Xiaomi smartphone owners often face unusual interface behavior when incoming calls. Instead of the usual full-screen window that covers all applications, the device can only display a compact banner at the top of the display. This is the situation typical of the Redmi 9 model and other devices based on the shells MIUI and HyperOS. The user sees the notification, but can not immediately respond or end the conversation with a single touch.
The reason is because of the aggressive resource-saving policies and the way Android works in conjunction with the manufacturer's proprietary shell, which tries not to interrupt the background applications, so it hides the call interface, but for many use cases, especially on the road or when working with a navigator, it is critical to see a large dialing interface.
Fortunately, this problem is solved without rooting or flashing the device, you just need to configure the permissions for the Phone system application and check the notification settings. In some cases, you need to disable the Floating Window feature, which is specifically designed to create miniature interfaces. Below we will discuss the algorithm of actions in detail.
Why the call is displayed in the small window on Redmi 9
Understanding the cause of the problem is the first step to fixing it: In modern versions of MIUI, the default call interface can be configured as a notification rather than an active application, meaning that the system considers the call to be a secondary event that should not override the user's current task.
The second common cause is a failure of Dialer system components. After updating the firmware or installing third-party launchers, display settings may reset, and this is also affected by the Digital Wellbeing settings, which limit screen usage time or application priority.
Sometimes the problem is that you're in conflict with applications that record conversations or a number detector, and third-party programs intercept the call and change the way it's displayed, and if you've recently installed these tools, try temporarily disabling them.
Technical details of the work of Android Telephony
Setup of permissions for the phone application
The most effective way to make the call interface unfold to the full screen is to change the access rights for the system application. In Xiaomi Redmi 9, these settings are hidden deep enough, but are accessible to any user.
First, you need to go to the application management menu. To do this, go to Settings and select the App. Then click on All Apps. In the list, find the Phone app (it can be called Calls or have a green handset icon). Be careful not to confuse it with Contacts or Google Phone if you have multiple apps installed.
Inside the app menu, find the Other Permissions section. Here's a complete list of the rights that the app can request from the system. We need to find the item that displays on top of other windows. It can be called Display on top of other applications or Pop-up. Make sure the switch is activated.
☑️ Permit verification
Also on the same menu, check AutoRun. If it is disabled, the system may not properly start the call interface when a call arrives in the background. AutoRun resolution ensures that the In-call UI component is ready to work at any time.
Managing Notifications and Priority of Calls
If permissions are set up correctly, but the call still comes as a small notification, the problem can be covered in the notification importance category. Android allows you to customize notification behavior for different events, including incoming calls.
Go back to the Phone menu via settings. Find the Notifications section. Here you will see a list of categories like Incoming Calls, Missed Calls, and others. Click on the Incoming Calls text (not the right-hand switch, but the name).
You'll see a detailed menu, and you'll want to make sure that you have Sound on, and most importantly, Full Screen or Lock on. In some versions of MIUI, this is called Priority Display. If you tick "Silent Notification" or "No Sound or Vibration," the call interface will be hidden.
- 📱 Select the category "Incoming calls" in the list of notifications of the Phone application.
- 🔊 Make sure you select a profile "Mediocre" or "High" rather than "No sound".
- 🔓 Activate the switch "Show on the lock screen".
- 🚫 Turn off Do Not Disturb mode if it blocks visual notifications.
After making the changes, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow Redmi 9 to apply new rules for filtering notifications and correctly display the caller interface.
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If you have Do Not Disturb mode on, calls can only come as silent notifications, add your loved ones' contacts to the exclusion list in the Do Not Disturb mode settings, so that their calls always make their way to the full screen.
Disabling the floating window function
There's a convenient, but sometimes interfering, floating window feature in the MIUI shell that allows applications to run in a small window on top of others, and the random inclusion of this feature for the Phone application means that the call no longer takes up the entire display.
To check this, open any application and call the menu of running programs (a swipe from bottom up with a delay or a menu button). Find the Phone application window. If there is an icon in the corner of the window that resembles two overlapping frames or a dashed line, then the floating window mode is active. Click on this icon to deploy the application.
Also worth checking is the global floating window settings. Go to Settings → Special Features → Floating Windows. Make sure that system applications are not forced to open in mini mode. In newer firmware versions, this setting may be in the Additional Settings menu.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Displaying on top of others | Permitted. | Applications → Phone → Permissions |
| Priority of notification | High/Urgent | Applications → Phone → Notifications |
| Floating window mode | Disconnected. | Menu of running applications |
| Auto-start | Included. | Applications → Phone → Auto Launch |
If the problem persists after the floating window is turned off, a third-party launcher may conflict.Try to temporarily return the standard System Launcher launcher and check the call performance.
Resetting the application settings and cleaning the cache
Software failures are a common cause of interface malfunction, and accumulated temporary files or errors in the call database can interfere with the correct display of the call window, in which case cleaning the application data will help.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone. Select Memory. Click Clear and select Clear Cache. This is secure and won’t delete your contacts or call history, but will remove temporary files that may have been corrupted.
If cleaning the cache didn't help, you can reset all settings for this application. Attention: resetting all settings of the Phone application can delete the call history and redirect settings, so the history is better saved separately. After resetting, the application will return to the "from the store" state and the display settings should become factory (full screen).
⚠️ Note: Before performing a full app reset, make sure your contacts are synced with your Google or Mi Cloud account.Although contacts are stored in a separate app, sometimes settings can intertwine, and it is better to be safe.
Once the data is cleared, restart Redmi 9. The first call will recreate the configuration files, which often resolves the problem when the call interface gets stuck in thumbnail mode due to a logical error in the code.
Additional lock screen settings
Sometimes the problem is not the call app itself, but how the lock screen works. If the phone is locked, it is the lock screen that is responsible for displaying the incoming call. Theme settings or third-party blockers can interfere with this process.
Check the theme settings. If you have a third-party theme installed from the Themes store, it may have its own call screen design that is glitzy. Try applying a standard Classic or Default theme and see if the call behavior changes.
You also have to look at the Pocket Mode feature, which is designed to prevent accidental taps in your pocket, but sometimes it doesn't work properly, hiding the interface. This option is in Settings → Screen Lock → Pocket Mode. Try turning it off for the test.
- 🎨 Change the theme to standard to eliminate design bugs.
- 📵 Turn off "Pocket mode" in the screen lock settings.
- 🔒 Check if a third-party screen blocker or antivirus with call protection is installed.
- 🔄 Make sure the proximity sensor is covered with a cover or contaminated, which can affect the screen response.
If nothing helps, the problem may be deeper and more related to a particular firmware version, in which case you should expect to upgrade the system or use third-party caller apps, although this is not always recommended due to possible delays.
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Comprehensive check of permissions, notifications and themes in 99% of cases returns full-screen call mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9 without the need for flashing.
Use of third-party applications for calls
If Xiaomi's standard call continues to malfunction, an alternative might be considered: Google offers its Google Phone app, which is often installed by default on global firmware versions or can be downloaded separately.
Google Phone has a simpler and more intuitive interface that is less prone to zoom bugs, it automatically adapts to the camera cutout and screen size of Redmi 9. However, it is worth considering that the functionality of recording conversations in it may differ from the native one.
Download for installation APK-You can find a file from a proven resource or find an application in Google Play. Once installed, you will need to make it the default application for calls.
⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party call, make sure you give it all the necessary permissions to access contacts and microphone.Without these permissions, the application will not be able to function even if the interface is displayed correctly.
Using alternative software is a last resort, and in most cases, setting up the com.android.incallui system app correctly solves the problem, but if you prefer Google minimalism, it's a viable option.