Quick call on Xiaomi: everything from gestures to voice commands

Why is the standard call on Xiaomi too slow?

Do you spend precious seconds looking for the right contact in the phone book when you need to call urgently? on Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI There are at least 5 ways to speed this up, from built-in features to hidden features, the problem is that most users don't even know they exist.

The manufacturer deliberately hides some options in the depths of the menu, while others require activation through the developer settings or third-party applications. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Redmi models, POCO and Xiaomi on the base MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, including those that work even on a locked screen. Importantly, some features may differ depending on the regional firmware, which we'll mention as well.

If you are using a smartphone older than 2019 (e.g. Redmi Note 7 or Mi) 9T), check the version MIUI In Settings → For older devices, some methods may require manual tuning through the phone. ADB — We will give instructions for this case.

Method 1: Quick call through gesture on locked screen

The most underrated method is using a double-touch gesture on the screen off, a feature that is available on most Xiaomi models with a dual-touch gesture. AMOLED-displays (e.g. Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K50), But it's often turned off by default:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings.
2. Find the option "Double touch to wake up" and turn it on.
3. Below will appear the item "Double touch action" - select "Open app".
4. In the list of applications, find "Phone" (or "Contacts", if you want to see the list right away).

Now, to make a quick call, you just need to tap the screen twice, unlock the phone right in the Phone app with the keyboard set. On models with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14), this gesture works even without fully unlocking - saving up to 3 seconds on input. PIN-code.

⚠️ Note: Some of the firmware for the European region (MIUI EU) To see it, temporarily switch the system language to English in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Works on a locked screen (saves time on unlocking).
• 🔹 Does not require root rights or third-party applications.
• 🔹 Compatible with most of the covers (except for very thick ones).

Method 2: Hot keys on physical buttons

If your Xiaomi is equipped with a Google Assistant button (for example, POCO F4 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+), It can be reassigned to call the last contact or dial a number directly:

1. Open the Settings. → Buttons and gestures → Assistant button.
2. Select "Long Press" or "Double Press" (depending on the model).
3. In the action list, find "Open App" and specify "Phone".
4. For advanced customization (direct contact call), install MacroDroid from Google Play and create a macro:

Trigger: Pressing the assistant button → Long


Action: Open Contact → [Select Contact Often Used]




Restriction: Only on a locked screen (optional)

On Infrared port devices (e.g., Redmi Note 11), the remote button can be reassigned in a similar way via Settings. → Connected devices → Infrared port → Setting the button.

⚠️ Attention: POCO With custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), button reassignment may reset after the update. Before changing settings, back up through Settings → System system → Backup.

Check for a physical button on the body|Open the Settings. → Buttons and gestures|Select the action "Open the application"|Specify the phone app or specific contact|Test the work on a locked screen-->

Method 3: Voice Calling via Xiaomi AI Assistant

Voice assistant Xiaomi (Xiao) AI) It can call on command, but you have to configure it correctly. By default, it only works on Chinese firmware, but it can be activated on global versions as well:

1. Install the latest version of the Mi app AI Google Play.

Now you can use commands:

• 🎤 "Call your mother" (if the contacts are saved by the parent marked "mother").
• 🎤 "Call John on speaker" (Public speaker).
• 🎤 "Dial 1234567890” (direct dialing).

For devices with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 Pro), advanced integration with Google Assistant is available:

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Default assistant.
2. Select Google Assistant as your primary assistant.
3. Set up the voice command "Hey Google, call [name]" in the Google app.

💡

If the voice assistant does not recognize the names of contacts in Russian, add transliteration to the contact in the "Note" field (for example, for "Ivan" specify "Ivan").

Method 4: Quick Call Widget on the Home Screen

The most obvious but often ignored method is to add a direct call widget to the home screen. MIUI There is a built-in "Contacts" widget that allows you to call with one touch:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
2. Select "Widgets" in the lower menu.
3. Find the Contact Widget (usually) 2×2 or 4×1).
4. Drag it to the screen and select a contact for quick access.

For advanced users, there is an alternative – the Another Widget widget (from Google Play), which allows you to:

• 📞 Set up multiple contacts in one widget.
• 🔄 Add buttons for quick re-setting.
• 🎨 Change the design to the topic MIUI.

Nana POCO Launcher (set by default to the default) POCO F/X The series has a unique feature called “Smart Toolbox":

1. Swipe right on the main screen.
2. Click "Edit" in the upper right corner.
3. Add the “Quick Call” label to the toolbar.

Method 5: Quick dialing through the notification panel

V MIUI 14 and HyperOS, it's now possible to add fast access switches to the notification bar, including a direct link to the Phone app. Here's how to configure it:

1. Swipe down twice to fully open the notification bar.
2. Click on the Edit icon (pencil in the lower right corner).
3. Find the phone in the list and drag it to the active area.
4. Set the change by pressing "Done."

Now, when you swipe down, you'll see the phone button, and if you click on it, you'll open the application with the dial keyboard. To speed up the process, you can combine this method with a swipe gesture down the home button (configured in Settings). → Gestures → Navigation buttons).

On Android 13 devices+ (for example, Xiaomi 13T) There is a hidden function called "Direct call from notifications":

• 📱 When it comes SMS or notification from the contact, swipe it to the left.
• 📞 The “Call” button will appear – press it for instant call.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 10C, POCO M4 Pro after updating to MIUI 14 notification panel can reset user shortcuts. To avoid this, disable automatic optimization in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery for the Launcher application".

💡

Combining the notification bar with a swipe gesture on the home button allows you to open the phone in 1 second – this is the fastest method without root rights.

Additional life hacks to speed up calls

If standard methods don’t seem fast enough, try these advanced techniques:

1. Creating shortcuts on the desktop

Any contact can be placed on the main screen as a separate label:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press and hold the right contact.
3. Select “Create a shortcut” in the context menu.

2.Use of Tasker for Automatic Dialing

With Tasker, you can configure:

• 🔄 Automatic contact call when connected to Bluetooth headset.
• 📍 Calling a specific number when entering a specific geolocation (for example, calling home upon arrival at work).
• ⏰ Scheduled call (for example, alarm call to a relative).

Profile: Bluetooth Connected → Device: [headset name]


Task: Phone → Dial the number → [contact number]

3. Quick dialing through Google Contacts

If you use Google Contacts as your primary app:

• Open the contact and swipe right by his name - the menu with the "Call" option will open.
• When searching for contacts, start typing your name from the # character (like #mama) to prioritize your image.

4. Hidden function ##4636##

The Xiaomi Engineering Menu allows you to test the speed of the set:

1. Enter the phone code ##4636##.
2. Select "Phone Information."
3. Scroll down to "Perform ping test" - this will eliminate the delays when typing on some firmware.

💡

To speed up the opening of the Phone application, disable the animation transitions to the Developer Settings → Window animation scale (off) This will reduce launch time by 0.3-0.5 seconds.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Not all methods work equally well across devices, but here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods work, check:

• 🔋 System load (open Settings) → Battery → Battery utilization).
• 📶 Quality of communication (switch to 4G instead 5G, weak).
• 🔄 Firmware version (update through Settings) → Update of the PO).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions