How to Remove Automatic Screen Shutdown When Calling Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your Xiaomi screen goes out or gets darkened during phone calls?This feature, designed to save battery power, often annoys users - especially when you need to dial an extra number, turn on speakerphone or take advantage of other options during a call. Fortunately, there are several ways to turn this behavior off in MIUI, but not all of them are obvious.

Complicating the problem, different versions of the firmware and different models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Mi 11) may have different paths to settings. Moreover, after the MIUI 14→15 updates, some menu items have moved or received new names. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from standard settings to hidden features of the engineering menu.

If you’ve tried to turn off screen dimming through Settings → Display, but it didn’t work out, don’t rush to reset your phone to factory settings. 80% of the time, the problem is solved by changing one or two settings that most users don’t even know about.

It is important to note that on some models (such as Black Shark 5 or Xiaomi 13T), the logic of the screen when calling depends on the version of Google Phone, the standard phone application, and you will need a separate setup, which we will discuss in the corresponding section.

Why the screen goes out during the call: technical reasons

The automatic disabling feature was originally conceived as a power saving mechanism: When you hold your phone to your ear, the proximity sensor picks up the obstacle and sends a signal to the system to turn off the screen, which prevents accidental tapping and really reduces battery consumption — but only in theory.

In practice, users face a number of problems: Xiaomi uses aggressive energy saving algorithms that sometimes work even when the sensor is not closed (for example, if you hold the phone at an angle). In some cases, the screen does not just go out, but completely locks, making it impossible to access the call interface without unlocking.

Another common reason is the conflict between the standard Phone app and the proprietary MIUI shell. After system updates, settings can be reset and new firmware versions introduce additional restrictions, for example, MIUI 15 has a separate option called Energy Saving during calls, which is enabled by default.

Finally, low-end models (Redmi 10A, Poco M5) often have low-sensitivity proximity sensors that can falsely fire from bright light, moisture, or even protective glass, and in such cases, only completely shutting down the function helps.

📊 Your Xiaomi smartphone is a series of?
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Method 1: Disabling the proximity sensor in call settings

The most obvious and safe method is to deactivate the proximity sensor directly in the phone app settings, which works on most devices with MIUI 12-15, including the Xiaomi 12, Redmi Note 11 and Poco F4.

Instructions:

  1. Open the standard Phone app (Trainer icon).
  2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
  3. Go to Calls or Call Settings (name depends on MIUI version).
  4. Find the option of the Approximation Sensor (could be called Automatic Screen Shutdown or Smart Screen Control).
  5. Move the slider to the off position.

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

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find the phone in the list and tap it.
  3. Select Permissions, then Sensors.
  4. Disable access to the proximity sensor.

Make sure you have the latest version of the phone app installed.

Check if there are any updates to MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Remember the current sensor settings in case you return to them

- Keep in mind that after switching off the screen will not go out even in your pocket.-->

Important: Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for the European region) may have the option hidden, in which case the engineering menu method will help (see section 4).

Method 2: Configure energy saving for a phone application

MIUI is actively optimizing background processes, and sometimes it affects the behavior of the screen during calls. If the proximity sensor is disabled but the problem remains, check the power saving settings for the Phone application.

How to do this:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find the phone in the list and select it.
  3. Slip on the battery (or energy consumption).
  4. Choose the option without restrictions.
  5. Go back and open AutoRun – turn on the permission.

Check the general energy saving settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
  2. Select Mode Selection and set Performance (if available).
  3. Turn off the option Adaptive battery or Smart energy saving.

This manipulation will help if the problem is caused by aggressive MIUI optimization, but on some devices (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), even this is not enough, then you will have to use more radical methods.

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If the phone starts to run out faster after changing its power saving settings, go back to Balanced mode. Alternatively, add the Phone app to the optimisation exceptions through battery settings.

Method 3: Using hidden settings through ##

For power users, there is a method of activating hidden settings through the engineering menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires caution – incorrect changes can lead to crashes.

Instructions:

  1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##6484###
  2. The MTK Engineering Mode (or similar) menu will open.
  3. Go to the Hardware Testing → Sensor section.
  4. Find the Proximity Sensor and tap it.
  5. In the PS Calibration field, enter the value of 0 and press Calibrate.
  6. Go back to the main menu and select Exit.

Once calibrated, the proximity sensor will be turned off at the system level. To return the standard behavior, repeat the procedure, but enter a value of 1 instead of 0.

Warning: Some models (Poco X3 Pro, Redmi K50) may not have an engineering menu or require superuser rights, and may have false light sensors after calibration.

What if the #6484## code doesn't work?
On newer versions of MIUI (14+), the engineering menu can be blocked. Alternative codes: - ##4636## (general information) - ##36446337# (test mode) If none of the code works, try the ADB method (section 5).

Method 4: Editing settings through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to change system settings, which requires connecting your phone to your computer and having a basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

  1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

File transfer

ADB Tools

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.

adb devices


adb shell settings put global proximity_delay 0




adb shell settings put global proximity_wake_lock_enabled 0

Reboot the phone.

