Why Xiaomi is dimming screen: all the reasons and how to fix

Xiaomi's smartphone screen suddenly goes out while you're working, doesn't respond to taps, or only turns on after multiple attempts? This problem is found on both budget Redmis and Mi or POCO flagships - and there may be a dozen reasons. Don't rush to bring the phone to the service: 60 percent of the time, it's not hardware that's to blame, but software failures or incorrect settings. But how do you tell a harmless glitch from a serious breakdown?

In this article, we will discuss all the possible reasons why the Xiaomi screen dims or doesn’t turn on – from a discharged battery to a damaged plume. You will learn how to diagnose the problem yourself, what manipulations should be tried at home, and when it is better to immediately contact the wizard.Spoiler: in half of cases, a simple reboot or resetting helps.

If your Xiaomi is still under warranty, don’t disassemble it yourself – this will void warranty obligations. For models older than 2 years (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi 9T), most solutions can be applied without special tools.

1.Discharged battery or charging problems

The most obvious reason why Xiaomi's screen is going out is because it's a dead battery, but there's a nuance here: sometimes the phone shows a charge of 20-30% and then it shuts down a minute later, which is a sign of battery wear or a power controller failure.

How to check:

1. Connect the charger (original!)
2. Pay attention to the indicator: if it flashes red or does not burn at all, there is a problem with the battery or charging circuit.
3. If the phone is turned on only from charging, but turns off when the cable is disconnected, the battery does not hold the charge.

What do I do?

• 🔋 Try another charger (preferably with Quick Charge support for Xiaomi).
• 📊 Check battery wear through the engineering menu: type ##4636## → "Battery information. If health is below 70%, it's time to change.
• ⚡ Reset the Power Controller Settings: Settings → Battery. → Three dots (menu) → Optimizing the battery → Reset.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone gets hot during charging or discharges over the 1-2 The hour is a sign of a bloating battery, in which case, immediately disconnect it from the power supply and do not use it until you have replaced it!

2. software failures (firmware, applications, viruses)

Software glitches are the second most common reason why Xiaomi's screen spontaneously goes out.

• 🤖 Unstable firmware (especially after update) MIUI).
• 📱 Application conflict (often to blame SEOs or launchers).
• 🦠 Viruses/malware that block the display.

How do you diagnose?

1. Run your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button → long tap on "Switch off" → "Reboot in Safe Mode"). If the screen doesn't dim in Safe Mode, the third-party app is to blame.
2. Check the error logs: Settings → About phone → MIUI version (stamp 5 times according to version) → Error logs.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Reset the settings to factory: Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Resetting settings.
• 📥 Fastboot your phone (instructions below).
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) and check the system.

Try Safe Mode|

Check error logs |

Remove newly installed applications|

Reset the settings to factory-->

3. Damage to the display or matrix plume

If Xiaomi's screen dims when tilting, shaking, or pressing certain areas, the plume (a flexible cable connecting the display to the motherboard) is to blame.

• 📵 The screen flickers before shutting down.
• 🔲 Vertical stripes or artifacts appear.
• 💥 The phone is turned on only after a strong press on the body.

How do you check the plume?

1. Carefully press the top and bottom of the screen (where the plume passes). If the image appears, contact is a problem.
2. Connect the phone to the PC: if the computer sees it, but the screen is black, the matrix or plume is to blame.

What do I do?

• 🔧 If you have a warranty phone, don't take it out.
• 🛠️ For self-repair will be required: New plume (cost) ~500-1500₽ Plastic spatula and dryer for disassembly Patience: on Redmi Note 10 Pro replacement plume takes ~1.5 hour.

⚠️ Attention: On models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 12 or Xiao) POCO F4) The plume is often integrated into the matrix, and replacing it requires a complete disassembly of the display — it's better to trust it to a professional.

Failure of the proximity or illumination sensor

If Xiaomi's screen dims when you're calling or when you're lifting it to your ear, it's the proximity sensor that's supposed to turn off the display when you're talking, but sometimes it's false, and there's also a problem with the light sensor that regulates the brightness.

How do you check?

1. Call your phone and put your hand over the top of the screen, and if the screen goes out, the sensor works, but it's too sensitive.
2. Enter the engineering code: ##6484## → "Proximity Sensor." In normal operation, the values should change from 5 (far) to 0 (close).

Decisions:

• 📱 Calibrate the sensor: Settings → System system → Additionally. → Sensor calibration.
• 🔧 Clean the sensor area (top of the screen) of dirt or film.
• 🛠️ If the sensor does not respond, a replacement (cost) is required. ~500-1 200₽).

5. overheating of the processor or battery

Xiaomi automatically turns off the screen when it overheats to prevent damage to components, and the normal operating temperature is 40-45°C. If the phone gets hotter, the protection goes off.

Causes of overheating:

• 🔥 Games or heavy apps (e.g. Genshin Impact on Redmi Note 11).
• ☀️ Direct sunlight or hot weather.
• 🔋 Bloated battery (heats even in simple).
• 🖥️ CPU failures (for example, Snapdragon cores freeze).

How do you check the temperature?

1. Install the AIDA64 or CPU Monitor app.
2. See the temperature of the processor and battery in the "Sensors" section.
3. If the temperature is above 50°C without loading, this is critical.

Decisions:

• ❄️ Let the phone cool down (turn off on) 15-20 minute).
• 🧊 Remove the case (especially silicone – it retains heat).
• 🔧 Turn off background processes: Settings → Annexes → Auto-start.
• 🛠️ Replace the heat paste (relevant to the POCO F3 or black shark).

💡

If the phone overheats while charging, try turning off the Fast Charging feature in the battery settings.This will reduce heating, but increase charging time.

Hardware breakdowns: motherboard, power controller

If all previous methods did not help, the problem may lie in the hardware:

• 🔌 Faulty power controller (e.g., power controller, PMIC on Snapdragon processors).
• 🔧 Damaged capacitors on the motherboard (often after falling or getting moisture).
• 💻 Failures in operation GPU (Adreno or Mali screens can be turned off when overloaded).

Signs of hardware breakdown:

• 📵 The phone doesn’t even turn on from charging.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot (bootloop).
• 💥 Extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling) when connected to charging.

What do I do?

• 🔍 Diagnose the fee at the service center (the cost of diagnosis) ~500-1 000₽).
• 🛠️ If the phone fell or got wet, it requires soldering of components (price from 2 000).₽).
• 🔋 For models with MediaTek (e.g. Redmi) 10A) frequent problem - failure PMIC. In this case, the repair will cost 1,500–3,000₽.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn’t turn on after flashing through Fastboot, it could be a sign of partition damage EFS (IMEI). In this case, restoration is required through EDL-mode (only in service!).

7.Firmware problems: how to reflash Xiaomi

If the screen dims due to a firmware failure, reinstalling MIUI will help. Importantly, this method is only suitable for phones that respond to charging or buttons in any way.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Unpack the archive and rename the file to update.zip.
3. Turn off the phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
4. Select Install update.zip and confirm the installation.
5. After restarting, perform a data reset (Wipe Data).

If Recovery doesn't work:

• Use Fastboot firmware via PC (instructions for Mi Flash Tool).
• The Redmi Note 8 Pro and other MediaTek models will require the SP Flash Tool.

💡

Fastboot flashing erases all data! Try backing up your Mi PC Suite first if the phone is turning on in any way.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's rotten screen