Disable the proximity sensor on Xiaomi 8T: 4 working methods

Xiaomi 8T is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, but its proximity sensor is often a source of irritation. Users complain of spontaneous switching off the screen during calls, “glitch” of the sensor when using covers or protective glasses, and sometimes – the complete inoperability of the sensor, which has to manually lock the display. If you encounter such problems, this article will help to completely disable the proximity sensor or adjust its operation to your needs.

It's important to understand that the proximity sensor is not just a "superfluous feature"; it is responsible for automatically locking the screen when you hold the phone to your ear during a conversation, preventing accidental tapping. However, in some scenarios (such as when using a headset or during video calls), its behavior may be counterintuitive. ADB-Teams for experienced users.

Why turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi 8T?

Before we get to the instructions, we'll figure out when deactivating the sensor is justified and when it's best to look for alternative solutions, and here are the typical situations where users decide to turn it off:

• 📞 False positives during calls: The screen goes out even if the phone is not pressed against the ear (for example, when using headphones or hands-free communication).
• 🛡️ Conflict with protective accessories: thick covers or glasses interfere with the correct operation of the sensor, which is why the screen is not blocked or, conversely, is blocked at the wrong time.
• 🔧 Hardware malfunctions: The sensor has failed after falling, getting moisture or repairing, and its behavior has become unpredictable.
• 🎮 Game scenarios: In some games (e.g., with tilt control), the sensor interferes by accidentally blocking the screen.
• 🔄 Software experiments: testing custom firmware or modifications where the sensor is incorrect.

However, completely disabling the proximity sensor deprives you of an important security feature: without it, the screen will remain active during calls, which can lead to random clicks on buttons (for example, completing a call or turning on the hands-free).If the problem is not critical, try calibrating the sensor first or resetting the phone settings.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI after disconnecting the sensor through the engineering menu or ADB The proximity sensor may fail even after being turned on again.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in system options. Unfortunately, there is no direct “Disable Proximity Sensor” button in Xiaomi 8T, but you can get around this restriction through call settings.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the phone application (standard call).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Calls section → Additional settings.
4. Find the option of Approach Sensor (or Autolock Screen depending on the version of MIUI).
5. Turn off the slider next to this option.

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

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → System and device → Additional settings → Special facilities.
• 🔄 Scroll down and find System Settings – there may be a sensor control option hidden.

This method doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI. If your phone doesn’t have these settings, move on to the next one.

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

The engineering menu is a hidden settings section where you can test and calibrate the hardware components of a smartphone, including the proximity sensor, and you have to enter a special code to get there.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone application and go to the dialing tab.
2. Enter the code: ##6484### (or #4636## on some firmware).
3. In the menu that opens, select Proximity Sensor.
4. So here you'll see the current state of the sensor. To turn it off, look for the Disable or Turn Off option.
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If the code doesn’t work, try alternatives:

• #36446337## is an engineering menu for testing equipment.
• ##4636## → Hardware Testing → Sensors.

⚠️ Attention: In the engineering menu, you can accidentally change critical settings, which will lead to unstable phone operation. Do not edit the settings, the purpose of which you do not know. If after the changes the smartphone started to glittle, reset the settings via Recovery.

If the engineering menu is not available or the sensor does not turn off through it, move on to more radical methods.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Install ADB on your computer

• Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.
• Unpack the archive in any folder (for example, C:\adb).
• Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell settings put system proximity_delay 255 settings put system proximity_on_call The first command sets the maximum delay of the sensor (actually turning it off), the second - deactivates it during calls.
• Reboot the phone.

This method turns off the sensor at the kernel level, so it can't be turned back on through standard settings. To get it back on track, delete the added strings and restart the device.

💡

If you are unsure of your skills, start with the simplest methods (standard settings → engineering menus). Use ADB and root only as a last resort when other methods have not worked.

What if the sensor is not working correctly?

Before you turn off the sensor, try to diagnose and fix the cause of the malfunction, and it may be easier than it seems.

Here is the checklist to check:

• 🔍 Clean the sensor: Wipe the area next to the front camera (the proximity sensor is located there) with a dry wipe.
• 🔄 Recalibrate the sensor: Enter ##6484## in the dialer. Select Proximity Sensor. Press Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen.

Check the case.

Update the PO.

Settings → About the phone → System update

MIUI

Reset the settings.

Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset

If the sensor is still not working, it may be physically damaged, in which case only replacing the module in the service center will help, the cost of repair for the Xiaomi 8T is about 1,500-3,000 rubles (depending on the region and service).

Consequences of deactivating the proximity sensor

Before you deactivate the sensor, evaluate the possible negative consequences:

• 📵 Random taps during calls: without locking the screen, you can accidentally press the call completion button or turn on speakerphone.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: the screen will stay on longer, which will increase power consumption.
• 🔊 Headset problems: Some Bluetooth headphones use a proximity sensor to automatically turn the microphone on/off.
• 🛠️ Application failures: Some programs (such as WhatsApp or Viber) may behave incorrectly without sensor data.