How to change the call screen on Xiaomi smartphone: from standard themes to hidden settings

The incoming call screen is the first thing a caller sees when calling your Xiaomi. The standard black background and white numerals interface is boring quickly, especially if you've been using the phone for several years. Fortunately, the manufacturer and the development community offer several ways to customize, from official themes in MIUI to deep modifications through an engineering menu.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods of changing the call screen, from simple (suitable even for beginners) to advanced (require root rights or unlocked bootloader).

1. MIUI/HyperOS Standard Themes: The Easiest Way

The safest and most recommended method is to use built-in themes. Xiaomi offers dozens of options for the design of the call screen, including animated background images, changing fonts and color schemes. The main advantage is that no technical skills are required, and all changes are reversible.

To apply a new theme:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter “call screen” or “call screen».
• 🎨 Select your favorite theme from the directory (pay attention to the rating and number of downloads).
• 📥 Click "Apply" - the changes will come into force immediately after downloading.

In HyperOS (starting with version 1.0), the theme search algorithm has changed a little: now sections are grouped into categories. Look for the right options in the Calls menu inside the Topics app. If the theme doesn't apply, check that you have the latest version of the app installed through Google Play or the MIUI App Store.

2. Configure via "Additional settings" (hidden parameters)

The depths of Xiaomi’s menu are hidden in settings that allow you to fine-tune the display of the call screen without installing third-party themes.This method works on most devices with MIUI 13+ and HyperOS, but the path to settings may vary depending on the model.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version (or HyperOS Version) to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
4. Find the option “Call Screen Customization” or “Call Screen Customization” (can be called differently).
5. You can change it here: 🎨 Background color (including gradients). 🔤 Font and text size (phone number, contact name). 📞 Location of buttons (reject/accept). 🔕 Vibration and audible signals.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in developer mode can lead to unstable phone performance. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS 1.1, users noted bugs with the display of animations when calling after manually adjusting colors. If you encounter a similar problem, reset your call settings to standard in the same menu.

3.Install custom APKs for the call screen

If there are few built-in themes, you can install third-party themes APK-Files that completely replace the standard interface:

• 🌌 Call Screen Studio – allows you to create your own templates with animation.
• 🎭 Caller Screen Theme – More than 500+ live-wallpapered.
• 🔧 MIUI Call Screen Changer – specialized software for Xiaomi devices.

Installation process:

1. Download APK from a trusted source (such as APKMirror or the official developer website).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access.
3. Install the file and follow the instructions of the application.
4. In most cases, permissions will be required to Overlay over other windows and access calls.

⚠️ Attention: Third-party APK For example, after upgrading to HyperOS 1.1 on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Caller Screen Theme app stopped displaying the contact name correctly.

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Before installing custom APK, back up your standard Phone app via Titanium Backup or similar software, which will help you quickly restore your functionality if something goes wrong.

4. Modification through the Engineering Menu (for Advanced)

The engineering menu (#4636##) allows you to edit the call screen settings at a low level, which is suitable for power users, as incorrect settings can lead to crashes. Works on most Xiaomi devices, but on HyperOS some options can be blocked.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636##.
2. Go to the “Phone Information” section.
3. Scroll down to the "Call Settings" or "Incall UI" block.
4. You can change it here: 🎨 Color palette (in format) HEX-code). 📏 Size and position of elements (buttons, text). 🔄 Transition animation (speed, type).

Set

Apply

On devices with a Snapdragon processor (e.g. Xiaomi 12T or POCO F5), the engineering menu may contain an additional section called “Modem Settings” where advanced call display options are hidden. Be careful: changing the values in this section without understanding the consequences can lead to network loss.

Write down the current settings (take a screen picture)|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Make sure that SIM-card|Create a Recovery Point (if there is root)-->

5. Rooting and Modifying System Files

The most radical changes (such as replacing animations or adding new features) will require root rights, which are only suitable for advanced users, as they carry risks:

• 🚨 Loss of guarantee.
• 🔄 Possible “brick” (inoperability) of the device.
• 🛡️ Security issues (vulnerability to malware).

If you are willing to take risks, follow the algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Get root rights through Magisk.
4. Using a file manager (such as Root Explorer) go to /system/priv-app/InCallUI/
5. Copy the original files (such as InCallUI.apk) to a backup folder.
6. Replace them with modified versions (you can download them on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums).
7. Change the access rights to 644 (rw-r----).
8. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: System file structure has changed on HyperOS, for example, on Xiaomi 14 The path to the call screen files may look like /product/priv-app/InCallUI/. Before modification, check the current information for your model on profile forums.

💡

Rooting is the last resort, and 90 percent of the time, you can do it with standard tools or third-party APKs without risking the system.

6.Restore the standard call screen

If after the experiments the call screen began to work incorrectly (no buttons are displayed, animation disappears, artifacts appear), you can return the standard look in several ways:

Method 1: Resetting themes

• 📱 Open Topics → My subjects.
• 🔄 Find the active theme of the call screen and click “Delete” or “Reset».
• 📲 The system will automatically apply the standard template.

Method 2: Clearing the cache of the “Phone” application

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone app (or “Calls”).
3. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».
4. Reset the device.

Method 3: Reset all settings (last resort)

If nothing works, reset to factory settings via Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Attention: This will delete all data from the device, including photos and apps. Pre-backup via Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up the call screen