When the screen goes out while talking to Xiaomi and stops responding to touch, it is one of the most annoying problems for smartphone users of this brand. Usually it happens at the most inopportune moment: the interlocutor dictates an important number, and you can not press the speaker button or complete the call because the display is out and does not light up again. Many users mistakenly believe that this is a fatal matrix breakdown or a serious software failure that requires reflashing the device.
In fact, 90 percent of the time, the problem is that the proximity sensor is not working properly, which is designed to save battery power and prevent accidental cheekstrokes. Android, as well as the MIUI or HyperOS add-on, receive a false signal that the phone is near the ear, and force the backlight to turn off, and you can solve this problem by software methods without going to the service center.
In this guide, we will look at all the possible reasons why the screen on Xiaomi goes out during a call, and provide step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting. We will look at both the standard system settings and the hidden engineering menus available for sensor diagnostics. It is important to act consistently, starting with simple checks and moving to more complex calibration manipulations.
Why the screen goes off on Xiaomi: the role of the proximity sensor
The main culprit for a phone's screen going out during a conversation is an optical or ultrasonic sensor located at the top of the case, which is designed to determine the distance to the object. When you hold the smartphone to your ear, the sensor detects a change in light or a reflection of the signal and tells the system to turn off the display. If this mechanism is not working correctly, the screen may go out spontaneously or not turn on after the device is removed.
Often the problem is exacerbated by protective films or glass that overlap the sensor’s sensitive area. Even a microscopic crack or contamination in the area of the conversational speaker can distort the sensor readings. It is also worth considering that the Xiaomi Redmi and Poco budget models use a virtual sensor based on artificial intelligence algorithms that can be mistaken if the device is not properly grasped.
Sensor failure can also be caused by software conflict: After updating the operating system, some applications gain excessive access rights or, conversely, lose the necessary permissions to properly interact with the equipment, in which case the system can ignore the real position of the phone in space, relying on outdated cache data.
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Before you start complex settings, carefully wipe the top of the screen with a microfiber. Fat deposits from the fingers are the most common cause of false alarms of the sensor.
Basic settings: disabling the lock function
The first step in solving the problem when the screen goes out during a call should be to check the standard settings of telephony. In some versions of the MIUI shell, it is possible to turn off the screen response to the approach, although manufacturers often hide this option, considering it critical for convenience.
You have to open the standard Phone app and go to the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or a gear in the corner, and you have to look for a item that's associated with Pocket Mode or Approximation Sensor, and if the switch is active, you have to deactivate it, and that will prevent the system from forcibly extinguishing the display based on the sensor readings.
If you don't have that option in the standard menu, which is common in global firmware, you can try resetting the phone app itself. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Phone and click Clear. Select clearing all data. This will return the call configuration to factory status, removing any possible software errors.
⚠️ Warning: After the proximity sensor is turned off, the screen will stop turning off automatically. Be careful when talking: the cheek may press the reset button or activate the microphone while the phone is near the ear.
☑️ Checking basic settings
Calibration of the sensor through the engineering menu
If simple settings don't work and the screen keeps going out, a deeper adjustment is required, calibration. Xiaomi's engineering menu allows you to test the sensor's performance and reset it to reference values. It's an effective method where the sensor "thinks" that the object is nearby even though the phone is on the table.
To enter the diagnostic mode, you need to open the Phone application and type a special code. Depending on the model and version of the software, this can be a combination of # # #6484## or #4636#. Once you enter the code, the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu will open.
Inside the test, you'll see two values: Distance and Status. If you cover the top of the screen with your hand, the Distance value should change from 5.0 to 0.0. If the values don't change or stick, press Calibration. Follow the instructions on the screen: you usually need to remove your hand, press OK, then close the sensor and press OK again.
| Parameter | Normal value. | Value in error | Action. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | 5.0 (far) / 0.0 (close) | Constantly 0.0. | Calibration required |
| Status | Near / Far | Frozen on Near. | Pollution checks |
| Raw Data |
What if the code doesn't work?
Using third-party applications to control the sensor
When Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t allow for flexibility, Google Play’s dedicated utilities come to the rescue. Applications like “Proximity Sensor Reset & Fix” or “Sensor Calibration” can force the sensor driver to restart or change trigger thresholds, ignoring system constraints.
One effective strategy is to use applications that create a black screen instead of completely turning off the backlight, which avoids the display going out and not lighting up, intercepting the sensor signal and blocking the touches programmatically, leaving the backlight active, which is visually invisible in the dark, but solves the problem of a dead screen.
There are also applications that allow you to completely disable the proximity sensor at the root level, but for ordinary users, the functions of "Soft Calibration" are enough. Once you install such an application, you need to start the test, close the sensor and confirm the calibration, often this helps to "shake" the software module responsible for processing the sensor signals.
Influence of protective accessories and covers
Don't underestimate the physical impact of accessories on electronics. Cheap black-framed security glass or improperly pasted film can block the sensor's infrared port. Visually, this may be invisible, but to the sensor, it's like being in close proximity to an object, which causes the screen on Xiaomi to go out when you call.
The problem is particularly common in models with a cut-out droplet or hole in the screen, where the sensor is located adjacent to the dynamic insula. Thick 3D/5D glass with curved edges can create an optical lens that distorts the light flow. Removing the protective coating is often the fastest way to diagnose the problem.
Also, look at the cases. If the case has a high side or thick lintel at the top, it can mechanically push the sensor area or create a shadow. Try removing the case and make a test call. If the problem is gone, you'll need to replace the accessory with a thinner one or a model with a notch under the sensor.
⚠️ Note: When replacing the protective glass in the service, make sure that the wizard uses adhesive without optical distortion. Cheap analogues can have different transparency in the sensor area, which will lead to a repetition of the problem.
Program conflicts and system updates
Sometimes the reason lies deeper in the operating system: errors in the code of a particular version of MIUI can cause incorrect processing of interrupts from the sensor. If the problem appeared immediately after the firmware update, there is a high probability that it is a bug of the system itself that has not yet been fixed by the developers.
In this case, you can try to roll back the update or, conversely, check for new security patches. Often small updates (weighing 100-300 MB) contain patches specifically for communication modules and sensors. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click “Check Updates”.
In addition, applications that monitor battery consumption or have access to a phone can cause conflict. Antiviruses, memory cleaners or calls from third-party developers (such as Truecaller) can intercept the sensor control. Try removing newly installed applications related to calls or optimization, and check the performance of a regular call.
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If the screen goes out after the MIUI update, it is often a temporary bug. Waiting for the next patch or resetting to factory settings (with a backup) are the most effective solutions.
Hardware malfunctions and repairs
When all software methods are exhausted and the screen continues to go out chaotically, it can be a physical failure. The proximity sensor is a separate module that can fail due to falling, moisture or just wear and tear. In modern smartphones, it is often integrated into the display plume or the top speaker module.
Symptoms of hardware failure are: a constant zero in the sensor readings even when the front panel is open, the presence of condensation under the glass at the top, or the appearance of image artifacts, in which case software calibration will not help, since the physical element is no longer functioning correctly.
The solution would be to replace the sensor module or the entire plume in an authorized service center, which is difficult to repair due to the dense layout of modern Xiaomi and the risk of damaging other components. However, if a replacement is not possible, there is a radical method - complete software shutdown of the sensor through the ADB-team, but it requires skills in debugging USB.