How to turn on the screen lock when calling Xiaomi Redmi 10 Pro: 3 working methods

Why Redmi 10 Pro screen doesn’t lock during a call – and how to fix it

Have you ever encountered a situation where you accidentally press buttons on a Xiaomi Redmi 10 Pro screen while you're on a phone? Your ear turns off the bell, your cheek activates the speaker, and your finger -- God forbid -- sends a message to the wrong person. This is not only annoying, it also creates privacy risks. Fortunately, MIUI has built-in features for automatically locking the screen when you approach your ear -- but they don't always work out of the box.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that Redmi 10 Pro (as well as other Xiaomi smartphones with the AMOLED-The proximity sensor sometimes delays or ignores commands, which can be caused by outdated firmware, contaminated glass above the sensor, a conflict with the shell from a third-party manufacturer, or even incorrect energy saving settings. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of forced screen locking - from standard settings to hidden chips MIUI 12/13/14.

Before you get to the settings, make sure your Redmi 10 Pro is updated to the latest firmware. Check this in the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update. If an update is available, install it, as newer versions of MIUI often fix sensor bugs.

Method 1: Enabling the proximity sensor in call settings

The most obvious, but often ignored, method is to activate the proximity sensor directly in the phone app settings. On Redmi 10 Pro, this option can be hidden in an unexpected place, especially if you use an alternative launcher or custom firmware.

To enable screen locking when talking:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Calls section → Additional settings.
4. Activate the switch next to Lock the screen when approaching (or Proximation Sensor).

If this is not the case, don't panic. Some versions of MIUI (especially those localized in Europe) may call it Autolock during a call or Smart Lock, and check if it's hidden under Special Options in the main settings menu of the phone.

Clear the area above the sensor (top left corner of the screen) of dust and protective film

Make sure there are no cracks or chips in the sensor area on the screen.

Try to make a test call in a quiet place – sometimes interference interferes with the operation.

Restart your phone after changing your settings-->

Method 2: Configure with "Special Opportunities"

If the standard method didn’t work, try an alternative path through the feature menu, which is especially relevant for users who have the proximity sensor turned off at the system level (for example, after resetting settings or updating the firmware).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select the Physical Capabilities section → Approximation Sensor.
3. Make sure that the slider Use the proximity sensor is active.
4. Below may be an option to Lock the screen when you call – turn it on.

Important: Some MIUI firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for Redmi 10 Pro) may not have this partition, so try the third way or check if the settings are hidden due to the power saving mode.

💡

If the proximity sensor doesn’t work even after you turn it on, try calibrating it. To do this, go to Settings → About phone, press 5 times on the MIUI version, then select Hardware Testing → Proximity Sensor from the engineering menu. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Method 3: Using Hidden Codes of the Engineering Menu

For advanced users who are ready to dive into technical details, there is a method of activating the lock through the engineering menu, which will help if the standard settings are not available or the sensor is unstable. Careful: the wrong actions in the engineering menu can disrupt the phone, do it at your own risk.

To open the engineering menu and configure the sensor:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484## (some firmwares may run code ##4636##, then select Hardware Testing).
2. In the menu that opens, select Proximity Sensor.
3. Check the current sensor readings: 📱 0 - there are no obstacles near the sensor. 🧊 1 – the sensor is closed (for example, with the hand or when the phone is pressed to the ear).

Calibrate

After calibration, restart the phone and check the locking during the call. If the sensor still doesn't work, the problem may be hardware (for example, a departed plume or a damaged sensor).

Additional settings: energy saving and background processes

Even if the proximity sensor is turned on, it can be blocked by the battery optimizer or background restrictions. On the Redmi 10 Pro (as on other Xiaomi smartphones), aggressive energy saving often interferes with the correct operation of system functions.

To eliminate the impact of energy saving:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Power Management.
2. Find the Phone app in the list and select the No Limits mode for it.
3. Turn off the Adaptive Battery function in Settings → Battery → Additional (this can help if the sensor “falls asleep” during a call).

Also check if the Phone app has been added to the list of "deep optimization."

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select Phone → Battery → Background Limitation.
3. Set the value without limits.

Before installing third-party apps, check reviews and rankings on Google Play. Some utilities require permission to access calls, which may not be secure. Also remember that apps can drain the battery faster than standard features.

Another non-standard way is to use gestures, and on Redmi 10 Pro, you can set up a double tap on the screen to lock the bell:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Choose Double Touch to lock.
3. Turn on the option and test it during the call.

The disadvantage of this method is that you will have to deliberately lock the screen manually, but it works even with a faulty proximity sensor.

💡

If you often ring in gloves or in bright sun when the proximity sensor is not working correctly, try using a Bluetooth headset, in which case the screen will lock automatically when you connect the headphones.

Table: Comparison of screen locking techniques on Redmi 10 Pro

As you can see from the table, the most versatile method is to use third-party applications, but it is also the most resource-intensive, and if the proximity sensor is working, it is better to limit yourself to standard settings.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many Redmi 10 Pro users experience the same problems when setting up their screen lock, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Do not restart the phone after a change. Some settings (especially those related to sensors) only apply after a restart. Always restart the device after you make a change.
• 📱 They use a metallized layer of protective glass, and they can shield the proximity sensor signal, so try removing the glass or replacing it with a normal one.
• 🔋 Battery savings block the sensor. As mentioned earlier, aggressive power saving modes can turn off the sensors. Check the battery settings for the Phone app.
• 🔄 They don't update the firmware. MIUI (low-lying MIUI 12) there were proximity sensor bugs. Update often solves the problem.

Another common mistake is trying to set up a lock screen through Google Assistant or other voice assistants, which don't have access to low-level sensor settings, so it's useless to use them here.

⚠️ Warning: If the proximity sensor is still down after all the manipulations, it may be physically damaged. On the Redmi 10 Pro, the sensor is located next to the front camera and may fail after falling or getting moisture. In this case, only the replacement of the display module in the service center will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions