Set up a screen lock during a call on Xiaomi: the full guide

Why Xiaomi’s screen is locked during a call and how to fix it

Have you ever encountered a situation where, during an important conversation, Xiaomi's screen suddenly goes out and you accidentally hit the off button or turn on the speaker? This feature, called locking the screen when talking, is designed to save battery power and prevent accidental touches. However, for many users, it becomes a real headache, especially if you need to quickly switch to another application or use notes.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to set up (and disable) a lock screen when calling on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 14/15. You will learn how this feature works at the system level, what hidden settings are responsible for its behavior, and why sometimes standard methods do not work, and how to get around the restrictions if your model does not support flexible setting.

Before proceeding to the instructions, it is important to understand: locking the screen during a call can work differently depending on: firmware (global, Chinese, custom), smartphone model (flagships vs budget series), MIUI versions (starting with 12 algorithms have changed).

If you were updating your phone over the air, some settings might have reset to factory settings – that’s one reason why the suddenly feature starts to work differently.

The most obvious (but not always working) method is to change the settings through the basic settings, which is suitable for most MIUI 14/15 devices, but may not be available on older versions or custom firmware.

Open Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings. Here you should be interested in the item Lock screen during a call (on some models it is called Autolock when talking).

🔄 Always lock - the screen goes out through 3-5 seconds after touching the ear (default on most devices).
📱 Do not block – the screen remains active until you press the power button.
⏱️ Block through... - you can set a timeout (from 10 to 60 seconds).
🔍 Smart lock – the screen goes out only when approximation is detected (works through the proximity sensor).

If you don't have one on your menu, don't worry, it doesn't mean the feature isn't available. The manufacturer often moves or hides settings depending on regional firmware. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with global MIUI 15, the path will be different: Settings → Apps → Phone → Call settings → Screen during a call.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For Russia (for example, Redmi Note 12) after upgrading to Android 13, this item may disappear. In this case, try resetting the phone application settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Reset.

Method 2: Configure with "Special Opportunities"

Few people know, but locking the screen during a call is closely related to touch gestures and special features. If the standard method didn't work, try this workaround:

Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Physical Opportunities → Gesture Management.
Activate the switch Ignore random touches (on some firmware - Protection against accidental presses).
Below will be an additional item during calls - turn it off.

This method is especially useful for owners of POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T, where the standard screen lock settings are hidden by the manufacturer, and you can configure exceptions for specific applications (for example, leave the lock only for calls via WhatsApp).

📊 How often do you stop the screen from being locked during calls?

Constantly.

Sometimes.

Nearby

Never.

If this method didn't work, the problem could be in the proximity sensor to check if it works.

In the phone application, type ##6484## (sensor test).
Close the top of the screen with your hand – the value of the Proximity sensor should change from 5.00 to 0.00.
If the sensor does not respond, calibration or repair is required.

Method 3: Use hidden MIUI settings (for advanced)

For users who are ready to dive into the hidden MIUI settings, there is a more flexible method of controlling the lock screen: it requires activation of the Developer Mode and work with ADB, but gives full control over the behavior of the system.

First, activate the developer mode:

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
Tap the MIUI version 7 times until you become a developer!
Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.

Now connect your phone to your PC and execute the command via ADB:

adb shell settings put global proximity_delay 2000

Where 2000 is the lock delay time in milliseconds (2 seconds). To disable the lock completely, use:

adb shell settings put global proximity_delay 0

ADB Team Team	The effect	Applicable to
proximity_delay 0	Disables screen locking during calls	MIUI 12 and newer
proximity_delay 5000	Lock in 5 seconds.	All versions of MIUI
proximity_check_enabled 0	Disables the proximity sensor completely	Just for testing!
proximity_wake_enabled 1	Includes the screen waking up when moving away	MIUI 14/15

⚠️ Note: Change of parameters through ADB This can cause sensors to work in an unstable way. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup: Some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) require a restart after such manipulations.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Enable debugging on USB developer-setting|Connect your phone to the original cable|Check the work of the adb device team-->

Method 4: Third-party applications for lock management

If built-in methods don’t work, third-party utilities come to the rescue, and they are especially useful for devices with older versions of MIUI (e.g. Redmi 9A on MIUI 12.5), where there are no flexible settings.

