Residual image on the screen Xiaomi: 7 proven ways to remove the “shadow” on the screen

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi screen has ghostly traces of icons, navigation bars or logos? burn-in/image retention), and it is particularly characteristic of AMOLED-screens that are installed in most of the flagship smartphones of the brand – from Mi 11 Redmi Note 12 Pro+. Unlike full-fledged pixel burnout, the residual image is often reversible but requires the right action.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for solving the problem, from software tricks to hardware solutions, and also explain why some “people’s” advice (like rubbing the screen with alcohol) is not only useless, but also dangerous. TV A Pro, Q2) If you see dim outlines of the keyboard, status bar or logo of the game, read on.

What is a residual image and why does it appear on Xiaomi?

Image retention is the temporary memory of static elements that have been displayed in one place for a long time. Unlike pixel burnout (irreversible damage), this effect usually disappears after a few minutes or hours. However, on AMOLED-matrixes (used in Xiaomi 13 Pro, POCO F5, Black Shark 5) the risk of transitioning to a temporary defect is higher due to the peculiarities of organic LEDs.

The main reasons for the appearance:

• 📱 Long-term display of static elements: navigation bars, game icons (for example, Genshin Impact or scaling). PUBG Mobile, logos of streaming services.
• ⚡ High screen brightness: at values above 70% over hours, organic pixels degrade faster.
• ⏳ Use of the device 24/7: Smartphones that operate in the mode of navigator or dashboard (for example, Xiaomi in a taxi), suffer more often.
• 🔄 Incorrect power saving settings: disabling Adaptive brightness or screen protection in MIUI.

Nana LCD-screens (e.g. in Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) The residual image is less common and usually associated with defects in the backlight or polarization layer, but even here, the problem can manifest itself after a year of intense use with maximum brightness.

How to distinguish residual image from pixel burnout

Before you start to treat, it's important to diagnose the problem correctly, and residual imagery and pixel burnout require different approaches. Here are the key differences:

The type of defect can be checked by means of the test:

1. Open a white image on your device (for example, through your browser or Screen Test application).
2. If the shadows are visible, it is a residual image.
3. Change the background to black. If there's a defect, it's burnout.

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For accurate diagnosis, use the AMOLED Burn-in Test app (available on Google Play) to show hidden defects that are invisible to the naked eye.

Method 1: Software "overclocking" of pixels (for AMOLED)

The safest method of removing the residual image is to cycle the colors on the screen, which heats up the pixels and returns them to their original state. Xiaomi devices have built-in tools for this, but they are often hidden.

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Additional settings → Screen Colors.
2. Select Live Colors mode (if not, skip the step).
3. Activate Adaptive Color and set the slider to maximum.
4. Run a video with rapidly changing colors (such as a YouTube test video) for 10-15 minutes.

To speed up the process, use specialized applications:

• 📱 Screen Burn-in Tool (Free, Rootless).
• 🎯 AMOLED Burn-in Fixer (paid but with a recovery guarantee).
• 🔄 Pixel Refresh (requires superuser rights for deep calibration).

Make sure battery power >50%| Turn off automatic screen lock |Close all background apps |Use the original power cable

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Important: Do not use applications to “overclock” pixels more than 1 time a month – this reduces the resource of the AMOLED-matrix.

Method 2: Manual firmware update (for Xiaomi TVs)

On Xiaomi TVs (such as Mi TV Q2 75" or Redmi Smart TV X50), the residual image often appears due to firmware errors, especially after updates via OTA.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the latest firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Support website (Firmware section).
2. Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format).
3. Put the flash drive in. USB-television-port.
4. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.
5. Confirm the installation and wait for the restart (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After the update, reset to factory settings:

Settings → About TV → Reset and Reset → Reset all settings

⚠️ Warning: Do not turn off the TV while you are firmware, this can cause a device to fail (totally).If the process is stalled during the Installation stage, wait 20 minutes before forced shutdown.

Method 3: Hardware reset (for smartphones and tablets)

If the software methods didn't work, and the residual image interferes with the work, try a hard reset, which will clear the GPU cache and return the display settings to the factory.

For Xiaomi smartphones:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
5. Reboot the device (Reboot → System)

For tablets (Xiaomi Pad 5/6):

• Use the combination Power + Volume up + Volume down.
• From the recovery menu, select Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache.

If the problem persists after reset, try calibrating the screen through the engineering menu:

##36446337## → Test → Display → Auto Color

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Factory Reset! the latter will delete all data from the device.If you have not made a backup, use the method only as a last resort.

Method 4: Use of service codes (hidden functions)

Xiaomi hides a number of screen diagnostics tools that are available through secret codes and help reset the display settings at the hardware level.

Useful codes for smartphones:

• 🔧 ##6484## - Sensor and matrix test (checks dead pixels).
• 🎨 ##36446337## - Display Engineering Menu (display section).
• 🔄 ##4636## - information about the battery and graphics processor (check out) GPU Rendering).

For resetting the color profile:

1. Enter the code ##36446337##.
2. Go to Test → Display → Color Test.
3. Select Reset Color and confirm.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) These codes are locked. ADB-team:

adb shell am start -a android.settings.DISPLAY_SETTINGS

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Service codes don't work on all firmware. If the code doesn't work, check the MIUI version in settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version).

Method 5: Preventing residual images (so that the problem does not return)

The best way to fight burn-in is to prevent it, and the following measures will extend the life of the screen by 30 to 50 percent:

• 🔄 Enable automatic wallpaper change: Settings → Wallpaper. → Driver (interval: 1 hour).
• 🌓 Limit brightness: Do not exceed 60-70% in everyday use.
• ⏱️ Use a sleep timer: Settings → Display. → Sleep timer (for example, 10 minutes of inactivity).
• 🎮 Turn off static elements in games: in the graphics settings, select Adaptive FPS And hide HUD.
• 🔋 Avoid overheating: Do not use your smartphone when charging for resource-intensive tasks.

For Xiaomi TVs:

• 📺 Turn off channel logos: Settings → Picture → Screen settings → Channel logo → Off.
• 🎬 Use Mode Mode Mode instead of Dynamic Mode – it reduces the load on pixels.
• 🔄 Update your firmware every 2 months, even if there are no notifications.

Monitoring annexes:

• 📊 AccuBattery – monitors the temperature and load on the processor (affects the screen).
• 🔍 Screen Test – weekly check for residual images.

Method 6: Contact a service center (when nothing helps)

If the residual image does not disappear after all the manipulations, and the screen shows permanent spots, this is a sign of physical damage to the matrix, in which case a replacement of the screen is required.

When to go service:

• 🚨 The defect is visible on a black background (a sign of pixel burnout).
• 🔧 Software methods do not give results for more than 3 days.
• 📉 The brightness of the screen is uneven (one side is darker than the other).

Cost of repair (2026):

Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia:

• 📍 Mi Store Repair (Warranty and Post-Warranty Repair).
• 📍 X-Service (specialized in the AMOLED-screen).

⚠️ Warning: If you change your screen in unofficial services, you risk getting a non-original matrix with the worst colors and brightness. Always demand a check and a guarantee for work.

FAQ: Frequent questions about residual image on Xiaomi