How to Fix Secondary Rear Display Not Working on Xiaomi 18 Pro
The Xiaomi 18 Pro has a secondary OLED display on the rear camera area that can handle functions such as widgets, notifications, media controls, wallpapers, and other rear-screen features. Xiaomi also introduced a more versatile rear-screen system for the 18 Pro series.
If the rear display is blank, does not respond, or its features have stopped working, work through these checks before assuming the screen is physically damaged.
1. Restart the Xiaomi 18 Pro
Start with a normal restart.
Press and hold the power button, choose the restart option, and allow the phone to boot completely.
After restarting, test the rear display again.
A restart can clear a temporary HyperOS process or rear-display service that has stopped responding.
2. Check the Rear Display Settings
Open the phone's settings and look for the Rear display or Secondary display section.
The exact menu name can vary with the HyperOS version and region.
Check whether the rear-display functions you want to use are enabled.
Depending on the software version, these can include:
- Rear-display personalization
- Notifications
- Wallpapers
- Widgets or Lite apps
- Always-on display features
- Brightness settings
- Other rear-screen functions
If a particular function is disabled, enabling it should restore that function without affecting the rest of the phone.
3. Increase the Rear Display Brightness
If the rear display appears completely black, check its brightness setting.
Set the rear-display brightness higher and test it in normal indoor lighting.
A very low brightness level can make the screen appear inactive, particularly in bright surroundings.
If the display remains completely black even after increasing the brightness, continue with the next step.
4. Test a Built-In Rear Display Function
Do not test only notifications.
Try another rear-display function, such as the available wallpaper, widget, media control, or camera-related feature.
This helps determine whether the entire rear display has failed or only one feature is malfunctioning.
For example:
Rear display works with a built-in feature:
The physical panel is displaying content, so the problem is likely limited to a particular rear-display function or setting.
Rear display never lights up:
Continue with the software and hardware checks below.
5. Install Available HyperOS Updates
Open:
Settings > About phone > HyperOS > Check for updates
If an official update is available, install it.
Rear-display functions depend on Xiaomi's system software, so an update can resolve problems caused by software bugs or incomplete feature support.
After updating, restart the phone and test the rear display again.
6. Check Whether the Problem Is Limited to Notifications
If the rear screen works for other functions but notifications are missing, the display itself may not be the problem.
Check the rear-display notification settings and the notification permissions for the affected applications.
A notification that is disabled at the system or application level may not appear on the rear screen even though the display is functioning correctly.
7. Check the Rear Display After Removing Third-Party Modifications
If you have installed software that modifies the rear display, screen behavior, DPI, launcher, or system interface, temporarily disable or remove the modification and test the phone again.
Third-party tools can interfere with system-level rear-display functions.
Return modified display settings to their normal values before concluding that the hardware is faulty.
8. Do Not Factory Reset the Phone First
A factory reset should not be the first response to a rear-display problem.
Before erasing the phone, test:
- Restarting the device.
- Rear-display settings.
- Brightness.
- Different built-in rear-display functions.
- HyperOS updates.
- Third-party modifications.
If the rear display works in some situations, a factory reset is especially unnecessary unless other troubleshooting has failed.
9. Check for Physical Damage
Inspect the rear display and surrounding camera area.
Look for:
- Cracked glass
- Impact damage
- Black spots
- Flickering
- Lines across the display
- Display distortion
- Signs of liquid exposure
If the rear screen stopped working immediately after a drop, pressure, or liquid exposure, software troubleshooting may not restore it.
10. When the Rear Display May Need Repair
If the secondary display remains completely inactive after restarting the phone and installing the latest available official software, while the rest of the phone works normally, the problem may involve the rear display hardware or its connection.
Professional inspection is appropriate if:
- The rear display never lights up.
- It remains black across all built-in functions.
- The problem began after physical damage.
- The display flickers or shows permanent lines.
- The phone suffered liquid exposure.
- Software troubleshooting produces no change.
Do not open the phone yourself if it is still under warranty.
Final Fix
Start by restarting the Xiaomi 18 Pro, then check the Rear display/Secondary display settings and brightness. Test more than one built-in rear-display function and install any available HyperOS update.
If only notifications or a particular feature is missing, troubleshoot that feature rather than treating the entire screen as defective.
If the rear display remains completely black and unresponsive after software troubleshooting, especially after physical or liquid damage, have the device inspected by Xiaomi or a qualified service provider.
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*Originally published on [Qevra](https://qevra.buzz/articles/how-to-fix-secondary-rear-display-not-working-on-xiaomi-18-pro-qevra-buzz-muhnsnjy)*
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