The screen on Xiaomi Redmi gets darker when you call: how to remove the blackout once and for all

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi Redmi screen suddenly dims or completely goes out during phone calls? This is a common problem faced by owners of Redmi Note, Redmi A, POCO and other brands. Screen dimming can be caused by both power saving software settings and sensor hardware features. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes and offer step-by-step solutions, including hidden MIUI settings that will help restore normal brightness during calls.

It's important to understand that screen dimming isn't always a bug. In some cases, it's a built-in functionality designed to save battery power or prevent accidental cheekstrokes. However, if the behavior of the screen interferes with your phone (for example, you can't see the hands-free button or the dial keyboard), it can and should be adjusted. We tested the solutions on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C and POCO X5 Pro models - the instructions are relevant for MIUI 13-15.

Why Xiaomi Redmi’s screen dims or goes out during a call

Before we start setting up, we'll get to the root of the problem, and there are several factors that can cause the screen to darken when you call.

🔋 Energy saving regime: MIUI It decreases brightness aggressively if the battery is discharged below 15-20%.
👁️ Approximation sensor: Incorrectly activates when the phone is pressed to the ear, but the screen is not blocked.
☀️ Adaptive brightness: Algorithms MIUI Mistakely reduce backlighting, perceiving the call as an "inactive" state.
📱 Firmware errors: bugs in specific versions MIUI (14.0.3.0 for the Redmi Note 11).
🔄 Application conflict: Third-party launchers or optimizers (e.g. Greenify) interfere with sensors.

In practice, the most common culprit is the proximity sensor, which is responsible for turning off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear. If the sensor is contaminated, damaged or miscalibrated, the screen may dim instead of completely shutting down. The second most popular reason is the aggressive power saving settings that MIUI applies automatically when charged low.

📊 What screen problem do you have when calling?

The screen goes completely out.

The screen is dim, but remains visible.

The screen blinks or twitches

Other behavior

How to check the work of the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi

Before you turn off the dimming, make sure that the proximity sensor is working correctly.

Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## (some models may not work).
If the combination doesn’t work, install the Sensor Test app from Google Play.
Run the proximity sensor test: Raise your hand to the top of the screen (where the speaker and front camera are located).
The screen should respond to the approach - go out or show a notification of operation.

If the sensor is not responding:

🧹 Clean the top panel of the phone from dirt (especially if you use a case with high sides).
🔧 Try recalibrating the sensor through the engineering menu (instruction below).
🛠️ In case of physical damage (for example, after a fall), it may be necessary to replace the sensor in the service center.

How to open the engineering menu on Xiaomi?

To get to the engineering menu, dial the phone app code ##4636##. Then select Hardware testing → Sensors. Here you can check all sensors, including proximity sensor.

Disable screen dimming via MIUI settings

If the sensor is working normally, but the screen is still dimming, try turning off the dimming programmatically. There are a few hidden and explicit parameters in MIUI that are responsible for this behavior.

Method 1: Energy saving settings

MIUI automatically reduces the brightness of the screen in energy saving modes.

Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
Choose Performance or Balanced (but not Energy Saving) mode.
Turn off the option Adaptive Battery (if any).
In the section Further, find the Optimization of power consumption of applications and add the Phone application to exceptions.

Method 2: Approximation sensor settings

In some versions of MIUI, you can manually adjust the sensor sensitivity:

Open Settings → System → Additional → Special features.
Find the Approximation Sensor section (on some models it is hidden - use the search by settings).
Turn off the option to automatically turn off the screen during the call.
If you don’t have an option, try turning on Show screen when approaching (if available).

☑️ Checking settings before turning off the dimming

Power saving mode is offThe proximity sensor is clean and not covered with a caseThe phone app is added to the optimization exceptionsSensitivity of the sensor in the engineering menu

Done: 0 / 4

Method 3: Reset sensor settings (for advanced)

If standard methods do not help, you can reset the calibration of the sensors through the engineering menu:

1. Dial ##4636## → select Hardware testing.


2 Go to Sensors and find Proximity Sensor.




3. Press "Calibrate" (if the option is available).




4. Reboot the phone.

Note: not all Xiaomi Redmi models support manual calibration, and some devices (e.g. Redmi 9A) may not have an engineering menu or be blocked.

