How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Poco M3

The proximity sensor problem on Xiaomi smartphones and their Poco sub-brand is a classic user pain that almost every owner faces. The Poco M3, which has a great value for money, is no exception to the rule: When a phone conversation turns off the screen, does not respond to touch or, conversely, accidentally turns on a loud cheek connection, is familiar to many. It causes tremendous discomfort and often makes normal communication impossible.

The reason is that the sensor is software-based to process the signals that respond to the object's proximity to the top of the housing. Often, the system's standard settings do not allow for flexible sensitivity management or complete deactivation of a function that behaves incorrectly, but there are several proven methods for solving this problem, from simple menu switches to deeper system changes.

In this article, we will discuss how to disable the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Poco M3 in various ways. We will look at the regular features of the operating system, hidden engineering menus and third-party utilities that will help regain control of the device. It is important to understand that disabling this module changes the logic of the screen during calls, so before making changes it is worth weighing all the pros and cons.

Why the Poco M3's proximity sensor is not working properly

Before we start taking drastic measures to shut down the sensor, we need to understand the nature of the sensor's failure. In most cases, the problem is not a physical failure, but a software conflict or contamination. The infrared sensor at the top of the display can be mistaken because of the low-quality protective glass that covers the beam, or the banal dirt in the conversational speaker.

Also, failures often occur after a MIUI firmware update, when new energy-saving algorithms become more aggressive with the backlight. Users often complain that the screen goes out when you hold the phone to your ear, but does not light up again until you press the power button, which indicates that the system is "stuck" in a locking state, believing that the phone is still in the ear.

⚠️ Warning: Before you programmatically turn off the sensor, be sure to wipe the top of the screen and remove the protective film if it covers the speaker area. In 30% of cases, this solves the problem without unnecessary settings.

Another reason could be a magnetic case or metal accessories that affect sensors. If you use a magnetic clasp case, try removing it and checking your phone. If the problem persists only in certain calling apps, it may be the software rather than the hardware that is in conflict.

Staff settings and limitations of MIUI system

In the standard MIUI shell interface installed on the Poco M3, the developers did not provide a direct button "Disable the proximity sensor", the company's logic is that this feature is critical for safety and convenience, so hides the possibility of its complete deactivation from the average user, but check the basic settings is still worth checking.

First, make sure you have the "Enable Screen When You Raise Your Ear" feature on. This is in the phone book menu. Go to the Phone app, click three dots in the corner and select "Settings." Here you need to find the "Incoming Calls" section and check the status of the sliders. Sometimes switching them off, restarting the phone and turning it on again helps.

If standard methods don't work, you can try resetting the phone app itself. This won't delete your contacts, but will return call logs and call parameters to factory values. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search the "Phone" list and click "Clear" → "Reset all settings."

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If the problem has not disappeared after resetting the phone application, try installing an alternative call, such as Google Phone or Truecaller, which have their own algorithms for working with sensors.

It’s worth noting that some versions of HyperOS firmware or new MIUI builds may have different menus, so if you don’t find these items, your version of the system doesn’t allow you to flexibly configure this setting through the standard interface, and you’ll have to resort to more advanced methods.

Using the CIT Engineering Menu to Diagnose and Disable

The most effective way to control the hidden functions of the Poco M3 is to log into the engineering menu, a special diagnostic mode designed to test hardware components, where you can not only check the performance of the sensor, but in some cases, change its calibration or temporarily turn it off.

To enter the menu, there is a universal code that works on most Xiaomi devices. Open the Phone app and type the combination ##6484#. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu will open. In the list of tests, you need to find the item "Proximity Sensor" or "Approximation Sensor".

Inside the test, you'll see numerical values. When nothing covers the top of the screen, the value should be maximum (usually 5.0). If you close the sensor with your hand, the value should drop to 0.0. If the values do not change or "jump", then calibration is required. Press the "Calibration" button, follow the instructions on the screen (usually ask you close the sensor and press OK, then open and press OK).

⚠️ Warning: Be careful on the engineering menu, do not change parameters that you do not know the purpose of, especially in the sections associated with the radio module or frequencies, so as not to disrupt communication.

If calibration doesn't work, some versions of the CIT menu have the option of forcibly turning off the sensor for tests, but after a reboot, the settings are usually reset, but the mere fact of successful calibration often solves the problem of the "glutch" screen.

Application of third-party applications for sensor management

Because it's hard to permanently disable the sensor on MIUI, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and they're running on top of the system and intercepting sensor signals, ignoring them or changing the logic of the screen, and this is the safest method, and it doesn't require root rights.

One of the most popular solutions is the Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix app, or peers like Lesser Screen Off, which works by creating a software layer, installing the application, giving the necessary permissions (often requiring permission to draw over other windows), and choosing the mode of operation.

• 📱 Lock mode: the app completely ignores the sensor signals, and the screen goes out only by the timer or press of the button.
• 📞 Call Rheum: The sensor only works during an incoming call, but is ignored in other scenarios.
• ⚙️ Calibration mode: the utility tries to programmatically redefinite sensitivity thresholds.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Some applications only turn off the sensor when the battery is below a certain percentage.

After installing such software on Poco M3, you need to add the application to the autoload and allow it to work in the background, otherwise the MIUI system will kill the process in a few minutes.

Table of comparison of methods of disconnection of the sensor

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the risks and effectiveness of each method for your specific situation with the Poco M3.

As you can see from the table, using third-party apps is the optimal balance between simplicity and results. However, if you're a confident user, the engineering menu gives you deeper control over the hardware of the device.

Advanced Methods: Root Rights and ADB Teams

For those who are not afraid of complex manipulations, there is the possibility of completely disabling the sensor driver through obtaining superuser (Root) rights.This requires unlocking the Bootloader, which is officially supported by Xiaomi, but takes time (usually 7 days of waiting).

Once you have Root rights (e.g., through Magisk), you can use special modules that physically disable the sensor query at the kernel level, and you can use console commands via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) by connecting the phone to your computer. The command to turn off a particular service may look difficult, but it gives a guaranteed result.

adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0

This command (if supported by a specific version of Android on your Poco M3) can disable the sensor systemically, but it is worth remembering that after resetting the settings to factory (Factory Reset), all changes will be lost, and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main conclusion: software shutdown of the sensor is a temporary solution. If calibration in the engineering menu does not help, the problem may be physical (dirty, plume), and software crutches only hide the symptom, but do not cure the disease.

To sum up, the Poco M3 is a reliable device, but its software sometimes requires user intervention. Start with simple methods: cleaning and calibration. If that doesn't help, use third-party apps to block the signal. And only as a last resort resort resort to root rights. Hopefully, your smartphone will work correctly again.