How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 8: all working methods

The proximity sensor in Xiaomi Redmi 8 smartphones is responsible for automatically turning off the screen during a phone conversation when you bring the device to your ear. However, often users are faced with its incorrect operation: the screen goes out spontaneously, does not respond to gestures or, conversely, does not turn off when you call, in such cases, the logical decision is to temporarily or completely turn off the sensor.

But before you deactivate the sensor, it's important to understand why it malfunctions. Most often, the problem lies in the contamination of the sensor (dust, protective film), damage after a fall or software errors MIUI. Disabling the sensor is not a panacea, but rather a "crut" that can affect the usability of the phone, for example, without it, the screen will remain active during calls, which will lead to accidental cheek pressing.

In this article, we will discuss three proven methods of disabling the proximity sensor on the Redmi 8 – from simple settings. MIUI before working with the engineering menu and ADB-Each method is tested on current firmware versions (including: MIUI 14 and HyperOS) and does not require root rights, and you will also learn how to check the sensor's performance and what to do if it does not respond to commands at all.

1.Why is the proximity sensor on Redmi 8 not working properly?

Before you turn off the sensor, you should understand the reasons for its unstable operation, most often users of Redmi 8 complain of the following problems:

• 📵 The screen goes out for no reason – even when the phone is lying on the table or in your pocket.
• 📞 Does not turn off during a call – you have to manually lock the screen to avoid accidental pressing.
• 🔄 Reaction delays – the sensor is triggered late (for example, 2-3 seconds after the phone is placed in the ear).
• 🚫 Complete inoperability – the sensor does not respond to any action.

The main reasons for such failures are:

• 🧴 Sensor contamination – dust, greasy traces or poor-quality protective film can block the infrared signal. The sensor on Redmi 8 is located to the right of the front camera (see photo below).
• 💥 Mechanical damage – falls or impacts can displace or damage the sensor.
• 🖥️ Software errors - bugs in the firmware MIUI, especially after updates.
• 🔋 Application conflict – some programs (such as launchers or optimizers) may interfere with sensors.

⚠️ Warning: If the sensor stops working after a phone drops or moisture hits, turning it off won't solve the problem, in which case a diagnosis is required at a service center - the board or train may be damaged.

Before you start to shut down, try a simple test:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##6484## (sensor test code).
2. In the Proximity Sensor menu, hold your hand to the top of the screen – the value should change from 5.00 to 0.00.
3. If the numbers don’t change or the sensor shows N/A, the sensor is faulty.

Method 2: Disconnect the sensor via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the sensor through the standard Xiaomi Redmi 8 settings.It is suitable for most MIUI versions (from MIUI 11 to HyperOS) and does not require additional tools.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → System applications → Phone.
2. Go to the Incoming Calls section.
3. Find the Approach Sensor (or Automatic Screen Lock) option and turn off the slider.
4. Confirm the action if a warning appears.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Advanced settings.
2. Find the Sensors or Automatic Lock section.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. global) MIUI 12.5) the option may be hidden, in which case use the method with the engineering menu or ADB.

What will change after the shutdown:

• ✅ The screen will not go out when you bring the phone to your ear.
• ❌ Risk of accidentally tapping during calls (such as clicking on Loud or Ending a call).
• ⚠️ Some applications may have problems (e.g., Google Assistant may not respond to a “lift to the ear” gesture").

Method 2: Engineering menu (hidden settings)

If the option to disable the sensor is not in the standard settings, you can use the Engineering Mode, which works on all versions of Redmi 8, but requires caution - incorrect actions can disrupt other functions.

Steps to enter the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that opens, select Hardware Testing (or Hardware Testing).
4. Go to the Sensors section → Proximity Sensor.

