How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Poco M3

Owners of the Xiaomi Poco M3 smartphone often face a situation where during a phone conversation the screen suddenly goes out, and the interlocutor hears only silence while you frantically try to find the completion button. This is a classic symptom of incorrect operation of the proximity sensor, which in factory firmware is often software locked or incorrectly calibrated. The problem is that the manufacturer uses a software sensor instead of hardware, which leads to frequent interface failures.

Fortunately, the situation is fixable, and there are several proven ways to do this, ranging from built-in engineering menus to using third-party software. You don’t need to be an expert in Android development to perform the necessary actions, since all methods are available to the average user. In this article, we will detail how to activate the hidden proximity sensor through the engineering menu so that your Poco M3 again begins to respond correctly to the ear application.

The nature of the problem and program constraints

The Poco M3, like many other Xiaomi models, features an infrared sensor at the top of the display. However, due to design and production savings, the company often relies on software algorithms that misinterpret data. The software sensor can respond to changes in lighting or even a protective glass, believing that the phone is near the ear and locking the screen.

When you call someone, Android is waiting for a signal from the sensor to turn off the display and prevent accidental cheekstrokes. If the calibration is knocked down or the driver is not working correctly, the screen goes out immediately after the call begins, or, conversely, does not go out at all, which creates a tremendous discomfort, since the user has to manually turn on and off the display every time he talks.

It's important to understand that you can't turn off the sensor completely in the classical sense, because it's a system function, so our job is to make it work properly, or to switch the phone to alternative methods for determining the proximity of an object, sometimes a simple reboot helps, but most often it requires a deeper intervention in the system settings through special codes.

⚠️ Warning: Making changes to the engineering menu may affect other system components, write down the initial values before changing them, so that if necessary, everything is back.

Use of the Engineering Menu to Activate

The most efficient and safe way to solve a problem is to access a hidden engineering menu that allows you to control hardware components directly. USSD-The code that gives you access to the testing of the equipment. M3 This method activates the hidden hardware sensor, ignoring software glitches.

To start, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT menu will automatically open on the screen, which shows a list of all the components tested on your device.

In the window that opens, you'll see the current state of the sensor, and often it'll say "Failed" or values that don't change when you close the top of the screen with your hand, and your job is to find the Calibrate or Start button, press it, and follow the instructions on the screen, and you'll usually have to close the top of the screen with your hand and then remove it, and after you've successfully calibrated, the system will give you a Pass message, and the sensor should work properly.

Alternative methods through the Engineering Mode application

If the standard code is not working or the menu CIT No firmware in your version, you can use a third-party Engineering Mode application MTK. Because Poco M3 It's built on a MediaTek processor, and it has direct access to the low-level hardware settings. APK-File from a verified source, install it and run it.

In the app interface, select the Telephony or Common tab, and then look for the Proximity Sensor section, where you can find more detailed information about how the sensor works, including the ability to manually adjust thresholds. PS_data, which show the level of illumination perceived by the sensor at the moment.

Try changing the sensitivity values if this option is available in your version of the software. Sometimes just clicking the "Enable" or "Start" button on this menu is enough to force the sensor survey to run, bypassing standard system restrictions. After you perform the actions, be sure to restart the device so that the changes take effect.

Third-party applications for call management

When system methods fail, specialized applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue to intercept the proximity sensor control. Programs like Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix or Phone Sensor can force the sensor to calibrate or emulate the sensor using software methods. These utilities are especially useful if the sensor hardware is physically fit but software is locked.

Once you install an app, you'll need to give it advanced permissions, including access over other windows and control of the phone.This is necessary so that the app can lock the screen or ignore false sensor signals while talking. Some apps offer a "Screen is always on while talking," which is a crutch but solves the black screen problem.

However, it is worth remembering that using third-party software can increase battery consumption, since the application constantly polls sensors in the background. In addition, some MIUI antivirus systems can block such programs, considering them suspicious, so you will need to add them to the list of exceptions.

⚠️ Warning: When installing applications from unknown sources, always check permissions. SMS applications for calibration of sensors, it is not required for their operation.

Comparison of problem-solving methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have systematized the main ways to solve the problem in a single table. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the specific version of the operating system and the state of your Poco M3.

As you can see from the table, the most reliable and safe way is to use the built-in engineering menu through code, it does not require the installation of additional software and works at the system level, and applications from the Play Store should be considered as a temporary solution or a backup option if standard methods did not help.

Details of working with MIUI and updates

The MIUI shell on the Poco M3 is known for aggressive battery optimization that can kill the processes needed to make sensors work properly. If you upgrade your phone to the latest version of Android or MIUI, the problem may have come after that. Updates often change the algorithms of how energy is saved, which negatively affects background services.

Check the battery settings for the Phone app and system services. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Management. Find the Phone system app there and set the power saving mode to No Limits, which will prevent the system from turning off the necessary services during a call.

It’s also worth mentioning that on some global firmware versions, Xiaomi software disables support for certain sensors to meet regional standards, in which case only flashing the device to another regional version (for example, from Global to China or vice versa) helps, but this is already a complicated procedure that requires unlocking the bootloader.

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If the screen goes out only when using certain covers, try cutting off some of the plastic in the top speaker area or buying a case with a cutout for the sensor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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In most cases, the problem is solved by simple calibration through the CIT engineering menu, without the need to flash or purchase new applications.