Modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the popular Redmi Note 9 model, offer many features to personalize the interface, but standard settings may not always meet the user's expectations. One of the most frequently sought-after options is to display an incoming call to the full screen, which is especially convenient when using the device with one hand or in poor lighting. By default, the MIUI shell can display the caller as a small banner or card at the top of the display, which does not always allow you to quickly see a photo of the contact or conveniently press the reset button.
In this article, we will discuss how to change the call interface settings so that incoming calls occupy the entire screen area of your Redmi Note 9. We will look at both the built-in system features and the settings of the Google Phone application, which is the standard for many firmware versions, and you will learn about the nuances of working with contacts and resolving conflicts between the system “bell” and third-party applications.
Before you start making changes, it is important to understand that the appearance of the call window depends not only on the phone settings, but also on the version of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. In some cases, activating full-screen mode requires performing certain actions in the special features menu or resetting the application settings. The interface may differ depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EU, China), but the basic principles remain the same for the entire line of devices.
Impact of MIUI version and Phone application on display
The first step in solving the issue of full-screen call is to determine which application handles incoming calls on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. Depending on the year of release and region, the device can be installed either the proprietary MIUI Dialer app or the standard Google Phone.
If you have a global firmware version released after 2020, it is likely that Google Phone is the default.This app has its own call rendering engine that ignores some of the system themes of MIUI. Owners of Chinese versions or devices with EU ROM re-stitched can see the classic Xiaomi interface, where settings are often hidden in the depth of the menu or depend on the the theme of the design.
⚠️ Note: If you installed a third-party theme from GetThemes, it may force you to change the style of the call window, ignoring system settings. In this case, return the standard theme "Classic" or "No restrictions" to check.
To find out which app is active, go to Settings → Apps → All apps and look up the phone icon: the blue handset stands for Google, the green one with the logo is MIUI. This will depend on the further instruction. It is also worth noting that on the Redmi Note 9 with its AMOLED or IPS screen (depending on the modification), the full screen mode allows you to better use the potential of the display, making the interface more modern.
Set up full-screen calls in Google Phone
For most Redmi Note 9 users, setting up the Google Phone app is relevant. In recent versions of this application, developers have implemented a feature that automatically deploys the call window to the full screen if the phone is unlocked or if the appropriate setting is enabled.
To activate this mode, open the Phone app and click on the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then go to Incoming Calls. Here you will see the option "Full screen mode for incoming calls." Make sure the switch is activated. If there is no such option, your version of the app may need to be updated via Google Play.
- 📞 Open the Phone app and go to the settings menu through three points.
- 🔍 Find Incoming Calls or Incoming Call Settings in the English interface.
- ✅ Activate Full Screen for Incoming Calls (Full Screen for Incoming Calls).
- 🔄 Restart the device so that the changes take effect and the interface cache is updated.
It is important to note that even when the setting is turned on, if the phone screen is turned off, the call will always appear on the full screen by default. The setting described affects the situation primarily when you use other applications or the screen is already on, in which case the call notification will not hang a narrow bar on top, but will turn into a full window with response buttons.
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If full screen is not available, try clearing the Phone app cache through Settings → Apps → Phone → Memory → Clear the cache. This won’t delete your contacts, but will reset temporary interface files.
Solving the Banner Problem Instead of a Full Screen
A common problem on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is that the incoming call appears as a small banner at the top of the screen, even when the settings seem to be correct.This behavior is often associated with aggressive energy savings or conflicting permissions to display over other windows. MIUI is known for its strict background management policy, which can interfere with the correct display of the call interface.
To correct this situation, check the permissions for the Phone application. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone. Select Other permissions (or simply “permissions”). Make sure all critical items are enabled, especially Display on top of other apps and Auto Run. Without permission to display on top of other windows, the system will block the call window from unfolding.
| Permit parameter | Default status | Recommended status | Impact on the challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | Included. | Allows the application to work in the background |
| Displaying on top of others | Ask/Included | Included. | Critical for full-screen mode |
| Notifications | Included. | Included. | Provides an audible signal |
| Battery savings | No restrictions. | No restrictions. | Prevents the "sedation" of the phone calls |
Also, check your notification settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management → Phone. Make sure High or Urgent is prioritized for Incoming Calls. This will force the system to bring the call to the forefront by blocking other running applications.
System theme settings and interface design
The MIUI shell allows you to deeply customize the look and feel, and sometimes the problem lies in the chosen theme. Some themes, especially those created by third-party designers, may not support proper scaling of the call window on screens with a cutout (like the Redmi Note 9), causing the interface to "squeeze" or shift.
To rule this out, go to the Themes app. Click on the profile icon in the lower right corner, then select Themes. Go back to the standard Classic or Default theme. After applying the theme, reboot your smartphone. If the calls start to show up on the full screen, then the problem was incompatibility of the previous design.
Secret codes for checking the interface
Also, you should pay attention to the font size and scale of the display system. If you have a very large font installed, the call window may not fit into the designated area and go into compact display mode. Check the settings in Settings → Screen → Text size. Try temporarily zooming to the average and check the behavior of the incoming call.
Working with contacts and photos of subscribers
One of the reasons users want to see a full-screen call is to see a photo of the caller. On the Redmi Note 9, the quality of the contact photos is directly dependent on the resolution of the image itself and synchronization with the Google account.
If a contact photo is low quality or cropped incorrectly, the system can automatically switch to a standard avatar, which visually makes the call window less informative. It is recommended to upload high-resolution photos of contacts (at least 960×960 pixels) directly to the contact profile through the Contacts app or the Google Contacts web interface.
- 📸 Use high-resolution square photos for better results.
- ☁️ Make sure the contact is saved in your Google account, not just in memory. SIM-map.
- 🔄 Sync contacts manually through Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize.
Remember that if you save a contact twice (e.g., once in SIM, once in Google), the system may be confused about which photo to display, in which case it is better to remove duplicates, and there is a "Photo for Contact" feature that allows you to assign a specific photo to a specific number, and that will occupy the center of the screen during the incoming call.
⚠️ Note: When syncing contacts, make sure that the Contacts and Phone app have permission to access storage and contacts.
Features of video calls and VoLTE on Redmi Note 9
Special attention should be paid to video calls, which are becoming more popular. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, VoLTE (Voice over LTE) support allows you to make high-quality calls over a 4G network. If you have a video call feature enabled, the interface will differ from a conventional audio call.
In video calling, the screen is completely occupied with the image of the interlocutor, and your video is displayed in a small window (Picture-in-Picture). You can switch to audio only mode with the button on the screen, but the format itself is full-screen by default. Problems here can only occur with a weak network signal when the phone tries to switch from video to audio, at which point the interface can "blink".
☑️ Checking video calling settings
To activate video calls, you need your operator to support this technology and it is included in the tariff. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose. SIM → Use VoLTE. If the switch is active, it means that the service is available. The image quality of a video call also depends on the settings of the application through which the call is made (standard call, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.), but the system call uses the maximum resolution supported by the network.