Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi provide users with a wide range of features to manage incoming calls, including automatic answering. This option is often useful in situations where you need to be hands-free, such as while driving or in a meeting, but sometimes it turns on accidentally or becomes intrusive. Understanding how to disable the answering machineis necessary for every device owner to avoid awkward situations or unnecessary expenses.
The shell interface MIUI or its new version HyperOS may differ depending on the phone model and region firmware. In some cases, the settings are located in the standard dialer menu, in others they are hidden in the system parameters or depend on the telecom operator. It's important not to panic if you don't find the right switch right away, as the logic behind the arrangement of the elements may vary.
In this guide, we'll look in detail at all the possible ways to deactivate the automatic answer feature. You will learn where to look for the necessary toggle switches in standard applications, how to check the operator settings and what to do if the problem is caused by third-party software. A careful approach to each step will allow you to quickly regain full control over your calls.
Disconnection through the standard “Phone” applicationMost devices Redmi The default application is installed Google Phone (Google Dialer), which manages calls. This is where the auto answer feature is most often hidden, especially if it was activated for use with a headset or in driving mode. First you need to open the application itself, through which you usually make calls.
After launching the application, pay attention to the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. Clicking on this element opens a drop-down menu where you need to select the item Settings. In the list of options that opens, look for a section related to speed dialing or accessibility. The name may vary, but often it contains the word “Auto Answer.”
- 📞 Open the application Phone and go to the settings menu through three dots.
- ⚙️ Find section
Settingsat the bottom of the menu or in the list of options. - 🔍 Look for the "Auto answer" or "Auto answer" item in the list of options.
- 🚫 Toggle the switch to the "Off" position to deactivate function.
If you have found the desired section, a menu with additional options will open in front of you. An answer delay timer may be available here, which determines after how many seconds the phone will answer the call. Disable the answering machine in this menu, it completely blocks automatic picking up of the handset, returning you the opportunity to decide for yourself whether to answer the call or not.
⚠️ Attention: On some global firmware MIUI auto answer function may be hidden or absent in the standard Google dialer. In this case, you need to look for alternative ways to manage calls through system settings or applications for people with disabilities.
Settings in the Mi Dialer application on older versions of MIUIOwners of older models Redmi or devices with Chinese firmware can use the native application Mi Dialer instead of Google's solution. The interface of this application has its own characteristics, and the path to the auto-reply settings looks different here. Users need to be careful when navigating the menu, as the structure of the items may not be obvious.
To access the configuration, open the calls application and click on the gear icon or three horizontal bars, depending on the interface version. In the settings menu, select section Advanced settings or Advanced settings. It is in this subsection that functions that are not used on a daily basis are often hidden, including automatic response.
Inside the additional settings menu, find the item Auto answer. When you click on it, a window will open where you can not only turn off the function, but also configure its behavior. For example, you can set the answer only when a Bluetooth headset is connected or in all cases. To completely disable the function, just turn the main toggle switch into an inactive state.
- 📱 Launch the application Mi Dialer and enter the settings menu.
- 📂 Go to section
Advanced settingsorAdvanced settings. - 🎚️ Find the “Auto answer” switch and make sure it is turned off.
- 🎧 Check if the checkboxes for answers with a headset only are not checked.
It is Please note that in some versions of the shell MIUI settings may be duplicated or distributed across different tabs. If you do not find the desired setting right away, try using the search in the settings of the application itself, if such a function is provided by the developers. Typing the word “autoreply” into the search bar can instantly bring you to the desired screen.
Why may the settings differ?
Versions of the Android operating system and MIUI/HyperOS shell are constantly updated. Google and Xiaomi may change the layout of menu items, add new features or remove old ones depending on the region and device model. Therefore, screenshots on the Internet may not match your screen.
System Accessibility SettingsThe Automatic Reply feature is often referred to as an accessibility tool designed for people with disabilities. Therefore, its main control levers may be located deep in the Android system settings, and not in the dialer application. This is true for many models Redmiwhere the menu priority system is built exactly like this.
To get to these settings, open the main menu Settings of the smartphone. In the list, find the section Special features (Accessibility). Within this section, you may need to go to the “Visual” or “Hearing” tab, or simply scroll down the list to Auto answer. Here, the function is controlled at the system level.
The system auto answer menu usually contains the following options:
- 🔊 Answer when you bring the phone to your ear (proximity sensor).
- ⏱️ Delay before automatic answer.
- 📳 Answer when connected to a car or headset.
- 🚫 Complete ban on automatically picking up the handset.
If you find active ones here switches, they must be disabled. System Settings have higher priority than the settings of individual applications. This means that even if auto answer is turned off in your phone app, a system setting may force it to turn on. Therefore, checking this section is critical.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when changing settings in the Accessibility section. Turning off other features like Eye Control or Voice Access can make a big difference in the way you interact with your smartphone. Change only the settings related to auto-reply.
Use the search in the settings: there is a search bar at the top of the “Settings” screen. Enter the word “auto answer” there, and the system itself will redirect you to the desired section, regardless of the version of MIUI.
