How to return the handset button to the Android screen: from basic settings to hidden functions

Did the call interface disappear on the screen during a call? Has the handset button disappeared, and is it impossible to reset or accept a call? This problem is familiar to many users of smartphones - from budget ones to flagship ones. Most often, shell malfunctions, application conflicts, or incorrect settings are to blame. But there are also more serious reasons: damage to system files after an update or hardware malfunctions of the display. Android-smartphones - from budget ones Redmi to flagship Galaxy S23. Most often, shell malfunctions, application conflicts, or incorrect settings are to blame. But there are also more serious reasons: damage to system files after an update or hardware malfunctions of the display.

In 90% of cases, the problem is solved software - without visiting a service center. In this article you will find 7 proven methodsfrom simply restarting the phone to manually resetting the system application cache. We will also figure out what to do if the screen does not respond to touches at all during a call, and why on some models (for example, Huawei P50) the call buttons may disappear after the update EMUI.

⚠️ Important: If there is a problem occurred after the phone fell or got wet, first check the operation of the sensor and display as a whole. Software methods will not help here - diagnostics are required in the service.

1. Rebooting your phone is the first step to a solution

It sounds trivial, but more than 30% of cases losses of the call interface are solved by a simple reboot. The fact is that Androidshells (for example, One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi) sometimes freeze due to lack of RAM or conflicts of background processes. In this case, the call itself goes through, but the graphical interface is not displayed.

How to properly restart your smartphone:

• 🔄 Soft reboot: Press the power button for 2-3 seconds, then select “Restart” (Restart). Wait 30–60 seconds until it is fully turned on.
• 🔋 Forced reboot: If the screen does not respond, hold down the power button + Volume down for 10–15 seconds (on some models - power + Volume up). The phone will turn off and turn on automatically.
• 📴 Removing the SIM card: If the problem persists after rebooting, try removing the SIM card for 10 seconds, then insert it back and reboot the device again.

After the reboot, make a test call (for example, to another number). If the handset button appears, the problem was temporary. If not, move on to the next method.

2. Checking call display settings

Sometimes the call interface is hidden due to incorrect settings in the phone menu. For example, on Samsung the “Sound Only” mode can be activated, and on Xiaomi —disabled display of incoming calls on the locked screen. Here's what you need to check:

Open the application Phone (handset icon) and go to settings:

• ⚙️ On Samsung: Phone → ⋮ (three dots) → Settings → Call display. Make sure that the “Show on locked screen” and “Full screen mode” options are enabled.
• ⚙️ On Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO: Phone → ⋮ → Settings → Incoming calls. Check that the “Mini Window” or “No Interface” mode is not activated.
• ⚙️ On Huawei/Honor: Phone → ⋮ → Settings → Display → Show call screen.

If your model Android does not have such items, try resetting the application settings Phone:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage.
2. Click “Clear cache” and “Reset settings” (do not delete data!).
3. Reboot the phone.

3. Resetting the system application cache

If the standard settings did not help, the problem may lie in damaged cache system applications responsible for phone calls. This is especially true after updates Androidwhen new files conflict with old data.

Instructions for clearing the cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications.
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select “Show system applications.”
3. Find and open one by one:
   • Phone (com.android.dialer)
   • Contact (com.android.contacts)
   • Telephony services (com.android.phone)

In each application, tap "Storage" → "Clear cache."

Reboot your phone.

⚠️ Attention: Do not tap "Clear data" in these apps - this will delete call history and contacts (if they are not synced with Google).

4. Checking permissions for the Phone application

On Android 10 and newer applications require separate permissions to display on top of other windows. If these rights have been revoked (for example, after a factory reset or installing a third-party launcher), the calling interface may not appear.

How to check and restore rights:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Permissions.
2. Make sure that the following are enabled:
   • 📞 “Phone” (access to calls)
   • 📱 “Display on top of other windows”
   • 🔊 “Microphone” (for voice calls) calls)

If the “Display on top of other windows” option is not in the list, go to Settings → Accessibility → Access to accessibility services and enable it for the application Phone.

On some firmware (for example, Flyme on Meizu), additional permission may be required for “Autorun”. Check it in Settings → Applications → Phone → Autorun.

