Why Xiaomi’s screen has become dull: causes and solutions

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi smartphone screen suddenly dimmed? The picture has become less contrasting, the colors have faded, and in the bright sunlight it is almost impossible to see anything on the display? This problem occurs in many users, but its causes can be radically different, from a banal error in settings to a serious breakdown of the matrix.

In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of a dim screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO, This includes software failures, hardware malfunctions, and even specific models, and you'll learn how to diagnose a problem yourself, what settings to check first, and when to contact a service center. And for the most common cases, we've prepared step-by-step instructions with visual cues.

Important: if the dimness of the screen is accompanied by flickering, stripes or artifacts, this may indicate damage to the plume or matrix - in this case, it is better to immediately stop using the device and contact specialists.

1. Automatic brightness control: why the screen itself dims

The most common reason for dim screens is the automatic brightness setting, which is enabled by default on most Xiaomi smartphones, which uses a light sensor to adjust brightness to ambient conditions, but sometimes it works incorrectly:

• 🌞 Too aggressive dimming – the screen becomes dim even in normal lighting.
• 🔄 Hang sensor - brightness is fixed at a minimum level and does not change.
• 📱 Conflict with the shell MIUI — After the update, the system can reset the settings.

To check if the automatic adjustment is to blame, turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Find the Automatic Brightness item and turn off the slider.
3. Manually set the brightness to 70-80% Check if the picture has changed.

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If after turning off the automatic brightness, the screen became normal, but after a while it dimmed again - try to clear the cache of the Settings application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Clear the cache).

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+) There's a separate function called Adaptive Brightness, which takes into account the user's habits. If it's on, try turning it off, and sometimes the algorithm mistakenly gets used to low brightness.

2. Energy saving modes: hidden brightness limits

Xiaomi smartphones are actively using energy saving modes that can artificially limit the brightness of the screen to save battery power, and some of these modes are turned on automatically, and the user does not even know it.

Where to look:

• 🔋 Normal energy saving mode - limits brightness to 50-60% (Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime).
• ⚡ Ultra mode – can reduce brightness to 30% and turn off adaptive backlight.
• 🌙 Dark subject. + Energy saving – the combination of these functions sometimes leads to double dimming.

Disable the power saving mode in the battery settings

Check if the ultra mode is turned on (the zipper icon in the notification panel)

Make sure that in the settings → Display. → Dark theme not activated by additional blue light filter

Reboot the smartphone after the changes-->

This is especially common for device owners. AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5). The fact is that such displays consume less energy when displaying dark colors, and the system can too aggressively optimize brightness.

⚠️ Note: If you use user power profiles (e.g., through the Security app), check their settings – sometimes they override standard limits. MIUI.

3. Damage to the illumination sensor: hardware malfunction

If the automatic brightness is turned off, the energy saving is turned off, but the screen is still dim — the problem may be in a faulty light sensor, and this little sensor is located next to the front camera and is responsible for measuring the level of external light.

Signs of sensor breakdown:

• 🔦 Brightness does not change when moving the smartphone from a dark room to the light.
• 📉 The brightness slider in the settings is fixed at a minimum and does not respond to changes.
• 🔄 After rebooting, the screen becomes normal for a short time, then dims again.

You can check the operation of the sensor using the service code:

##6484##

Once you enter, you will open a sensor testing menu. Find Light Sensor, if the value does not change when the lighting changes (for example, 0 or 10,000 remains), the sensor is faulty.

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) The light sensor can become contaminated, with dust or fat from your fingers blocking its operation.

4.Firmware problems: when the software is to blame

Screen failures are often associated with software errors, especially after an update MIUI. For example, in versions MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 were detected bugs, because of which the system improperly processed brightness commands.

Typical scenarios:

• 📲 After the update, the screen became dull immediately after installing a new firmware.
• 🔄 Resetting settings – brightness is reset to a minimum after rebooting.
• 🖥️ Launcher conflict – third-party shells (like Nova Launcher) can interfere with display settings.

How to fix it:

1. Reset the display settings: Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset the display settings.
2. Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory. → Clear cache (does not delete user data).
3. Reverse to old firmware (if dimness appears after the update): use the Mi Flash Tool or Fastboot.

After the MIUI update

After the fall/hit

By itself, for no apparent reason.

After the screen/battery has been replaced

Other-->

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be incorrectly calibrating the display drivers. data/factory reset TWRP).

Physical damage: plume, matrix, battery

If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware, and a dim screen might be a consequence of:

• 🔌 Display plume damage is a common problem after falling or replacing the screen.The plume can be partially torn or bent, leading to a decrease in brightness.
• 📺 The Degradation of the Matrix Over Time (especially on the AMOLED-The pixels are losing their brightness, which is noticeable when compared to a new device.
• 🔋 Battery bloating – presses on the plume or matrix, causing blackout (often accompanied by iridescent spots on the screen).
• 💧 Moisture intrusion - even after drying, the oxidation of contacts can lead to illumination failures.

How to diagnose:

1. Check the plume: gently press the top of the screen (near the front camera). If the brightness is temporarily restored, the plume is to blame.
2. Check the battery: if the case of the smartphone is inflated or the screen “steps away” from the frame – immediately turn off the device!
3. Broken pixel test: run a video with a uniform color (for example, white), if there are dark spots, the matrix is damaged.

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If the screen dimness is accompanied by flickering, stripes or spontaneous reboots, this is a sure sign of hardware failure.

Cost of repair:

• Replacement of the plume: 1000-2500 rubles.
• Replacement of the matrix: 3000-10000 rubles (depending on the model).
• Battery replacement: 1500-4000 rubles.

Features of the AMOLED-Screens: Burnout and Calibration

If you have a smartphone with AMOLED-Matrix (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 pro POCO F4 GT), This dimness can be related to the natural burning of pixels. IPS, AMOLED-screens lose brightness over time, especially if static elements are displayed for a long time (for example, navigation panels).

How to check for burnout:

1. Set the brightness to 100%.
2. Open a black image (for example, through a gallery).
3. Light the flashlight at an angle – if you can see the contours of icons or panels, the pixels are burned out.

What to do:

• 🔄 Color calibration: In the engineering menu (#36446337##) find the Screen item and reset the color profile.
• 🌈 Enable Adaptive Color Temperature: Settings → Display. → Color scheme → Adaptive.
• ⏳ Use dark themes – this will slow down further burnout.

Some devices (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11) have a hidden Screen Burn-in Protection feature that automatically shifts the pixels to uniform wear.

adb shell settings put global oem_anti_burn_in 1

(Developer mode is required and the connection is required ADB).

7.Non-Original Parts: Why the Screen Dims After Repair

If the dimness occurred after changing the screen, chances are you have an unoriginal matrix or plume. Chinese copies often have:

• 💡 Low lighting (maximum brightness 30-50% lower than the original).
• 🎨 Distorted colors (shades may be too cold or warm).
• 🔄 Lack of adaptive brightness support (sensor not working).

How to recognize the non-original screen:

If you have a poor screen, demand a replacement under warranty (if repairs were made in official service). In informal workshops, original parts are rare - be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay for re-repair.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 or Redmi) K60) Unoriginal screens can block the work of Face ID Or shutting down adaptive brightness permanently (even after being replaced with the original) is about protecting Xiaomi from fake parts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's dim screen