Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones periodically encounter an unpleasant visual artifact, which is popularly dubbed the “yellow flash”, which can manifest itself in various ways, from a slight yellow hue in the corners of the display to sharp color jumps when switching between applications.
The problem should not be ignored, as it can progress over time, significantly reducing the comfort of using a gadget to read or watch videos. In some cases, yellowness is the result of improper calibration of color temperature after updating the system, and in others, physical damage to the display plume. Understanding the nature of the defect is the first step to a successful solution.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible causes of yellow spots and flashes, and offer proven methods for eliminating them. You will learn when software settings are enough, and in which situations you will need to intervene in the hardware of the device. Careful study of the instructions will save time and money for repairs.
Programmatic settings of color reproduction
The problem is often not the breakdown, but the misaligned display settings. The MIUI or HyperOS operating system has many parameters that affect the screen, and the wrong color calibration can create the illusion of a yellow flash, especially in a bright white background.
The first thing to do is check the color profile settings. Manufacturers often set saturated default modes that can distort the perception of shades. Changing the mode to Standard or Classic often solves the problem of unnatural yellowness.
💡
Before changing the screen settings, take a screenshot of the current parameters to be able to return to the original values if the result does not suit you.
Also worth paying attention to is the Dark Mode or Night Shift feature, which specifically shifts the color temperature to the warm spectrum, which can be perceived by the user as a yellow flash.
- 🎨 Go to the Settings menu → Screen and select profile "SRGB" or "Standard".
- 🌙 Turn off Reading or Vision Protection if it is activated continuously.
- 🔄 Reset the screen settings to factory values via the engineering menu (if available).
If the profile manipulations left yellowness, the problem may be deeper, but 60 percent of the time, users confuse the software feature with a hardware defect because of the color scheme settings.
Diagnostics of hardware display problems
When software methods don't work, you have to look at physical damage. A yellow flash can be a sign of degradation of organic compounds in the body. AMOLED-matrices or problems with illumination in IPS-This is especially true for devices that have been in use for more than two years.
Note the pattern of the defect. If the yellow spot is static and does not change position when the screen is rotated, it is a sure sign of pixel burnout or damage to the matrix layer. Dynamic flash, which occurs only when heavy applications are loaded, can indicate overheating of the display controller.
⚠️ Note: If the yellow spot has clear boundaries and does not change intensity, it is likely irreversible damage to the matrix, requiring a replacement of the module.
You can use a special test image to diagnose accurately, upload a pure white image to the full screen and carefully examine the surface at maximum brightness, and if there is an uneven light or yellow angles, it will confirm the hardware defect.
How to distinguish burnout from factory marriage?
Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration
For advanced users, you can access hidden system settings through the engineering menu, and you can do a deeper screen calibration that you can't do in a normal interface, and this method requires caution, because changing the wrong settings can disrupt the system.
To enter the menu, you need to dial a special code in the Phone app. For most Xiaomi models, this is a combination of ##64663#. From the menu that opens, you should select Display or Screen, where you can check and customize colors.
Instructions for entry:
1. Open the phone app.
2. Dial the code: ##64663##
3. Select "Version Information" -> "Display".Some firmware versions have a color reset option, which will return the Look-Up Table (LUT) to factory values, and if the yellow flash is still there after the reset, then there is no software correction.
- 🔧 Find the Color Calibration item in the Engineering Menu.
- 📉 Try to lower the value of the blue channel if the screen goes yellow.
- 💾 Save the changes and restart the device via Reboot.
💡
The engineering menu is a powerful tool, but changing parameters without understanding their function can lead to incorrect display of colors throughout the system.
Impact of MIUI and HyperOS Updates
Often users notice yellowness immediately after an operating system update, and developers can change image processing algorithms or implement new display drivers that conflict with the current state of your particular instance's matrix.
In such cases, cleaning the GUI cache helps. Accumulated temporary files may contain old color settings that conflict with new system files, especially when switching between major versions of Android.
| MIUI version | A well-known problem | Status of decision | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 / 12.5 | Shifting white balance | Corrected in the patch | Update to the current version |
| MIUI 13 | Yellow artifacts in AOD | Partially corrected | Disable Always on Display |
| MIUI 14 | Overheating and yellowness | Demands a patch. | Resetting screen settings |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Unstable frequency | In the job. | Expectation of updates |
If the problem has occurred after the update, it makes sense to wait for the next security patch to come out, and Xiaomi often responds quickly to mass complaints regarding display defects after major releases.
☑️ Actions after system update
Mechanical damage and plumes
Physical impact on the device cannot be ruled out, as even if there are no cracks on the screen, internal pressure or impact could damage the display plume. Poor contact at the matrix-board connection often causes color distortions, including yellow flashes.
This is especially true for models with curved edges of the screen, where the plume is constantly tense, and when the device is heated, materials expand, contact may disappear or, conversely, close, causing periodic defects.
⚠️ Attention: Attempt to disassemble the smartphone and correct the plume without experience can lead to a complete rupture of contacts and the display fails.
A plume problem can be diagnosed by tapping the smartphone frame at the top or bottom (where the connector is located). If the yellow flash pattern changes when pressed, the problem lies in the mechanical connection.
In such cases, a qualified repair is required in the service center. The master will be able to relay the plume, replace the pin down bar or replace the connector, which is impossible to do at home without special equipment.
When a Replacement of the Display is Necessary
If none of the software methods worked, and the mechanical impact did not reveal problems with the plume, most likely, the matrix itself failed. AMOLED-Screens are a natural process that accelerates at maximum brightness and high temperatures.
Replacing the display is a radical but often the only way to get the device back to its original appearance. When choosing a new module, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the copy or the originality of the spare part, since cheap counterparts often have a worse color reproduction and can return to yellowness after a month.
The cost of replacement varies depending on the model. For Xiaomi and Poco flagship lines, the original module can make up a significant portion of the cost of the device, but only a quality replacement ensures that no artifacts are left in the future.
- 🛠 Contact an authorized diagnostic service center.
- 💰 Find out the cost of the original module and analogue.
- 📝 Check the warranty for work on replacement of the display.