How to permanently disable the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: a detailed guide

The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones in the Poco lineup, but many users are uncomfortable with the proximity sensor activating during calls. This sensor automatically turns off the screen when you bring the phone to your ear, but often malfunctions: the screen goes out too early, does not turn back on or reacts to random movements.

In this article, we will discuss three proven ways to disable the proximity sensor on Poco. X3 Pro – from standard settings to hidden functions ADB You'll also learn the risks of deactivating the sensor and how to get it back if something goes wrong. MIUI 12/13/14 and custom firmware based on Android 10/11/12.

Why does the proximity sensor interfere?

The Poco X3 Pro's proximity sensor is located at the top of the screen next to the front camera, and it uses an infrared emitter and a photodiode to determine the distance to an object (like your ear while you're talking), which is convenient in theory: the screen goes out to avoid accidental taps.

• 📵 False positives – the screen turns off when you normally hold your phone in your hand or pocket.
• 🔄 Screen freezes - after the call, the display does not turn back on, you have to restart the device.
• 🌓 Problems with covers - the sensor is blocked by a protective glass or thick case, because of which the screen does not go out at all.
• 🎮 Discomfort in games – in some applications (for example, in some applications, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty sensor interferes with control.

The manufacturer has not provided an easy way to disable the sensor in standard settings, but there are workarounds. On the Poco X3 Pro with MIUI 12.5+ firmware, the proximity sensor can be deactivated without root rights, but this will require access to hidden system parameters.

Method 1: Disable via call settings (without ADB)

The easiest method is to use the built-in phone app options, which unfortunately doesn't shut down the sensor completely, but only changes its behavior when it calls, but it can solve the main inconvenience.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
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 to turn off the screen during the call and deactivate it.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

After that, the screen won’t go out when you hold the phone to your ear, but the proximity sensor will remain active for other functions (such as some games or apps).

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Charge your phone at least 50%

Make sure you have access to your computer (for methods 2 and 3)-->

Method 2: Deactivation through ADB (without root)

If standard settings don't work, you can turn off the proximity sensor via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which doesn't require superuser rights, but requires connecting the phone to a computer, and importantly, after updating the firmware, the settings can reset and you have to repeat the procedure.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Platform Tools from the official Android website and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on the phone Developer Mode: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
4. Connect Poco X3 Pro to your computer and allow debugging in the window on your phone.
5. Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with Platform Tools:

cd path do folder/platform-tools

1. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, execute the command to disable the sensor:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_enabled 0

Once the phone is restarted, the proximity sensor will be deactivated. To get it back, use the same command, replacing 0 with 1.

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If the command doesn’t work, try first to get superuser rights through adb shell su (requires an unlocked bootloader).

Method 3: Engineering menu (for power users)

The Poco X3 Pro has a hidden engineering menu where you can turn off the proximity sensor at the hardware level, a method that is more risky because the wrong actions can disrupt other sensors, and only use it if the first two methods fail.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or ##ENG## on some firmware).
3. You will be taken to the EngineerMode menu. Go to the Hardware Testing → Sensor section.
4. Find the Proximity Sensor and click on it.
5. In the window that opens, select Disable or uncheck Enable.
6. Save the changes and restart the phone.

If the engineering menu does not open by code, try an alternative method:

• Download the MTK Engineering Mode app from Google Play (MediaTek chips only).
• Run it and go to Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor.
• Turn off the sensor and restart the device.

Possible problems and solutions

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 begins to behave unstable (for example, spontaneously reboots or does not respond to touch), try:

1. Return the sensor settings to the original state via ADB:

adb shell settings delete global proximity_sensor_enabled

1. Perform a reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset).
2. Fly your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (extremely).

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Before any manipulation of the engineering menu or ADB, be sure to back up the data.Restore the system after a crash can result in file loss.

What happens if you leave the sensor off?

Many users fear that deactivating the proximity sensor will affect the phone’s performance.In fact, the Poco X3 Pro functions normally without this sensor, but there are a few nuances:

• ☎️ During calls, the screen will not turn off automatically.This can lead to accidental pressing (for example, on the volume keys or the completion of the call).
• 🎮 In games, some applications (such as Free Fire or Genshin Impact) use a sensor to optimize control.
• 🔋 Battery consumption will increase slightly, as the system will not optimize the screen during conversations.
• 🛡️ Security will not be affected – the proximity sensor is not linked to data protection or unlocking.

If you use your phone in a case or talk frequently on speakerphone, turning off the sensor can even improve the experience of using the device, the main thing is to make sure that the screen does not press random buttons during a call (for example, put the phone on the table with the screen down).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global Stable) after the sensor is turned off ADB Navigation gestures may stop working, in which case, return the default settings or update the firmware.

Alternative solutions: if you can not turn off the sensor

If for some reason you don’t want or can’t turn off the proximity sensor, there are a few alternative ways to fix the problem:

• 📲 Use headphones – when connected wired or wireless headphones, the proximity sensor is not activated.
• 🔊 Turn on speakerphone – in this mode, the screen does not go out, even if the sensor is working.
• 🛠️ Calibration of the sensor – sometimes helps to reset its settings through the engineering menu (#6484##).
• 📦 Custom firmware installation – some versions of LineageOS or Pixel Experience allow you to flexibly configure sensors.

You can also try to calibrate the sensor manually:

1. Open the engineering menu (code ##36446337##)
2. Go to Sensor → Proximity Sensor → Calibration.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually hold and remove your hand several times).
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

If the sensor is physically damaged (for example, after a phone crash), turning it off may be the only solution, in which case we recommend contacting a service center to replace the sensor - on the Poco X3 Pro it costs an average of 800-1500 rubles.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down the proximity sensor