The sensor on the Xiaomi phone works poorly: reasons and 7 proven ways to solve it

Why Xiaomi’s sensor is getting glitzy and what to do about it

Xiaomi smartphone screen has stopped responding adequately to touch? touching is logged with a delay, part of the screen is not working, or the sensor spontaneously presses buttons? The problem is found on both budget Redmi and flagship Xiaomi 13/14 - and it is not always the fault of physical wear. In 60% of cases, the fault can be fixed on your own without having to replace the display module.

In this article, we will discuss all possible causes, from software failures to mechanical damage, and give step-by-step instructions for diagnosis and repair. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5), where sensor malfunctions are often associated with overheating of the controller or detachment of the plume. If you find that the problem is hardware, at the end of the article there is a checklist for choosing a service center.

1.Diagnostics: how to determine the type of sensor malfunction

Before you start repairing, you need to understand what exactly went wrong.

• 🔹 Protective glass (if installed) – cracks or chips may interfere with touch.
• 🔹 Touch film (digitizer) – responsible for recording touches.
• 🔹 Display module (LCD/OLED) — display.
• 🔹 Train and controller – transmit signals from the sensor to the processor.

Do a quick test:

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → hold off “Switch off” → confirm the transition). If the sensor is working normally, it is the fault of third-party software.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and check if the screen responds to touch in Fastboot mode (click Volume Down + Power when the phone is off). If so, the problem is the firmware.
3. Try to control your phone through ADB (adb shell input tap x y). If the commands are executed and the touches are not, the touch layer is faulty.

Pay attention to the nature of the malfunction:

💡

If the sensor stopped working after the fall, DO NOT shake the phone or knock on it - this can permanently damage the plume.

2. Software glitches: reboot, reset and update

In 30 percent of cases, the problem is solved without disassembling the phone.

Forced reset

The system freezes can block touch processing. Press and hold Power + Volume up 10-15 seconds until the phone reboots. If the screen doesn't respond at all, wait until the battery runs out, then charge the phone and turn it on.

Clearing the cache of the section

Go to Recovery Mode (turn off phone → pinch Power + Volume up). Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache. This won't delete your data, but will clear temporary files that may interfere with the sensor.

Turn off the phone.

Press the power + Volume up

Select Wipe Cache (use volume buttons to navigate)

Confirm the action of the power button

Reboot the phone.-->

Reset to factory settings

If the sensor is bugged after installing applications or updating, do a hard reset. Pre-backup data via Mi Cloud or ADB (adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab command).

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. After reset, DO NOT restore data from the backup immediately – check the sensor on the “clean” system.

Update or roll back firmware

Sometimes sensor bugs appear after the MIUI update. Check if other users are complaining on forums (e.g. 4PDA or XDA Developers). If the problem is massive, wait for the patch or roll back to the previous version via Fastboot:

fastboot flash system system.img


fastboot flash boot boot.img




fastboot reboot

For Xiaomi with a locked bootloader, you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Calibration of the sensor: step-by-step instruction

If the screen reacts to touch, but with a delay or inaccurately, try recalibrating the sensor. MIUI does not have a built-in calibration tool, but you can use an engineering menu or third-party apps.

3.1. Through the engineering menu

Open the Phone app and enter the code:

##6484##

From the Touch Screen Test menu, select Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen. If the code doesn't work, try the alternative:

##36446337##

3.2. using the Touchscreen Calibration app

Download an app from Google Play (like Touchscreen Repair or Screen Touch Test) and run a test — if the screen doesn’t respond to touches in certain areas, it indicates a hardware malfunction.

💡

Calibration only helps with software failures, and if there is a problem, it is due to the hardware (the plume, the controller, or the sensor itself).

4. Hardware malfunctions: what can be repaired yourself

If the software methods didn't work, the problem is the hardware. Let's look at the malfunctions that can be fixed without professional hardware.

Cleaning of connectors and plume

Dust, oxidation or weak contact of the plume can cause sensor malfunction.

• 🔧 Plastic blade (or mediator).
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+).
• 🧲 Magnetic screwdriver (for screws Xiaomi usually need) T3 or T4).

Carefully remove the back cover (heating it with a hair dryer 60-70°C if it's glued). Unplug the display plume, wipe the contacts with alcohol and reconnect. Make sure the plume is not bent or damaged.

💡

If the sensor is running after cleaning, but after a while it starts to glitch again, the problem is the wear of the plume. It needs to be replaced (part cost: 300-1000) ₽ model-wise).

Check for moisture and corrosion

Even if the phone didn't sink, condensation or high humidity could cause the contacts to oxidize.

1. Clear the charge with alcohol and a soft brush.
2. Dry your phone in rice or silica gel for 24 hours.
3. Check the sensor.

If corrosion is severe, contact the service, as it may require soldering of components.

Replacement of protective glass or film

Cracks or bubbles on the protective glass can interfere with the registration of touches. Remove the old glass (use a thread or suction cups) and stick a new one. For Xiaomi with curved screens (for example, Mi 11 Ultra), choose full-coated glass (Full Cover).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal scrapers to remove glass - they can damage the sensor layer. If the glass cracks but does not move away, soften the glue with a hair dryer (temperature not higher than 80)°C).

5. When you can not do without the service: signs of serious breakdowns

Some malfunctions require professional repairs.

• 🔧 The sensor does not work at all, even after flashing and cleaning the plume.
• 💥 Vertical/horizontal stripes or artifacts appear on the screen.
• 🔥 The phone overheats in the area of the screen (may indicate a faulty controller).
• 💧 Under the screen, moisture or condensation is visible.
• 🛠️ After the fall, the screen “went waves” or there were divorces.

Average prices for repairs in service centers (2026):

When choosing a service, pay attention to:

• 🔍 Original parts (ask for certificates).
• 📋 Work guarantee (minimum 3 months).
• 👨‍🔧 Reviews of the master (check on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS).

6.Prevention: How to prolong the life of the Xiaomi sensor

To avoid sensor problems in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🛡️ Use high-quality protective glass (e.g. Spigen or Belkin).
• 🔋 Do not overheat your phone (do not play heavy games when charging).
• 💧 Avoid getting moisture (even the steam in the bathroom can cause corrosion).
• 📦 Do not put your phone in your pocket with keys or coins.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI (In new versions, correct sensor bugs).

If you drop your phone a lot, consider Corning Gorilla Glass Victus models (like the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F6 Pro) that are better at handling mechanical stress.

💡

The most common reason for sensor failure is to fall on a hard surface, and even if the screen didn't crack, the impact could damage the plume or disconnect the contacts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's broken sensor