How to turn on the screen lock while calling on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: 3 working ways

Accidental taps during a phone call are a common problem faced by owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. The screen of the smartphone can be activated by touching the cheek, ear or even hair, which leads to the on- speakerphone, switching to another call or even breaking the connection. Fortunately, MIUI provides a screen lock during a call, but it is not always activated by default.

In this article, you will find three proven ways to enable a lock screen when you talk, from the standard settings of the Redmi Note 8 Pro to hidden MIUI capabilities and third-party solutions. We will also analyze why the feature may not work, and give recommendations for optimizing its behavior, if you are tired of constant crashes during calls, this guide will help solve the problem once and for all.

Why is the screen not automatically locked when you call?

On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, locking the screen when talking may not work for several reasons: First, in some versions of MIUI (especially in firmware for the global market), this feature is disabled by default; second, it depends on the proximity sensor, which may be contaminated or damaged. Finally, third-party applications (such as launchers or modified firmware) sometimes conflict with system settings.

Another common reason is poor energy saving settings. If the Battery → Power Saving mode is activated aggressively, the system may restrict the operation of sensors, including the proximity sensor, and the problem may lie in the MIUI updates: after some updates, the settings are reset, and the locking screen stops working.

Method 1: Enabling lock through phone settings

The easiest method is to activate the function through the standard menu of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the System Applications section → Phone.
3. Select Screen Lock during a call (or Approximation Sensor depending on the MIUI version).
4. Activate the switch next to the option to Lock the screen when approaching.

If your MIUI version doesn’t have one, try an alternative way:

• 🔍 Settings → All settings → Special facilities → Approximation sensor
• 📱 Settings → Screen. → Blocking when calling (in some firmware)

1. Make sure the front camera and sensors are clean (wipe with a napkin)

2. Check the sensor in the engineering menu (##6484##)

3. Turn off the protective film or case if they close the sensor

4.Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->

Important! Once you activate the function, test it: call another number and check if the screen is locked when you hold the phone to your ear, and if the sensor is not working, you may need to calibrate it or clean it.

Method 2: Using an engineering menu to calibrate the sensor

If standard settings don’t help, the problem may be that the proximity sensor is not working properly, and Xiaomi’s engineering menu will help, where you can check and calibrate the sensor:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##6484###
2. In the menu that opens, select Proximity Sensor.
3. Check the current values: when closing the sensor with your hand, the value should change from 5.00 cm to 0.00 cm.
4. If the values do not change, the sensor is defective or contaminated.

For sensor calibration:

• 🧹 Clean the sensor area (near the front camera) of dust and dirt.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it resets sensor errors.
• 🛠️ If the sensor does not respond, contact the service center (possible physical defect).

Critical information: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the proximity sensor is located to the right of the front camera. If you use a thick case or protective glass with a cutout that is not sized, the sensor may not work.

Method 3: Third-party applications for forced blocking

If the system methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities, and one of the most reliable solutions is the Proximity Sensor Fix app (available on Google Play).

• 🔒 Forced to lock the screen when approaching.
• 📊 Adjust sensor sensitivity.
• 🚫 Turn off the screen even if there is no signal from the sensor.

Instructions for setting:

1. Download and install Proximity Sensor Fix.
2. Launch the app and grant permissions to access the sensors.
3. Activate Force Screen Off During Call.
4. Set the lock delay (recommended 1-2 seconds).

The advantage of this method is that it works even when the sensor is faulty, because it locks on a timer, but keep in mind that the application can consume an additional battery.

💡

If after installing a third-party application, the screen stops unlocking, add it to the exception list in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).

Table: Comparison of screen locking methods

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many Redmi Note 8 Pro users are faced with the fact that the locking of the screen is unstable.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen stops turning on when the phone is away from your ear after activating the lock, check the automatic brightness settings. Sometimes a conflict with the light sensor leads to the screen "hanging.

• 🔋 Energy saving: In Ultra-saving mode, the proximity sensor can shut down. Add the Phone app to the exceptions.
• 📲 Cases and glass: Thick covers or improperly pasted glass block the sensor signal.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: After the update, the settings may be reset. Always check the sensor after installing a new firmware.

Another common problem is false positives, where the screen is locked for no reason, and this can be because of:

• Moisture entering the sensor area.
• Conflict with apps like Truecaller or WhatsApp (turn off permission to overlay them over other windows).
• Damage to the sensor plume (diagnosis is required in the service).

💡

If the locking is not working properly, first check the proximity sensor in the engineering menu, 70% of the time the problem is due to contamination or software failure.

Additional settings to improve the work

To lock the screen during the call worked as efficiently as possible, we recommend setting the following parameters:

1. Turn off gestures on the lock screen: Go to Settings → Lock screen → Gestures and deactivate options like Double-touch to wake up. This will prevent accidental unlocks.
2. Set a minimum latency in Settings → Screen → Screen timeout (e.g., 15 seconds) to reduce the risk of screen activation during a conversation.
3. Use Do Not Disturb Mode: In Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Don’t Disturb Set up Automatically Enabled Mode During Calls. This will turn off notifications that can wake the screen.

It is also useful to activate the Up to Wake Up function (Settings → Lock screen → Raise to wake up) This will allow you to quickly turn on the screen after the call is completed without pressing the power button.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions