Xiaomi Phone Picks Up Its Own Phone: 7 Ways to Remove the Answering Machine

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi smartphone has started to accept incoming calls without you? This problem occurs on devices with MIUI 12-14 and can be associated with both system settings and third-party applications. Automatic response to calls is not only annoying, but also creates security risks - the caller can hear your voice or surrounding noises without you knowing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of this phone behavior, from the on-hand drive to hidden MIUI features, and provide step-by-step instructions for turning off auto-response on Redmi, POCO, and Xiaomi models (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, and others). If standard methods don’t work, consider alternative solutions, including resetting and virus testing.

Why Xiaomi Phone Picks Up Its Own Phone: 5 Reasons

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand what triggers the automatic response, and here are the most common scenarios.

• 🔊 Handheld mode is activated by default - some firmware MIUI can automatically turn it on when connecting the headset or by timer.
• 🤖 The Autoresponder function in the standard Phone app (hidden in deep settings).
• 📱 Third-party applications with call management rights (such as Truecaller, Google Phone, or banking clients).
• 🔄 Firmware error - bugs in MIUI 13/14 They can cause the proximity sensor to spontaneously actuate.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware masquerading as system services (especially if the problem has occurred after installation) APK source).

On the POCO F5 and Redmi K60 models, users also note that autoresponse is triggered when using wireless headphones (such as Xiaomi Buds or AirDots), which is due to the settings of the Bluetooth profile HFP (Hands-Free Profile), which can emulate the press of the response button.

Method 1: Disabling the auto-response in the settings of the “Phone” application

The most obvious, but often overlooked, method is to check the settings of a standard call app, and in MIUI, the auto-response function can be hidden in one of the following places:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Go to Calls or Additional (name depends on MIUI version).
4. Find the answering machine, answer automatically or speaker when lifting and turn off the slider.

On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi 12T), this option may be called Automatic Response and be located in the submenu Special Opportunities → Call Management. If there is no item, then the problem lies in another.

⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI Global and MIUI Europe the way to setup may be different. If you have custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu), check the Additional Features section. → Calls.

Method 2: Checking the proximity sensor and gestures

The proximity sensor on Xiaomi is responsible for turning off the screen during a conversation (when you hold the phone to your ear). If it doesn't work properly, the phone can "think" that you've already started a conversation, and automatically accept a call.

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Approach Sensor.
2. Make sure that the slider Automatically switch off the screen is on.
3. Do a sensor test: cover the top of the phone with your hand, the screen should go out. If there is no reaction, the sensor is defective.

MIUI also has a Gesture feature that can conflict with call processing:

• 👆 Go to Settings. → Additional functions → Gestures.
• 🔍 Turn off the options to raise for a response and flip to turn off the microphone.
• 🔄 Restart your phone and check if the problem persists.

Method 3: Disabling Auto-Response for Bluetooth Devices

If the phone picks up the phone only when connected wireless headphones (such as Xiaomi Buds 4 or AirDots Pro), the problem lies in the settings of the Bluetooth profile. Many headsets automatically activate the hands-free mode, which can lead to false positives.

To fix this:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Find your headset in the list and click on the gear next to its name.
3. Turn off the options: 🎧 Automatic response to calls 🔊 Use it for calls (if any)

Reconnect the headphones and check the result.

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If the problem persists, try resetting your Bluetooth settings: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Three dots → Reset. After that, pair your headphones again.

Method 4: Verify third-party applications with call rights

Many apps (especially Truecaller, Google Phone, banking clients like Sberbank Online or Tinkoff) request permission to manage calls, sometimes conflicting with MIUI system settings and can accept calls automatically.

How to find and disable such applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on three points → Special access → Call management.
3. View the list of applications with access to calls. Disable the permissions for suspicious or unnecessary programs.
4. Also check the Auto Start section and disable auto start for applications that don’t need to run in the background.

Pay particular attention to:

• 📞 Call recording applications (such as Cube) ACR).
• 🏦 Banking applications with the function "Safe call».
• 🤖 Automation applications (e.g. MacroDroid or Tasker).

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Even legitimate apps (like Google Phone) can conflict with MIUI, and if you don’t use an alternative call, delete or disable it.

Method 5: Reset your phone settings (if nothing worked)

If all the previous methods failed, maybe the problem is corrupted system files or a setup conflict, and then a factory reset will help. Importantly, back up the data before resetting!

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose Reset all settings (does not delete files) or Delete all data (complete reset).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Don’t restore settings from backup – set your phone up as new.
• 📱 Install applications one at a time and check if the problem is coming back.
• 🔍 If the autoresponse appeared again, one of the installed applications is to blame.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi) 11T) After the reset, you may need to re-activate Mi Account. Make sure you remember your login and password!

Method 6: Virus Check and firmware update

In rare cases, auto-responding to calls can be caused by malware that masquerades as system services, such as the Joker or FakeApp family of Trojans, which can substitute call processing to prevent this from happening:

1. Install an antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and scan the device.
2. Check the list of installed applications for suspicious ones (especially with administrator rights).
3. Update your firmware: go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install the latest version of MIUI.

If you suspect a virus, but the antivirus does not find anything:

• 🔍 Check the traffic flow in the settings → Mobile network → Traffic usage – unexpectedly high consumption may indicate hidden activity.
• 📱 Remove all applications installed from APK (Google Play).
• 🔄 Do reset the settings (see Method 5).

On the POCO X5 and Redmi Note 12 Pro+, users note that the problem disappeared after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.4 or newer.

Method 7: Alternative solutions (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try more radical approaches, which require technical knowledge and can affect the stability of the system.

Option 1: Disconnection via ADB

With ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can manually disable the system services responsible for auto-response.

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then return to Additional Features → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global auto_answer 0
3. Reset the device.

Option 2: Installation of custom firmware

If the problem is related to a bug in MIUI, you can try switching to an alternative firmware, for example:

• 📱 xiaomi.eu (optimized version) MIUI no-bloatware).
• 🔧 LineageOS or Pixel Experience (Pure Android).

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware resets the warranty and can lead to data loss.Be sure to unlock Bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool before the procedure and make a backup!

FAQ: Frequent questions about auto-response on Xiaomi