Control through the “Driving” modeOne of the most common reasons for the unexpected activation of auto answer is the activation of the “Driving Mode” in Google Assistant or system settings Android Auto. This mode is designed for safety and automatically answers incoming calls to prevent the driver from being distracted by the screen. However, it can remain active even when you are no longer driving.
To check the settings, you need to open the application Google or Google Assistant. Go to the user's profile (avatar in the corner) and select Settings. Next, find the section Google Assistant and scroll to the item Driving mode (or “Transport”). This is where the rules for how your phone behaves while driving are hidden.
Inside the driving mode settings, find option Notifications or Calls. There will be a switch to enable or disable automatic reply. If it is active, the phone will answer calls automatically, often sending a pre-prepared SMS message to the other party. Disabling this item will return control over calls to your hands.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Auto reply | Automatic pick-up | Disabled |
| Notifications | Call voicing | Optional |
| Sending SMS | Automatic activity message | Disabled |
| Start | Mode activation condition | Manual / Via Bluetooth |
It is also worth checking the connection settings Android Autoif you are using a car multimedia system. In the application Android Auto on your phone (in the “Settings” → “Start” section), you can disable the automatic start of driving mode when connected to the car’s Bluetooth. This will prevent accidental activation of the answering machine when getting into the car.
☑️ Checking the "Driving" mode
Third-party applications and operator servicesIf everything is clear in the system settings Redmi the reason for the intrusive auto-response may be third-party applications. Call recording apps, smart caller ID, or carrier apps often implement their own rules for handling incoming calls. They can intercept call control and answer it according to their algorithms.
Remember what applications you installed recently. Particular attention should be paid to software related to telephony, call recording or communication optimization. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and carefully study the list. Once you find a suspicious application, open its settings and look for options to automatically answer or accept calls.
In addition, do not forget about the services of the telecom operator itself. Some tariffs include the Voice Mail service, which operates on the network side. This is not a software function of the phone, but an operator service that accepts a call if you do not answer yourself or are busy. To disable such a service, the system settings of the phone will not help.
- 📱 Check the installed applications for recording calls and their settings.
- 📞 Make sure that caller IDs do not have rights to manage calls.
- 📡 Check the operator services through USSD codes or your personal account.
- 🗑️ Remove or disable suspicious applications if they are not needed.
To manage a network answering machine, special USSD codes are usually used, which depend on your operator (for example, MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2). You can also use the operator’s official application or personal account on the website, where in the “Services” section you can find and deactivate the “Voicemail” or “Answering Machine” option.
⚠️ Attention: Operator services, such as voicemail, may be paid. Before connecting or disconnecting, check the tariff conditions with the official source or support service of your operator to avoid unexpected charges.
Third-party applications take precedence over the system settings of the dialer. If the answering machine turns on only when you start a certain app, the problem must be looked for in its configuration.
Diagnostics and reset of the dialer settingsIn rare cases, the problem may be of a software nature, associated with a cache glitch or corruption of the configuration files of the “Phone” application. If all the switches are turned off and the phone continues to answer automatically, you might want to try resetting the dialer app settings. This will return it to the factory state without deleting contacts or call history.
To do this, go to Settings smartphone, select the section Applications and find Phone (or Google Phone) in the list. Click on the item Storage or Memory. In the menu that opens, select action Clear → Reset settings (or “Clear all data”). Do not confuse with “Clear cache”, although you can start with it.
After performing the reset, the phone can reboot or simply update the dialer interface. All your personal settings, including turning off auto-reply, should return to their default settings, which means the feature will be turned off. This is an effective method of dealing with software errors when logical settings do not help.
If even resetting the settings did not help, and the answering machine continues to work, perhaps the problem lies deeper in the system. In such cases, checking your phone in Safe Modecan help. If the auto-reply does not work in safe mode, then some third-party application is to blame, and you need to look for it by elimination.
How to enter safe mode on Redmi?
To enter safe mode, press and hold the power button until the shutdown menu appears. Then press and hold your finger on the Power Off option on the screen. A request to switch to safe mode will appear - confirm the action. The phone will reboot and “Safe Mode” will appear in the corner of the screen. To exit, simply restart the device as usual.
Can auto-answer be turned on after an update?
Yes, after a major system update MIUI or Android some settings may be reset to factory defaults, where auto-answer may be enabled by default for certain scenarios (for example, when connecting headphones). Always check your telephony settings after updating the firmware.
Does removing the SIM card affect the auto-answer settings?
No, removing the SIM card does not reset the software answering machine settings inside the phone. However, this may disable carrier network services such as voicemail. Software settings Redmi are saved in the device’s memory regardless of the presence of a SIM card.
What to do if the “Auto Answer” item is not in the menu?
If the item is not in the phone application or in special features, it means that on your model or firmware version this function is either removed by the manufacturer or implemented only through third parties applications. In this case, third-party calling apps may be the only source of the problem or solution.