Alternative ways to solve the problem

If the MIUI settings don’t work, try these methods:

1. Use of third-party applications

Apps like Proximity Sensor Fix or Sensor Disabler (require root rights) allow you to force the proximity sensor to turn off its response to calls.

🔓 Root rights cancel Xiaomi warranty.
🛡️ Some applications may contain malicious code (install only from verified sources).
📱 After the sensor is turned off, the screen will not go out when approaching the ear, which can lead to accidental pressing.

2. Firmware update

Some versions of MIUI (e.g. 14.0.2.0 for the Redmi Note 11 Pro) had proximity sensor bugs patched in subsequent updates to update the software:

Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
If the update does not come, download the firmware manually from the official Xiaomi website and install through the Update on file.

💡

Before updating your firmware, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help you restore contacts and settings if something goes wrong.

3. Reset to factory settings

If the problem occurs after installing applications or changing system parameters, resetting:

Save important data (photos, contacts, messages).
Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting will remove all installed apps, accounts and files from internal memory.Do not use this method unless you are sure of the cause of the problem.

Comparison of Methods: What Works Best

We tested all the methods on different Xiaomi Redmi models and made a table of performance:

Method	Efficiency	Difficulty	Risks.	Models that worked
Power-saving shutdown	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Low.	Increases battery consumption	Redmi Note 10, POCO X3
Adjustment of the proximity sensor	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	Maybe it won't work on old firmware.	Redmi 11 Prime, Redmi A1+
Calibration through the Engineering Menu	⭐⭐⭐	Tall.	May be reset after the update	Redmi Note 9 Pro, Mi 10T
Firmware update	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Low.	Could make some new bugs.	Redmi Note 12, POCO F4
Reset to factory settings	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Tall.	Loss of data	All models.

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G and POCO X5 Pro, the most reliable solution was to combine the switching off of adaptive brightness and resetting the sensor calibration through the engineering menu. If your model is not listed in the table, start with methods 1 and 2, they are versatile and safe.

What to do if nothing helps

If you’ve tried all of these methods, but the screen still gets dark when calling, consider the following options:

🔧 Hardware malfunction: the proximity sensor may be physically damaged (for example, after a fall or moisture), in which case only a replacement in the service center will help.
📲 Shell conflict: If you use custom firmware (like Pixel Experience), the problem may be building it. MIUI.
🔄 Factory marriage: on some Redmi parties 10A redmi 9C I've seen some defective sensors.

Before visiting the service center:

Make a backup copy of the data.
Record a video demonstrating the problem (this will speed up the diagnosis).
Check whether the warranty is still valid for your model (in some markets, the warranty is only valid for official firmware).

💡

If the screen goes out completely (rather than dim), there's a 90% chance the proximity sensor is a problem, and then the software won't help, it needs repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen dimming on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I turn off the proximity sensor without root rights?

Yes, in most cases, it is enough to disable the option Automatically turn off the screen during a call in the special features settings. However, on some models (for example, Redmi 8A), this option may not be available, in which case only a firmware update or resetting will help.

Why does the screen flash when you call, and not just dim?

Blinking the screen during a call is usually due to a collision between the proximity sensor and the light sensor. Try: Turn off adaptive brightness in Settings → Display. Rub the top of the phone with alcohol (the sensors may have become contaminated); Set the minimum brightness manually and check if the blinking persists. If the problem persists, it's a hardware defect.

Will the screen darken if you use headphones?

No, the proximity sensor only works when the phone is pressed against the ear. When using wired or wireless headphones, the screen remains active (unless otherwise configured in the energy saving settings).

After the MIUI update, the screen stopped dimming, but now it's too bright. How do you fix it?

This is a side effect of resetting the sensor calibration. Try: Turn on adaptive brightness and manually calibrate it by moving the slider to Settings → Display. Turn off the option Automatic Contrast Adjustment (if any). Install an application for fine-tuning the brightness (for example, Lux Auto Brightness).

On the Redmi Note 9, the screen goes out 2-3 seconds after the call starts. Is that normal?

No, this behavior is abnormal. You probably have: The proximity sensor is defective (required to be replaced), custom firmware is installed with a bug, Super Power Saving mode is activated, which forces the screen to shut down, and start by checking the sensor through the engineering menu (instruction above).