Why the screen on Xiaomi Redmi goes dark when listening to voice messages on WhatsApp - and how to fix it

You are listening to a voice message on WhatsApp on your Xiaomi Redmi, and suddenly the screen goes blank - the sound continues, but the display does not respond to touches. You have to unlock the phone to get the image back. Is this a familiar situation? This problem occurs among many smartphone users Redmi (especially on MIUI 12-14) and is associated with the peculiarities of energy saving, sensors and the messenger itself.

In this article we will analyze 7 main reasonswhy the screen goes dark when listening to voice messages - from trivial settings timeout before conflicts with MIUI Optimization. You will receive step-by-step guide how to diagnose and fix the problem, as well as tips on how to prevent the bug from reoccurring. We will pay special attention to models Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 i POCO, where the malfunction occurs most often.

Spoiler: in 80% of cases, it is not hardware defects that are to blame, but software settings. But if you've already tried disabling auto-rotate and increasing the screen timeout, read on to learn about less obvious solutions.

1. Screen timeout and power saving modes

The most common reason is automatic display off mode is enabled while listening to audio. By default, the screen turns off after 30 seconds of inactivity, even if a voice message is playing at that moment. The problem is aggravated if the MIUI By default, the screen turns off after 30 seconds of inactivity, even if a voice message is playing at that moment. The problem gets worse if the mode is turned on Battery or Super power saving.

To check and change the settings:

• 🔧 Go to Settings → Screen → Screen timeout and select Never (or the maximum value is 10 minutes).
• 🔋 Open Settings → Battery → Battery mode and install Performance.
• ⚡ In section Settings → Battery → Application energy saving find WhatsApp and disable all restrictions for it.

Important: After the changes, restart the phone. If the screen still goes dark, the problem lies deeper - read the following sections.

2. Conflict with the "Raise to Activate" function

Function Raise to activate (or Double Tap to Wake) on Redmi sometimes conflicts with audio playback. The motion sensor may falsely trigger when you hold the phone in your hand while listening to a voice message - and the screen goes dark “at the command” of the system.

How to disable:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Raise to activate.
2. Disable the slider (or select Never in the sensitivity settings).
3. Also disable Double tap to wake up in the same menu.

If after that the problem disappeared, the sensor was to blame accelerometer. If not, check the settings WhatsApp.

3. WhatsApp settings: auto-lock and notifications

Self WhatsApp can forcefully lock the screen while playing voice messages. This is due to the optimization of work in the background, especially on MIUI, where applications are often restricted access to resources.

What to do:

• 📱 Open WhatsApp, click ⋮ → Settings → Storage and data.
• 🔄 Enable the option Use less data for calls (paradoxical, but it helps).
• 🔔 Go to Settings → Notifications i disable Automatic screen lock (if available).
• 🛠️ In Android settings (Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Battery) select: Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Battery data-i="115">in No restrictions.

Critical note: on Redmi Note 10S And POCO X3 Pro after updating to MIUI 14 V WhatsApp a bug appeared with forced screen locking when playing audio lasting more than 1 minute. The solution is to roll back to messenger version 2.23.12.76 (you can download it at apkmirror.com).

4. Problems with the proximity sensor

The proximity sensor on Redmi is responsible for turning off the screen during calls (so as not to press the buttons with your cheek). But sometimes it triggers falsely—for example, when you hold the phone close to your face while listening to a voice message. As a result, the screen goes blank, as if you are talking.

How to check and fix:

1. Dial the code in your phone dialer ##6484## —this is a sensor test.
2. Look at the indicator Proximity Sensor. If it shows 1 (even when nothing is covering the sensor), there is a problem in the hardware.
3. If the sensor is working normally, calibrate it: go to Settings → About phone → All specifications → Kernel version (press 5 times). Then in the engineering menu, select Hardware Testing → Proximity Sensor → Calibration.

If calibration did not help, try disabling the sensor programmatically:

• 📲 Install the application Sensor Disabler from Google Play.
• 🔍 Find it in the list Proximity Sensor and turn it off.

What happens if you turn off the proximity sensor?

The screen will not go dark during calls when you bring the phone to your ear. This may lead to accidental clicks, but will solve the problem with voice messages.

5. Conflict with MIUI Optimization and Google Play Services

MIUI Optimization is a system application that manages energy consumption and background processes. Sometimes it optimizes too aggressively WhatsAppwhich leads to screen locking. A similar problem may occur due to Google Play Services, especially if they are updated to the latest version.

