Resetting the temperature sensor on Xiaomi: when you need it and how to do it correctly

The temperature sensor in Xiaomi devices is a critical component responsible for monitoring the thermal conditions of the processor, battery and other nodes. When it begins to give incorrect readings, the system can mistakenly limit performance, turn off charging or even turn off the device “for safety”, most often users face this problem after falls, moisture, failed firmware or prolonged operation in extreme conditions.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods of resetting the temperature sensor on smartphones, tablets and Xiaomi smartwatches, including software methods (via the engineering menu, ADB, Mi Flash, hardware solutions (battery disconnection) and alternatives like calibration through third-party applications. MIUI, which allow you to reset the sensor data without completely resetting the system – this method works even on blocked bootloaders.

It's important to understand that "sensor reset" is a conventional term. At the physical level, sensors (usually thermistors or digital sensors like LM75, BMP280) have no memory, but their readings are processed by the power controller (PMIC) and the operating system. It's this data -- calibration factors, thresholds, error logs -- that needs to be zeroed out. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved software-based, but sometimes you have to resort to soldering or replacing components.

Signs of a malfunction of the temperature sensor

The first signal of sensor failure is inadequate cooling behavior, for example, the smartphone starts to brake at room temperature, even though the processor is only 20% loaded, or vice versa, overheats to 60 ° C, but there are no notifications of overheating.

• 📉 A sharp drop in productivity for no apparent reason (trottling) CPU/GPU).
• ⚡ Disabling charging with the message “Temperature is too high/low” even though the device is cold.
• 🔥 Constant overheating notifications, even when the body is cool.
• 🔄 Spontaneous reboots when heated (for example, during games or video shooting).
• 📊 On the engineering menu (##4636##) The processor temperature shows -50°C or +120°C.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge due to forced shutdown of processor cores.

On the Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch, the temperature sensor fails differently: the device can show a body temperature of 32 ° C or 45 ° C, or refuse to measure it at all. In Redmi and POCO smartphones, a frequent problem is a false alarm when charging when the device turns off 5 minutes after connecting to the network.

⚠️ Warning: If the temperature sensor starts to "glutch" after falling or getting moisture, do not rush to drop it programmatically.First check the integrity of the plumes and contacts on the motherboard - often the problem lies in mechanical damage, not in the software.

Causes of Failure of Temperature Sensors in Xiaomi

According to service center statistics, 60 percent of the time is software (firmware, application conflict, MIUI errors), 30 percent is hardware problems (sensor damage, contact oxidation), and only 10 percent is factory defects.

Particularly vulnerable to failures of temperature sensors model Qualcomm Snapdragon (Redmi Note 10/11 series, POCO X3/X4), where the control of the thermal mode is implemented through a separate QPNP. in devices on MediaTek (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3) sensors are more often integrated in PMIC (MT6360), and their failure can lead to complete inoperability of charging.

Preparation for temperature sensor reset

Before you start resetting, do a diagnostic and backup, which will help avoid additional problems if something goes wrong.

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, SMS)

Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)

Learn the motherboard model (via CPU-Z or AiDA64)

Download the necessary tools (ADB, Mi Flash, firmware)

Disable Find My Device and Mi Account (if you plan to reset completely)-->

If you are going to use ADB or Mi Flash, install:

• 🖥️ Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers (download from the official website).
• 🐍 Python 3.x (required for some calibration scripts).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool (for firmware in mode) EDL).
• 📱 On your smartphone, turn on debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).

⚠️ Note: On bootloader devices, some reset methods (e.g., via fastboot) can lead to a hard brick. Before experimenting, check the lock status with the command: fastboot oem device-info If Device unlocked: False – Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.

Method 1: Reset through the engineering menu (no root)

The safest method is to use hidden service codes. It works on most Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 8/9/10, POCO F3/X3, Mi 11/12) and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##4636## Some firmware may need ##36446337## (for MediaTek).
2. In the menu that appears, select Battery Information.
3. Scroll down to the Thermal or Temperature block, and you can see all the sensors here.
4. Tapping the CPU Temp 5-7 times in a row, and the reset window should appear.
5. Confirm the action and restart the device.

