How to remove the black screen when incoming calls on Xiaomi: all working methods

The black screen on a Xiaomi phone is a common problem that owners of MIUI devices face. Instead of the usual call interface, you only see a dark display, and the conversation begins automatically or after you press physical buttons. In this article, we will discuss all the possible causes of this behavior and how to fix them, from basic settings to deep changes in the system.

It's important to understand that a black screen when you call is not always a failure. In some cases, it's a planned power saving feature or a consequence of incorrect user settings. We tested the solutions on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 models with the latest versions of MIUI, all methods work steadily. If the problem persists after applying the instructions, at the end of the article you will find diagnostic steps to identify hardware malfunctions.

Why the screen goes off when calling Xiaomi: the main reasons

Before we get to the settings, we'll figure out what causes the black screen to go off, and 80 percent of the time, it's software factors.

• 🔋 Energy saving regime: MIUI aggressively optimises screen performance during calls, especially when battery life is low.
• 📱 Approximation sensor settings: If the sensor is falsely triggered, the system thinks the phone is pressed against the ear, and turns off the display.
• 🔄 Application conflict: Some programs (especially optimizers and launchers) block the display of the call interface.
• 🛠️ Failures after update MIUI: Firmware bugs can lead to incorrect operation of the phone module.

Less commonly, the problem is related to hardware malfunctions:

• 💥 Damage to the proximity sensor (for example, after falling or getting moisture).
• 🔌 Failure of the display plume or motherboard.
• 🔋 Battery wear (at critically low voltage, the system disables "extra" functions).

If the black screen only appears when incoming calls, and outgoing calls work normally - the problem is almost certainly in the settings of the proximity sensor or optimization MIUI. If the screen goes out with both outgoing and incoming - check the energy saving mode and firmware integrity.

Method 1: Disconnect the proximity sensor (fastest way)

The proximity sensor is responsible for turning off the screen when you hold the phone to your ear, and if it's false or too sensitive, the screen will go out even when you just hold the device in your hand, to turn off the sensor completely:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Go to Incoming Calls. → Approximation sensor.
4. Turn off the slider Use the proximity sensor.

After that, the screen will stop going out during conversations, minus the method: when the phone actually approaches the ear, the screen will not lock, which can lead to accidental taps.

Make sure there is no protective film or glass on the screen that blocks the sensor.

Wipe the top of the phone (where the sensor is located) with a dry wipe.

Try calling with the sensor on and off for comparison

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⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi) K40) The option is hidden in the engineering menu. To get there, dial the Phone application code ##6484## and select Proximity Sensor.

Method 2: Configuring energy saving modes

MIUI has three levels of energy saving, each of which can affect the screen during calls:

To completely eliminate the impact of energy saving:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Mode.
2. Select Performance (maximum power).
3. Return to Battery Settings and turn off Adaptive Energy Saving.

If you save the black screen after this, move on to the next method: on the POCO F4 and Xiaomi 12T models, additional energy saving settings are hidden in the developer menu (activated by 7-fold tapping on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).

Method 3: Resetting the settings of the Phone application

If the problem occurred after updating MIUI or installing third-party apps, the default phone module settings could have crashed to reset it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone app (or Contacts on some firmware).
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

This method will not delete your contacts (they are stored in a Google account or a Google account). MI), But it will reset all user call settings. After the reboot, check the call's work -- if the screen is no longer going out, the problem was the settings conflict.

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If after resetting the application "Phone" lost call records, restore them through Settings → Google → Data recovery (requires synchronization with the account).

Method 4: Verification of conflicting applications

Some programs can block the display of the call interface, and most often, the fault is:

• 🛡️ Antiviruses (Avast, Kaspersky, 360 Security) – block system windows.
• 🔄 Optimizers (Clean Master, DU Speed Booster – aggressively closing the background processes.
• 🎨 Third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Apex) – can conflict with the system interface.
• 🔇 Ad-blocking apps (AdGuard, Blokada) – sometimes filter system notifications.

To identify the culprit:

1. Load your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode).
2. Try making a call – if the screen is working normally, the problem is with third-party software.
3. Remove suspicious apps by checking the call after each deletion.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and later, Safe Mode disables all third-party applications, but leaves system services active. If the black screen is also in safe mode, the problem is in the firmware or hardware.

Method 5: Update or reinstall firmware

If all previous methods failed, the cause could be a corrupted firmware, which is true after failed updates or manual interventions in system files.

• 🔄 Update by air (OTA): Settings → The phone. → Update system. Install the latest stable version MIUI.
• 📥 Manual firmware via Recovery: Download the official.zip firmware file for your model from Xiaomi’s website, go to Recovery (clamp Power) + Volume up) and select Install update.zip.
• 🔧 Clean installation via Fastboot (for power users): Requires an unlocked bootloader and PC with the Mi Flash Tool installed.

Before you run your firmware, be sure to back up via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. If the problem persists after the update, this may indicate a hardware failure (see next section).

Method 6: Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

If the software methods didn't work, the black screen can be caused by physical damage.

1. Approximation Sensor: - Light a flashlight on the top of the screen (near the speaker). If the sensor is working, you will see a faint glow. - Dial ##6484## → Proximity Sensor. Covering the sensor with your hand, the value should change from 5 to 0.
2. Display plume: - Carefully press the top and bottom of the screen. If the image flickers, the plume is damaged. - Check if the screen is bulging (a sign of detachment).
3. Battery: - Connect your phone to charge and call. If the screen is working normally, the battery is a problem. - Install the AccuBattery app and check the battery status (health <80% can cause malfunctions).

If you find a hardware malfunction, contact a service center. Self-repair (for example, replacing a sensor or a plume) requires special tools and skills. AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13, Redmi) K60) faulty plume can lead not only to the black screen, but also to a loss of sensitivity of the touchscreen.

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If the black screen only appears when using a headset (earphones or Bluetooth), the problem is with the audio routing settings. Check Settings → Connected devices → Headphones → Routing of sound.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)