ₽).
• 🚫 Do not put the phone down with the screen – even on smooth surfaces, microparticles of dust get trapped.

For models with curved screens (Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Mix 4), choose full-coated glass (for example, Whitestone Dome). ₽), But protect the edges of the display, which are more likely to suffer from falls.

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If you drop your phone a lot, consider cases with shock absorbing bumpers (like the Spigen Tough Armor for the POCO X5 Pro), which increase the drop height at which the screen stays whole to 1.5 meters.

FAQ: Frequent questions about scratches on Xiaomi