How to take on a call on a Xiaomi smartphone: the complete guide

The speed of answering an incoming call often determines the outcome of an important transaction or saves you from losing valuable time, so the ability to quickly and correctly take calls on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones is a basic skill of the modern user. The MIUI shell or the new HyperOS offer many scenarios for processing incoming traffic that can confuse a beginner who is used to the standard Android interface. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances in detail, from simple swipes to complex blocker settings, so that you always stay in touch.

It’s worth noting that the call interface can vary significantly depending on the firmware version and the region the device is released for. Global versions often have more stringent restrictions and a different design of sliders than Chinese builds, where the functionality is wider. Understanding these differences will help you not get confused at a critical time when an employer or delivery service calls.

We're going to look at not just the standard actions, but also the hidden features, like automatic response or gesture control, that make your phone a smart assistant, and we're going to focus on situations where the screen doesn't light up or the slider doesn't respond, because these problems are quite common, and going deep into the system settings will allow you to personalize the communication process to your needs.

Standard methods of answering incoming calls

In most situations, the user is faced with a classic lock screen, which appears when an incoming call arrives. On modern Xiaomi models with full-screen displays and camera cutouts, the response mechanism is implemented via swipe (swipe) in a certain direction, usually a finger movement up or to the right, depending on the chosen theme and version of the shell.

If you use older models or specific themes, the interface may offer a "Response" button that you need to press. In some cases, especially when using poor quality protective glasses, the touchscreen may not correctly read touch, which requires a more confident and quick press. It is important to know that double tapping on the screen can also activate the response function if it is enabled in special features.

⚠️ WARNING: When using thick-framed protective glasses, the sensor area around the edges of the screen may be less sensitive, so try to touch the center of the response slider rather than its edges.

For people with disabilities or those who prefer speakerphones, there's an automatic phone-to-ear response feature, and the system uses a proximity sensor and an accelerometer to understand your intentions, and if you hold the device to your ear during a call, it automatically picks up the call and turns on the speaker.

Setting up the blocker and spam filters

One reason you may not see the incoming call screen or hear the beeps is because of the aggressive work of the built-in antivirus and blocker. In China, where the brand comes from, the problem of decline is acute, so Security tools are set up to hard filter unknown numbers.

To manage these settings, you need to go to the Security app and find the Antispam section, you can configure it (blacklist) or vice versa, whitelist it for important contacts. Disabling some features can increase the risk of receiving advertising calls, but will speed up the display of the interface.

• 📞 Hidden Number Lock: Allows you to automatically drop calls if the number is not defined.
• 🔇 Quiet mode for unknowns: the phone will vibrate, but will not emit ringtones for numbers outside contacts.
• 📝 Lock Log: All rejected calls are saved in a separate tab that can be checked.

Also worth considering is the integration with number-detection services like Yandex or GetContact, if installed as system-based, which can intercept call management by overlaying its interface over the standard, and can lead to conflicts where the answer slider is hidden behind the number-detection window.

Problems with the proximity sensor and screen

A common problem for Xiaomi owners is when the screen doesn’t light up when the incoming call is made, even though the sound is going, and this is almost always due to malfunctioning or contamination of the proximity sensor, which is located at the top of the case. If the system “thinks” that the phone is in your pocket or pressed against your ear, it does not turn on the display to avoid accidental cheek pressing.

To diagnose and calibrate this sensor, there is a hidden engineering menu, you need to dial ##6484## in the phone app, and in the CIT menu you need to find the Proximity sensor and follow the instructions on the screen, closing and opening the top of the smartphone.

If calibration doesn’t work, it could be physical contamination or improperly pasted protective glass overriding the sensor, and it’s also worth checking if the In-pocket mode in the lock settings is turned on, which specifically prevents the screen from turning on when the cover of the bookcase is closed.

⚠️ Note: If the problem has not disappeared after calibration in the engineering menu, it may be necessary to replace the sensor plume or the module itself in the service center.

Use of headsets and Bluetooth devices

When you connect Mi True Wireless headphones or car systems via Bluetooth, the logic of receiving a call changes. Often the smartphone screen may not light up at all, since priority is given to an external device, in which case you need to take the call with a button on the headset or a voice command.

Each paired device's Bluetooth settings have ticks that define the profile of the work, make sure that your headset has a "phone sounds" and "contacts" profile activated. If those points are disabled, the phone will behave like a normal call, displaying the interface on the screen, but the sound will go to the speaker.

• 🎧 Auto-response in headphones: many models support the function of removing the tube with double touch.
• 🚗 Car mode: when connected to Android Auto, the call interface adapts to control from the car screen.
• 📢 Voice control: You can answer the “Respond” command via Google Assistant or Xiao AI.

Sometimes you get a desynchronization when the call is already going and the headphones don't know it, and in such cases, it helps to turn off Bluetooth and re-pair, and it's also worth checking whether the developer's settings are not limited to the number of simultaneous Bluetooth connections, which can cause conflicts.

Automatic response functions and timers

For drivers and people engaged in manual labor, the automatic response function is extremely useful, and on Xiaomi smartphones it is implemented quite flexibly, allowing you to set a timer through which a call will be received without the user’s participation, which is convenient when your hands are dirty or busy.

You can find this setting by Settings → Special features → Autorespond to calls. Here you can set a delay in seconds and select conditions, for example, answer only when the headset is connected, this will prevent awkward situations when the phone will answer the call itself in a quiet library or in a meeting.

And then there's the flip-to-muffle feature, which works backwards, so if the phone is down, it won't ring when it's in, it'll only vibrate, and it's a useful option for the office, so you don't miss an important call (it's easier to feel the vibration) but you don't disturb people around you.

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Use the voice command “Respond” via Google Assistant if your hands are busy by pre-setting the activation by “OK, Google.”

Solving interface and freeze problems

Sometimes the system can simply "hang" at the time of an incoming call, and the answer slider does not appear, this is often due to a lack of RAM or a conflict of running applications that consume the resources of the processor, in which case the phone may continue to buzz, but does not respond to touch.

To solve the problem, it is recommended to regularly clean the memory and close unused applications. If the problem is systemic, cleaning the cache of the application "Phone" through the application management menu will help. In extreme cases, you can reset the network settings, which often eliminates the software glitches of the communication module.

If the phone completely stops responding to any actions during the call, you may need to restart the device. On modern models Xiaomi with fingerprint unlocking sometimes helps unlock the device at the time of the call, which “wakes up” the interface of the call.

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Regular cleaning of the cache of the Phone and Contacts application prevents 80% of problems with the incoming call interface freeze.