How to turn off the sensor on the Xiaomi smartphone: all working methods

Disabling the touch screen on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can be necessary in a variety of situations, from protecting the device from accidental pressing to diagnosing hardware malfunctions, for example, if the display is damaged and reacts to touch spontaneously, or you want to prevent children from accessing the phone without completely turning off. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from standard MIUI functions to hidden commands for power users.

It’s important to understand that completely disabling the sensor (not just locking the screen) is not a typical option in smartphone settings. Manufacturers do not provide such a feature out of the box, so most methods require access to an engineering menu, ADB-We'll describe each option in detail, with the level of difficulty and the possible risks. If you're a beginner, start with the first way, if you have experience with Android, pay attention to advanced methods.

Temporary sensor lock via "Package flashlight mode"

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in Pocket Mode, which turns off the sensor when the screen is off. This is not a complete shutdown, but prevents accidental taps in your pocket or bag.

How to activate:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Screen. → Advanced settings.
• 🔍 Find the option Pocket flashlight mode (on some firmware – Protection against accidental pressing).
• 🔄 Turn on the slider and select sensitivity (e.g. High for full lock).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ The sensor will work with the screen on.
• ❌ Not suitable for diagnosing a faulty display.
• ✅ Safe for all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5).

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If the option is not available in the settings, check the version of MIUI. On firmware older than 12.5, the function may be called "Block in your pocket" and be in Settings → Lock and Protection.

2. Disable the sensor via the engineering menu (#3646633##)

The Engineering Mode allows you to test the hardware components of a smartphone, including the touch screen, which is suitable for temporarily turning off the touchscreen without root rights, but requires caution - incorrect settings can disrupt the display.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##3646633## (on some models - ##4636##).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing → Touch Screen section (can be called Sensor or TP Test).
3. Find the Touch Panel Switch (or Disable Touch) option and set the Off value.
4. Confirm the changes and restart the device.

Warnings:

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14+ The engineering menu can be blocked. If nothing happens after you enter the code, try using the ADB-teams (described below).

3.Use of ADB-commands to turn off touchscreen

If the engineering menu is not available, the most reliable way is to disable the sensor via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a PC connection and enabled USB debugging.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on your phone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




echo 0 > /sys/class/touchscreen/unified_touch/disable_touch

1. If the command fails, try an alternative path (depending on the model):

echo 0 > /sys/bus/platform/drivers/fts_ts/disable_touch

To get the sensor back to work, replace the 0 by 1 commands above.

⚠️ Note: On some devices after the sensor is turned off ADB Fingerprint unlock may stop working. To avoid this, disable biometric authorization in settings before executing commands.

USB debugging enabled

Installed ADB drivers on PC

The smartphone is connected in the mode "File transfer"

Battery charge > 50%-->

Disable the sensor via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has a custom TWRP recavator installed, you can turn off the sensor by editing system files.This method is suitable for permanent shutdown, but requires an unlocked bootloader and is dangerous for beginners.

Step-by-step:

• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (hold on to the power + Volume Up when switched on).
• 📁 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
• 🔍 Find the file. /system/usr/idc/[name sensor].idc (e.g. fts.idc for Redmi Note) 9).
• ✏️ Open the file and replace the touch.deviceType line = touchScreen on touch.deviceType = none.
• 💾 Save the changes and reboot.

Risks of the method:

• ❌ Incorrect editing can cause the screen to lose its sensitivity forever.
• ❌ Some of the updates after the update MIUI change.
• ⚠️ It is recommended to make a backup section /system before editing.

5. Sensor locking applications (without root)

If you need to temporarily disable the sensor without complex manipulations, you can use third-party applications. They don't turn off the touchscreen completely, but block the presses on top of the standard interface.

Top.-3 applications:

• 🔒 Touch Lock creates a transparent overlay that blocks all touches, works without root, but requires permission to overlay other applications.
• 🛡️ NoTouch – allows you to configure screen areas that will ignore the taps (useful for gaming or reading).
• 📱 Sensor Disabler is a more advanced tool, but requires a ADB-permissions for working with sensors.

How to set up Touch Lock:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Launch it and give access to Special Opportunities.
3. Activate the lock via a notification or widget.

⚠️ Note: Apps don’t turn off the sensor at the hardware level, and in some cases (such as a damaged display), they may not work.

6. Hardware Sensor Shutdown (for repair)

If the touch screen is faulty and responds to ghost touches, it can be physically disabled by disconnecting the plume from the motherboard, a method used in service centers that requires disassembling the device.

How it works:

• 🛠️ Touch screen connected to board via flexible plume (FPC-cable).
• 🔌 If you disconnect this plume, the touchscreen will stop working, but the display itself will remain on.
• ⚠️ Without Xiaomi’s disassembly experience, you can damage other components (e.g., battery or camera).

When it's relevant:

• 🔧 Diagnostics of malfunction (checking whether sensor glitch is related to hardware breakdown).
• 📱 Temporary use of the phone without touch screen (for example, through the OTG-mouse).
• 💰 Savings on repairs if the sensor is completely out of order.

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Physically turning off the sensor is the only way to completely de-energize the touchscreen without software restrictions. USB-mouse ADB-team.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off the sensor, you often have typical problems, and here are the most common ones and the ways you can solve them:

Critical information: On Qualcomm Snapdragon-based devices (e.g., POCO X3, Redmi K40), the path to sensor files may be different. If standard commands don't work, check logcat with touch filter.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions