How to turn off the screen when calling Xiaomi: the complete guide

The situation when during an important conversation, the screen of Xiaomi smartphone suddenly goes out and stops responding to touch, is familiar to many users. It is not just an annoying bug, but often a consequence of the work of standard protection functions or a malfunction of sensors. Understanding the reasons why the MIUI system blocks the display is the first step to comfortable use of the device.

In most cases, the screen turns off to save battery power and prevent accidental cheekstrokes. However, if the display doesn't light up after the phone is removed from the ear or goes off immediately when dialing, this requires tampering with settings. We'll look at all possible scenarios, from standard options to hidden engineering menus.

Sometimes the problem isn't the software, it's the physical obstacles. A security glass pasted over the top of the screen, or a banal dirt, can block the sensors. Before you go into deep settings, make sure the dynamic conversational speaker area is clean.

The principle of operation of the proximity sensor in MIUI

The main culprit behind the lock is the proximity sensor, which is an infrared sensor at the top of the display that measures the distance to the object, and when you hold the phone to your ear, the sensor detects the change in light or the reflection of the infrared beam and signals the system to turn off the backlight.

Xiaomi and Redmi have two types of sensors: hardware and virtual. The hardware is under glass and works independently of touch. The virtual ones use artificial intelligence algorithms and accelerometer data, which often leads to false positives, especially when talking on speakerphone or in your pocket.

The calibration failure of this component is the most common cause of problems, because if the system thinks the phone is in the ear, even though it's on the table, the screen will go out, which is a software bug that can be fixed without flashing the device.

⚠️ Warning: Scotching the proximity sensor area with tape won’t solve the problem, but will only disrupt smart features such as removing the phone from your pocket to answer a call.

The sensor needs to be free of tight protective films to function properly, and some users find that after the glass is replaced in the service center, the screen starts to go out chaotically, a sign of improper installation or use of low-pump glue that dissipates infrared radiation.

Basic settings of the phone and applications

The first thing to check is the standard call settings, which can be hidden or changed in the MIUI shell after a system update, and users often accidentally activate In-Pack mode, which aggressively locks the screen at the slightest dimming.

To access the basics, open the Phone app and go to the settings menu, and here we're interested in the incoming call section, and that's where the switch is, and it's often the source of problems.

• 📱 Open the phone application (green handset).
• ⚙️ Click on the three dots in the corner or the menu button, then select Settings.
• 🔍 Find the Incoming Calls item.
• ❌ Turn off the option Pocket mode (Pocket mode).

Turning off the mode in your pocket often solves the problem when the screen goes out, if you hold the phone not quite tightly or touch the top of the screen with your finger. However, if the problem persists, it may be the application conflict.

It’s also worth checking the permissions for the caller app. If it doesn’t have permission to use the sensors, the system can behave unpredictably. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone and make sure all the necessary permissions are activated.

Calibration of the proximity sensor: step-by-step instructions

If simple adjustments don't work, you need to calibrate, which is a process that "teaches" your smartphone to know where an object is and where it's not. Xiaomi phones have built-in hardware engineering menus.

Use a special code to enter the diagnostic menu. It works on most devices with a MIUI shell. Open the dialer and type the character combination.

##6484##

Once you enter the code, the CIT (Customer Interactive Test) menu will open. Find the Proximity sensor in the list. Click on it. You'll see a graph or distance value. If you close the top of the screen with your hand, the value should change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0).

In some versions of MIUI, the calibrate button may be missing or inactive, in which case the system autocalibrates each time you reboot, unless you close the sensor at that point, and you put your phone on a flat surface, remove your hand from the top edge, and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Do not calibrate with your phone in your hands or in a case. The device should lie on a completely flat surface, away from bright light sources.

After successful calibration, be sure to perform a full reboot of the smartphone, which will allow the system to reset the cached values of the sensors and apply new parameters of operation.

Use of Engineering Menu and ADB Teams

For advanced users who don't have standard calibration, there are deeper customization methods, which require caution because they affect system configuration files, and one way is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

To work with ADB You'll need a computer, USB-cable and on-line debugging USB This method allows you to reset the sensor settings to factory settings, which often helps if a software failure has blocked the ability to calibrate through the menu.

The command to reset the sensor settings is as follows:

adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_value 0

You can also try to disable the virtual proximity sensor if your phone is using it, which is true for models where the physical sensor is hidden under the display, but does not work properly due to firmware bugs.

Using third-party utilities from Google Play, such as "Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix," can be an alternative if you're afraid to enter commands manually.However, they require broad permissions and may not work on newer versions of Android due to security limitations.

Third-party applications and workarounds

If Xiaomi’s regular tools don’t work, you can use third-party software, and there are apps that intercept screen control and ignore proximity sensor signals during a conversation.

One of the popular solutions is the Turn Screen On app, or something like that, which hangs in the background and forces the lights on when the phone is in talk mode, but the screen goes out, and it doesn't treat the cause, but it effectively fights the symptom.

• 📥 Download the screen control app from a reliable source.
• 🔓 Give them the right to access (over other windows).
• ⚙️ Set the sensitivity so that the screen does not turn on in your pocket.
• 📞 Check the work during the test call.

Another option is to use alternative calls, like Google Phone, which have their own sensor signal processing algorithms that may differ from the standard MIUI shell and work more stable on some models.

⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party screen control apps can increase battery consumption as they constantly monitor call status.

Remember that installing a call from Google may require additional permission settings to make it the default app for making calls.

Hardware problems and physical intervention

When software methods are exhausted, the hardware is suspected. The screen may go out due to oxidation of the plume contacts, moisture or factory defects, in which case the software calibration will have a temporary effect or not work at all.

A common problem with the Redmi and Poco budget models is that the sensor plume shifts when it falls, and even if the glass is whole, the connector could move away from the inside, and you can check this by tapping the top of the phone when you call, and if the screen lights up, the contact is there, but it's bad.

If you have repair skills, gently press the sensor plume or replace the module itself, however, it is safer for most users to contact an authorized service center, especially if the device is warranted.

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Try removing the protective glass or film before calibrating, which is often the cause of 90% of the proximity sensor problems on Xiaomi.

It's also worth checking if the top of the phone is heating up, and overheating the processor or power controller can cause peripheral sensors, including the proximity sensor, to malfunction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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In most cases, the problem is solved by removing the protective film or recalibrating through the CIT engineering menu.