Xiaomi screensavers can appear for a variety of reasons, from a standard MIUI screensaver to a system lock after a failed update or crash. If your smartphone is getting stuck on the Mi logo, shows a black screen that says "Blocked" or automatically turns on a slideshow of photos, do not rush to carry it to the service center. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved by yourself - without losing data and special skills.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from turning off the standard screensaver in settings to unlocking the bootloader and flashing through Fastboot. We’ll focus on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4 and Xiaomi 13/14 flagships, where the algorithms may differ, and how to avoid the screensaver reappearing and what to do if the phone doesn’t respond to taps.
1. Disabling the standard screensaver in MIUI
If the screensaver appears when the screen is locked (for example, a photo slideshow or a watch), it is not a failure, but a function of energy saving.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Screen. → Screensaver (on some models the path: Settings) → Display. → Sleeping mode. → Screenshot).
- ⚙️ Select "No" or "Disable" in the list of available screensavers.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.
On POCO and older versions of MIUI 12, the menu may be called differently — look for the Lock Screen or the Additional section. If the option is gray and inactive, then the phone has a corporate profile (for example, through Mi Work) — it must be deleted in the account settings.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) When you turn off the screensaver, the theme of the design may be lost. To return the standard view, go to Settings. → Topics and Apply Themes Again.
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If the screensaver only appears when charging, check the settings in Settings → Battery → Charging settings → Screen when charging. Turn off the "Show information" option.
2. Remove the screensaver via Recovery mode (if the phone does not boot)
If the smartphone is getting stuck on the Mi logo or displaying a black screen with flashing words, it's likely that the system firmware is damaged, and then resetting through Recovery will help:
- 🔄 Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10 seconds).
- 🛠️ Hold the Loud up. + Meals before the appearance of the Mi Recovery logo.
- 📛 With the volume buttons, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (on some models) Factory Reset).
- ✅ Confirm the action and wait for the completion (5-10 minutes).
Once reset, the phone will reboot to its original state, and importantly, this method deletes all data, including photos and apps. If the phone has Mi Cloud enabled, restore the backup after you log in.
| Xiaomi model | Combination for Recovery | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | Volume up + Nutrition | On some versions, you first need to pin the Volume up + down, then connect the USB cable. |
| POCO F3/F4/F5 | Volume up + Nutrition | Recovery can be displayed in English. |
| Xiaomi 13/14 | Volume up + Nutrition (hold 15+ seconds) | If it doesn’t work, try connecting the charger. |
⚠️ Note: On phones with an unlocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery can result in a brick (complete failure).If you have previously changed firmware, use the Fastboot method (described below).
3. unlock the screen if the phone shows "Blocked"
If the message appears on the screen: "Device locked. try later" or "Too many pattern attempts", it means that the system has blocked the input of the pattern lock./PIN-There are two ways to solve the problem:
Delete the gesture.key file via TWRP|Reset password through Mi Account|Use it. ADB (only for the unlocked loader)|Contact the service center (if previous methods did not help)-->
Method 1: Mi Account (if linked to an account)
- 🔑 On the locked screen, click "Forgot Password?" (or "Forgot Password").
- 📧 Enter. email/phone linked to Mi Account and confirm with the code from SMS.
- 🔄 Reset your password and unlock your phone.
Method 2: TWRP (requires an unlocked bootloader)
If Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember the data, you will need custom recovery TWRP:
1. Install TWRP via Fastboot (instruction below).
2. Download to TWRP (volume up + power combination).
3. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
4. Delete the files:
/data/system/gesture.key (for pattern lock)
- /data/system/password.key (for PIN-code)
5. Reboot the phone.What if TWRP doesn’t see the /data folder?
4. Removal of the screensaver via Fastboot (flashing)
If the phone doesn’t load even in Recovery or shows a Fastboot mode error, you’ll need to flash it over your computer, a method that works for all Xiaomi models, but requires an unlocked bootloader.
Step 1: Unlock the bootloader
- 🖥️ Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
- 🔗 Link your phone to Mi Account in settings (necessary to unlock).
- 🔄 Transfer the phone to Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down) + Nutrition).
- 🔓 Connect to your PC and follow the instructions in the Mi Unlock Tool (it may take 7-14 days to wait).
Step 2: Run your phone through Mi Flash
- 📥 Download the official firmware for your model (choose the Fastboot version).
- 🖥️ Install the Mi Flash Tool on PC.
- 🔌 Connect the phone in Fastboot mode and select the downloaded firmware in the program.
- ⚡ Press Flash and wait until it is completed (10-20 minutes).
⚠️ Note: Fastboot firmware deletes all data, including internal memory. If your phone had important files, try extracting them first. ADB (If the system is somehow loaded).
5. Correction of the screensaver after the MIUI update
Often, the screensaver appears after an automatic MIUI update, especially on beta versions. If the screen flashes, shows artifacts or hangs on the logo after the update, follow the following steps:
- 🔄 Update rollback: go to Settings → The phone. → Update system, click on three dots in the upper right corner and select "Delete downloaded update".
- 📦 Cache Clearing: In Recovery, select Wipe Cache (does not delete data).
- 🔧 Manual firmware: download the full service pack (.zip) and install it through Settings → Updating the system → Select the update file.
If the problem occurs after upgrading to MIUI 14/15, check the firmware compatibility with your model. For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 11 Pro will not work for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, which will lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot).
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Before installing the update, always check the version on the official Xiaomi website. Beta firmware (marked "Beta" or "Developer") may contain critical errors, including problems with the saver.
6. Additional reasons for the appearance of the screensaver and their solutions
Sometimes the screensaver is not related to system settings, but to hardware problems or third-party applications.
| Reason. | Symptoms | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged display module | The screen flashes, shows stripes or does not respond to touch | Replace the display at the service center (self-repair is not recommended) |
| Conflict with launcher (shell) | The screensaver only appears after installing a new launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) | Remove the third-party launcher or reset its settings |
| Viral SO | The screensaver contains advertising or redirects to unknown sites | Scan your phone through Mi Security or reset to factory settings |
If the screensaver only appears when you connect to a charger, check the power supply and cable. Unoriginal accessories can cause malfunctions in the screen. It is also worth checking the settings in Settings → Battery → Charging settings - sometimes the option "Screen is always on" is activated there.
7. Prevention: how to avoid the reappearance of the screensaver
To avoid the screensaver appearing again, follow these recommendations:
- 🔒 Update regularly MIUI, Avoid beta versions if you are not ready for bugs.
- 🛡️ Do not install launchers and themes from unverified sources – they may conflict with the system.
- 🔋 Use the original Xiaomi chargers (especially important for models with the same name) AMOLED-screen).
- 📱 Periodically clean the cache through Recovery (Wipe Cache).
If you experience frequent freezes, turn on USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers) to help connect to your phone via ADB even when crashes.
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Back up your important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. In the event of a crash, you can quickly restore contacts, messages and photos.