What is happening?
You have selected BIG Phone as the default phone app in Android system settings. When someone calls you, the phone rings, but the screen may stay black or Android may fail to show the incoming call screen.
This happens most often on Xiaomi phones with MIUI, but similar restrictions can also appear on other Android brands.
How to fix the black screen on incoming calls
Follow these Android permission steps. The screenshots below show a Xiaomi / MIUI settings flow; names may be slightly different on other phones.
Open Installed apps
Go to your phone's system settings and choose Installed apps.
Choose BIG Phone for Seniors
In the apps list, search for BIG Phone for Seniors and open its app details.
Open Other permissions
In the app details screen, choose Other permissions.
Allow lock screen and background start
Enable all relevant permissions, especially Show on Lock screen and Start in background.
If the call screen still does not appear
Recommended follow-up checks
- Confirm that BIG Phone is still selected as the default phone app.
- Disable battery optimization or battery saver restrictions for BIG Phone.
- Allow notifications for BIG Phone, including lock-screen notifications if your Android version asks for them.
- Restart the phone after changing the permissions.
For more background on Android manufacturers killing apps in the background, see dontkillmyapp.com.
Questions about black screen on calls
Why does Android block the incoming call screen?
Some Android versions limit background apps very aggressively. If BIG Phone is stopped in the background, it cannot react immediately when a call arrives.
Is this only a Xiaomi / MIUI issue?
No. Xiaomi and MIUI are the most common case, but other manufacturers can have similar battery-saving or background-start restrictions.
Which setting is the most important?
Show on Lock screen lets BIG Phone appear over the locked or sleeping screen. Start in background lets BIG Phone react when a call arrives.
Need help with BIG Phone?
If these steps do not solve the problem, contact us and include your phone brand, Android version, and whether BIG Phone is selected as the default phone app.