If this method didn’t work, try an alternative code to reset the calibration:

##36446337## → Engineering Mode → Hardware Testing → Sensor → Temperature Sensor → Calibrate

On some models (e.g. Redmi 9T), the path may be different: Engineering Mode → MTK Settings → Hardware → Sensor Calibration.

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If the engineering menu doesn't open, try entering the code through the MTK Engineering Mode app (available in the Play Market).For Qualcomm, use QPST or QXDM.

Method 2: Reset via ADB (for advanced users)

If the engineering menu doesn’t allow you to calibrate, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires USB debugging enabled and works on most devices running MIUI 12-14.

Steps:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and check the connection: Adb devices should display the name of your device.
2. Run the command to reset the thermal engine data: adb shell su -c "echo 0 > /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone*/mode" If there is no root, try without su.
3. Remove the error log: adb shell dumpsys thermalservice --reset
4. Reboot the device: adb reboot

For devices on MediaTek (e.g., Redmi 10A), an additional command may be required:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.THERMAL_RESET

⚠️ Note: On some of the team firmware ADB If you get a "Permission denied" error, you'll either have to root or use the method with firmware through Mi Flash.

Method 3: Complete reset via Mi Flash (for critical cases)

If the software doesn't work, you just have to flash the device over again through the Mi Flash Tool, which is a radical way to bring all the sensor settings back to factory values, but you have to:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📥 Official firmware for your model (download from Xiaomi Firmware Updater).
• 🖥️ Windows computer with Mi Flash Tool installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware in.tgz format and unpack it into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
2. Turn off your smartphone and press Volume Down + Power to log into the Fastboot.
3. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
4. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the unpacked firmware.
5. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
6. Wait for the finish (5-10 minutes) and restart the device.

Once the firmware is in place, all the data will be erased, but the temperature sensors will go back to the factory settings, and if the software was the problem, that will help. If not, you'll have to look for the hardware cause.

💡

Firmware via Mi Flash is the only way to get sensors back on track after a failed update or rooting.

Method 4: Calibration through third-party applications

If you don't want to risk firmware, you can try recalibrating the sensors with specialized utilities.

• 📊 Thermal Monitor (shows the temperature of all sensors and allows you to reset their readings).
• 🔧 Sensor Reset (requires root, but supports most Xiaomi models).
• 🛠️ MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek devices, allows you to manually set calibration factors).

Example of calibration using MTK Engineering Mode:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and go to Hardware Testing → Sensor → Temperature Sensor.
3. Select the sensor (CPU, Battery, PMIC).
4. Press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen (usually put the device on a flat surface and wait 1-2 minutes).
5. Save the settings and restart the smartphone.

For devices on Qualcomm can be used QPST (Qualcomm Product Support Tools, but this method is more complex and requires knowledge COM-Ports and Hex-editing.

Hardware methods: when without repair can not do

If all the software is exhausted, and the temperature sensor still gives out the wrong values, the problem is probably in the hardware.

• 🔍 Contact check: Disassemble the device and inspect the motherboard for oxidation or detachment of the sensor. Often, simple cleaning with alcohol helps.
• 🔥 Replacement of thermal paste: On models POCO F1, Redmi K20 Pro and others with active cooling over time, the heat paste dries out, leading to false alarms of sensors.
• 🔧 Replacement of sensor: Thermistors (e.g, NTC 10K) They cost a penny, but you need a soldering hair dryer and experience with SMD-component.
• 📱 In the Mi Band smartwatch, the temperature sensor is often integrated into the display plume. If it is damaged, only a replacement will help.

To diagnose hardware problems, use:

• 🔬 Multimeter: Measure the sensor resistance. NTC-thermistor at room temperature (~25°C) it shall be about 10 kΩ (for NTC 10K).
• 🌡️ Thermal imager: allows you to see the real temperature distribution and compare it with the readings of sensors.
• 🔍 Loop or microscope: To inspect the soldered contacts of the sensor on the board.

⚠️ Warning: If you have never been a squirrel SMD-components, do not try to replace the sensor yourself. Contact the service center - the cost of work usually does not exceed 1-2 thousand rubles, but you will avoid the risk of damage to the fee.

FAQ: Frequent questions about temperature sensor reset