Locking the screen during a call on Xiaomi: all the ways to activate and configure

During a phone conversation, random taps on Xiaomi’s screen can lead to awkward situations: turning off the microphone, switching the call to speaker, or even breaking the connection. This is especially true for owners of devices with large displays or when using a smartphone while moving. Fortunately, MIUI provides a feature for automatically locking the screen when approaching the ear – but it does not always work correctly “out of the box”.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to enable screen lock during a call: from standard settings MIUI You will learn how to check the proximity sensor, why the function may not work on some models (for example, Redmi Note 11 or the Redmi Note). POCO X5), And how to get around the restrictions with third-party apps, and we'll focus on the differences between firmware versions — MIUI 12, 13 and 14 have different settings interfaces.

Why the screen is not locked during the call: the main reasons

Before you set up a lock, it's important to understand why the function might not work, and 80 percent of the time, one of three things is the problem.

• 🔍 Disabled proximity sensor: The physical sensor (located next to the front camera) can be blocked by a protective film, cover or disabled in settings.
• 📱 Programmatic limitations MIUI: In some regional versions of firmware (for example, India or China), the screen lock function is disabled by default when calling.
• 🔄 Battery optimization conflict: If the system aggressively closes the background processes, the proximity sensor processing module may not have time to fire.

The problem also often arises after a firmware update, such as Xiaomi 12T and POCO F4 users complaining en masse about the disappearance of the screen lock option after switching to MIUI 14, in which case resetting sensor settings or manual activation through the engineering menu helps.

Method 1: Standard setup in MIUI (for most models)

The easiest method is to enable locking through the basic settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the overall algorithm is the same:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to All Settings → System → Additional (on MIUI 14, the path can be Settings → Display).
3. Find the Lock screen at approach or the Approach Sensor.
4. Activate the switch and save the changes.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

• 📞 Settings → Annexes → Calls. → Call settings → Screen locking
• 🔧 Settings → Special facilities → Physical buttons → Blocking when calling (for older versions) MIUI 11-12)

Make sure there is no film or cover on the front camera.|Open the phone app and dial ##6484##|Check the sensor response by covering the top of the screen with your hand|Reboot your smartphone after the changes-->

Important! On some models (e.g. Redmi 10 or POCO M4 Pro), the option is hidden in the developer menu. To activate it, go to Settings → About phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version. After that, the main settings menu will appear the item For developers.

Method 2: Activate through an engineering menu (for power users)

If standard settings don’t work, you can manually test and adjust the proximity sensor through an engineering menu, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, but requires caution – incorrect changes can lead to failures.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13) may require a code: ##4636###
2. In the menu that opens, select Proximity Sensor.
3. Check the current value – if the number does not change from 5.0 cm to 0.0 cm when you close the screen with your hand, the sensor is faulty or locked.
4. To calibrate, press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen.

Critical information: On smartphones with a Snapdragon processor (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F5), the engineering menu may not show the real values of the sensor.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If the built-in MIUI doesn't work, you can install specialized utilities that not only lock the screen during a call, but also add additional features, such as automatically turning on the hands-free when you move the phone away from your ear.

Top.-3 tested applications:

Check reviews before installing, some apps may conflict with MIUI optimization. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, users noted that Gravity Screen is unstable due to background system constraints.

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If after installing the application, the screen stops blocking at all, add it to the list of battery optimization exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications → Find the right one → Without restrictions

Problem Solving: The sensor is not working or the lock is triggered too late

If the screen is not locked or does so with a delay, the problem can be both hardware and software.

• 🛠️ Contaminated proximity sensor: wipe the top of the screen (near the front camera) with an alcohol wipe. Dust and fat can block the infrared signal.
• 🔄 Firmware failure: reset sensor settings through Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting sensor settings.
• 📉 Low sensitivity: in the engineering menu (##6484##) Increase the Proximity Sensor Threshold setting to 3-4 cm.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off Ultra-Economic mode in battery settings - it can turn off sensors.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro) sometimes helps to disable the Always On Display function - it can conflict with the proximity sensor.

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If the proximity sensor is physically damaged (for example, after a phone drops), the locking of the screen during the call will not work, in which case you only need to use third-party applications or give the smartphone to the service to replace the sensor.

Features of customization for specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique features in the proximity sensor, and we collected data on popular models:

Flagship models (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3) sometimes require firmware upgrades to the latest version of MIUI. Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

What to do if nothing helps: alternative methods

If all of the above methods do not work, radical measures remain:

1. Reset to factory settings: This will delete all data, but return the original sensor settings. Pre-backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Custom firmware installation: AOSP-based firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) often works better with sensors, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and can be insecure.
3. Use of physical locking: If software methods don’t help, you can buy a magnetic lock case or use a power button to manually turn off the screen during a call.

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Before resetting, check if the Developer → Do not turn off the screen mode is on. This option can block automatic locking when calling.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen locking on Xiaomi