These commands disable the proximity sensor delay and lock the screen during calls. To return the standard settings, use:

adb shell settings delete global proximity_delay


adb shell settings delete global proximity_wake_lock_enabled

Warning: Changing system settings through ADB can cause the phone to run unstable. Make a backup before executing commands.

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ADB-commands are the most reliable way to disable screen dimming, but it requires technical skills. If you are not sure about your actions, use the standard settings (method 1 or 2).

Method 5: Install an alternative call app

If none of the above methods worked, the radical solution remains to replace the standard Phone app with a third-party one, which is true for devices with heavily stripped firmware (for example, Xiaomi for the Russian market).

Best alternatives:

  • 📞 Google Phone is the official Google app with flexible screen settings. MIUI, but without aggressive energy saving.
  • 🔄 True Phone Dialer – offers a separate switch for the proximity sensor and customization of the call interface.
  • 🛠️ ExDialer – a lightweight application with minimalistic design and manual screen control.

How to determine:

  1. Download. APK-file of the selected application (for example, with APKMirror).
  2. Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
  3. Install the application and assign it to standard in Settings → Applications → By default.
  4. In the settings of the new application, find the Screen section during the call and turn off automatic dimming.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware may have third-party calling apps conflicting with system services. Check user reviews of your model before installing.

Not all methods work equally well across devices, and here is a compatibility table for popular models (relevant for MIUI 14-15):

ModelMethod 1 (Call settings)Method 2 (Energy saving)Method 3 (Engineering Menu)Method 4(ADB)Method 5 (Party of the annex)
Redmi Note 12 Pro+✅ Yes.✅ Yes.❌ No (menu blocked)✅ Yes.✅ Yes.
Poco F5✅ Yes.⚠️ Partially (reset required)✅ Yes.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.
Xiaomi 13 Lite❌ No (hiddenly)✅ Yes.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.⚠️ Limitations MIUI
Redmi 10C✅ Yes.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.❌ No (mistake) ADB)✅ Yes.
Black Shark 6 Pro❌ No.⚠️ Partially.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.

If your model is not in the table, try methods in the order of 1 to 5. Newer devices (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13) may require a combination of several methods.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to turn off screen dimming, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

  • 🔍 Settings are reset after the update MIUI Solution: Once you install the update, re-apply the selected method (especially for methods 1 and 2). MIUI 15 Add the Phone app to battery optimization exceptions.
  • 📵 The screen does not respond to touches after waking Solution: This is due to the proximity/lock sensor conflict. Try calibrating the sensor through the engineering menu (method) 3) or use ADB-Adb shell settings put global proximity_wake_unlock 1
  • 🔋 Increased battery consumption Solution: If you turn off the proximity sensor, the screen will stay on longer. To save charge, reduce the time to automatically turn off the display in Settings → Display. → Sleeping mode up to 15-30 seconds.
  • 🛠️ It's not working. ADB-Solution: Make sure that debugging is enabled USB And the drivers are installed correctly. Try reconnecting the device or using another cable. Some firmware requires a permission confirmation on the phone when you first connect.

⚠️ Note: If after manipulating the settings, the phone stopped detecting the ear during calls (for example, does not switch to the speaker when you are away from the face), return the standard sensor parameters through the engineering menu or ADB.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can screen dimming be turned off only for specific contacts?
There's no standard MIUI, but you can use a workaround: Install a Tasker or MacroDroid app. Create a rule: "If an incoming call is from [contact], turn on the screen to maximum." In the rule settings, add Display → Wake Device. This will require manual adjustment for each contact, but will give you flexible control.
Why does the screen not go out even in your pocket after the proximity sensor is turned off?
This is normal behavior — the proximity sensor is responsible not only for dimming during calls, but also for locking the screen when in contact with surfaces (for example, when the phone is lying down on the table). Solutions: Use a magnetic lock case — it will lock the screen when you close. Set up automatic lock through Settings → Display → Sleep Mode (set minimum time). Install an app like Gravity Screen that locks the screen when you change your phone position (for example, when you put it in your pocket).
Will the ADB method work on custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS)?
On most custom firmware (including LineageOS, Pixel Experience) proximity_delay and proximity_wake_lock_enabled They may be missing or have other names. AOSP-Firmware: Adb shell settings put system proximity_delay 0 adb shell settings put global device_provisioned 1 If the commands don’t work, check for the file. /system/usr/keylayout/generic.kl — There may be additional sensor parameters.
How to return the standard behavior of the screen, if after experiments it stopped fading completely?
Follow the following steps: Reset the sensor settings through the engineering menu (enter ##6484##, Find Proximity Sensor and select Reset. ADB-Adb shell settings delete global settings proximity_delay adb shell settings delete global proximity_wake_lock_enabled Reset your phone. If the problem persists, reset the Phone app settings to Settings. → Annexes → Phone. → Warehouse → Drop it.
Is there a risk of damaging the phone if the proximity sensor is turned off?
No, turning off the proximity sensor does not pose a risk to the phone's hardware. However, there may be software inconveniences: the screen will remain on during calls, which will increase battery consumption by 5-10%; the likelihood of accidental taps (for example, when the phone is pressed to the ear); Some models (Xiaomi 12S Ultra) may stop automatically switching between the speaker and the tube. All changes are reversible - you can always return the standard settings.