Lock screen when calling Xiaomi Redmi: why it doesn’t work and how to configure

Have you ever encountered a situation where you accidentally press buttons on the screen while talking to Xiaomi Redmi? Drop your phone to your ear - and voila: the call dropped, the loud speaker turned on, or worse - a message was sent to the wrong person. This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones, especially with models of the Redmi Note 10/11/12 or POCO line. The fault is all - incorrect operation of the proximity sensor or the lack of automatic locking of the screen.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to lock the screen on Xiaomi Redmi during a call: from standard features MIUI You'll learn why the proximity sensor sometimes bugs, how to check it, and what to do if the screen doesn't lock even after all the manipulations. AMOLED-displays that you will not find in official documentation.

Why the screen doesn't lock during a call: 3 main reasons

Before we get to the bottom of this, it's important to understand why the Redmi screen stays active during a conversation, and 80 percent of the time, one of three things is the problem.

• 🔍 Faulty proximity sensor: contaminated, damaged or disabled in settings. 9/10 This sensor often fails after falls.
• 📱 Software bugs MIUI: especially after the updates to MIUI 13/14. For example, in the firmware V14.0.4.0.TMCRUXM For the Redmi Note 11 There was a delay delay delay bug.
• ⚙️ Power saving settings disabled: the system can force the sensors to “sleep” to save charge.

To diagnose the problem, perform a quick test:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##6484## (sensor test code).
2. Put your hand up to the top of the screen (where the sensors are located). If the screen turns black, the sensor works. If not, you need to clean or replace it.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (like the Note 8 Pro) may not have the sensor test code. CPU-Z (sensors).

Method 1: Enabling the proximity sensor in the MIUI settings

The most obvious, but often ignored, method is to check the sensor settings, which in MIUI can be hidden or reset once it's updated. Here's how to find it:

1. Go to Settings → System → Additional → Special features → Approximation sensor.
2. Make sure the switch is in the on position.
3. Below, select Lock the screen when calling and activate it.

If your MIUI version doesn’t have this path, try an alternative route:

• 🔧 Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Permits → Sensors (enable access to the proximity sensor).
• 🔄 After the changes, restart the phone - this will reset the cache of settings.

Is the sensor enabled in the MIUI settings?

Is there any access to the sensor in the phone app?

Is the smartphone rebooted after the changes?

Is the sensor checked through the engineering menu?

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Redmi 10/11 models with MIUI 14 may not have a separate switch to lock during a call, in which case resetting the phone app will help:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Storage → Reset

Method 2: Using the “Put to the ear” gesture

There's a hidden feature in MIUI that locks the screen when you bring the phone up to your ear -- even if the proximity sensor is faulty.

1. Open Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings → Gestures.
2. Find the option to Bring to the ear for locking (some firmware called Smart lock).
3. Turn it on and set the delay to 1 second (this is the optimal value for most models).

This method works on all Redmis with MIUI 12 and later, including the POCO X3/X4. The main advantage is that it does not require a proper proximity sensor.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware, the gesture may conflict with the Up to Wake function. If the screen is not locked, turn off this option in Settings → Lock screen → Raise to wake up.

Approximation sensor

"Put to the ear" gesture

Power button

Third-party annexes

Don't block it.-->

Method 3: Power button locking (manual method)

If the automatic methods don't work, you can always lock the screen manually with the power button.

• ⚡ On Redmi with MIUI 13/14 A short press on the power button can reset the call if the screen is not locked.
• 🔋 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The power button is programmed for other actions (e.g. calling a voice assistant).

To avoid problems:

1. Press the power button for 1-2 seconds (a long press will cause the switch-off menu, but will not interrupt the call).
2. Or use a button combination: Power + Volume Up (on some firmware, this blocks the screen without the risk of a call reset).

💡

On models with an infrared sensor (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), try to cover the top of the phone with your palm for 3 seconds – this sometimes works as an alternative lock.

Method 4: Third-party applications for forced blocking

If MIUI's regular funds don't help, third-party utilities will come to the rescue.

• 📱 Proximity Sensor Fix (fixes the proximity sensor, runs on Android 10–13).
• 🔒 Gravity Screen (locks the screen when the phone changes position, such as when you hold it to your ear).
• 🛠️ MacroDroid (allows you to create an automatic rule: If a call is made) → lock-in»).

Instructions for MacroDroid (the most reliable option):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Create a new macro with trigger Phone → Call state → Incoming/outgoing.
3. Add the action System → Lock the device.
4. In macro settings, set the delay of 1 second to avoid conflicts.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Gravity Screen require permission for special features and can drain the battery 5-10% faster. MIUI 14 also need to manually add them to the AutoRun list (in Settings) → Annexes → Application management).

Method 5: Hidden settings of the engineering menu (for advanced)

If you're ready to dive into the engineering menu, you can manually calibrate the proximity sensor or force the lock on. Careful: wrong actions can lead to failures!

Instructions for Redmi Note 10/11/12 models:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##36446337## (engineering menu code for MediaTek) or #4636## (for Snapdragon).
2. Go to Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor.
3. Check the values of Near (close) and Far (far). Normal: Near: 0 cm Far: 5-10 cm

If the values do not change when you raise your hand, the sensor is defective.

For forced activation of the block:

1. From the engineering menu, select MTK Settings → Proximity Sensor Calibration.
2. Press Calibrate and follow the instructions (usually hold and remove your hand 3 times).
3. Save the settings and restart the phone.

The cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers:

On Redmi Note 11 and later, the proximity sensor is often built into the front camera module, so replacing it costs more (from 3,000). ₽).

💡

Before visiting the service center, reset your phone to factory settings (via Settings → About Phone → Resetting). Sometimes this eliminates software conflicts and you won’t need repairs.

FAQ: Frequent screen lock questions on Xiaomi Redmi