How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

The proximity sensor in Xiaomi smartphones is responsible for automatically turning off the screen during phone calls when you hold the device to your ear. However, sometimes this sensor does not work correctly: the screen does not go out when you call, accidentally press buttons or, conversely, the sensor is blocked for no reason, in such cases, users are looking for a way to turn off the proximity sensor completely or temporarily.

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of deactivation of the sensor on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO steerable MIUI different versions including MIUI 14 Android-based 13/14). You will learn how to do this through standard settings, engineering menus or third-party applications, as well as what consequences a shutdown can entail and how to avoid them. AMOLED-screens where the sensor is often integrated into the display.

Why you might need to shut down the proximity sensor

At first glance, the proximity sensor seems like a useful feature, but in practice it is often uncomfortable. Here are the most common reasons why Xiaomi users want to deactivate it:

• 📞 False positives during calls: The screen goes off when you just hold the phone in your hand, or doesn’t go out when you hold it to your ear.
• 🔧 Case problems: thick or magnetic cases can block the sensor signal, causing the sensor to stop working.
• 🎮 Games and applications: In some games (e.g., with tilt control), the sensor interferes by accidentally turning off the screen.
• 🔄 Sensor malfunction: After falling or getting moisture, the sensor may work unstablely.
• 🔋 Charge savings: On some models, the sensor consumes excess energy (although the effect is minimal).

It's important to understand that turning off the proximity sensor completely deprives you of automation when you make calls, for example, the screen will not go out when you talk, which can lead to accidental cheek pressing. AMOLED-displays (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60) The sensor is often embedded in the screen, and turning it off can affect the performance of other sensors.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI settings.It is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-14 firmware versions.

To disable the proximity sensor:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the System Applications section → Phone.
3. Select Incoming Calls (or Call Settings on some models).
4. Find the option of the Approach Sensor (may be called Automatic Screen Lock).
5. Move the slider to the off position.

If you don’t have this item on your menu, try an alternative route:

Settings → Special features → Physical buttons → Approximation sensor

Check the version of MIUI in the settings (section "About the phone")

Battery charge not lower than 30% (in case of failure)

Make a backup copy of important data

Make sure there are no important calls on the phone (the screen will not go out after turning off)-->

Note: Some models (e.g. POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12) have the option hidden, in which case try the method with an engineering menu or third-party apps.

Method 2: Use of the Engineering Menu (code ##)

If standard settings don’t allow you to turn off the sensor, you can use the engineering menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices, but you need to be careful – wrong actions can disrupt the phone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##6484## (some models may run ##4636##).
3. You will be taken to the MTK Engineer Mode (or Testing for Qualcomm) menu.
4. Go to the Hardware Testing → Sensor section.
5. Find the Proximity Sensor and click on it.
6. In the window that opens, select Disable or uncheck Enable.
7. Save the changes and restart the phone.

Attention! Some firmware may not have an engineering menu or be blocked, and if nothing happens after you enter the code, your model doesn't support this method.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, and is suitable for all Xiaomi models, but will reset after the reboot if you don’t fix the change through Magisk.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 1

To get the sensor back to work, use:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 0

If the command fails, try an alternative (requires root):

adb shell su -c "echo 0 > /sys/class/sensors/proximity/enable"

💡

If the sensor doesn’t go out when you call, install the Gravity Screen app from Play Market, which allows you to automatically lock the screen when you bring your phone to your ear without using a built-in sensor.

Method 4: Applications to disable the sensor

If you don't want to dig into settings or use ADB, you can use third-party apps. They usually require super-user rights, but some work without them.

Top.-3 approximation:

• 🛠️ Proximity Sensor Reset — resets the sensor calibration, sometimes helps with false positives.
• 🔧 Sensor Disabler - allows you to disable any sensors, including proximity.
• 📱 QuickShortcutMaker – Helps you find hidden settings MIUI, including sensor control.

Example of QuickShortcutMaker:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. In the search, enter proximity.
3. Find an activity with a name that contains ProximitySensor.
4. Run it and turn off the sensor through the menu that opens.

Warning: Applications from unverified sources may contain malicious code. Only install programs with high ratings and a large number of reviews.

Possible problems after disconnecting the sensor and their solution

Disabling the proximity sensor can lead to unexpected consequences, and here are the most common ones and ways to eliminate them:

If after turning off the sensor, the phone began to work unstable (for example, spontaneously restarts or freezes), return the settings to the original state.

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset all settings (does not delete files, only returns settings to factory settings).

💡

In the models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi K50/K60) The proximity sensor is often built into the display, and its deactivation can cause the automatic brightness or Always-On Display to malfunction.

Features of disconnection on popular Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique nuances when working with the proximity sensor.

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, 14/14 Pro: The sensor is integrated into AMOLED-Disabling can affect the operation of Always-On Display. ADB ore-menu.
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+/13 Pro+: In these models, the sensor often goes off falsely because of the protective film. Before you turn it off, try recalibrating the sensor through the engineering menu.
• 📱 POCO F5/X5 Pro: In settings MIUI There's no direct shutdown option. ADB Sensor Disabler (requires root).
• 📱 Redmi 10A/10C: On budget models, the sensor may be physically absent (emulated software). No need to disconnect - just remove the case.

For models with infrared sensors (such as Xiaomi Mi 11), the shutdown can affect the work of the device. IR-Before deactivating, check if you are using the remote control.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down the proximity sensor

💡

If the proximity sensor is unstable, try recalibrating it. In the engineering menu (#6484###), select Proximity Sensor → Calibration and follow the instructions on the screen.