Why Xiaomi Phone Picks Up Its Own Phone and How to Fix It

When a Xiaomi smartphone suddenly takes an incoming call without you, it can be not only annoying, but also potentially dangerous for your wallet and personal information. Often, device owners are faced with the fact that the device responds to touch or even just being in your pocket, activating a speakerphone or resetting a call, this phenomenon is not mystical and usually lies in the software settings or physical features of the sensors.

The main reason is the way the MIUI or HyperOS operating system processes the proximity sensor signals. If this component is contaminated, blocked by a cover or has a software failure, the screen can activate at the wrong time. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all possible causes, from the most common to complex system errors, and provide a step-by-step algorithm for solving the problem.

Don’t ignore this symptom, as it may indicate deeper issues with the screen calibration or hardware of the device.In some cases, the problem is solved by simply cleaning the speaker, and in others requires resetting or flashing.We’ll look at all the options so you can choose the most suitable for your Redmi or Poco model.

Problems with the proximity sensor and its calibration

The proximity sensor is a small infrared sensor, usually located at the top of the screen or in the area of the speaker, and its task is to turn off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear to prevent accidental cheek pressing. If the sensor is not working correctly, the phone can "think" that it is in your pocket or ear, and automatically receive calls.

Often the problem is the simple pollution, the dust, the villi from the clothes or the greasy film from the fingers block the light, which confuses the sensor. In such cases, the system interprets the sensor overlap as a signal to action, for example, turn on the screen or answer a call, especially for models with a cut-out droplet or a speaker combined with a frame.

You can use the engineering menu to check the sensor's performance, which is a hidden partition of the system that is available on most Xiaomi devices. You don't have to be a programmer to perform simple diagnostics. If the sensor shows incorrect data (for example, "closed" when there is nothing nearby), it needs to be calibrated.

💡

Before calibration, be sure to remove the protective glass or film if they cover the top of the screen, as they may distort the sensor readings.

The calibration process often helps to get the sensor back to work, and the engineering menu picks up the appropriate item, and the phone asks you to close and open the top of the screen several times with your hand, and after the procedure is completed, the device will restart, and the sensor settings will be updated.

The answer in your pocket and false positives

One of the most common reasons why a phone picks up the phone is because it's activated in your pocket, and it's a convenience option: when you pull the phone out of your pocket during a call, it automatically pulls the phone to your ear, but the algorithm for this function is sometimes too sensitive.

The problem is compounded if you use a magnetic clasp case or a tight case that presses on the screen. A magnetic field or pressure can mimic the action of the proximity sensor, making the phone think it's extracted from your pocket, and as a result, when an incoming call is made, the device instantly connects the call.

To turn off this feature, you need to go to the phone book settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but it's usually in the call settings menu. Disabling this option is guaranteed to prevent automatic response, but you will lose the ability to answer calls with one motion from your pocket.

• 📱 Open the phone application (green handset).
• ⚙️ Click on three dots or a gear in the corner to enter the menu.
• 🔍 Select "Settings" or "Extended Settings".
• 🚫 Find the "Apply in your pocket" and switch the switch to the "Off" position".

If the problem persists after this feature is disabled, it may be a software conflict: some third-party applications for managing calls or recording conversations can intercept control and cause similar crashes.

The effect of protective glasses and covers on the operation of the sensor

Physical accessories designed to protect your Xiaomi sometimes become a source of problems. Cheap security windows often have a black bezel that can overlap the proximity sensor area. Even if the notch appears to match, in practice, light may not pass through the edge of the glass correctly.

In addition, thick cases with high sides can create shadow over the sensor, which in the dark or at a certain angle of inclination leads to a false alarm, the phone "sees" the darkness and believes that it is in a closed space, activating the pocket mode.

And you also need to pay attention to the quality of the sticker on the screen, and if it's unstuck at the top, or if it's got air bubbles just above the sensor, it's going to be perceived as an obstacle by the system, and in those cases, replacing the accessory with a better one, with the right cutouts for the model, solves the problem completely.

Owners of models with subscreen sensors (though there are fewer of them among the budget Redmis) can face software bugs after a system update when the calibration is confused on its own, in which case only a reset or waiting for a patch from the manufacturer helps.

Touchscreen sensitivity settings and preventing accidental pressing

Modern Xiaomi smartphones have very sensitive screens, and sometimes even a slight touch of fabric in your pocket or bag is recorded as the press of the "Response" button. To combat this, the system has a special setting to prevent accidental switching on in your pocket.

This feature uses data from the accelerometer and light sensor, and if the phone is in the dark and moving (in the pocket), the locking of the screen should not be removed, but if the algorithm is not working correctly, the screen can light up, and any subsequent touch will be perceived as a command.

You can check the sensitivity settings in the Screen section, and you can have a "Gloves Mode" option or something similar. If it's on, the touchscreen sensitivity increases, which increases the risk of false positives. Try turning that off.

And you should also mention the Pocket Mode feature in the lock settings. Make sure it's active. It's the one that's responsible for ignoring touches when the proximity sensor is closed. If it's turned off, the phone will respond to any in the pocket.

Programmatic failures and conflicts in the MIUI system

Android’s MIUI-enclosed operating system is complex and multitasking, and sometimes errors occur in the system processes that run the phone (com.android.phone), which can occur after a failed update, a security patch, or a conflict with third-party software.

Often the cause is the cache of the Phone or Contacts app. Accumulated temporary files may contain errors that lead to incorrect interface behavior. Cache cleaning is a safe procedure that does not delete your contacts, but can restore stability to work.

To clean up, you need to go to the application settings, find a standard call, and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All Data, as the latter may reset the call history and settings of fast dialing, although contacts are usually saved in the cloud.

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party call (like Google or Truecaller), the problem may be that one.Try temporarily returning the default Xiaomi standard app to see if the spontaneous response disappears.

Another aspect is background processes. Some applications, especially those that have access to microphones and telephony (messengers, voice recorders, call recording apps), can interfere with the connection process. Check the permissions for newly installed programs.

Hardware malfunctions and diagnostic methods

If the software methods didn't work, there's a high probability of hardware failure, which could be damage to the proximity sensor plume, oxidation of the contacts after moisture hit, or physical impact, in which case software calibration will not have a long-term effect.

For deep diagnostics, you can use the CIT engineering menu. It's a built-in iron testing tool. By entering a special code in the dialer, you'll have access to a full list of component tests. Select the Proximity Sensor test and follow the instructions on the screen.

##6484##

Dial this code in the Phone app to enter the engineering menu. If the sensor shows values that do not change when closed with your hand, or shows a constant unit (closed), you will likely need to replace the module or plume at the service center.

• 🔧 Check if there have been phone crashes lately.
• 💧 Avoid moisture, even in the form of condensation.
• 📉 Note if the battery is discharged faster than usual (short circuit sign).
• 📞 Test the sensor at different angles of the device.

In some cases, a full Hard Reset helps, but it's an extreme measure that requires all data to be saved beforehand, and if the phone picks up the phone itself after the reset, the problem is purely hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by disabling the answer in the pocket function or cleaning the top of the screen from contamination.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone is warranty-free and the problem is not solved by software, do not try to disassemble the device yourself. Opening the case will lead to loss of warranty service.

So to sum up, when the phone picks up the phone itself, it's a pretty easy situation to do, and you start with the simple steps: remove the case, wipe the screen, check the Pocket Mode settings. If that doesn't work, you go to calibrating the sensors, and only in the last resort, you should consider hardware repair.