How to turn off ‘Don’t close the top of the screen’ on Xiaomi

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive message, "Don't close the top of the screen," during a conversation that appears when you hold your phone to your ear or cover the screen with your hand to try to complete the call. The system blocks the display to prevent accidental cheekstrokes, but sometimes the feature becomes overly sensitive and irritating.

The problem is that the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the device, and in budget models and some modifications of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, the software is not properly processing the sensor readings, causing false positives, which results in the phone thinking that it is in your pocket or ear, even though you just hold it in your hand.

Fortunately, the company’s engineers have come up with a few ways to address this problem, from simple software setup to hardware calibration, and in some cases, you may need to use an engineering menu or third-party apps. Below, we’ll take a look at all the methods available to help you get rid of this label and get your smartphone back on track.

Before you get to the tricky part, you need to check the basic settings, and often the reason is because of the activated Mode in Your Pocket or the protective film that override the sensor, and eliminating these factors helps in most cases without having to flash the device.

Causes of the message and the principle of the sensor

The main reason for the warning is because of the algorithms used by the Android operating system with the MIUI shell, which is an infrared sensor that measures the distance to an object, and when you bring the phone to your face, the light bounces off your cheek and hits the receiver, signaling the system to turn off the screen.

However, if dust, dirt, or the edge of a thick protective glass hits the sensor, the readings are distorted, the system receives an obstruction signal and locks the screen, outputting a message, "Don't close the top of the screen," a protective mechanism designed to prevent random dialing of numbers with the cheek during a conversation.

It's important to understand that in some models, like the Redmi Note series or the Poco X, the proximity sensor is virtual, and it calculates distance from the accelerometer and gyroscope, which often leads to errors, and in such cases, software calibration may not give the perfect result.

Also, consider the physical condition of the upper body, because a high-sided case or a mispatched film can permanently overlay the sensor area, in which case the phone will think it is permanently closed and lock the screen whenever it moves.

Disabling the mode "Mode in pocket"

The easiest and most effective way to remove a pesky label is to turn off the feature that is responsible for it, which is called "Mode in your pocket" and is designed to lock the screen when the phone is in your bag or pocket with your keys. If you rarely carry a smartphone in your pocket without a case, this feature can be safely deactivated.

To do this, you'll need access to the basic settings of the system. The path to the menu you want may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. Follow the instructions carefully so you don't miss the switch you want.

Go to your device's Settings menu. Find a section that could be called Lock Screen or Screen Lock. In some firmware versions, this item is hidden inside the Additional or Advanced Settings menu.

In the list that opens, look for Mode in your pocket. It's usually active by default. Press the switch to turn gray. After that, the system will stop using the proximity sensor to lock the screen in standby mode, which will solve the problem of false positives during calls.

If you don't find this item in the specified location, search by settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and type in the "pocket" request. The system will prompt you to go to the desired menu, this is especially true for newer versions of HyperOS, where the menu structure often changes.

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Use a search by settings if you can’t find the right item manually. Type the word “pocket” or “lock” into the search bar at the top of the settings menu to instantly go to the desired switch.

Calibration of the proximity sensor through the engineering menu

If you don't have the ability to turn off the pocket mode, or you don't want to give up, you need to calibrate the sensor, and the MIUI menu allows you to reset the sensor and reset it, and it's the most effective way to fix software errors.

To enter the hidden diagnostic menu, a special code is used. Dial the following combination in the Phone application: ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu will open, where a list of all components of the smartphone is presented.

In the test list, look for Proximity Sensor or Approximation Sensor. Click on it. You'll see a screen with two values: Min and Max, and the current Value value. If you close the top of the screen with your hand, the Value value should change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0 or vice versa).

• 🔍 Reaction check: Cover the top edge of the screen with your hand and remove your hand. The value should change dramatically. If it floats or doesn't respond, the sensor is contaminated or malfunctioning.
• 🔄 Calibration reset: At the bottom of the screen, press Calibration or Reset. Follow the instructions on the screen: usually you need to close, then open the sensor several times.
• ✅ Save: After successful calibration, press Pass or OK, to save new parameters in the memory of the device.

It is important to calibrate in good light, but without direct sunlight falling on the sensor. Also remove the protective film if it has a thick layer of glue or cutouts that overlap the sensor. After the procedure, be sure to restart the smartphone.

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Calibration through CIT-The most reliable software solution to a problem is the menu, and if the sensor continues to lie after resetting and recalibrating, the problem is likely hardware.

Using third-party applications to control the sensor

When Xiaomi’s standard methods fail, third-party apps come to the rescue, allowing for more flexibility in controlling sensor sensitivity or completely disabling the sensor’s lock when making calls. One of the most popular solutions is the Proximity Sensor Reset & Fix app.

These utilities work in the background and intercept signals from the sensor, adjusting them before transmitting them to the system, which allows you to “cheat” the standard call interface and prevent the message of closing the screen, but you should remember the security of data when installing third-party software.

Once you install the app, you can run it and give the permissions you need. Most of these programs require the right to display over other windows and access the phone, and without those permissions, they won't be able to adjust the sensor during an incoming or outgoing call.

The app's settings usually have a sensitivity slider, which you have to set up experimentally: make a test call and move your hand over the top of the screen until you find a balance where the screen only goes out when you actually lift it to your ear, not when you accidentally touch it.

Hardware causes and the effect of protective glasses

Physical factors are not to be discounted: In models with a virtual sensor or sensor built into the speaker (as in the Redmi Note 9 Pro, Poco X3), clean speaker grids are critically important. Dust, pocket pile or fat can cause permanent interference.

And you should pay special attention to protective glass. Cheap glass often has a black perimeter frame that can go into the sensor area. Even if it looks like the cutout is the same, the glue layer or the thickness of the glass can distort the infrared radiation.

Try to carefully remove the protective glass and check the sensor without it, if the problem disappears, the cause is found, in which case it is better to purchase high-quality glass with accurate cutouts or use a hydrogel film that does not create a thick layer at the top.

Also check if there is any mechanical damage to the top of the body, because microcracks or fall marks could have displaced the sensor inside the body, and in such cases, the software methods are powerless, and it requires disassembling the device to clean or replace the plume.

Resetting settings and updating firmware

If none of the above methods worked, the problem may be a deep software failure, which could have caused a cache error or conflicting application updates to disrupt the system services that handle phone calls.

The first step is to try clearing the Phone and Contacts app data. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Phone, click Clear and select Clear All. Fear not, contacts won’t be deleted if they’re synced with a Google or Mi Cloud account.

Also check for system updates. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI. Often Xiaomi releases patches that fix sensors. If you have a firmware beta installed, consider returning to a stable version.

In rare cases, turning off the volume in your pocket helps, and it also uses a proximity sensor to determine the position of the phone, and it's in the Sound and Vibration menu, and turning it off can reduce the load on the sensor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

⚠️ Warning: When using the codes of the engineering menu (##6484###) be careful. Do not change the settings that are not sure, especially in the sections associated with the IMEI or basic modem settings so as not to lose the opportunity to work in the network.

⚠️ Warning: If the speaker and calibration still have a problem, don't try to disassemble the phone yourself unless you have experience.The proximity sensor is often integrated into the charging or screen plume, and is easily damaged if you open it sloppyly.

Solving the problem of not closing the top of the screen on Xiaomi requires a comprehensive approach. Start with simple steps: remove the case, wipe the screen and turn off the mode in your pocket. If that doesn't help, use calibration through CIT-In most cases, these actions return the device to normal operation without contacting the service.