Xiaomi screen goes out when you call: reasons and 10 working solutions

You call for a big case, you hold your phone to your ear, and suddenly Xiaomi's screen goes out, leaving you in the dark whether you answered the call, how long it took, or why the connection suddenly broke. The problem is familiar to many owners of the brand's smartphones, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13. 80% of cases are to blame for a faulty proximity sensor, but there are other reasons, from software failures to mechanical damage.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi’s screen goes out when you call, and give you step-by-step troubleshooting instructions. You’ll learn how to check the proximity sensor without special tools, what settings to change first, and when to bring the phone to the service. And if you’ve already tried standard methods (like turning off the Screen while you’re talking) and they didn’t work, we have 5 little-known ways to help even in the most neglected cases.

Why Xiaomi’s screen goes out during a call: 6 main reasons

Before you start repairing, it is important to understand what is causing the problem, and here is a full list of possible culprits:

• 🔍 A faulty proximity sensor is the most common case, and the sensor is next to the speaker, and it detects when the phone is pressed against the ear, and if it's contaminated, damaged, or calibrated incorrectly, the screen will go out at random moments.
• 📱 Firmware failure MIUI. Especially when you upgrade your system or install custom firmware. MIUI (for example, MIUI 14.0.5) There was an error with the sensor signal processing.
• 🔧 Damaged glass or film, if you've recently glued a protective glass or film, it could have blocked the sensor or disrupted it.
• ⚡ Application conflict: Some programs (such as Truecaller, Call Recorder, or launchers) may interfere with the phone during a call.
• 🔋 Battery savings: In Ultra-Economic or Charge Saving modes, the system can aggressively turn off the display.
• 🛠️ Mechanical damage: Falls, impacts or moisture could have damaged the sensor plume or the display itself.

In 65% of cases, the problem is solved by software methods (setting or resetting), and in 35%, physical intervention is required (cleaning the sensor, changing the glass or repairing the service).

Method 1: Disable the function "Screen during a conversation"

The fastest and safest method is to temporarily deactivate the automatic screen shutdown, which won't eliminate the cause, but will allow you to use your phone without interference until you have time to diagnose.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → System applications → Phone.
2. Go to Inbound Calls (or Call Settings, depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Find the Screen option during a conversation (sometimes called the Approach Sensor or Auto-Switch Off screen).
4. Turn off the slider.

If this item is missing from your MIUI version, try an alternative path:

Settings → Screen → Advanced settings → Approximation sensor

💡

Once this feature is turned off, the screen will remain on during conversations, but the battery can discharge faster, to save charge, reduce the brightness of the screen to 30-40% or turn on adaptive brightness.

Method 2: Calibration of the proximity sensor through the engineering menu

If the sensor doesn’t work properly (for example, the screen goes out with a delay or does not turn back on), it can be recalibrated.

Note: not all models support this feature, and if nothing happens after you enter the code, skip this method.

Steps:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##6484###
2. You'll be taken to the MIUI Version menu. Here, tap the Proximity Sensor.
3. You'll see a graph on the screen showing the current sensor readings, and you'll put your phone on a flat surface and press Calibrate.
4. After calibration, restart the device.

If the code doesn’t work, try alternative combinations for your model:

• ##4636## → Testing → Sensor Test
• #284## (for some Redmis)

Method 3: Checking the sensor for physical damage

If software methods fail, the problem may be contamination or damage to the sensor, which is located at the top of the screen, next to the front camera (usually to the right or left of the speaker).

Here's how to check his condition:

• 🔦 Check the sensor for dirt. Take a flashlight and shine it on the top of the screen. If you see dust, leaks, or residues of adhesive from the protective film, you need to clean the sensor.
• 📏 Check the gap between the glass and the case. If the glass has moved away or swelled (for example, after replacement), this can block the sensor signal.
• 💧 Avoid moisture. If the phone fell into water or was in high humidity, the sensor could oxidize.

To clean the sensor:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Take a soft brush (for example, for camera lenses) or a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
3. Carefully clean the area around the sensor without pressing the screen.
4. Let the phone dry for 10-15 minutes before turning on.

Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-map|

Use only soft materials (no hard brushes!)|

Do not pour alcohol on the screen - only on a cotton swab |

Check the tightness of the body after cleaning-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (needles, knives) to clean the sensor, this can damage the anti-reflective coating of the screen. If the sensor is physically damaged (cracks, chips), it will need to be replaced at the service center.

Method 4: Resetting phone settings to factory

If the problem occurs after updating MIUI or installing new apps, resetting settings can help.This method will delete all user data, so be sure to back up before you start.

How to reset your settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset Network Settings!).
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code.
4. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes) and the phone will restart.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore data from backup immediately – first check if the problem is solved.
• 📱 Install apps one by one by testing the phone after each installation.
• 🔧 If the problem comes back, one of the apps is to blame.

💡

Resetting helps in 30% of cases when the problem is caused by a software conflict, if after reset the screen still goes out - the reason is in the hardware (sensor, plume, firmware at a low level).

Method 5: Update or reflash MIUI

Sometimes, proximity sensor bugs are fixed in new firmware versions, and check if the update is available for your model:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

If there are no updates, but the problem persists, you can try manual flashing, which is a risky method, but it helps in cases where the standard methods do not work.

Instructions for experienced users:

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the phone’s root directory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots (menu) → Select a firmware file.
4. Select update.zip and confirm the installation.

⚠️ Warning: Flashing can cause data loss or a phone "brick" if the wrong version of the software is selected. If you are not sure about your actions, contact the service center.

Method 6: Alternative solutions for complex cases

If none of the above methods worked, try these non-standard approaches:

• 🛠️ Disabling Battery Optimization for the Phone Application: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find your phone and open its settings. Select Battery. → Optimizing the battery → Not optimize.
• 📵 Using headphones or a headset. If the sensor is faulty, connecting wired or wireless headphones bypasses its work, the screen will not go out.
• 🔄 Temporary shutdown MIUI Optimization (for advanced users only): Settings → Special facilities → MIUI Optimization → Disable This can improve compatibility with some apps, but disable some features MIUI.