When Xiaomi handsets take on an incoming call without touching the screen, they can take the wearer by surprise and cause a lot of inconvenience, most often when the device is removed from the pocket or when the screen is held to the ear, when the screen is not activated by the user. This behavior is not a critical breakdown, but requires immediate intervention in the interface settings or check the physical condition of the device.
The main reason lies in the incorrect operation of the proximity sensor or activated automatic response function. Owners of budget and flagship models Redmi and Poco face this equally often, because the sensor data processing algorithms in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS can mistakenly interpret random touch as a command to “accept”.
In this guide, we will detail what settings to change to prevent the phone from completing actions on its own, learn how to calibrate sensors, where to look for hidden options in the special features menu, and what to do if a problem is caused by a software failure or protective film.
Checking the automatic response function
The first thing you need to do is eliminate a software setting that is specifically designed to automatically lift the handset, which is often activated randomly or activated by the user for convenience, but then forgotten. In Xiaomi smartphones, it is deep in the special features menu.
To check, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. Here you should carefully examine the Auto Response tab. If the slider is activated, the system will respond to calls automatically after a given period of time, regardless of your actions. Disable this option if you do not need it.
There is also a Pocket Mode mode that can conflict with sensors. It is designed to prevent accidental taps in your pocket, but sometimes it doesn't work properly. Try temporarily turning it off from the Settings menu → Lock and Protect → Pocket Mode to see if the device's behavior changes.
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In some versions of MIUI, the path to settings may be different. Use a search by settings by entering the word "auto-response" or "special features."
Calibration of the proximity sensor
If the autoresponse function is turned off, but the phone still receives calls, the problem almost certainly lies in the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the screen and reacts to objects nearby, if it is "polluted" programmatically or physically, the screen can go out or, conversely, activate at the wrong moment.
To diagnose and correct the situation, you need to calibrate. dial in the Phone application special engineering code # # # #6484##. The CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu will open, where you need to find the item "Proximity sensor" or "Proximity Sensor".
- 📱 Press the Calibrate button to start the automatic feeling setting process.
- 🖐️ Follow the instructions on the screen: Close the top with your hand, then remove it.
- ✅ Make sure that after calibration, the sensor status has changed to "Pass"
After the procedure is successfully completed, restart the device, which will reset the driver cache and apply new sensitivity values, and if the test shows Fail even after several attempts, it may be physically damaged or blocked by a thick protective glass.
☑️ Sensor diagnostics
Customization of gestures and call management
The MIUI shell offers many ways to control calls that can interfere, such as the "Raise to Answer" feature, which allows you to take a call just by holding your phone to your ear. If the accelerometer is running with an error, the phone may "think" that you've put it in your face even though you've just picked it up.
Turn off this option from Settings → Password & Security → Privacy → Special features (the path may vary depending on the OS version). Also check your gesture settings in the Phone app. Click on three dots in the corner and select Settings → Incoming calls.
You can turn off here.
- 🚫"Respond by swiping in any direction to avoid accidental swipes
- 🔇"Turn over for silence – so that the phone does not react to a change in position
- 📞"Auto-lifting of the tube" - duplicate setting in some firmware
⚠️ Note: After upgrading to a new version of HyperOS, some gesture settings may be reset to factory values, so the check should be done again.
Effects of protective accessories on sensors
A common cause of false alarms is security windows and covers. If the glass is crooked, has too thick black bezels, or just gets dirty in the upper speaker area, it blocks the light from the sensor, resulting in the phone "can't see" what is in the pocket, or, conversely, thinks that it is closed with the palm.
Remove the case and wipe the top of the screen with a microfiber. If you use a matte glass or a glass with a darkened frame, try removing it for inspection. Black dots on the glass often block the infrared radiation of the sensor, making it useless.
| Accessory type | Impact on the sensor | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Tempered glass | May reduce sensitivity | Check the absence of bubbles in the speaker |
| Side-covered | Frequent false presses | Replace with a case with cutouts |
| Hydrogel film | Minimum impact | Usually, no replacement is required. |
| Framed glass | High risk of blocking | Recommended to be removed |
In some cases, it helps to clean the mesh of the speaker from dust and pile. Use a soft brush or pear for purging, but do not pick sharp objects so as not to damage the membrane.
What to do if the glass cannot be removed?
Program conflicts and third-party applications
Sometimes, self-response calls are not answered by system settings, but by installed applications. Assistants (Google Assistant, Alice), conversation recording software or smart launchers can intercept call management. Check which applications have permission to access the phone and microphone.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps → (three dots) → Special Features. This shows a list of programs that can control the interface. If you see a suspicious or unknown application, turn it off.
It’s also worth checking if In-Pack mode is enabled in third-party calling apps if you use them instead of the standard caller. Third-party Dialers often have their own sensor processing algorithms that can conflict with system ones.
- 📲 Turn off voice control ("Ok Google") during a call
- 📵 Remove newly installed apps that request strange permissions
- 🔄 Reset the settings of the "Phone" application through the application information menu
⚠️ Note: Resetting the Phone app will delete your call history and contacts if they are not synced with your Google or Mi Cloud account.
Resetting and extreme measures
If none of the software methods worked, and Xiaomi's phone is still answering its own calls, there may be some critical errors in the system, in which case the effective solution would be to completely reset the settings to factory settings, which would bring the device back to the "out of the box" state.
Before the procedure, be sure to save all the important data. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset → Erase all the data. The process takes about 10-15 minutes. Once turned on, check the sensor without installing unnecessary applications.
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If even after a complete reset and the absence of any third-party applications, the problem persists, this indicates a physical malfunction of the proximity sensor or plume, which requires contacting the service center.
In rare cases, the problem is solved by flashing the device through a computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility, but it requires skills and an unlocked bootloader.