Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users many features, but basic calls remain the most important of them. Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a standard “calling” disappears from the desktop or stops starting, which causes panic. In the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, the system application is responsible for this, which is hidden by default from removal, but can be accidentally deactivated.
There are a number of ways to restore access to the dialer, from simple folder checks to deeper customization through the developer menu. Most often, the problem is not a phone breakdown, but a software failure or an error by the owner who may have accidentally disabled the component. Xiaomi system applications are closely related to Google services, so their correct operation depends on many factors.
In this article, we will look at all the possible scenarios for why an icon disappears or dialing doesn't open, how to force a service to start if it freezes, and what to do if the phone doesn't respond to calls at all. Understanding the menu structure will allow you to quickly return the gadget to working condition without going to the service center.
Search for application icons in MIUI system
The first thing you need to do if you don't see the handset on the screen is to check all the folders and desktops carefully. There's an Application folder in the MIUI shell that automatically sorts all the installed programs, including the system ones, and often users simply lose the label among a dozen other utilities, unaware that it's just moved.
Use the built-in search to quickly access the functionality. Swipe down the desktop to open the search bar, and type in the word "Phone" or "Package." If the application is installed and not disabled, the system will prompt you to start it immediately, which is the fastest way to check whether the call module itself is working or the problem is precisely in the absence of a visible icon.
If the search doesn't produce results, it may have been removed from the desktop, but the program itself is still in memory, so you should look at the display settings. Go to Settings → Desktop and check if the application hide mode or the simplified mode that changes the standard interface look is enabled.
- 📱 Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to open the full menu of all apps.
- 🔍 Use the search bar at the top of the menu to enter the name "Phone».
- ⚙️ Check the theme settings as some third-party designs may hide standard icons.
- 🔄 Try to zoom in on the display settings, sometimes the icon is hidden outside the visible area.
It's important to understand that the name of the component may vary from one firmware to another, and in global versions it's usually Google Phone, and in Chinese versions it's MIUI Dialer, and if you've changed regions or set third-party themes, the interface may change beyond recognition.
📊 What's your version of the shell? MIUI?
MIUI 12
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
If standard methods fail to find a "caller" you should turn to more detailed management of shortcuts. In the menu of all applications, there is often a separate tab or edit button that allows you to return deleted icons to the desktop. Press and hold your finger on the empty screen, then select edit mode.
In some cases, the Phone app can be hidden in a special section called Hidden Apps, where you have to spread your two fingers to the sides on your desktop or find the appropriate item in your security settings, a privacy feature that is often turned on by accident or by children while playing with your phone.
Check your sorting settings, too. If you have time-sorted systems, rarely used systems can go to the bottom of the list, change the order to alphabetically to ensure that you find the item you want on the list.
There is a nuance to access rights for third-party launchers: If you have installed a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, make sure they are given all the necessary permissions to read the list of applications. Without this, they may simply not “see” the system components of Xiaomi.
⚠️ Warning: Do not delete system files through root-righted file managers in an attempt to "clean" the phone.This can lead to the complete disappearance of the call function and require flashing the device.
Forced start through system settings
When an icon is found but the app is not open or is not available, check the status of the service in the system settings. Android allows you to manage the status of each installed package. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and find in the list “Phone” or “Google Phone”.
Inside the app menu, you'll see the Open button. If it's active, try running the program from here. If the Run button is inactive (gray), then the application is disabled. Press Enable to reactivate the system component.
It's also useful to do cache cleaning here. Accumulated temporary files could have corrupted and caused crashes when you start. Click Storage and select Clear Cache. This is a safe operation that won't delete your contacts or call history.
| Action. | Description | Impact on data |
|---|
| Clearing the cache | Deletion of temporary files | Secure, data is stored |
| Cleaning up memory | Resetting the application settings | Call settings may be reset |
| Shutdown | Shutdown of the system | The icon will disappear, the calls will not pass. |
| Removal of updates | Return to the factory version | Safe, the old version will come back. |
If you see two "callers" in the list of applications (for example, MIUI Dialer and Google Phone), try disabling one of them.
What to do if the “on” button is inactive?
