The situation when the smartphone screen suddenly goes out during a conversation is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices. You hold the phone to your ear and the display turns black as it should, but after you pull the device away, the screen continues to remain dark, blocking access to speakerphone, dialing numbers or completing a call. This is not just an inconvenience, but a serious problem that interferes with normal communication, especially in stressful situations.
The root of the problem is an approach sensor that misreads the environment or has a software failure. MIUI HyperOS plays a critical role in energy efficiency and UX-But the sensor's algorithms sometimes fail to make the system think the phone is still in the user's ear.
In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of this behavior, from the banal dirt on the body to complex software conflicts. We will look at software calibration methods, hidden engineering menus and physical ways to troubleshoot your smartphone again correctly.
The principle of the sensor approach in smartphones Xiaomi
The main culprit behind the screen going out when you talk to Xiaomi is the infrared proximity sensor, which is a tiny element, usually located at the top of the front panel or integrated into the speaker, that constantly emits invisible light and reads its reflection, and if the object is close, the light is reflected, and the sensor signals the system to turn off the display.
Modern models, such as the Redmi Note series or Xiaomi Mi, use a virtual sensor that works in conjunction with an accelerometer and a gyroscope, to get rid of the extra hole in the body, but the software interpretation of data from these sensors can be incorrect, especially if the phone is lying on the surface or is in a case with thick sides.
Failures can occur due to overheating of the processor, which affects the accuracy of readings, or due to background processes that block interruptions of the system. Understanding how Android processes signals from this module helps to choose the right diagnostic method.
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If you use a black-framed protective glass, make sure it doesn’t cover the sensor area at the top of the screen – this is a common cause of false positives.
Basic inspection and cleaning of the upper part of the body
Before you go into deep system settings, you have to rule out physical factors. Often the screen goes out and doesn't turn back on just because the sensor is contaminated. Fat spots, dust, or glue residue from a poorly pasted protective glass can create a permanent shadow that the system perceives as an object approaching.
Carefully wipe the top of your smartphone with a soft microfiber dipped in a special solution for screens. Pay special attention to the area of the speaker. If you have recently changed the glass or film, check if it has shifted to the side. Even a minimal overlap in the sensor area causes the screen to go out and not light up.
It's also worth checking if the case is affecting the device. Some silicone or leather cases have high sides that, when you press the phone on your ear, can mechanically press the sensor area or create an optical illusion of proximity. Take off the case and make a test call to rule out this factor.
- 🧹 Wipe the top of the screen with an alcohol napkin or special fluid.
- 📱 Remove the protective glass if it is curved or has a black frame.
- 🛡️ Check the compatibility of your case with the design of the sensors of the model.
- 🌡️ Make sure there is no condensation or moisture in the speaker area.
If the physical cleanup didn’t help and the screen continues to go out when talking to Xiaomi, let’s move on to software solutions.
Why does the sensor lie after the screen is replaced?
Engineering menu and sensor calibration
The most effective way to solve the problem when the screen goes out during a conversation is to force the sensor to be calibrated through the MIUI engineering menu. This hidden section allows you to reset the sensor readings to factory values and train the system to correctly determine the distance to the object.
To enter the diagnostic menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code does not work, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and quickly press 7-10 times on the build number to activate the developer mode, then find the CIT version or the Component Verification.
In the list that opens, select Proximity Sensor. You'll see two values: distance in centimeters and status (Near/Far). Cover the top of the phone with your hand, the value should change and the screen will go out. Remove your hand, the screen should light up. If this does not happen, press Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen, closing and opening the sensor in turn.
☑️ Checklist of sensor calibration
After successful calibration, be sure to restart the device. Often, the system stores the old cached data, and the new parameters do not take effect until the smartphone is fully restarted.
Setting up special features and locking
There are additional features in the MIUI and HyperOS shell that can conflict with the sensor’s performance, particularly Pocket Mode or Pocket Mode, which is designed to prevent random calls, but sometimes it works too aggressively, causing the screen to go out when talking and not turn on.
Turn off this feature by going to Settings → Password & Security → Privacy → Special features. Find the Mode in Your Pocket switch and turn it off. This action often solves a problem on Redmi and Poco models, where software algorithms can be overly sensitive.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off "Mode in your pocket" means the phone can make calls or actions while lying in the bag along with the keys.Be careful when carrying the device without a case.
It’s also worth checking lock settings. Go to Settings → Screen lock and make sure that third-party themes or always-on display (AOD) are not included, which can intercept control of the light sensor. Sometimes third-party launchers or design themes incorrectly handle proximty sensor events, causing a black screen.
If you have a bett version of your firmware installed, the problem may be due to a bug in the system’s code, which can be helped by waiting for an update or rolling back to a stable version of the Global ROM.
Third-party applications and software conflicts
Not only system settings affect the screen going out when you talk to Xiaomi, but call recording apps, messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) or memory cleanup programs can have their own permissions to use the proximity sensor.
If the problem started after installing a particular application, try removing it or revoking permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find suspicious software (like Call Recording), and select Permissions. Disable sensor access if there is one, or completely uninstall the app for verification.
Special attention should be paid to “Memory Cleanup” and antiviruses. Aggressive optimization of background processes can “kill” the system service responsible for processing sensor signals, which leads to a screen freeze in the off state.
To diagnose, run your phone in Safe Mode, press the turn off button, and when the turn off icon appears on the screen, press and hold it with your finger for a few seconds, and the system will suggest that you go to Safe Mode, and if the screen is working correctly in this mode, then the third-party application is to blame.
Comparison of problem-solving methods
To make it easier for you to navigate through a variety of tips, we've compiled a summary table of the effectiveness of different methods for different situations. Choose your case and act on the recommendation.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Method of decision | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| The screen goes out and doesn't turn on. | Sensor contamination | Cleaning of the upper part of the shell | Low. |
| The screen goes out accidentally. | Calibration failure | Engineering Menu (CIT) | Medium |
| Problem after update | Bug MIUI/HyperOS | Resetting settings or waiting for a patch | Tall. |
| Black screen in messengers | Annex conflict | Reinstallation of the annex | Low. |
| Constant blackout | Pocket mode. | Disconnection in security settings | Low. |
As you can see from the table, most problems are solved by simple actions, but if none of the software methods worked, it may be a hardware malfunction.
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If calibration and resetting of settings do not help, most likely, the sensor module itself or the plume has failed, which requires replacement at the service center.
Cardinal measures: Resetting and repair
When all methods are exhausted, there is a complete factory reset. This action will delete all your data, so be sure to back up your contacts and photos to the Mi Cloud or your computer. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data.
If even after a reset and clean firmware, the screen goes out when talking to Xiaomi and does not respond to ear aversion, it is a hardware problem, it can be a departing plume (especially if the phone fell) or a physical sensor breakdown.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the phone yourself if you don't have experience.In modern Xiaomi models, the sensor is often integrated into the charging plume or display module, and careless intervention can damage other components.
A temporary solution for those who can’t visit the service right now could be to use the default hands-free or headset, and you can also install an app to control the proximity sensor from Google Play, which allows you to programmatically disable this feature, although it is not a full-fledged repair.
Remember that ignoring the problem can result in you not being able to answer an important call or complete a call, which can be a serious inconvenience at a critical moment.