How to Remove Automatic Screen Shutdown When Calling on Xiaomi Redmi 8T

Have you ever missed an important call because the Xiaomi Redmi 8T screen went out at the most inopportune moment? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones, where the default screen turns off 3-5 seconds after the call starts - ostensibly to save battery power. But in practice, this "optimization" leads to you accidentally reset the call without having time to accept it, or simply do not notice the incoming call.

In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to turn off screen auto-turning when calling Redmi 8T, from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer mode features and even ADB commands for power users. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, but we’ll start with the simplest solutions that work without additional manipulation.

If you’re tired of the screen going out when you’re talking and you have to unlock it all the time, or you just want to see the call interface longer, this is for you. We’ll also look at the nuances for different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 12/13/14) and explain why some methods may not work on custom firmware.

Why does the screen turn off when you call Redmi 8T?

Automatically shutting down the display during a call is a planned power saving feature in MIUI firmware.

• 🔋 Extend battery life by reducing screen load.
• 📱 Preventing accidental tapping of the cheek or ear during a conversation.
• 🔄 Optimize the proximity sensor (which sometimes works with a delay).

In practice, however, this feature often doesn’t work properly: the screen goes out too quickly (sometimes just after the handset is lifted), and the proximity sensor may not work in time, causing you to accidentally press buttons while you’re talking, especially on the Redmi 8T with its less sensitive sensor.

In addition, some versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12.5) have a bug that auto-turns off the screen even when using a headset or connecting to Bluetooth headphones — although logically, the screen should remain on.

Method 1: Configure screen timeout in standard settings

The easiest method is to change the time of automatic disabling of the display in the system settings. Unfortunately, MIUI does not have a separate setting specifically for calls, but increasing the overall timeout will help to partially solve the problem.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Find the Sleep item after (or screen timeout in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Set the maximum value of 10 minutes or 30 minutes (if available).
4. Return to the main settings menu and go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
5. Select Performance mode (this will turn off aggressive energy saving).

⚠️ Note: This method does not guarantee a 100% solution to the problem, as MIUI It can ignore screen timeouts when making calls, but when combined with other methods (e.g., turning off the proximity sensor), it has a noticeable effect.

Method 2: Disabling the proximity sensor (the most reliable method)

The main reason the screen goes out during a call is because it detects when you hold your phone to your ear and turns off the display to avoid accidental taps. But on the Redmi 8T, the sensor often malfunctions, whether it's going too fast or not at all.

To completely disable the proximity sensor and prevent the screen from turning off, follow the following steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You've become a developer!").

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Additional settings → Developer parameters

Disable the proximity sensor

Turn off the sensor when you call.

deactivate it

Reboot the phone.

After that, the screen will stop dimming during calls, but be prepared for the fact that now you will have to manually lock the phone to avoid accidental pressing, and this method can increase battery consumption by 5-10%, since the sensor will no longer optimize the screen.

Method 3: Use ADB commands (for power users)

If standard settings don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands to force the screen to turn off auto-turn, a method that requires a computer and minimal command-line knowledge, but produces a more reliable result.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings on your phone.
3. Connect Redmi 8T to your computer and confirm debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
5. Execute the command to turn off the screen: adb shell settings put global proximity_delay 0 (significance 0 shut off, 2500 — establish 2.5 seconds).
6. To completely disable the proximity sensor during calls, use: adb shell settings put global proximity_screen_off_delay -1

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They're resetting after you reset your phone to factory settings, and some custom firmware may ignore these settings, so if you've reset the problem, repeat the procedure, or consider getting root rights to permanently disable the function.

adb shell settings delete global proximity_delay

This will clear the current settings before applying new ones.-->

Method 4: Installation of third-party screen control applications

If you don't want to go through the settings or use ADB, you can use Google Play apps that force the screen to be turned on while you're calling. Here are the most proven options:

Check reviews before installing, some apps may not work on the latest versions of MIUI due to system limitations, and note permissions: If an application requests access to calls or SMS, make sure it's from a trusted developer.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Keep Screen On can increase battery consumption because they force your phone to go to sleep. If you notice a strong decline in autonomy, try alternative methods from this article.

Method 5: Manual shutdown via engineering menu (for advanced)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try turning off the auto-turning of the screen through the Engineering Mode, a method that requires caution, as incorrect settings can disrupt the phone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##6484## (this is the code for the proximity sensor test).
2. In the menu, select Proximity Sensor.
3. Check the current values: Value should be 0 (sensor not closed) or 1 (sensor closed). Delay should be delayed in milliseconds.

##36446337##

(This will open the MIUI engineering menu.)

Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor

Auto Screen Off

⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu contains options critical to the phone's performance. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose. MIUI These parameters can be reset.

💡

The engineering menu is a powerful tool, but dangerous. If the phone starts to work unstable after the changes (for example, the proximity sensor stopped responding at all), reset the settings through Settings → System → Reset settings (select "Reset application settings").

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after all the methods have been used, some Redmi 8T users still have their screens on the back of their phone, and consider the typical causes and ways to address them:

• 🔄 Problem: After the update MIUI Solution: Reset the proximity sensor or commands ADB. In the new versions MIUI The path to the settings may change (for example, for developers moved to Additional settings).
• 📱 Problem: The screen only goes out when using the headset.Solution: Turn off the option Automatically Turn off the screen when connecting the headphones in Bluetooth or audio settings.
• 🔋 Problem: When the proximity sensor is turned off, the battery quickly goes down. Solution: Reduce the brightness of the screen manually or use adaptive brightness. Also check which applications are using up charge in the background.
• 🛠️ Problem: None of these things work, the screen goes out anyway. Solution: It could be a hardware malfunction of the proximity sensor. Try flashing your phone over custom firmware (like the Pixel Experience) or contacting the service center.

If you’re using Redmi 8T with custom firmware (like LineageOS or HavocOS), check the kernel settings. Some builds have a separate Screen off delay during call option that can be changed through the Kernel Adiutor app.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions