Why Xiaomi calls are not displayed: troubleshooting

The situation where an incoming call arrives but the smartphone screen stays black or only shows a notification in the curtain is one of the most annoying problems for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem. Owners of devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS often face the fact that the standard Phone application stops correctly displaying the interface of the calling subscriber, which leads to missed important conversations and loss of business contacts, especially when the phone is in your pocket or lying down.

The reasons for this behavior can be very different from the trivial overflow of the cache to the deep system conflicts after the update. Most often, the system process responsible for displaying images on top of other windows is blocked by antivirus or energy-saving algorithms. Understanding the nature of the failure is the first step to fix it quickly without having to visit the service center.

In most cases, you can restore normal operation by software methods without resorting to complex repairs. Call interface may not appear due to erroneous notification settings, access rights or even because of activated mode "Do not disturb". Next, we will discuss all possible scenarios of failure and provide step-by-step instructions for their correction.

Checking notification settings and access rights

The most common reason Xiaomi doesn't show the incoming screen is because of the incorrect permissions for the Phone app. Android, and especially its aggressive modifications like MIUI, require explicit permission for apps to display over other windows. If this option is turned off, you'll hear a beep, but you won't be able to see who's calling.

To check this, you need to go to the settings menu and find the section responsible for managing applications, find a standard call (often called "Phone" or "Mi Dialer") and carefully study the permissions section.

It's also worth checking the notification settings themselves. Sometimes the system allows for an audible signal, but prevents visual alerts from being displayed on a locked screen. This often happens after major firmware updates, when settings are reset to factory values. Make sure that the Incoming Calls category is not hidden and has high priority.

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications and find the "Phone".
• 🔒 Go to “Permissions” and activate “Display on top of other apps".
• 🔔 In the Notifications section, make sure that "Sound", "Vibration" and "Importance: High" are included".
• 🚫 Check if the ban on display on the lock screen in the general notification settings is worth it.

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party call (e.g. from Google or Truecaller), you need to configure the rights specifically for it, and not for the Xiaomi system application.

Conflicts after the update of MIUI and HyperOS

Updating the operating system is always a lottery for the stability of individual modules. Users often notice that after installing a new version of MIUI or switching to HyperOS, incoming calls stop showing, because new energy-saving algorithms can mistakenly “sleep” the telephony process, considering it background and unimportant.

In addition, newer versions of shells change the structure of system files and paths to configurations. If the update was incorrect or old cache files were saved in the background, there is a version conflict. System failure of this type is often solved by cleaning the application data, but sometimes deeper intervention in the settings is required.

Owners of devices with custom builds or global firmware versions installed over Chinese ones are more likely to experience this, and mismatching regional settings and notification servers can lead to delays or a complete lack of visual interface for the call.

Cleaning the cache and resetting the settings of the "Phone" application

Accumulation of temporary files and cache errors is a classic Android problem: If the Phone app is not working properly, the first thing to do is clear the phone’s data, which will return the call to a post-installation state without deleting your contact book or call history (although a contact backup will never hurt).

The cleaning procedure is simple, but it requires care. It's important not to confuse cache cleaning with application removal. You can't delete a system call without superuser rights, but you can force it to stop, which sometimes helps to restart the suspended services.

Once the cleanup is done, it is recommended to check the communication immediately by calling from another number, if the problem was corrupted temporary files, the interface should appear instantly, and if the situation does not change, then move to more complex diagnostic methods.

The Impact of Third-Party Applications and Antiviruses

Often users install software that conflicts with standard Xiaomi features, particularly aggressive memory optimizers, cleaners and third-party antiviruses, and can block pop-up calls as suspicious activity or advertising junk.

Also worth looking at are apps to identify numbers and block spam, and if you've recently installed Truecaller, NumBuster, or their equivalents, try temporarily disabling or uninstalling them, and these apps intercept call management, and if they fail, the standard MIUI interface may not be activated.

In some cases, the themes are the problem. If you use a third-party theme from the MIUI Themes store that is poorly optimized for your version of Android, the elements of the call interface can become transparent or go beyond the visible area of the screen.

• 🛡️ Check the list of recently installed apps and remove suspicious SEOs.
• 🎨 Temporarily return the standard design theme to Settings → Wallpaper and decoration.
• 📵 Turn off Do Not Disturb mode and check if the call app is worth the exception list.

⚠️ Warning: Some Game Turbos can block calls while playing. Check the game mode settings by allowing interruptions by incoming calls.

Problems with SIM-map and network settings

Sometimes it's not the software, it's the physical contact or the network settings. SIM-The card is installed incorrectly, has damaged contacts or is simply very old, the modem of the phone may not properly process the incoming call signal (CLI), Why the screen doesn't light up.

Remove the SIM card tray, wipe the contacts with a soft eraser or dry cloth, and re-installe the card. If you have a two-sim phone, try repositioning the SIM to another slot, which will help to eliminate the malfunction of a particular communication module.

It is also worth checking whether the operator's numbering service is activated. In rare cases, a failure on the provider's side causes the phone to receive a call signal but not receive data for display, and the interface is simply "lost."

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Use the old one. SIM-map 5 Replace it in the operator's cabin for free. Old cards are worse at catching the net. 4G/LTE and may cause modem malfunctions, including problems with displaying calls.

Specific screen and sensor settings

Xiaomi smartphones have a Pocket Mode feature that locks the screen if the proximity sensor is taped or contaminated. If you put the phone in a narrow pocket or cover the top of the screen, the phone may think it's in your pocket and not turn on the display when you call.

In addition, in some models with AMOLED-There is a bug in the screen when the brightness of the call screen is set to a minimum under certain lighting conditions. Try to increase the overall brightness or turn off the auto-brightness during the test.

Another important point is that it protects against random taps, and if it doesn't work properly, it can block touchscreen response and visual display of the interface, believing that any action is random.

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Pollution of the proximity sensor (the area next to the front camera) is a common reason why the screen doesn't light up.

Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing

If none of the above methods worked, the operating system files may have been damaged, leaving two options: a full factory reset or a flashback, a hard reset that will delete all applications and files, but often returns the phone to full functionality.

Before resetting, make sure to back up all important data to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer. The reset process can be initiated through the Recovery menu or through system settings if you have access to the interface.

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to flash it through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool, a complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader (not always) and follow the instructions accurately.