Why screen goes out when dialing on Xiaomi: a complete guide to fixing

The situation of suddenly turning off the screen when dialing a Xiaomi number is familiar to many smartphone users of this brand. You have just started entering subscriber numbers or have already dialed a number, as the display suddenly turns black, making it impossible to correct an error or view contacts. This is not only annoying, but often leads to the fact that you accidentally hang up the phone or dial the wrong number due to accidental touches with your cheek.

The main reason for this behavior is that the proximity sensor is not working properly, and it protects the screen from accidental taps during a conversation by pressing the phone against the ear, but in Xiaomi smartphones it is often oversensitive. Unlike many other manufacturers, where calibration is built into the baseline of the system, the MIUI shell and HyperOS can have their own peculiarities of interpreting data from this sensor.

In addition, the problem can be caused by software conflicts after the system update or physical factors, such as a protective glass covering the top of the display. In some cases, third-party applications intercepting call management are the culprits. Understanding the exact cause is the first step to returning the device to comfortable use for voice communication.

The principle of the sensor approach in smartphones Xiaomi

The proximity sensor is an infrared sensor located at the top of a smartphone, usually next to a speaker speaker. Its task is simple: when you hold the phone to your head, the sensor picks up the reflected IR light and signals the system to turn off the display. When the phone is removed from your ear, the screen should light up again. Xiaomi devices often use software sensors that mimic the physical work, which sometimes leads to false positives.

It's important to understand that calibration of this element can be lost at any time, it can happen after a fall, moisture or simply because of the accumulation of errors in the software, if the system thinks that the object is too close to the sensor, it locks the screen, even if the phone is a centimeter away from your face.

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Check the cleanliness of the top of the screen: greasy spots or dust can block the IR ray, making the phone think it’s pressed against the ear.

It should be noted that in budget models, the sensor can be combined with a front-facing camera or speaker, which makes it difficult to diagnose. If the screen goes out when dialing, this often indicates that the sensitivity threshold is set too low by default.

Software causes: MIUI failures and application conflicts

One of the most common reasons why the screen goes out when dialing is software conflicts in the shell of MIUI. After major Android updates or firmware itself, old configuration files may not interact correctly with new sensor drivers, especially for users who have not reset their phone to factory settings in a long time.

The second common factor is the use of third-party calling apps, which many users replace with more functional Google Play counterparts, but can take precedence over sensor system settings, ignoring standard sensitivity thresholds set by the manufacturer.

Also worth mentioning is the "pocket mode" feature, which is designed to prevent accidental taps when the phone is in your bag or pocket. If it is not working properly, it can lock the screen when the top of the case is even slightly blocked, and disabling this feature often solves the problem of false display shutdowns.

Effects of accessories and physical factors on the sensor

Physical reasons, too, are not to be discounted: protective glass and film, especially those with a black perimeter frame or no special cut-out for the sensor, often become the culprits. Even minimal overlap in the sensor area causes the infrared beam to bounce off the film itself, and the phone "thinks" it's near the ear.

Dirt, fat and dust in the area of the speaker are another enemy of correct operation. Over time, microscopic particles clog the speaker grid and the sensor hole, which creates a permanent background that the system perceives as an obstacle, and regular cleaning of this area with an alcohol napkin can do wonders.

⚠️ Attention: Using thick protective glasses without a cutout for the proximity sensor is the most common cause of problems. If the problem disappears after removing the glass, you need to replace the accessory with a better analogue.

In addition, mechanical damage, such as impacts or falls, could displace the sensor plume inside the housing, in which cases software calibration may not help, and intervention in the hardware of the device will be required.

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Physical obstacles (glass, dirt) block the sensor more often than software errors. Start your diagnosis by checking cleanliness and accessories.

How to Calibrate the Approach Sensor Through the Engineering Menu

The most effective way to fix the dialing screen is by manual calibration. In Xiaomi smartphones, there is a hidden engineering menu. To get into it, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code doesn't work, try ##4636##, although the former is more universal for Xiaomi.

Once you log in, you'll need to find the item associated with the "Proximity Sensor" and the calibration process will usually be as follows:

• 🔘 Press the "Calibration" button in the sensor menu.
• 🔘 Close the top of the screen (where the speaker is) with your palm and press "OK".
• 🔘 Put your hand away and press it again "OK".
• 🔘 Wait for the message of successful completion.

If the automatic calibration doesn't work, you can try resetting the sensor data. Some versions of MIUI have a "Clear Calibration" or "Reset" button. After reset, you need to reset the device, and it's important to do this in good light and without protective glass to eliminate external interference.

Call settings and hidden interface functions

The settings of the Phone app itself also have settings that affect screen behavior. Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Permissions and make sure the app has access to sensors. Sometimes, after updating the access rights, they get lost, and the system blocks the sensor for “security” purposes.

It’s also worth checking whether the “Louder in your pocket” feature or similar audio enhancement options are enabled, which are often tied to the same sensors as the screen lock, and turning off unnecessary features in the Settings → Sound and vibration section can reduce the load on the touch controller.

Another nuance is the use of design themes. Some third-party themes downloaded from the Themes store may contain errors in the scripts that control the call interface. If the problem occurs after you install a new theme, go back to the standard design.

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Try to turn off Smart Response or voice control while you're calling, and these features are constantly querying the microphone and sensors, which can cause resource conflicts.

Comparative table of methods for solving the problem

To make it easier to choose a method of troubleshooting, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you understand which method is suitable for your case, based on your symptoms.

As you can see from the table, it's always a simple thing to start with, and a software reset or a trip to the service is an extreme measure to take if simple methods don't work.

⚠️ Warning: Before performing a full reset, be sure to back up all important data, as it will be impossible to recover deleted files without a backup.

When the help of a service center is required

If none of the software methods worked and the screen still goes out when dialing, there may be a hardware malfunction, which may be the plume's detachment, the contact oxidation after moisture hits, or the sensor module itself fails, in which cases self-repair can be dangerous and lead to loss of warranty.

It is worth contacting specialists if:

• 🔘 Calibration is successful, but the result is not maintained after restarting.
• 🔘 The screen goes out even without putting your hand to the top of the phone.
• 🔘 There was water or heavy impact on the phone.
• 🔘 Other sensors (lights, gyroscopes) also work incorrectly.

The service center will perform a multimeter diagnostic and replace the defective module, and in most cases, replacing the proximity sensor is an inexpensive and fast procedure that returns the functionality to the device completely.

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If software methods are powerless, don't try to disassemble the phone yourself, especially if it's warranty-free.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)