Touchscreen Freezes Only During Calls? Here’s Why (Full Fix Guide)

 

Smartphone showing frozen touchscreen during a call with proximity sensor warning

If your phone’s touchscreen suddenly freezes only during calls, you’re not alone. This annoying issue happens on many Android devices — Samsung, Tecno, Infinix, Xiaomi, and even older phones like the Galaxy J series.

The good news?
This problem is usually caused by 5 common issues, and all of them can be fixed without spending money.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • Why your screen becomes unresponsive ONLY when you're on a call

  • How to fix proximity sensor problems

  • How to stop apps from interfering with call UI

  • How to reset hidden call settings

  • When it’s a hardware problem

If you have other call-related issues, you may like How to Receive More Than One Call at a Time.

Why the Touchscreen Freezes Only During Calls

1. Proximity Sensor Miscalibration

The proximity sensor automatically turns off your screen when your phone is near your ear.
If it gets dirty, misaligned, or blocked, it may:

  • Keep the screen off

  • Ignore your touch

  • Freeze the call screen

👉 This is the most common cause.


2. Screen Protector Interference

Some thick or low-quality screen guards block the sensor area, especially on Tecno, Infinix, Oppo, and Redmi models.

The phone thinks it’s still against your ear — even when it’s not.


3. Phone UI or Dialer App Glitch

If your dialer app crashes or lags, the screen may freeze during:

  • Incoming calls

  • Outgoing calls

  • Toggling loudspeaker

  • Ending calls

This commonly happens after a software update.


4. Background Apps Interfering

Certain apps can cause call-screen lag, including:

  • Call recorder apps

  • Screen overlay apps

  • Floating bubble apps

  • Battery savers

These apps can freeze your call UI until the call ends.

Some glitches are similar to bugs covered in How to Configure Your Phone for Faster Performance


5. Hardware Proximity Sensor Damage

If you dropped your phone or the top bezel is cracked, the sensor may be physically damaged.

If your touchscreen behaves strangely, also check Touchscreen Not Responding? 10 Fixes You Should Try


How to Fix a Touchscreen That Freezes During Calls

Try the solutions in the correct order for best results.


Fix 1: Clean the Proximity Sensor Area

Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe around the:

  • Front camera

  • Top bezel

  • Earpiece area

Even dust can confuse the sensor.


Fix 2: Remove Screen Protector Temporarily

Remove the protector and test a call.

If everything works:

➡️ Replace it with a thin tempered glass compatible with your phone model.


Fix 3: Recalibrate Proximity Sensor (Hidden Menu)

Dial:

*#0*#

or on some phones:

*#*#6484#*#*

Look for Proximity Sensor Test → Run calibration.

If your phone doesn’t support these codes, use this method:

Settings → Apps → Phone (Dialer) → Storage → Clear Cache

Clearing cache often solves similar issues discussed in How to Fix Mobile Data That Works Only on Certain Apps


Fix 4: Disable Apps That Might Interfere

Uninstall or disable apps like:

  • Call recorders

  • Floating chat bubbles

  • Battery saver apps

  • Custom dialer/phone apps

  • Third-party screen dimmers

Some background apps secretly drain resources, just like the ones explained in How to Stop Background Apps From Secretly Using Data & Battery

Fix 5: Reset Call Settings

Go to:

Settings → System → Reset Options → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth

This refreshes:

  • Call UI

  • Network settings

  • Audio routing

  • Sensor behavior

This does not delete your files.

Resetting settings also improves network performance as explained in How to Boost 4G/5G Speeds Without Any Booster App


Fix 6: Update or Roll Back Phone App

Go to:

Play Store → Phone by Google → Update

If the issue started after an update:

Uninstall updates → Restart phone


When It’s a Hardware Problem

If the screen still freezes:

  • The sensor might be damaged

  • A repair technician should diagnose it

  • Replacing the proximity sensor module is cheap on most phones

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