How to remove monochrome mode on Xiaomi Redmi: causes and solutions

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones sometimes face an unexpected problem: the device’s screen suddenly turns black and white, losing all colors. This effect is called monochrome mode (or “gray gradation mode”), and it can be activated either by user error or by system failures. Unlike hardware malfunctions of the display, where colors disappear due to physical damage to the matrix, monochrome mode is a software feature that can be turned off.

The reasons for the black and white screen range from randomly pressing keyboards to enabling special modes to save charge or reduce eye strain. In this article, we will explore all possible ways to disable monochrome mode on Redmi Note, Redmi A, POCO and other models of the brand, from basic settings to hidden commands for power users.

Why the screen turned black and white: 5 main reasons

Before we get to the bottom of this, it's important to understand the source of the problem: Xiaomi's monochrome mode rarely appears on its own, usually activated by a user (sometimes unconsciously) or system in response to certain conditions.

• 🎛️ Random turn on in special features settings. Gradation of gray (or Color filter) is designed for people with color blindness, but can be activated by random swipe on the notification panel or through the Settings menu. → Special facilities.
• 🔋 Battery savings mode. Some firmware MIUI automatically switch to monochrome mode at a critical charge level (below 5%) to extend the operating time.
• 📱 Failure after update MIUI. If the black and white screen appeared immediately after installing the new firmware version, the fault may be a conflict of graphics drivers or an error in system files.
• 👶 Childhood mode or parental control, in some versions MIUI Monochrome display is used as part of restrictions for children to reduce the burden on vision.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction: If none of the software methods work, the problem may be damage to the plume of the display or graphics chip (especially after falls or moisture hits).

To narrow down the possible causes, consider what actions the screen became monochrome after: whether you updated the system, dropped the phone, or perhaps included unfamiliar features in the settings, which will help you choose the most effective solution.

Method 1: Disabling Gray Gradation in Special Opportunities Settings

The simplest and most common case is when Gradation Gray is activated in the feature menu, which is for color-impaired users, but it's easy to switch on randomly.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Special Features section (in some versions of MIUI it may be called Universal Access).
3. Select Color Filter or Color Correction.
4. Move Gradation Gray slider to off position or uncheck next to this option.
5. Confirm the changes by clicking Ready or Save.

If the screen is black and white after this, try restarting the device — sometimes changes are only applied after the reboot, and check if an additional filter is activated in the same menu (for example, Color Inversion or Color Blindness).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) Gray gradation function may be hidden in the submenu of Settings → Screen. → If you don't find it on special features, check this path.

Method 2: Deactivation of battery saving mode

In MIUI 12 and later, monochrome mode can be automatically activated when battery super-savings (or "Ultra Battery Saver") are activated. This mode not only limits background processes, but also simplifies the interface, removing colors to reduce power consumption.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Go to Battery Mode or Saving Charge.
3. If Super Saver or Ultra Battery Saver is active, select another profile (e.g. Balanced or Performance).
4. Confirm the changes and wait for the system to apply the new settings (it may take up to 30 seconds).

If the screen is monochrome after the supersavings are turned off, check if the additional "Signal Functions Only" mode in the same menu is activated.

Method 3: Reset screen settings via engineering menu

If standard methods fail, the problem may be a failure of the graphics settings of the system, in which case resetting the screen settings through the engineering menu (hidden section for diagnostics) will help, which is suitable for advanced users, since it requires special commands.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. You will be taken to the CIT engineering menu. Go to the Display (or Screen) section.
3. Find the Color Mode (or Color Mode) option and select the Default (default) value.
4. Save the changes and restart the device.

Important: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. Incorrect settings can lead to unstable screen operation or even a "brick" of the device.

Method 4: Hard reset via Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't respond)

If the monochrome mode came on after a firmware or update crash and the phone doesn't respond to touch (or menus aren't available), a Recovery Mode reset will help.This method will delete all user data, so use it only as a last resort.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone with a long press on the power button.
2. Press and hold the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu (manage volume buttons, choose power button) select Wipe Data (or Clear Data).
4. Confirm the reset by selecting Yes.
5. After the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Warning: Recovery removes all data on the device, including photos, contacts and installed apps. Before the procedure, remove the memory card (if any), as it can also be formatted. If the phone is synced to Xiaomi’s account, some of the data (contacts, notes) will be restored after logging in to the account.

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If the monochrome mode persists after the reset, the problem is likely hardware. Contact the service center - perhaps the display plume or graphics controller is damaged.

Method 5: Checking for hardware faults

If all software methods have been tried, but the screen remains black and white, the cause may be a physical failure.

• 🔧 Monochrome mode appeared after falling, hitting or getting moisture.
• 🖥️ Colors don’t disappear completely, for example, part of the screen remains colored and the other part becomes gray.
• 🔄 The mode does not reset even after a complete flashing of the device.
• 📵 Artifacts are visible on the screen (stripes, flickering, broken pixels).

In such cases, self-repair is impossible - diagnostics are required in the service center.

Before visiting the service, check whether your device is not covered by the warranty Xiaomi. If the phone is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will void the warranty obligations.

1. Go to mi.com/global/verify.
2. Enter your device’s IMEI (you can find it in Settings → About phone or box).
3. Check the expiration date of the warranty period.

Prevention: How to avoid accidentally switching on a monochrome regimen

To avoid black and white screens in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🔒 Turn off the quick switches in the notification bar. MIUI You can add Gradation Gray to the curtain, remove it to avoid accidentally pressing: → Notification panel → Edit badges → Remove the "Color filter"
• 📱 Set up parental controls if children are using the phone. → Parental controls can be blocked from accessing special features.
• 🔋 If the battery is often discharged to 0%, the system can automatically turn on savings modes, including monochrome.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI. New firmware versions fix bugs associated with graphical failures.

It is also useful to back up settings through Settings → Additional → Backup. This will allow you to quickly restore the operating parameters of the screen after reset.

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If the monochrome mode came after the MIUI update, a rollback to the previous firmware version may solve the problem.Use the official Mi Flash Tool for flashing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about monochrome mode on Xiaomi