Screen flickering on your Xiaomi 15 is incredibly distracting, turning a smooth experience into a frustrating one. You might see the display flash, pulse, or show erratic horizontal lines, especially when brightness changes. This can be caused by a temporary software hiccup in HyperOS 2, a problematic display setting, or a more serious hardware fault. Let's get it sorted.
Force Restart Your Phone
This is the quickest fix for a temporary system or display controller glitch. Just press and hold the Power button for about 15 seconds. Keep holding it until you see the Xiaomi logo appear, then release. The phone will restart. I've found this resolves flickering that started out of the blue more often than not.
Disable Adaptive Brightness
Your phone's light sensor constantly adjusts the screen, and if it's acting up, it can cause the brightness to jump and flicker. Open Settings and go to Display. Tap on Brightness level and turn off the switch for Adaptive brightness. Set your brightness manually with the slider and see if the flickering settles down.
Turn Off Extra Smooth Display
The 120Hz refresh rate is fantastic, but it can sometimes cause compatibility issues with certain apps or system animations, leading to flicker. Go to Settings > Display and look for Refresh rate. Try switching it from High (120Hz) to Standard (60Hz) for a few minutes. If the flickering stops, you've found a software conflict, often with a specific app.
Update HyperOS and Apps
Xiaomi regularly pushes updates that fix bugs, including display and UI glitches. Head to Settings > About phone > HyperOS version and tap "Check for updates." Also, open the Google Play Store and update all your apps, as a poorly coded third-party app can definitely cause screen issues.
Close Background Apps and Check for Overheating
A rogue app running in the background can interfere with the display. Swipe up from the bottom and hold to enter the recent apps menu, then swipe each one away to close it. Also, feel the back of your phone. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip can get warm during sustained use, and excessive heat can sometimes cause display artifacts. If it's hot, give it a break to cool down.
Disable MIUI Optimization (Temporarily)
This is a deeper system setting that can sometimes be the culprit for visual bugs. Go to Settings > About phone and tap on HyperOS version seven times to unlock Developer Options. Then go back to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options. Scroll down and find Disable MIUI optimization. Turn it off, restart your phone, and test. Remember to turn it back on later, as some system features may behave differently with it disabled.
Reset All Settings
This won't delete your photos or apps, but it will reset every system setting to its default. It's a strong move for configuration-related flickering. Navigate to Settings > About phone > Backup & reset. Tap on Reset phone and then select Reset all settings. Enter your PIN if asked and confirm. You'll need to reconfigure things like Wi-Fi and display preferences, but it often clears up stubborn software issues.
Check for Physical Damage
If the flickering began after a drop or impact, the problem is likely physical. Look closely at the screen for any new cracks, even hairline ones, or areas where the display shows strange colors or pressure marks. A loose internal display connector or a damaged OLED panel itself would require professional repair.
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads the phone with all third-party apps disabled. If the flickering stops in Safe Mode, you know a downloaded app is causing the problem. To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Then long-press the Power off option on the screen. Tap "OK" when prompted to reboot to Safe Mode. You'll see "Safe Mode" in the bottom corner. Test the display here.
Perform a Factory Reset
This is your last software step. Make absolutely sure you have a complete backup of your data first. Then go to Settings > About phone > Backup & reset > Erase all data (factory reset). Follow the prompts. If the screen still flickers on a completely fresh install of HyperOS with no apps restored, the issue is almost certainly a hardware fault that needs service.