If the power button is grey and not pressed, it means that the application is a critical system component that cannot be disabled by standard methods. In this case, the problem is not disconnection, but file corruption or access rights conflict. Try to remove the application updates through the three dots menu in the upper right corner of the app information screen.> Reset and delete updates In situations where the Telefono application on Xiaomi is not working correctly, often helps to return to the factory version. Updates via Google Play sometimes contain errors that are not compatible with all smartphone models. To roll back the changes, go to the application information on the phone, then select the updates from the phone to the remote version. This often solves black screen problems when called or no sound. Once reset, the system may again suggest updating the application - only do this after checking the stable operation of the basic version. It is also worth checking the permissions. Go to Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Permits: Make sure the application has access to contacts, microphone and phone, and without these permissions, the communications module will not be able to function properly. 🗑️ Remove updates via the app management menu in the settings. 🔐 Check the “Permissions” tab and activate all necessary items. 📞 Make sure the app is selected as the “Default App” for calls. 📲 Restart your device after you have done all the resets. Remember that after resetting the app, old bugs that have been fixed in newer versions may return. So this method is a temporary solution until developers release a patch that is patched. Using Google Assistant to make calls. An alternative way to make a call if the standard interface doesn't work is to use a voice assistant. Google Assistant has deep integration with the system and can initiate a call bypassing the graphical dialing interface. Just say "OK, Google" or press the power button. Say "Call [Contact Name]" or "Dial [phone number]." If the communication module is working, the phone will start the call even if the app icon isn't displayed. This is a great way to check the Android system, if the base component is not working, and the system is not seriously responding. In this case, it’s worth trying installing a third-party dialer from the Play Market, such as Truecaller or Simple Dialer, to temporarily fix the problem. Voice input is especially useful when the phone screen is broken or the sensor is intermittent. This allows you to control the device almost entirely with your voice, including finding contacts in your notebook. ⚠️ Attention: Voice commands require active Internet, if you don't have Wi-Fi or mobile, this method won't work, and address access rights and security issues in newer versions of Android and other mobile devices. MIUI Sometimes the antivirus or built-in security guard will block the application from running, considering it suspicious, especially if system files have been changed. Open the Security app and check the Permissions or Auto-Start section». Make sure the Phone app has Autostart enabled. If it's turned off, the system can kill the call process to save battery, and when the call is in, the phone will be silent. Also check Do Not Disturb mode, which can block the incoming call interface. If you use third-party launchers or memory cleaners, add Phone to the white-list. Xiaomi's aggressive memory optimization often closes the background processes needed to quickly respond to an incoming signal. 💡Stable operation of calls depends not only on the application itself, but also on the correct settings of energy saving and auto-start in the system. MIUI. In rare cases, resetting all phone settings to factory settings helps.This is an extreme measure that deletes all data, so be sure to back up your phone. Go to Settings → Phone → Settings → Reset and select “Erase All Data.” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Why did the Call Icon disappear after the MIUI update? When you update the system, you sometimes reset your desktop settings or change the folder structure. Check the menu of all applications (swipe up) and the Tools folder. It is also possible that access rights have been updated and the shortcut has been hidden by the security system. Can you delete the standard Phone app on Xiaomi? It cannot be completely unrooted, since it is a system component. However, you can turn it off when you dial the system for an hour, but it is recommended that you do it for the system to do this when you do the device, if you do the device, you do the device for the device, you do the device to use the device, you do the device, you do the device, you do the device for the device, you do the device, you do the device, you do the device, you can do it for the device, you do it for the device, you do the device, you do Try removing the security glass or case that can cover the top of the screen, and check the sensor calibration in the engineering menu or the Security app. How do you bring back the old call interface instead of Google? In global firmware, Xiaomi is forcibly implementing Google Dialer. Bring back the old one. MIUI Dialer is only possible by flashing the device on the Chinese version of the software or installing modified system apk files, which requires skill. SIM-If you try to call a card, if you log in to the app and say, "No." SIM-Check if it's tightly inserted into the tray. Try erasing the SIM contacts with a smoother, if the problem is not solved, the tray or the communication module itself may have been damaged.