How to disable the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 10: safe methods and risks

Xiaomi Redmi 10 is one of the most popular budget smartphones with rich customization options, but some features can annoy users. The proximity sensor responsible for turning off the screen during a conversation sometimes works incorrectly: the screen goes out when the phone tilts, does not respond to gestures or interferes with games. If you encounter similar problems, turning it off can be a solution.

In this article, we will discuss three official and informal ways to deactivate the sensor on Redmi 10 (relevant to MIUI 12, 13 and 14 firmware). It is important to understand that disabling this feature has consequences: during calls, the screen will not lock automatically, which can lead to accidental pressing. Before you start, check out alternative solutions - perhaps the problem lies in the contamination of the sensor or calibration failure.

Why turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 10?

The proximity sensor on Redmi 10 is located next to the front camera and uses infrared light to determine the distance to an object (such as an ear during a call).

  • 📞 Turn off the screen when holding the phone to the ear, saving battery power.
  • 🔄 Turn the screen back on when the device is removed.
  • 🎮 Prevent accidental touching in games or applications.

However, users often encounter false positives:

  • 😤 The screen goes out when the phone is tilted or in your pocket.
  • 📱 Does not respond to distance - you have to unlock manually.
  • 🎧 Interfering with the use of a headset or speaker.
  • 🔧 It stops working after the update MIUI.

Before you turn off the sensor, try simple solutions:

  1. Wipe the sensor area with a soft napkin (dust and dirt interfere with work).
  2. Restart your phone – sometimes the crashes are temporary.
  3. Check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
📊 How the proximity sensor behaves on your Redmi 10?
It works perfectly.
Often it works falsely.
Not responding to the approach.
Interfering with games/applications
Already off.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI options. Unfortunately, in the latest firmware versions, the direct option to disable the sensor is hidden, but it can be activated through the developer menu.

☑️ Preparation for sensor shutdown

Done: 0 / 4

Step 1: Enable the Developer Mode:

  1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
  2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer!”).

Step 2. Find the sensor settings:

  1. Return to the main Settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
  2. Scroll down to the Debugging section.
  3. Find the option to Disable the proximity sensor (if not, see method 2).
  4. Activate the switch and confirm the action.

Step 3: Reset the phone so that the changes take effect, and then the sensor will stop affecting the locking of the screen during calls.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI Option to disable the proximity sensor may not be available. In this case, use Method 2 (ADB) Method 3 (Engineering Menu).

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (without root but with PC)

If the developer menu does not have the necessary option, you can disable the sensor using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but requires a computer and USB-cable.

What you need:

  • 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
  • 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
  • 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB phone-on.
  • 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from Google website).

Step-by-step:

  1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → Additional → Developer. Enable USB debugging and confirm permission.

Connect your phone to your PC

File transfer

Open the command line (Windows)

Enter the commands in order.

adb devices

(Serial number device should appear)

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 1

Reboot the phone.

adb reboot

Once you restart, the proximity sensor will be deactivated. To return it back, execute the same command by replacing 1 with 0.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking) may block work on devices with active debugging USB. After setting up, turn it off in the developer menu.

💡

If the adb device command doesn’t show your phone, install Mi drivers. PC Suite or check it out USB-damper.

Method 3: Engineering menu (for power users)

The engineering menu (#4636##) allows you to test the sensors and change their parameters, but it requires caution - wrong actions can disrupt the phone. On Redmi 10, this method works unstable, but sometimes helps if other methods do not work.

How to open the engineering menu:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
  3. Select the Testing (Testing) item.
  4. Scroll to the Proximity Sensor section.
  5. Phone stopped responding to gestures: Disabling the proximity sensor should not affect the touch screen. If the problem occurs, reset settings to Settings → System → Reset settings (select App Settings Reset).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), commands ADB Before experimenting, review your firmware documentation.

Alternative solutions: if you do not want to turn off the sensor

Before radically disabling the sensor, try alternative methods of problem solving:

  • 🔧 Sensor recalibration: Install the Sensor Test. Open the proximity sensor test. Cover the sensor with your hand, the value should change from 0 to 5 (or 1, depending on the model). If there is no response, the sensor is faulty or contaminated.

Use of third-party applications:

  • Proximity Service – allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.
  • Sensor Disabler – temporarily disables the sensor for specific applications.
  • 🛠️ Sensor cleaning: Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to gently clean the area around the sensor.Don't press hard - this can damage the sensor.