5. Firmware update or rollback

If the problem appeared immediately after the update Android, a bug in the new firmware version is to blame. For example, in MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 12T there was a known glitch with a missing call interface, which was only fixed in patch 14.0.5. In such cases, there are two options:

Method	When to use	Risks
Updating to the latest version	If a new update is available	Minimal (but may worsen the problem if the bug is not fixed)
Rollback to the previous version	If the problem appeared after the last update	Data loss, possible errors during downgrade
Installing custom firmware	For experienced users	Loss of warranty, risk of "bricking"

How to update the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → System → System update.
2. Click “Check for updates” and install available patches.
3. After updating, reset the cache (see section 3).

⚠️ Attention: Rolling back the firmware is a complex procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader and using ADB or Fastboot. On models Samsung s Knox this will lead to loss of warranty.

How to check the firmware version?

Open Settings → About phone → Software information. Look for the lines “MIUI Version” (for Xiaomi), “One UI Version” (for Samsung) or "Build number".

6. Using an alternative calling application

If the standard application Phone does not work correctly, try installing a third-party dialer. This is a temporary solution, but it will help you take important calls while you look for the root cause of the problem.

Best alternatives:

• 📱 Google Phone (official application from Google, works on most Androiddevices). Download in Play Market and set as the default application in Settings → Applications → Default applications → Phone.
• 🔄 Truecaller - not only detects spam, but also has its own call interface. Disadvantage: requires a lot of permissions.
• 🛡️ Drupe - minimalistic dialer with gesture support. Suitable for older devices.

Important: On some models (for example, Huawei without services Google) third-party dialers may not work correctly due to firmware limitations EMUI/HarmonyOS.

7. Hardware problems: what to do if the screen does not respond

If the call interface does not appear and the screen does not respond to touches during a call, the problem may be hardware:

• 🔧 Faulty touch screen - check if the touchscreen works in other applications. If not, the display needs to be replaced.
• 🔌 Damaged display cable is a common problem after falls. Symptom: the screen flickers or partially does not respond.
• 📶 Faulty antenna module - if the call sound disappears along with the interface, the communication board may be damaged.

How to temporarily solve problem:

• 🎧 Use a headset with an answer button —many wired and wireless headphones allow you to answer/reject calls without touching the screen.
• 🔊 Turn on voice assistant (for example, Google Assistant) and try commanding: “Okay, Google, answer the call” or “Okay, Google, reject the call.”
• 🔄 Connect your phone to PC on USB and use apps like Vysor or scrcpyto control the screen from your computer.

⚠️ Attention: If the phone is under warranty, do not disassemble it yourself! Contact an authorized service center - repairs under warranty may be free.

💡

Before visiting the service, make a backup copy of your data via Google Account or PC - after repair, information may be lost.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the missing call interface

❓ Why is there only a black background on the screen during a call, without buttons?

This is a typical symptom of a system application failure com.android.phone. Try:

1. Clear the cache (see section 3).
2. Set Google Phone as default dialer.
3. Check whether the power saving mode is activated (it may block interface display).

If the problem persists, the system file may be damaged. A flashing is required.

❓ After the update Android 13 the call buttons disappeared. What should I do?

This is a known problem on some devices. (for example, Samsung Galaxy A52 after updating to One UI 5.1). Solutions:

• Check for patches in Settings → Software update.
• Roll back to the previous firmware version (if any) backup).
• Reset the settings to factory settings (Settings → General → Reset), but save the data first!

❓ Is it possible to return the call buttons without flashing them?

Yes, in most cases. Try:

1. Delete recently installed applications (they may conflict with the system dialer).
2. Enable developer mode and disable window animation (Settings → About phone → Build number - press 7 times, then Settings → System → For developers install all animations in Off).
3. Use the command to reset the dialer settings: ADB-command to reset dialer settings:

   adb shell pm clear com.android.dialer

   ⚠️ This will delete the call history!

❓ There are no call buttons, but the screen works. business? Huawei P40 Pro There are no call buttons, but the screen works. What's the matter?

On devices Huawei with EMUI 11+ the problem is often associated with:

• Disabled "Display on top of other windows" permission for the application Phone.
• Conflict with Huawei Mobile Services (try updating them in AppGallery).
• Activated "Simplicity" mode (Settings → Accessibility → Simplicity - disable it).

If all else fails, install Google Phone via APK (since on Huawei without GMS it is not in Play Market).

❓ Can there be a virus the reason for the loss of the call interface?

Theoretically, yes, but this is extremely rare. Viruses usually:

• Redirect calls to paid numbers.
• Block outgoing calls.
• Show advertisements on top of the call screen.

If you suspect a virus:

1. Scan your phone Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
2. Check the list of installed applications for suspicious ones (Settings → Applications).
3. Delete applications with rights ADMIN (Settings → Security → Device administrators).