Why Xiaomi goes out the screen when you call: a full analysis of the problem

You call or take a call to Xiaomi, but the screen suddenly goes out, leaving you in the dark - who is calling, how to end the conversation or switch to speaker? This problem occurs on models Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12 and even on the new Xiaomi 13/14. 80% of cases to blame for the failure of the proximity sensor or firmware, but there are less obvious reasons - from a damaged plume to the conflict of applications.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi’s screen dims when you call, from the banal (a contaminated sensor) to the critical (a motherboard malfunction). For each cause, we’ll give you step-by-step diagnostic and repair instructions, including hidden MIUI settings, ADB commands, and hardware repair tips. If you’re not a technician, don’t worry: we’ve highlighted solutions that can be applied without disassembling the phone.

1. Approximation sensor: the main cause of the screen that went out

In 65 percent of cases, the proximity sensor, a small sensor next to the front camera that turns off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear, and if it doesn't work properly, the screen goes out even when you don't call or keep the device at a distance, is often contaminated, fails after falls, or conflicts with firmware.

How to check the sensor without disassembling the phone:

• 📱 Testing through the Engineering Menu: dial ##6484## → Select Proximity Sensor. Put your hand to the top of the screen, and it should change from 5.0 cm to 0.0 cm. If it's showing 5.0 cm all the time, the sensor doesn't work.
• 🔦 Visual inspection: light a flashlight on the area next to the front camera. If you see dirt, dust or scratches on the glass, the sensor is locked.
• 🛠️ Check in Safe Mode: Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → long tap on "Switch off" → "Safe Mode. If the sensor is running in this mode, it's the third-party app's fault.

If the sensor is not responding, try a software reset:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times to activate developer mode).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to turn off the proximity sensor (or Proximity sensor calibration) and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO Redmi after updating to MIUI 14, the sensor calibration option disappears, in which case only resetting to factory settings or firmware via Fastboot will help.

2. firmware failures and MIUI conflicts

MIUI is known for its surprises, and a dimmed screen is one of them, and most often the problem is when you call.

• 📲 Update to MIUI 13/14 (Especially in older models like the Redmi Note. 8 pro POCO F1).
• 🔄 Reverse to the previous version of the firmware.
• 🧩 Custom themes or launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher or HyperOS).

How to fix software failures:

Critical information: On Xiaomi 12T and Redmi K50 models, after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.4, the proximity sensor stops working due to a bug in the kernel.The only solution is a rollback to MIUI 14.0.3 or waiting for a patch.

Backup in Mi Cloud|Write down the current firmware version (Settings → About phone)|Check battery power (minimum 50%)|Disable two-factor authentication for 1 hour-->

3. Damage to the plume or motherboard

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be hardware, and most often, it fails.

• 📶 The proximity sensor plume is a thin cable that connects the sensor to the motherboard, and it's damaged by falls or after changing the screen.
• 🔌 The stains are stained or stained when they are overheated. POCO F3 Redmi Note 10 Pro after a year of operation).
• 🔧 Display control chip - burns out when voltage jumps (for example, after using non-original RAM).

How to diagnose a hardware malfunction:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and check logs via ADB: adb shell dumpsys sensorservice If the output has the proximity: no data string, the sensor is physically disabled.
2. Light the flashlight on the screen during the call, if the image is barely visible, the problem is in the backlight (train or inverter).
3. Shake the phone next to your ear. If the screen flashes, the plume contact is damaged.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and Mi Mix 4 The proximity sensor is integrated into the screen module, and it will cost you to replace it. 70-80% The cost of the phone is sometimes cheaper to buy a new device.

4. Conflict with applications and services

Third-party applications can block the proximity sensor or intercept the screen, most often to blame:

• 📞 Alternative Calls (Truecaller, Google Phone, ExDialer).
• 🔒 Screen Off, Gravity Box (Screen Off, Gravity Box).
• 🎮 Gaming Utilities (Game Turbo, GFX Tools – they can turn off sensors to save resources.
• 🛡️ Antiviruses and optimizers (Clean Master, Avast, 360 Security).

How to find the culprit:

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (see Section 1). If the problem is gone, it's third-party software.
2. Alternately remove suspicious apps by checking the sensor after each deletion.
3. Check permissions: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Sensors. Turn off sensor access from unnecessary programs.

If the phone is a Google Phone (for example):

1. Open the call settings.
2. Find the "During the Call" or "Screen" section.
3. Turn off options like “Automatically lock screen” or “Smart screen”.

💡

Before removing the application, check if it has the "Ignore Battery Optimization" feature in the MIUI settings. Sometimes it is enough to turn off this option to make the sensor work.

5. Energy saving and battery settings

MIUI aggressively optimizes the background, and sometimes it affects sensors. If you have Ultra Battery Saver or Adaptive Battery on, the system can turn off the proximity sensor to save charge, a problem that is especially relevant on the POCO M4 Pro and Redmi 10 with weak processors.

How to set up the battery correctly:

• 🔋 Open the Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery settings.
• 📉 Disconnect the Adaptive Battery and Optimization MIUI.
• 🔄 In the section Battery Consumption Management applications, find "Phone" and select "Without restrictions.
• ⚡ If you use Ultra Battery Saver, add Phone to the exclusion list.

On some models (Xiaomi 12 Lite, Redmi Note 11S) it helps to disable the function "Deep optimization":

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the MIUI version, then go back to Settings → More → For developers.
3. Find the Background Limitation and turn it off for the Phone app.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 If you turn off the battery optimization, you can get worse battery life. 4-5 Hours – Return the battery settings back and try other methods.

6. Damage to the screen or touch screen

If the Xiaomi screen goes out when you call, but it reacts to touch (for example, you can swipe to answer a call blindly), the problem may be in the touchscreen or backlight.

• 💥 Phone falls (especially at the corner where the backlight plume is located).
• 🌡️ Overheating (for example, after a long game or charging).
• 🔧 Poor screen replacement (if the phone has already been repaired).

How to check:

1. When you call, press the Volume Up or Volume Down button, and if the screen lights up for a second, the touchscreen is the problem.
2. Connect your phone to charge. If the screen turns on, the backlight power controller is faulty.
3. Put a flashlight on the screen when you call, and if you see the image, the backlight is on fire.

Decisions:

• 🛠️ Replacement of the backlight plume - will cost 1,500-3,000 ₽ (model-wise).
• 🔧 The lighting controller is relevant to POCO X3 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro, where contact often leaves.
• 📱 Temporary bypass: Turn off the proximity sensor in the developer settings (see section 1) and use volume buttons to control the call.

💡

If the screen only goes out when an incoming call is made, but it works normally when it's outgoing, the problem is exactly in the proximity sensor or its plume, and if there's a hardware malfunction, the screen will go out in both cases.

7. Viruses and malware

Rarely, but it happens: Trojans or ad viruses block the screen during a call so that you can not quickly end the conversation (this is used in fraudulent schemes).

• 📵 The screen goes off even when the phone is on the table.
• 🔊 During the call, foreign sounds (clicks, voices) are heard).
• 📱 The phone calls to unknown numbers.

How to check and clean your phone:

1. Install Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile and scan the system.
2. Check the list of installed applications: remove any suspicious ones (especially those with names like Screen Lock, Call Manager, Battery Optimizer).
3. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Special Access → Device administrators and disable permissions from unknown programs.
4. If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (don’t forget to save data in advance).

For advanced users, check the system logs through ADB for suspicious processes:

adb shell dumpsys activity activities | grep "mFocusedApp"

If you see unfamiliar packet names (e.g. com.call.lock) in the output, it is malware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the problem