In this menu, you'll see the current readings of the sensor, to turn it off:

1. Click on Proximity Sensor and hold for 3-5 seconds.
2. In the window that appears, select Disable (or Disable).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If the sensor is activated again after the reboot, try the alternative code:

• #3644633## is a direct sensor test.
• ##6484## - Extended sensor menu (may be missing on some firmware)

⚠️ Note: In the engineering menu, you can not change the parameters if you are not sure about their purpose. For example, changing the values of Calibration can lead to complete inoperability of the sensor.

If the engineering menu is not available or does not contain the necessary options, go to the method with ADB.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) method is the most reliable, but it requires connecting the phone to a computer, and it is suitable if the first two methods do not work or the sensor needs to be turned off at the system level.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Xiaomi Redmi 8 with Debugging enabled USB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
5. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
6. Disable the sensor command: adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_enabled 0
7. Reboot the phone.

To turn the sensor back on, use the same command, replacing 0 by 1.

⚠️ Attention: After disconnection through ADB The sensor will remain deactivated even after the reset. To get it back to work, you'll need to re-enter the command with 1.

If the sensor continues to work after the command is executed, check if it is blocked by another application (for example, Second Space or Dual Apps in MIUI).

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup. In rare cases, incorrect commands can cause MIUI to crash.

5. Checking the operability of the sensor after disconnection

Once the sensor is deactivated, it's important to make sure it's actually turned off and doesn't affect the phone.

1. Call another number and hold the phone to your ear – the screen should not go out.
2. Check your gesture response: 👋 Putting your hand to the top of the screen (if the sensor is turned off, there will be no reaction). 📱 Shaking the phone (some firmware uses a proximity sensor to detect movement).

#

#

5.00

If you notice new problems after turning off (for example, gestures or autoturning do not work), try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Reset sensor settings through the engineering menu.
• 🖥️ Return the sensor to work and use alternative methods (e.g., applications to lock the screen during calls).

💡

Disabling the proximity sensor does not affect the operation of the phone's basic functions (calls, internet, camera), but can worsen the user experience.

6. Alternative solutions: what to do if the sensor does not turn off?

If none of these methods worked, consider alternatives:

• 🛠️ Sensor calibration: In the engineering menu (#3644633##), find the Calibration option and reset to factory settings.
• 📱 Screen lock apps: Install utilities like Proximity Sensor Fix or Screen Off and Lock that allow you to manually control locking during calls.
• 🔧 Resetting: If the problem has occurred after the update MIUI, perform reset through Settings → System system → Resetting settings (data will not be affected).
• 📦 Flashing: In extreme cases, install custom firmware (such as Pixel Experience), where the sensor can be turned off through settings.

If the sensor is physically damaged (for example, after a fall), turning it off will not help.

• Contact the Xiaomi service center to replace the sensor (cost – from 800 to 1500 rubles).
• Use a phone without a sensor, but install an app to manually lock the screen (like Gravity Screen).

For owners of Redmi 8 with root rights, another method is available - editing the build.prop file.

persist.sys.proximity.disable=1

But remember, this can lead to unstable operation of the system.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you turn off the proximity sensor, users often make mistakes that lead to new problems.

• 🔌 Incorrect connection to ADB: If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, check: Is debugging enabled USB. Are drivers installed (e.g., Mi) PC Suite: Is the original cable used.
• 📱 Disabling the wrong sensor: In the engineering menu, it's easy to confuse the Proximity Sensor with the Light Sensor, which will cause auto-brightness problems.
• 🔄 Untested teams ADB: Do not use commands from unreliable sources, for example, adb shell pm disable can disable system applications, which will lead to failures.
• 🔧 Ignoring backup: Before working with ADB Or the engineering menu, you have to save the data, and in rare cases, incorrect actions can lead to resetting.

If after turning off the sensor, the phone began to overheat or discharge quickly, check:

• Are there any background processes associated with sensors running (via Settings → Battery → Battery Use).
• Does not disconnect the sensor with MIUI optimization (try disabling AutoRun for unnecessary applications).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI for Russia) after the sensor has been switched off ADB You may have problems with Google Pay or Face Unlock because the system recognizes the changes as a potential security threat.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions