How to turn off the screen on Xiaomi Redmi 8 during a call: all ways

Have you ever encountered a situation where, while you're on a phone conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 8, the screen doesn't go out, but it keeps glowing? It's not only annoying, it also quickly lands the battery. Normally, the smartphone should automatically turn off the display when you hold it to your ear -- that's what the proximity sensor does. But what if the function is not working correctly or is disabled?

In this article, we'll look at all the possible reasons why the screen doesn't turn off during a call, and offer 5 proven ways to solve the problem. You'll learn how to set up the proximity sensor, check it, update the firmware, and even manually turn off the screen without using third-party apps. And if your Redmi 8 behaves outside the box — for example, the screen goes off too early or does not respond to gestures — there's a solution here, too.

Important: Some methods require access to an engineering menu or change system settings, and we will explain each step in detail so that you can safely apply them to your device.

Why the screen doesn’t go out when you call Redmi 8

Before we get to the settings, we will understand the causes of the problem. On Xiaomi Redmi 8, several components respond to turn off the screen during a conversation:

• 🔍 The proximity sensor detects when the phone is near the ear, and if it's contaminated or damaged, the screen may not go out.
• 📱 Firmware MIUI — Some versions have sensor control bugs, especially for older builds.
• 🔄 Application conflict – some programs (for example, launchers or modified firmware) can block the normal operation of sensors.
• ⚡ Energy saving modes – aggressive battery settings sometimes turn off sensors to save charge.

The most common cause is contamination of the proximity sensor or its miscalibration. On Redmi 8, it's located at the top of the screen, next to the front camera, dust, protective film or cover can block its operation, and the problem can occur after the phone drops or the MIUI update.

If the screen not only doesn't go out, but also accidentally presses buttons during a conversation (for example, turns on speakerphone or hangs up the phone), this is almost guaranteed to indicate a malfunction of the proximity sensor, in which case cleaning or recalibration will help.

Method 1: Checking and cleaning the proximity sensor

The first thing you need to do is physically inspect the sensor, which on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 is to the right of the front camera (if you look at the screen), and it's a small, circular hole, sometimes covered with transparent film.

Turn off the phone.

Take a soft brush or cotton swab

Wet the stick in alcohol (no more than 70%)

Gently wipe the sensor area-->

To check the sensor without a call:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##6484## (sensor test code).
2. Select Proximity Sensor (approximation sensor).
3. Close the sensor with your hand - the value should change from 5.00 to 0.00.
4. Remove your hand, the value should return by 5:00.

If the values don't change or the sensor is delayed, it's contaminated or damaged. Try to clean it carefully with a soft cloth soaked in alcohol. Don't use sharp objects, it can damage the sensor!

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If the sensor doesn’t work after cleaning, try removing the protective film or cover – they can block the signal.

Method 2: Calibration of the proximity sensor through the engineering menu

If the sensor is physically healthy but not working properly, it can be recalibrated through a hidden engineering menu, which helps in 70% of cases when the screen does not go out or, conversely, goes out too early.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi 8:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Dial ##36446337## (or #3644633## for some versions of MIUI).
3. Select Proximity Sensor.
4. Press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen.
5. After calibration, restart the phone.

If the code doesn’t work, try an alternative:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 5 times in a row) → Additional → Engineering menu → Sensors → Approximation Sensor

After calibration, check the sensor with a call to the test number (for example, 112 – the call will not be made, but the screen should go out when you bring the phone to the ear).

Method 3: Configure call parameters in MIUI

Sometimes the problem isn't with the sensor, but with the firmware settings, and MIUI has hidden parameters that can affect the behavior of the screen during a conversation.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and follow the following steps:

1. Find the Phone app and open its settings.
2. Go to Permits and make sure it has access to Body Sensors and Phone.
3. Go back and select Additional → AutoRun permissions – turn on AutoRun for Phone app.

Also check the energy saving settings:

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Energy conservation.
• 📵 Make sure that the phone application is not set a background limit.
• ⚡ Turn off the ultra-economic mode if it is enabled.

If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Apex), temporarily return to the standard MIUI launcher – sometimes customized shells conflict with system features.

Method 4: Update of MIUI firmware

Approximation sensor bugs are often fixed in new firmware versions. If your Redmi 8 runs on an older version of MIUI, update it:

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download and install it.
4. After the update, reset settings (not data!) through Settings → Additional → Reset settings.

If the automatic update does not find new versions, you can install the firmware manually through Recovery or Fastboot.

1. Download the official firmware from Xiaomi’s website (select the Redmi 8 model).
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots (menu) → Select a firmware file.

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Before hand-based firmware, back up your data! Use official firmware - custom builds can make the problem worse.

Method 5: Manually shutting down the screen during a call

If none of the above methods worked, you can manually turn off the screen while you're talking.

• 🔄 Power button -- press the power button briefly to turn off the screen. To return to the call, press it again.
• 📱 Double-touch gesture – if Double-touch is enabled to wake up (in Settings) → Lock screen, touch the screen twice to wake it up.
• 🔌 Connecting headphones – when connected wired or Bluetooth-earphones, the screen goes off automatically.

For convenience, you can adjust gestures during the call:

1. Open Settings → Additional settings → Special features → Gestures during the call.
2. Turn on the option to turn off the screen when you lift it to your ear (if available).
3. Activate Shake for response/complete to manage the call without touching the screen.

If you make frequent calls in poor communication environments when the screen gets in the way, consider buying a Bluetooth headset that will not only turn off the display, but also improve the sound quality.

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Some MIUI firmware has a hidden feature called "The screen is always off during a call." To activate it, dial the Phone app code ##36446337##, then select Phone Debug Settings → Proximity Sensor → Always Off During Call.

What to do if nothing helps

If after all the manipulations, the Xiaomi Redmi 8 screen still doesn’t go out during the call, the problem could be hardware.

• 🛠️ Diagnostics in the service center – the proximity sensor could fail after falling or getting moisture.
• 🔧 Replacement of the display module - on Redmi 8, the sensor is soldered into the screen plume, so if it breaks, the entire module is required to be replaced.
• 📲 Using alternative calls – apps like Truecaller or Google Phone have their own screen control algorithms.

Before carrying the phone for repair, try resetting to factory settings:

1. Make a backup copy of the data.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. After reset, do not restore data from the backup immediately - check the sensor on a "clean" system.

The cost of replacing the display module on Redmi 8 in service centers is about 3000-5000 rubles (2026).If the phone is not already warranty, consider buying a new device - repair may not be cost-effective.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off the screen on Redmi 8