The fact that the display doesn't go out while you're on a Xiaomi or Redmi phone is one of the most common and annoying issues. Instead of going out and locking yourself up when you hold the phone to your ear, the screen keeps burning, causing you to accidentally press buttons, put a hold call, or even reset the connection, which is not only uncomfortable, but can lead to unintentional actions that you'll have to correct.
The reason is that the proximity sensor, which in modern gadgets is located at the top of the case, often hidden under the display glass. In the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, a separate software module is responsible for processing the signals of this sensor, which can malfunction due to software errors or physical obstacles. Understanding how this mechanism works will help you find a way to fix the malfunction faster.
βββ SECTION: The main causes of the proximity sensor failure βββ
The fundamental cause of the problem is often either a software malfunction in the operating system or a physical contamination of the sensor area. The proximity sensor is an infrared sensor that emits an invisible beam and reads its reflection from nearby objects. If the beam is not reflected or reflected correctly, the system does not receive a signal that the phone is in the ear.
Users often forget that the protective glass or film can be mispatched, blocking the sensorβs area of operation. Even a microscopic crack at the top of the screen or greasy spots can distort the readings. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note and Poco models often face this after replacing the display in unqualified services where they could use unoriginal components.
There is also a category of software conflicts, where third-party applications with access to call management or screen, block the work of the standard sensor. Aggressive optimization of the battery in the MIUI shell sometimes βsleepsβ the services responsible for the sensors, which leads to their incorrect awakening at the right time.
β οΈ Attention: If the screen stops going out immediately after the device hits the water or hits the device hard, there is a high probability of physical damage to the sensor plume.
βββ Check the operation of the sensor through the engineering menu βββ
Before you go to complex manipulations, you need to make sure that the hardware module itself is working properly. In Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, there is a hidden engineering menu that allows you to test all components without installing third-party software.
You need to open the standard Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. Once you enter the last star, the CIT menu will automatically open. Here is a complete list of all the sensors and modules of your device.
In the window that opens, you'll see a numerical value and an instruction to close the sensor with your hand. If you hold your palm to the top of the screen, the numbers change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0 or vice versa), then the hardware is fine and the problem lies in the settings or the software. If the values do not change at all, it may be disabled at the system level or physically malfunctioning.
Importantly, in some cases, the sensor may show false values, such as β0β (closed) when the hand is removed, which suggests that the system βthinksβ that the phone is constantly in the ear, so the screen may not light up at all when an incoming call is made or, conversely, will not go out due to desynchronization.
βββ SECTION: Calibration of the sensor through system settings βββ
If testing shows that the sensor is working but is not doing it correctly, it needs calibration, which is the process of βtrainingβ the system to the correct distance metrics to the object. In Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is built into the same engineering menu as the testing, but requires accurate execution of instructions.
Return to the CIT menu and select "Proximity Sensor." The screen will show a "Calibration" button or instruction to press a specific key (often a power or volume button as indicated on the screen) and you will need to sequentially close and open the sensor with your hand, as shown on the screen, so that the system will fix the minimum and maximum values.
βοΈ Calibration checklist
After the procedure, which usually takes a few seconds, will be successfully completed, the screen will display the words "Pass" or "Success". Be sure to perform a full reboot of the device so that the new parameters are stored in non-volatile memory. Without a reboot, the calibration may not take effect for telephony.
β οΈ Note: Do not calibrate if you have a thick protective film or glass with a black frame overlaid the sensor. First remove the accessory or make sure it does not interfere with the sensor.
βββ SECTION: Sensitivity and exclusion settings βββ
Some versions of the MIUI shell have manual sensor sensitivity adjustments available, although recent updates often hide this feature. If your phone allows, you can find it in advanced call settings. The path usually looks like: Settings β Applications β System applications β Phone β Settings β Incoming calls.
There may be a slider called "Access Sensibility," and if the screen goes out too early when the phone is far from the face, the sensitivity needs to be reduced, and if the screen doesn't go out even when you press it tightly against the ear, you need to increase it, but the evidence is that automatic calibration is more stable than manual adjustments.
It's also worth checking if Pocket Mode is enabled. It uses the same sensor to lock the screen when the phone is in the bag. Sometimes, algorithmic conflict causes the phone to "mix" the pocket with the ear during a conversation. Turn off this feature in the Settings menu β Lock screen to check.
Special attention should be paid to chat recording apps or spam blockers, which can intercept the sensor control. Try temporarily disabling or removing such programs to check if the problem disappears. Often, third-party call dealers conflict with the standard Xiaomi caller.
βββ SECTION: Software Solutions and Resetting Settings βββ
When the hardware is in good shape and calibration is not working, there's a deep software cleaning, and resetting the phone to factory settings is a radical but effective method, and it deletes all user data, all applications, and most importantly, it resets system configuration files that may have been corrupted.
Before you do this, make sure to back up your important data in the Mi Cloud or on your computer. The reset process is like this: Settings β About Phone β Reset β Erase all data. After that, the phone will return to the βout of the boxβ state, and all system glitches should disappear.
Alternative Resetting Method through Recovery
Even if a full reset doesnβt solve the problem, you should consider updating or flashing your device. Sometimes new versions of the software fix sensor driver errors. Check for updates in the Settings β Phone menu. If you use the global version of the firmware, try searching for bug information specifically for your model on official forums.
β οΈ Note: When flashing the phone yourself (not through the phone) OTA-Update) there is a risk of turning the device into a brick. If you are not sure of your abilities, contact an authorized service center.
βββ SECTION: Comparison of methods of solving the problem βββ
To make your repair strategy easier to choose, we have compiled a summary of the methods that will help you understand which method is right for your situation, based on your symptoms and available resources.
| Method of decision | Difficulty | Efficiency | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen cleaning and film removal | Low. | Tall. | If the sensor is closed with dirt or accessory |
| Calibration in the CIT menu | Medium | Medium | When desynchronizing sensor readings |
| Reset to factory settings | Tall. | Tall. | In case of software conflicts and failures of MIUI |
| Replacement of the plume/sensor | Tall. | Maximum | Physical injury or moisture intrusion |
As you can see from the table, it's always a simple matter of doing things, often solved by simply rubbing the top of the screen with an alcohol wipe, and fat pollution can create a lens effect, dissipating the infrared beam of the sensor.
If you've tried all the software methods, including flashing, and the screen is still chaotic, it's a hardware malfunction, and if you're doing that, you can just replace the sensor module or the plume it's connected to. In models with a cutout in the screen ("drop" or "hole"), the sensor is often built right into the display module.
βββ SECTION: Interim Solutions and Workarounds βββ
Until you have reached the service center or found a final solution, you can use theοΏ½We can use temporary measures to make calls more comfortable, and one way is to use a speakerphone or a headset, and in hands-free mode, the proximity sensor is often ignored by the system because it's assumed that the phone is not in the ear.
You can also turn on the "Block Buttons" feature during a conversation, if your phone model allows it, it will not make the screen go out, but it will prevent accidental cheek pressing, and you can activate this option during a call, by pressing the menu button or through the call settings.
π‘
Use a Bluetooth headset or headphones for long conversations, which not only solves the screen problem, but also reduces the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the brain.
Another lifehack for Xiaomi owners is to install an alternative caller from Google Play, such as Google Phone. It has its own sensor processing algorithms that can work better than the standard MIUI Dialer app. Once installed, remember to assign a new app to the default call method.
βββ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) βββ