Why the screen goes out when you call Xiaomi and how to fix it

You hold a Xiaomi phone to your ear to answer a call, and suddenly the screen goes out, leaving you in the dark: is the conversation still going on or has already dropped? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones of the brand, from budget Redmi to flagship Mi and POCO. In 80% of cases, it is not a hardware defect, but a malfunction of the proximity sensor or software settings. But how exactly to determine the cause and return the phone to normal operation?

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi’s screen goes out during a call, from the banal contamination of the sensor to the hidden bugs of MIUI firmware. You’ll get step-by-step instructions for diagnosing and solving a problem, including rare ways that are not written on forums. And if standard methods do not help, learn how to proceed further so that you do not remain without communication.

Why Xiaomi’s screen goes out when you call: the main reasons

The problem with turning off the screen when you call on Xiaomi is almost always related to the proximity sensor, a small sensor next to the front camera that detects when you hold your phone to your ear.

• 🧹 Pollution of the proximity sensor – dust, greasy prints or protective film block its operation.
• ⚙️ Failure in settings MIUI — incorrect screen or sensor settings in the system menu.
• 📱 Firmware damage – bugs after updating or incorrect installation of custom software.
• 🔋 Energy saving mode – aggressive battery settings can turn off sensors during a call.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction – physical damage to a sensor or plume after falling/repairing.
• 🤖 Application conflict – some programs (especially SEOs) interfere with system services.

It is interesting that on Xiaomi Redmi Note 10/11 and POCO X3/X4 The problem often occurs after updating to MIUI 13/14 — Users complain of spontaneously turning off the screen even when they don't approach the ear, while on older models (Redmi). 4X, Mi A2) usually to blame wear of the sensor or oxidation of contacts.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen not only goes out, but also doesn't turn back on after the phone is pulled away from your ear, it's a sign of a serious malfunction.

How to check the work of the proximity sensor on Xiaomi

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that the proximity sensor is physically sound and that it recognizes obstacles correctly.

Method 1: Testing through the Engineering Menu

This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model and version of MIUI:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##6484##.
2. Select Proximity Sensor (Proximity Sensor).
3. Put your hand to the top of the screen (where the sensor is located). When working properly, the value should change from 5.00 cm to 0.00 cm.

If the readings do not change or the sensor reacts with a delay, the problem is hardware (pollution, damage) or software (driver failure).

Method 2: Verification through third-party applications

Utilities like Sensor Test or CPU-Z (Sensors tab) show the current state of the sensor in real time. Compare the response to other smartphones — if the difference is obvious, then it's your Xiaomi.

Cleaning the proximity sensor: step-by-step instructions

In 60 percent of cases, the problem is solved by a simple cleaning of the sensor, which is located to the right of the front camera (on some models, on the left), and looks like a small circular hole.

Make sure the phone is turned off.

Use a soft brush or cotton swab

Wet the stick in alcohol (no more than 70%)

Gently wipe the sensor area with circular movements

Let the phone dry. 5-10 minutes before switching on-->

If the sensor is covered with a protective film or glass, gently tuck it in with a plastic card and remove it, and often it is the film that blocks the infrared signal, which causes the sensor to fail.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) to clean the sensor! this can damage its membrane and lead to complete inoperability.

After cleaning, check the sensor response through the engineering menu. If the problem persists, go to software methods.

Setting up the proximity sensor in MIUI

Sometimes the screen goes out when you call because of incorrect settings in the firmware, and MIUI has hidden settings that can be changed without root rights:

Method 1: Sensor calibration

This method helps if the sensor is working but reacts with a delay or false positives:

1. Go to Settings → About phone and tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
2. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find the option of Calibration of the proximity sensor (on some firmware - Proximity sensor calibration) and follow the instructions on the screen.

Method 2: Turning off the automatic screen shutdown

If the calibration did not help, you can forcibly prohibit the screen canceling during the call:

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Select Sleep and Lock the Screen → Automatic Lock.
3. Set the value of Never (or maximum time).
4. Return to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find the Phone and turn off the Auto Lock option.

The downside of this method is that the screen will not lock automatically, which can lead to accidental taps during a conversation.

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If the sensor stopped working after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot.Instructions for your model, look for the 4PDA forum in the device topic.

Resetting and flashing: extreme measures

If none of the previous methods worked, there are radical methods: factory reset or flashing, which help in cases where the problem is caused by deep failures in the system.

Reset to factory settings

This method will delete all data from the phone, so be sure to back up through Settings → Memory → Backup or Mi Cloud.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
3. After the reboot, set the phone up as new and check the sensor.

Fastboot flashing through Fastboot

If the reset didn’t work, you just have to reinstall the firmware, and you’ll need a computer and the official firmware for your model (you can download it from Xiaomi).

fastboot flash all [name file firmware].tgz


fastboot reboot

Important: Fastboot flashing deletes all data, including files in internal memory, and can result in a bootloader lock if you don’t follow the instructions for a particular model.

Hardware malfunctions: when to carry in the service

If all software methods have been tried and the screen still goes out when you call, the problem is hardware.

• 🔍 The sensor does not respond even after cleaning and calibration.
• 💥 The phone fell or was exposed to moisture.
• 🔌 The screen goes out not only when you call, but also in other situations (for example, when using the camera).
• 📉 In the engineering menu, the sensor shows N/A or zero.

The cost of repairing the proximity sensor in Xiaomi service centers varies from 800 to 2500 rubles depending on the model. Redmi and POCO often enough to solder the plume, and flagships (Mi 11, Mi 12) may require replacing the entire display module.

⚠️ Attention: If you notice that the screen flashes or flickers before turning off, this may be a symptom of a plume detachment or damage to the matrix.

Prevention: How to avoid problems in the future

To prevent Xiaomi’s screen from going off accidentally during calls, follow these guidelines:

• 📵 Regularly (once in) 2-3 month) clean the approach sensor from dust.
• 🔄 Don't miss updates MIUI — In new versions, bugs with sensors are often corrected.
• 🛡️ Do not install memory optimizers and cleaners – they can conflict with system services.
• 📱 Use cases that do not cover the top of the screen (where the sensor is located).
• 🔋 Turn off aggressive power saving modes for the Phone app.

If you drop your phone often, consider a security glass that doesn't close the sensor area. AMOLED-screens (e.g., Mi) 10T, Redmi K40) sensor is located under the display - in this case, cleaning will not help, and if there are failures you will have to contact the service.

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On Xiaomi models with an infrared sensor (such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro), the problem is often solved by simply restarting the phone. On devices with an ultrasonic sensor (Mi 11 Ultra), you may need to replace the module.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen issue when calling