Why Xiaomi’s screen has become dull and how to fix it: from settings to repairs

You picked up your Xiaomi and noticed that the screen has become unusually dull? Colors faded, text is hard to read, and in bright light the image almost disappears? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO or Mi — from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. In 80% of cases, the screen dullness is due to software settings that can be fixed in a few minutes. But sometimes the cause lies deeper — hardware malfunctions or wear of the matrix.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes of a faint screen on Xiaomi, from the banal dimming of brightness to damage to the display plume. You'll learn how to diagnose a problem, which settings to check first, and when to contact the service center. And if you're afraid of breaking something, don't worry: we'll give you step-by-step instructions with the photo and warn you of typical errors. Let's start with the simplest!

1. Check the basic brightness settings

The first thing you need to do is make sure that the screen brightness is not manually or automatically lowered, and Xiaomi has three things to do with it: manual adjustment, adaptive brightness, and reading mode, and even if you didn't change anything, it could reset after the upgrade or because of a crash.

Open the notification curtain and find the brightness slider. If it's shifted to the left, move it to the maximum. But that's not all: adaptive brightness can automatically dim the screen depending on the lighting, to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Slip on Adaptive Brightness and turn off the slider.
3. Go back and check if Read Mode or Vision Protection is on, which can also make the screen dim.

Important! Some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 11 Pro) have a separate Contrast setting in the display menu, and if it is lowered, the colors will look faded even at maximum brightness.

2. Turn off energy saving modes

Energy saving is a common reason for a dim screen on Xiaomi. MIUI aggressively optimizes battery consumption, and sometimes it affects the display.

• 🔋 Ultra-power saving mode: turn it off in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode, where the brightness is fixed at a minimum level.
• ⚡ Application background restriction: Some apps (such as Google Maps or YouTube) may mute the screen if they are in saving mode. → Battery → Battery use applications.
• 📱 Mode "For the eyes": in Settings → The display can be turned on a blue light filter, which makes the screen yellowish and less bright.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO X5 Pro) dullness may occur due to function DC Dimming -- it reduces flickering, but it decreases maximum brightness. → Display. → DC Dimming.

⚠️ Attention! If after the power-savings are turned off, the screen is brighter, but the battery is discharged faster, that's OK. To balance brightness and autonomy, use adaptive brightness with manual adjustment.

3. Update the firmware and reset the display settings

Misfunctions in MIUI firmware can cause the display to malfunction, for example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, some Redmi Note 12 users complained of spontaneous brightness decline to rule out a software error:

1. Check the relevance of the firmware: Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, install it. If you don't, try resetting the display settings:

Settings → Display → Additional → Resetting the display settings

If the problem has occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot, but keep in mind that rollbacks can lead to data loss.

Manual brightness checked | Adaptive brightness turned off | Energy-saving modes turned off | Updated firmware |Display settings reset-->

4. Diagnostics of hardware problems

If the software methods didn't work, the cause of the dim screen might be hardware, and here are the most common malfunctions and their signs:

To check if the plume is to blame, carefully press the bottom of the screen (where the connectors are usually located). If the brightness temporarily recovers, there is a problem in the plume. For accurate diagnosis, you will need to disassemble the phone or contact the service.

⚠️ If the dullness appears after a phone drop or moisture hits, do not turn it on - this can aggravate the damage.

5. Problems with the light sensor

All Xiaomi (except the most budget models) have an external light sensor that regulates the brightness of the screen. If it is dirty or defective, the system may mistakenly believe that it is too bright, and mute the display.

To check his work:

1. Close the sensor with your finger and see if the brightness changes.
2. Wipe the sensor area with a soft napkin (without alcohol!).
3. If the brightness doesn't respond, the sensor might have failed, and then the replacement will help.

Some models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3) don't have a light sensor, and the brightness is manually adjusted. If you have one, skip this item.

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If the light sensor doesn't work properly, but you can't replace it, turn off the adaptive brightness and use manual adjustment, which is uncomfortable, but it will prevent the screen from automatically dimming.

6.Discolored screen after display replacement

If you’ve recently changed your screen on Xiaomi (for example, after a crack), the dimness may be due to a poor-quality matrix or improper installation.

• 🔦 Original vs Copy: Chinese screens often have the worst backlights. Compare your display to the original one (e.g., from photos on the Internet).
• 🔌 Bad plume contact: If the master has not pressed the connector, the screen will be dull or with artifacts.
• 📏 Incompatible matrix: Some models (Redmi Note 8 Pro) have screens from other phones (for example, from Redmi Note). 8T), cliff-bright.

If the screen has been replaced recently, go back to the workshop, they are guaranteed to fix the defect. If you have changed it yourself, check the matrix compatibility with your model (see the display code, for example, JD9365 for the Redmi Note 10 Pro).

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After changing the screen to Xiaomi, always check it in the workshop in bright light.Dumbness or yellowness is often only noticeable in daylight, and indoor defects can not be seen.

7. When to contact the service center

If you’ve tried all of these, but Xiaomi’s screen is still dim, it’s time to call in the experts.

• 💡 The dullness is accompanied by flickering or stripes.
• 🔋 The brightness does not change manually or through settings.
• 💧 The phone fell, got wet or overheated before the problem appeared.
• 🔧 The screen changed and the dullness appeared immediately after the replacement.

The cost of repair depends on the model and the reason:

• Replacement of the plume: from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles.
• Repair of illumination: from 3000 to 6000 rubles.
• Replacement of the matrix: from 4000 to 15 000 rubles (depending on the model).

Only contact authorized Xiaomi service centers or workshops with good reviews. Poor repairs can exacerbate the problem. Make a backup before visiting - sometimes a complete phone reset is required for repairs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's dim screen