The screen on the Xiaomi smartphone went out: what to do and how to turn on

When the screen on Xiaomi’s smartphone suddenly goes out, it causes panic in any owner.The device may continue to vibrate, make notification sounds or even ring, but the display remains black.This does not always mean a fatal breakdown of the matrix, often the problem lies in a software failure or battery discharge.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for various scenarios, from trivial discharge to complex hardware malfunctions. You will learn how to conduct diagnostics without connecting to a computer and in which cases urgent intervention of the service center is necessary. Redmi and POCO have their own diagnostic features, which we will definitely take into account.

The first thing you need to do is not panic and consistently rule out simple causes, and sometimes it only takes a few minutes to solve a problem if you know which buttons to press, and we'll look at how to force reboot, check the battery, and diagnose the display module.

Primary diagnosis: software failure or "black screen of death"

The most common reason that the screen goes out when the phone is running is to freeze the Android operating system or the MIUI shell. The processor continues to work, the background services function, but the GUI stops rendering, a phenomenon popularly called the “black screen of death”, although technically the device simply “hangs”.

To check if the phone is alive, try pressing the switch on button, if you feel a slight vibration or hear a locking sound, but there is no image, it is a software problem. It is also worth listening to: if the incoming call is beeping and the screen is silent, then the sensor or the display driver has stopped responding to the system commands.

Sometimes the problem arises after updating the firmware or installing a "heavy" application, the system could go into a cycle of errors that blocks the output of the image, in such cases, the standard press of the power button does not help, requires deeper intervention in the operation of the power controller.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone heats up in the camera or processor area and the screen goes out, immediately put the device down.Continuing to turn on may cause the battery to bloat or the motherboard to fail.

To eliminate software freeze, there is a universal method that works on 90% of Xiaomi models, it is data-safe and requires no special skills, the main thing is to withstand the correct duration of button pressing, since the system can ignore short presses.

The method of forced reset (Hard Reset buttons)

The most effective way to revive a device that has a screen gone out is to perform a hard reset, which forcibly unblocks the power chain and restarts the bootloader, bypassing the hung operating system, the first thing you need to do before you look for a service.

Xiaomi's technology has a special resetting algorithm for the power controller, so you'll need to hold the power button for a long time. Unlike conventional smartphones, it takes 10 to 20 seconds to get the timeout, and if you release the button early, the phone can just go into sleep mode, but it won't restart.

In some cases, if standard retention does not help, a combination of buttons is required, especially for models with non-removable batteries, where there is no physical access to power contacts, the combination of volume and power buttons allows you to initiate a reset at the level of low-level interruptions.

After a successful reboot, the phone should vibrate and show the brand logo. If the screen caught fire but the image is unstable (strips, ripples), this may indicate damage to the plume or the matrix itself. If the phone turned on and worked normally, the problem was solely a software failure of MIUI.

Diagnostics of hardware faults of the display

If the forced reboot failed and the screen remained black, there is a high probability of hardware failure. The display module of modern Xiaomi smartphones consists of a matrix (LCD or AMOLED), a touch screen (sensor) and a protective glass. Damage to any of these components can lead to the absence of an image.

A common cause is the departure of the display plume from the motherboard, which can occur after a fall, even if there is no external damage to the housing, the shock wave can displace the connector inside the housing, and damage to the matrix itself is also possible, especially if the screen appears ink stains or vertical stripes before it is completely extinguished.

You can use the flashlight method to make the initial check, turn on the flashlight in a dark room and shine it close to the black screen of the phone, and if you see a barely visible image of the interface, logo or menu, then the matrix is intact, but the backlight is burned. This is a common problem in Redmi's budget models. LCD-screen.

Below is a table that helps classify symptoms and possible causes:

If you find physical injuries or symptoms described in the table, self-repair without experience and tools can make the situation worse. AMOLED-screens that are extremely sensitive to mechanical effects.

💡

If you connect to a computer, the phone is detected, but the screen is black, it is most likely the problem in the plume or the matrix itself, not in the processor.