Top.-3 tested applications:

📱 Proximity Sensor Fix calibrates the proximity sensor and allows you to adjust lock delays. Supports Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands.
🔧 Screen On During Call - Forced to keep the screen on during calls. Requires permission to access notifications.
🛠️ MIUI Hidden Settings – Reveals hidden firmware options, including advanced screen lock settings.

Check the reviews for your model before installing – some apps may conflict with Google Play Protection or MIUI energy-saving features. For example, on POCO X5 Pro, the Screen On During Call app may not work without disabling MIUI Optimization in the developer settings.

Important: Apps requesting permission to access calls (android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE), It can be blocked by the security system. MIUI. In this case, add them to the exceptions through Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.

Problems and Solutions: Why Settings Are Not Applying

Even after all possible parameters have changed, the locking of the screen can continue to work "on its own" and consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

🔋 Power saving mode: Super economy or Ultra saving modes enabled can ignore the user's screen settings. → Battery.
📲 Application conflict: Antiviruses (like Avast) or "cleaners" (like Clean Master) can reset settings.
🔄 Firmware update: After OTA-Update some parameters are reset. MIUI In Settings → The phone.
🛠️ Damaged sensor: If the screen locks chaotically (e.g. when tilting the phone), the proximity sensor needs to be replaced.

For custom firmware devices (such as Xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience), the problem is often incorrect implementation. HAL- In this case, only flashing to the official version or manually editing the file will help. sensor_def.xml into /system/etc/.

How to check the proximity sensor without a test code?

Open the Camera app and cover the top of the phone with your hand. If the screen gets dark (or there's a message about a closed front camera), the sensor works. If not, you need diagnostics.

Additional chips: smart locking and gestures

If you don’t want to completely disable the screen lock, but want to make it smarter, use these tips:

🤏 Double touch to wake up gesture: Include in Settings → Lock screen → Double-touch to quickly unlock the screen during a call.
🔍 Adaptive locking: On MIUI 15 Adaptive screen that analyzes your habits and adjusts lock time.
📞 Voice commands: Turn on Xiaomi Voice Assistant in special features settings to manage voice calls.

On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K60) You can save charge by configuring Always On Display to display only basic information during the call. → Lock screen → Always On Display → Settings → During the call.

💡

If you often have to use your phone during conversations (for example, for recordings), create a “Notes” app shortcut on the lock screen via Settings → Lock screen → Shortcuts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen locking on Xiaomi

Can I turn off the screen lock only for specific contacts?

Yes, but not through standard settings. Install the Tasker app and create a profile that disables lock when calling from selected contacts. Alternatively, use Truecaller with a plugin to control the screen.

After upgrading to MIUI 15, the "Clocking Screen During Call" item disappeared.

This is a well-known global firmware problem: Try: Reset the Phone app settings; Set India region in settings (may return hidden options); revert to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot.

The lock works even when the phone is on the table.

It was likely the gyroscope or accelerometer that MIUI uses to determine the position of the device, disable Smart Lock in the screen settings or calibrate the sensors through the engineering menu (#6484##).

Is there a difference between SIM1 and SIM2?

Yes, on dual-sim devices (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) The lock can work differently for each SIM-Check the settings in the Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Call settings for each card separately.

How to completely remove the screen dimming when approaching?

This requires root rights or ADB. Adb shell settings put global settings proximity_screen_off_delay -1 After that, the screen will only lock (without dimming), but will remain sensitive to touch (POCO X4 Pro) this may cause increased battery consumption.

💡

On devices with an infrared proximity sensor (for example, Xiaomi 13T), the lock works more accurately than on models with software emulation of the sensor (for example, Redmi 10A).