Solutions:

Problem	How to fix	For which models is relevant
Conflict with MIUI Optimization	Disable optimization: Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Three dots → Special access → Battery optimization. Find MIUI Optimization and disable all permissions for it.	Redmi Note 11/12, POCO F4
Crash Google Play Services	Go to Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → Storage. Click Clear cache and Delete data.	All models on Android 12+
Synchronization error	Disable auto-sync: Settings → Accounts → Auto-sync data.	Redmi 9/10, Note 10 Pro

If after these manipulations the screen still goes dark, try resetting the settings Google Play Services to factory settings:

Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → ⋮ → Reset preferences

6. Hardware malfunctions: display, cable, battery

If software methods do not help, the reason may lie in physical defects:

• 🔌 Damaged display cable - if the screen goes out when you lightly press the case or at a certain angle of inclination.
• 🔋 Worn out battery —at low voltage, the system forcibly turns off the display to save energy.
• 📱 Matrix defect —if artifacts (strips, flickering) appear before shutdown.

How to diagnose:

1. Connect the phone to charge and check if the screen goes blank when listening to voice messages. If not, the problem is in the battery.
2. Shine a flashlight on the screen after turning it off - if the image is barely visible, the backlight or cable is to blame.
3. Install the application CPU Monitor and check if the processor frequency drops before the screen turns off (this is a sign of throttling due to overheating).

If you suspect a hardware fault, contact a service center. For Redmi with a guarantee of up to 2 years, repair of the display or cable will cost 1 500–4 000 ₽ (depending on the model).

Listen to the voice message while charging|Check the screen for artifacts before turning off|Press the case in the area of the cable|Run a battery test via ##4636##

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7. Alternative solutions: rollback of updates and custom firmware

If the problem appeared after the update MIUI or WhatsApp, return the previous version:

• 📲 For MIUI:
  1. Download a stable one firmware with miui.com (select your model).
  2. Go to Settings → About phone → System update → ⋮ → Select firmware file.

💬 To WhatsApp:

1. Uninstall the current version.
2. Download APK version 2.23.12.76 from apkmirror.com and install manually (allow installation from unknown sources).

For advanced users:

• 🛠️ Install custom recovery (TWRP) and firmware (LineageOS or Pixel Experience). This is a radical solution, but it will get rid of problems with MIUI Optimization.
• 🔧 Use ADBto disable unnecessary system services:

  adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.powerkeeper

  (this will disable MIUI Power Keeperresponsible for aggressive energy saving).

⚠️ Attention: Rolling back the firmware or installing a custom OS can lead to data loss. Make a backup via Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Why does the problem appear only in WhatsApp, but in Telegram or Spotify the screen does not go dark?

WhatsApp uses its own audio player, which conflicts with energy saving MIUI. Other applications (for example Telegram or Spotify) work through system audio stacking, which is not blocked.

Solution: in the settings WhatsApp disable the option Play voice messages through the speaker (this will force the messenger to use the system player).

The screen goes dark only when I listen to voice messages through headphones. What should I do?
The problem is due to a conflict between MIUI and the Bluetooth/audio output drivers. Try:
1. Disable Absolute volume in the developer settings.
2. Install the application SoundAssistant and disable the option in it Pause when disconnecting headphones.
3. Update audio drivers via Settings → About phone → System update.
After updating to MIUI 14, the screen began to go dark more often. How to return the old version?

You can roll back to MIUI 13 via Fastboot or Recovery:

1. Download the archive with the firmware for your model from xiaomifirmwareupdater.com.
2. Go to Fastboot (press Power + Volume down when turning on).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and run the command:

   fastboot flash all [firmware_file_name.zip]

⚠️ Attention: Rolling back the firmware will reset all data. First save photos and chats WhatsApp to the cloud.

Could the case or film on the screen be to blame?

Yes, if the cover or film overlaps proximity sensor (usually located to the right of the speaker). Try:

• Remove the case and check if the screen goes dark without it.
• If using glass film, make sure it does not cover the sensor (cut a hole with scissors).
• Wipe the sensor area with an alcohol wipe - sometimes dust or grease interfere with its operation.

I tried all the methods, but the screen still goes dark. What to do?

If none of the methods helped, there are two options left:

1. Reset to factory settings:

   Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset → Reset settings

   (don't forget to save data).

2. Contacting the service center: if the problem is hardware (for example, a faulty sensor or cable), self-repair may aggravate the situation. For Redmi official services Xiaomi offer free diagnostics.