Have you ever encountered a situation where, while talking on the phone Xiaomi accidentally press buttons on the screen? This leads to the turn on speakerphone, transfer the call to hold or even reset. Especially relevant problem for smartphone owners with curved screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), where the sensor responds to touches with the cheek or ear. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to lock the screen during calls, from standard MIUI functions to hidden settings and third-party applications.
It is important to understand that locking the screen when calling works differently than a normal locking device, which is to turn off the sensor response to touch, while maintaining the ability to control the call through physical buttons (volume, lock).We have tested all methods on current versions of MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (including HyperOS for new models), so the instructions will work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices from 2020-2026.
If you’re using a smartphone older than 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), some features may be missing due to the outdated version of MIUI.
1. Enable screen locking through MIUI settings
The easiest way is to activate the built-in "Clock Screen During Calling" feature, which is available on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later.
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to the Appendix section → Application settings → Calls.
- Select Lock screen during call (or Ban random taps on some models).
- Activate the switch.
After that, the screen will automatically lock when the handset is raised, but the volume and lock buttons will remain active. Note: some firmware may call this feature differently, for example:
- 📱 Nana POCO F5 Xiaomi 12T: Settings → System system → Additionally. → Blocking when calling.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 11 Lite) NE) This is a function that's unstable, and the screen can unlock when you touch the ear.
Configuring the proximity sensor (proximiti)
If the built-in lock is not working or is not working properly, the problem may lie in the proximity sensor, which detects when you hold the phone to your ear, and must automatically turn off the touch screen, and if it is faulty or incorrectly calibrated, the screen will not lock.
To check and adjust the sensor:
- Enter the code ##6484## (sensor test) in the phone number dialer.
- Select Proximity Sensor (approximation sensor).
- Cover the sensor (usually located next to the front camera) with your hand – the value should change from 5.00 to 0.00.
- If the values do not change, the sensor is defective (repair required).
If the sensor is working but the screen is not locked, try calibrating it manually:
- 🛠️ Install Sensor Calibration from Google Play.
| Xiaomi model | Typical sensor location | Frequent problems |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | Right of the front camera. | False positives in bright light |
| Xiaomi 12/13/14 | Under the display (invisible) | Not working after MIUI update |
| POCO F3/F4/F5 | Left of the front camera. | Slow reaction to approach |
| Black Shark 4/5 | Over the front camera. | Do not block the screen in games |
💡
If the proximity sensor doesn't work after the phone falls, check the integrity of the screen plume. Often the problem is solved by replacing the display module.
3.Using the "In the pocket" mode
A little-known way to lock the screen during calls is to activate Pocket Mode, which turns off the touch screen when the phone is in a closed space (pocket, bag), but it can be adapted for calls as well.
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Screen → Mode “In your pocket”.
- Activate the function.
- Enable the option to Lock the screen when you call (if available).
If there is no such option, you can use the workaround:
- 📱 During the call, quickly press the power button to turn off the screen (the phone will remain in "In your pocket" mode").
- 🔕 To unlock, press the power or volume button.
- ⚠️ The disadvantage of the method: the microphone can become muted if the phone is pressed tightly to the ear.
Make sure the light sensor is working.|Turn off magnet covers|Check the sensitivity in the settings|Restart the phone after the mode is turned on-->
4.Blocking the screen with gestures
On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 13+, you can set up a lock gesture during a call, which is convenient if you don’t want to dig into the settings, but are willing to remember a simple movement.
Instructions:
- Open the settings → Screen → Gestures.
- Choose Double Touch to lock (or Swipe down with two fingers on new models).
- Activate the function and test it during the test call.
Advantages of the method:
- ✅ It works on all models with MIUI 12–15.
- ✅ Does not require root rights or third-party applications.
- ✅ It can be combined with other methods.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ You need to remember the gesture and have time to perform it before accidentally pressing.
- ❌ On some firmware, the gesture may conflict with other functions (e.g. screenshots).
How do I turn off conflicting gestures?
5. Third-party applications for screen locking
If built-in methods don't work, you can install specialized applications, and they offer advanced settings, including forcing the screen to lock when you make calls, turning off the sensor when you approach the ear, and even turning on the speakerphone automatically.
Top.-3 tested applications:
| Annex | Functions | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity Sensor Fix | Sensor calibration, forced screen locking | Requires root for some functions |
| Call Screen Off | Automatically turn off the screen when calling, set up delay | Advertising in the free version |
| Gravity Screen | Locking on the proximity sensor and accelerometer | Difficult settings for beginners |
How to set up Call Screen Off (the easiest solution):
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Open it and grant permissions to Calls and Overlays over other applications.
- Turn screen off on call option.
- In Delay, set a delay of 1-2 seconds (to receive the call).
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g., Proximity Sensor Fix) require root rights to work properly, without which they can only emulate locking, which is less secure.
6. Alternative methods for older models
If you have a Xiaomi smartphone on MIUI 10–11 (e.g. Redmi Note 8, Mi A2), you may not have a built-in screen lock feature when calling.
- 🔧 Disable the sensor through ADB: adb shell settings put global block_untrusted_touches 1 This command disables touch response during calls, but requires customization ADB.
- 📴 Using a physical button: Take the call, then quickly press the power button to turn off the screen. To return the screen, press the button again.
- 🔄 Firmware rollback: On some models (e.g. Mi 9) SE) The screen lock function worked in MIUI 10 but disappeared after updating to MIUI 11.You can return the old firmware version (but it's risky!).
On Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm processors (such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro), you can activate the hidden lock function through the engineering menu. To do this, type in the dial ##36446337#, then go to Hardware Testing → Proximity Sensor → Auto Screen Off and turn on the option.
If nothing works, the last option is to use a headset or Bluetooth headphones, in which case the phone screen will not be active during the conversation, as the call management goes to the communication device.
💡
On older Xiaomi models (before 2019), screen locking is often implemented at the firmware level. If the MIUI update has removed this feature, try installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).