How to set up the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: the full guide

The proximity sensor problem on Redmi Note smartphones is one of the most common complaints of users, but on the Redmi Note 8 Pro model it is solved by software methods in most cases. When the screen goes out during a phone conversation or, conversely, does not respond to the ear, this creates tremendous discomfort and leads to accidental cheek pressing. The correct operation of this sensor is critical for comfortable operation of the device, since it is responsible for blocking the display when you bring it to the face.

The fault is often caused by software calibration failure or physical contamination of the area at the top of the screen where the sensor is hidden. Xiaomi owners should not panic and carry the phone to the service center immediately, as 90% of cases can be fixed independently. Below we will look at all the available diagnostic and setting methods, from simple checks to the use of hidden engineering menus.

It's worth noting that the proximity sensor on this model is infrared, not capacitive, as on some flagships, which makes it more susceptible to protective films. Incorrectly pasted glass or thick film can block the emitter, which makes the system think that the phone is always in the ear. So the first step should always be to visually inspect the top end of the device for contaminants or defects in accessories.

Primary Diagnosis and Physical Examination

Before we go into complex software manipulations, we need to rule out the trivial physical reasons. Often users forget that the protective glass or cover can block access to the sensor. At the top of the screen of the Redmi Note 8 Pro, above the speaker, there is a small black oval, where the necessary module hides. Any dirt, greasy traces or misaligned film can block the IR emitter.

It's also important to check if In-Pack mode is on, which sometimes conflicts with the basic sensor settings, which is designed to prevent accidental taps when the phone is in the bag, but in practice it often causes false positives, and turning off this feature can instantly solve the problem if it was a software conflict of energy saving algorithms.

• 🧼 Carefully wipe the top of the screen with a microfiber, paying attention to the area above the speaker.
• 📱 Remove the protective glass or film to check if the notch matches the sensor location on the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
• 🔍 Inspect the sensor area in bright light for microcracks or adhesive detachments.
• ⚙️ Check the In-Pocket settings in the lock menu and make sure it is disabled for the test.

⚠️ Attention: If you use a matte or tinted protective film that completely covers the upper frame, the sensor may not work properly. Infrared radiation does not always penetrate dense materials.

After physical cleaning and removal of security accessories, you need to reboot the device, which resets the temporary caches of the drivers responsible for the operation of the touch panel. If the problem persists after activation, proceed to software calibration through standard system tools.

Use of the built-in CIT engineering menu

The most reliable way to check the hardware is to use the built-in CIT (Customer Integration Test) diagnostic module, which is available on Xiaomi smartphones without root permissions and allows you to test each component separately.

You have to open the standard Phone app and type in the character combination, and you have a menu that lists all the tests you can get on the screen, and we're interested in the Proximity Sensor item, and you go to this section and the screen can go out or change color, which is the normal response of the system to activate the test mode.

##6484##

Inside the proximity sensor test, you'll see numerical values. When you close the sensor with your hand, the value should change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0 or vice versa, depending on the firmware version), if the numbers "jump" on their own or do not respond to the hand, this may indicate a hardware failure of the plume or the sensor itself.

Procedure for program calibration of the sensor

If the CIT test shows that the sensor is responding but not working properly on normal calls, a forced calibration is required, which trains the system to correctly determine the threshold values of the distance to the object. Unlike a simple test, here we set new base parameters for the Redmi Note 8 Pro.

The procedure is also done through an engineering menu, but requires a certain sequence of actions. You need not just look at the numbers, but press the button "Calibration." The screen can flash, and the device will emit an audible signal, confirming the successful preservation of new parameters, after which the phone is recommended to completely turn off and turn on again.

In some versions of the MIUI shell, calibration may not be available directly through the test menu, then try resetting the sensor settings through the developer menu.

• 📞 Open the menu. CIT code ##6484## and select the Proximity Sensor test.
• 🖐️ Press the Calibration button and remove your hand from the top end of the device.
• 🔄 Wait for the message “Calibration Success” and perform a full reboot of the smartphone.
• 📲 If calibration doesn’t work, try the developer menu to find the “Quickly wake up from sleep” item and turn it off.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the calibration process or press buttons during the calibration process. Interrupting the recording of new parameters can cause the sensor to stop responding at all.

Settings through the Developer Menu and MIUI

The MIUI shell offers many hidden features that can affect sensor performance. Sometimes the conflict arises from battery optimization or aggressive energy saving, which prematurely disables the sensor. In the developer's menu, you can find parameters that affect the behavior of the system when calling.

Also worth paying attention to is the lock settings. In the "Block screen" section, there is a "Mode in your pocket" item. As mentioned earlier, it needs to be turned off. In addition, new versions of Android and MIUI have a "Prevent accidental lock" feature that also uses a proximity sensor and can conflict with the main call algorithm.

For advanced users, there is a possibility of using ADB-commands to reset the sensor settings if the interface is not responsive. USB. The team allows you to restart the sensor service without fully restarting the device.

adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0


adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 1

Table of sensor codes and statuses

Understanding what the screen shows during diagnosis helps you to determine the nature of the malfunction, and below is a table that explains the basic states and codes you may encounter on the CIT menu or when using third-party diagnostic apps.

By analyzing the data from the table, you can quickly see whether the problem is software (calibration errors) or hardware (no signal). If you see the status of "Missing" in the "State Description" column, the software methods for setting up the Redmi Note 8 Pro will not help, and you will need to disassemble the device.

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If the sensor shows the status of "Missing" in the diagnostic menu or the values do not change when closed with the hand, the problem lies in the physical break of the plume or the failure of the module itself.

Solving problems with protective glasses and accessories

One of the most common reasons why the proximity sensor doesn't work on Xiaomi is the poor quality protective glass. Accessories manufacturers often make the black bezel around the glass too wide and it overlaps the sensor. Even if the notch appears to match, the microscopic edge overlap can block the IR beam.

There's a method of "software extension" of the sensor area, but it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI. However, you can try to stick a thin layer of transparent tape over the sensor if the problem is caused by the matte coating of your protective glass, sometimes it helps the IR emitter to penetrate the layer of material.

• ✂️ Carefully trim the black frame on the protective glass in the sensor area if it overlaps the sensor.
• 💡 Use transparent protective glass without black bezels for Redmi Note 8 Pro models.
• 🧪 Wipe the sensor area with an alcohol wipe before sticking the new glass to remove fat.

Also worth mentioning are cases. Some high-sided silicone cases can press on the edges of the screen or have plugs at the top that shift when worn in your pocket and overlap the sensor. Remove the case and check the phone's naked.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal plates for magnetic holders in the car at the top of the phone.The metal can shield the signal or interfere with the sensor.

Hardware malfunctions and repairs

If neither cleaning, calibration, nor removal of the glass helped, there is likely a hardware malfunction. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the proximity sensor is often integrated into the front camera plume or into a separate module on the lower board (depending on the revision).

In some cases, it helps to gently press the top of the screen in the area of the speaker, and if you press the sensor starts to work, then the contact is broken, and this is a temporary solution, which indicates the need to replace the plume or re-adhesive connector.

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Before going to the service, try to gently (without fanaticism) press your finger on the area of the speaker, and if the sensor works, then the problem is in poor contact of the plume, and its replacement will solve the problem forever.

Replacing the sensor or plume in the service center is a cheap and fast procedure, but if you have the repair skills, you can try disassembling the phone, disconnecting the battery, and reconnecting the sensor plume with a wiper beforehand, which often brings the device back to life without the cost of new parts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)