Problems with the battery and charging system

Sometimes the answer to the question "why did the screen go out" lies in the banal lack of power, the battery could go into a deep discharge, which is not enough voltage to start the charging indication, in which the phone can lie on charging for a long time, without showing signs of life.

Protection system BMS (Battery Management System blocks charging at critically low voltage, requires the original charger and cable to rock the battery. USB-A computer port or weak wireless charging is inefficient in this case, since the current is too small to overcome the activation threshold.

Also worth checking is the charging connector. In POCO and Redmi models with USB Type-C connector, pocket dust and pile are often clogged. This creates resistance, and the current just doesn't reach the board. Carefully, using a wooden toothpick (not metal!), clean the connector.

• 🔌 Use only the original power supply and cable - third-party may not give the desired current.
• ⏳ Leave your phone on charge at least for 40-60 minutes, even if the indicator does not immediately light up.
• 🌡️ Check the temperature of the case: if the phone is ice, the chemical reaction in the battery has stopped, you need heating.

Now, there's an interesting thing about this: if the phone was running low for a long time, the lithium polymer battery might swell, and visually, it's not always noticeable, but if the phone is on the table and spins like a yule when you're jolted, the battery is swelling, and it's dangerous to operate such a device.

⚠️ Warning: Never try to punctur a ballooned battery or heat it with a hairdryer at maximum temperature.

Enter Recovery and Fastboot Mode

If the screen goes out immediately after the logo appears or does not turn on at all, but the phone responds to buttons, you should try to enter service modes. Recovery mode allows you to reset the settings to the factory, and Fastboot - reflash the device or check communication with the PC.

To log into Recovery on your phone off, press the Volume Up + Power button. Hold it until the menu appears. If the screen comes alive and a menu with several items appears, then the matrix is good and the problem is in the system boot.

Fastboot mode is activated by Volume Down + Power, which usually shows a hare repairing an android (or just the Fastboot logo) on the screen, and if the screen is stable in this mode, then the problem is software and is solved by flashing through the computer.

It is important to understand that entering Recovery mode will result in the loss of all data if you have not made a backup. Use this method only if other methods have not helped, and you are ready for a complete reset.

When a visit to the service center is required

There are a number of situations when independent actions are useless and even harmful. If after all the manipulations, the Xiaomi screen remains black, and the phone is warming, makes extraneous sounds (creaming, squeaking), or smells of burnt plastic, immediately carry the device to the specialists.

Complex cases require professional diagnosis using a microscope and test boards, such as a power controller failure or a circuit break after a fall, and the service can replace the matrix, retaining your body and internal components if the model allows for separate replacement (although more often change the module assembly).

Don't try to disassemble your phone yourself if it's in a warranty. Seal breaks and autopsy marks instantly nullify the manufacturer's warranty. Even if you're confident in your abilities, the risk of damaging plumes or breaking a new screen if you build it ineptly is very high.

• 🛑 Phone fell into water or other liquid – need cleaning in ultrasonic bath.
• 📉 The device was in operation more 3-4 years - possible wear of components of lighting.
• 🔋 Battery is up – urgent replacement is required to avoid fire.

Xiaomi smartphones today are complex, adhesive-framed, and require heating and tools to open them, and trying to open the phone with a knife or heating a conventional dryer often damages the insides of the display.

💡

Keep the check and the box from the smartphone. Xiaomi service centers often require proof of purchase date for warranty repairs, especially if the IMEI is not readable due to a breakdown.

Prevention and protection of the display

So that the screen goes out again, it's important to follow the rules of operation, because the main cause of failure is mechanical damage, and even if the glass is whole, the inner matrix could crack from impact on a hard surface.

Use protective glass or film, they take the first hit and dampen the energy of the collision, and also a high-quality case with sideways, which protects the corners of the smartphone, the most vulnerable part when falling. AMOLED-This is critical because screens are less durable than IPS.

Monitor the charging cable. An overheated or sparkling connector can cause a voltage surge that will damage the display controller. Check the cable regularly for clamps and insulation damage.