Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face an unexpected problem: the incoming call is not displayed on the entire display, but as a small floating window. This creates significant inconvenience, especially for people with impaired vision or in situations where you need to quickly answer a call. The standard shell MIUI, which is based on the operating system of the device, has its own features of displaying system notifications.
The reason is because the system handles the permissions for the Phone app and the system interface. In some firmware versions or after updating Google apps, the settings may get lost, and the call interface switches to a mini mode, which is originally designed for video calls or multi-tasking, you can return the usual look by performing several consecutive actions in the settings menu.
In this article, we will go into detail all possible ways to solve this problem. We will look at both standard call settings and deeper application permissions options, which are often hidden from the average user. Full-screen recovery will take only a couple of minutes, but will return the comfort of using your Redmi 9.
Check the basic settings of the phone application
The first thing to start with is to check the internal settings of the app itself, which is responsible for calls. Xiaomi smartphones usually have two options: a standard Google Phone and a proprietary MIUI Dialer. The interface and menu layout may differ, but the logic of the work remains similar.
Open the Phone app and find the menu button, which most often looks like three dots in the corner of the screen or a gear. Go to Settings. Here you should be interested in the item related to incoming calls. Some versions of the shell call it incoming calls, others just answer mode.
- 📱 Open the Phone app and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- ⚙️ Select the "Settings" item in the drop-down list.
- 📞 Find the Incoming Calls or Answer and End the Call section».
- 🖥️ Make sure you select Full Screen mode, not Floating Window».
If you find that you have a mini window mode, just switch the switch. However, if it is not available or is already active and the problem persists, then it is the system permissions. The call interface depends not only on the application settings, but also on how the operating system allows it to block other windows.
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If you have a Google Phone installed, try clearing the app cache in your system settings to reset possible temporary interface errors.
Configure permissions on top of other applications
The most common reason why an incoming call on Xiaomi Redmi 9 doesn’t turn on the full screen is because there is no special resolution. Android requires explicit permission for apps that must be displayed on top of other windows to prevent fraudulent activities. If this permission is disabled, the system forcibly compresses the call window.
To fix this, you need to go to the general system settings. Find the Apps section, then select All Apps or Application Management. In the list, find Phone (or Google Phone, depending on which application you have defaulted).
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI This item may be called "Mastering on top of other apps" or "Pop-ups." Don't confuse this with regular permissions to access contacts.
In the list of additional rights, you need to find the line "Map on top of other applications" (or similar wording). Make sure that the slider is activated. If it is turned off, the system blocks the deployment of the call interface. Once this option is turned on, the system interface of the call will receive priority and can occupy the entire display.
It’s also worth checking for similar settings for the Contacts app, as it often provides data about Caller ID during an incoming call. If Contacts doesn’t have permission to pop up, the caller’s avatar may not display correctly, which is visually perceived as a screen error.
Resetting of call application settings
If switching the switches didn't help, there may have been a build-up of errors in the application configuration files, which often happens after updating the firmware or the app itself through the Play Market, in which case the way is to completely reset the application settings to factory state.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the “Clean” button. Click on it and select “Clear All” or “Reset” and don’t worry, your contacts and call history won’t be deleted because they’re stored in a separate database or synchronized with your account.
After reset, you need to reset the initial setup procedure, if necessary. The system can request permission to access the microphone and phone — be sure to agree with all requests. Reset configuration allows you to eliminate software conflicts that prevent the correct display of the UI.
- 🔄 Go to the settings of the application “Phone” through the system menu.
- 🗑️ Click “Clean” and select “Clean everything».
- ✅ Reboot your smartphone to apply changes.
- 📞 Check the incoming call from another number.
☑️ Checklist before resetting settings
Features of work in the mode “Do not disturb”
Sometimes users themselves inadvertently turn on modes that change the behavior of notifications and calls. In Xiaomi Redmi 9, the Do Not Disturb (DND) mode can block a full-screen call, turning it into a quiet notification or a small pop-up to avoid distracting the user.
Check if you have this mode activated. Usually, the crescent icon in the status bar indicates its operation. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb. Make sure the mode is turned off or set to skip calls from favorite contacts with full audio.
Also worth paying attention to is Pocket Mode, which prevents accidental taps when the phone is in your pocket, so if the proximity sensor is contaminated or covered with a protective film, the phone may think it's in your pocket and lock the call screen, preventing it from turning around.
⚠️ Note: If the proximity sensor (located next to the top speaker) is covered with thick protective glass or dirt, the screen may go out when the phone is brought to the ear, creating the illusion of a display problem.
Turn off Pocket Mode in lock settings to see if it affects the problem.The proximity sensor plays a key role in the logic of how the screen works during a conversation, and its malfunctioning is often interpreted by users as a software interface bug.
Comparison of problem-solving methods
There are several approaches to solving the problem, and the effectiveness of each depends on the specific version of MIUI and the source of the problem. Below is a table that will help you choose the best method of diagnosis.
| Method of decision | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switching in the application settings | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Permission "Above Other Windows" | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Resetting the application settings | Medium | Tall. | No (settings only) |
| Rejection of Google Phone Updates | Tall. | Medium | No. |
As you can see from the table, the safest and often most effective method is to check permissions. However, if the problem is caused by a bug in a particular update, you may need to roll back the application version. To do this, go to the app menu in the settings, click the three dots at the top and select "Delete Updates."
Once the updates are removed, the phone will return to the factory version of the Phone app. Check the call. If everything works, then the problem was in the new version, in which case it is better to temporarily disable the auto-update for this application in Google Play until the developers fix the error.
Why are your Android updates getting tweaked?
Additional settings of the MIUI interface
MIUI offers a variety of themes that can dramatically change the look of the system. Some third-party themes downloaded from the Themes store may not work properly with system windows, including the call window. If you've recently changed the theme, try returning the standard theme "Classic" or "No Limits."
Also, check the font settings and size of the interface elements. In Settings → Screen → Text Size, make sure that the standard value is chosen. Too large a font can cause the elements of the call interface to not fit into the designated area, and the system automatically compresses the window.
On Redmi 9, which has 3 or 4 GB of RAM, when you have a lot of workload, the system can aggressively compress background processes, which sometimes affects the priority of displaying the call window.
- 🎨 Return the standard theme in the store Theme.
- 🔤 Set a standard font size in the screen settings.
- 🧹 Close the background applications for release RAM.
- 📵 Turn off power saving mode, which may limit functionality.
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A comprehensive approach, including checking permissions, resetting the app and returning a standard theme, solves the problem 99% of the time on Redmi devices.