Many budget smartphone owners face a situation where the screen goes out during a conversation without the interlocutor being heard, especially on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 model, which uses a software proximity sensor. Unlike hardware counterparts, it often reacts to the slightest changes in light or glass pollution, blocking the display at the most inopportune moment.
Disabling this feature may be the only way out if calibration through the engineering menu is not working. The user will have to resort to more complex methods, including the use of debugging over USB and special commands. Attention: interference with system settings requires accuracy, but allows you to completely ignore the sensor readings.
In this guide, we will look at all the available solutions to the problem, learn how to prepare the device, what commands to enter and what to expect after the changes. Redmi 8 is a popular device, and the methods described below may be relevant for other models of the line with similar architecture.
The reasons for the incorrect operation of the sensor on the Redmi 8
The main problem with budget devices is that they don't have a physical infrared sensor, and they rely on gyroscope and accelerometer data, and they also analyze the change in light. Any protective film, high-sided cover, or even a greasy spot on the screen can knock the calibration, and the software sensor misinterprets these signals as the phone's approaching the ear.
Often, the failure occurs after the MIUI operating system is updated. New firmware versions may contain bugs in the drivers that control the sensitivity of the screen. In such cases, standard customization methods stop working, and the system begins to block the display chaotically.
⚠️ Warning: Before making any changes, make sure your smartphone screen is clean.Dirt and moisture are the most common cause of false positives and are easy to fix without complex manipulations.
If cleaning the glass and removing the case didn't help, then the problem lies deeper in the software, in which case you need to force the function to be disabled through system commands, which will allow you to use the phone as normal, relying on the end button.
Preparing the smartphone for system changes
Before you go into action, you need to activate the hidden developer menu. Without this step, access to debugging via USB will be closed. Go to Settings → About the phone and find the MIUI version string. Click on it 7 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer.
Then you need to turn on the appropriate permissions. Go to Settings → Advanced settings → For developers. Find the item “Debugging by USB” and activate it. The system can issue a security warning – confirm the action. It is also recommended to enable the option “Do not turn off the screen” when charging, so that the device does not go out during the setup.
☑️ Redmi 8 Preparation for Modification
It's important to understand that enabling debugging opens up access to deep system settings, and data security at this point is up to the user, so don't connect your phone to unknown computers or public charging stations after activating this mode.
Why do you need a computer?
Using ADB to turn off the sensor
The most reliable way to disable the sensor is to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to send commands directly to the system without having to use the standard interface settings, and you need to download the Platform Tools package to your computer and connect Redmi 8 to it.
Once connected, open the command prompt or terminal in the ADB folder. Enter the adb device connection check command. A debugging request will appear on the phone screen - be sure to tick "Always Allow" and click OK. If the console displays the device serial number, the connection is established.
adb shell settings put system proximity_on_off 0This command forces the sensor to change the value of the parameter, and in some versions of MIUI, the path may be different, and then you need to input a command to reboot the telephony service, and after the action, the screen will cease to go out when you bring it to your face.
| Team team. | Description of action | The result |
|---|---|---|
| adb devices | Connection check | Displaying device ID |
| settings put system proximity_on_off 0 | Sensor shutdown | The screen's not going out. |
| settings put system proximity_on_off 1 | Sensor activation | Return to factory settings |
| reboot | System restart | Application of changes |
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The ADB command changes the system flag, which is prioritized over user settings, and this ensures that the sensor is turned off even after the reboot.
Alternative methods through the engineering menu
If you can't use a computer, you can try the built-in engineering menu, which is available through a standard dialer. Type ##6484##. The CIT test list will open, find Proximity Sensor, and run the test.
Inside the test, there's often a calibration button available. Put the phone on a flat surface, cover the top of the screen with your hand, then remove. Press Calibrate. If the calibration is successful (pass status), try calling. Sometimes it helps to reconfigure sensitivity thresholds.
However, on Redmi 8, this method often fails. Software failures can come back after each call, leaving only a complete shutdown of the function via ADB or the use of third-party fix apps from the Play Market store that emulate the operation of the sensor.
⚠️ Note: Do not change other options in the engineering menu CIT. Resetting the radio module or display settings can lead to unstable communication or the appearance of artifacts on the screen.
Third-party applications and automation
There are many utilities in the Google Play store that are designed specifically to address this problem, applications like Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix or Lesser AudioSwitch can intercept the sensor signal, they work in the background and force the screen to turn on if they detect an active call.
Installing such programs does not require superuser (Root) rights; it is enough to provide permission to control the phone and access to calls; it is a safer option for inexperienced users who are afraid to enter commands into the console.
- 📱 Proximity Service – allows you to completely ignore the sensor readings during calls.
- 🔧 ADB Interface – Mobile clients for command entry ADB Directly from your phone (requires Wi-Fi debugging settings).
- 🛡️ MacroDroid is an automation application where you can create a macro: If a challenge comes → Turn on the screen».
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Use macros apps with caution. Constant screen operation during a conversation can lead to occasional cheek presses, such as resetting a call or turning on the speakerphone.
Possible risks and consequences of disconnection
Turning off the proximity sensor changes the logic of how the phone works during a conversation, and the main feature is that the screen is now on all the time, which means that you can accidentally press the end button with your ear, hold it, or turn on the speaker. The physical contact of the cheek with the display is now unfiltered.
Also, the display keeps increasing battery consumption. Although the screen doesn't typically consume much energy during a conversation (unless it's bright), the total battery life can decrease over the day. With the Redmi 8, with its capacious battery, this is not critical, but it's worth considering.
Another nuance is the lock in the pocket. If the sensor is turned off globally, the phone may not respond to the pocket while continuing to perform the actions. However, most ADB shutdown commands only affect the phone call mode, leaving the protection against accidental taps in the pocket active.
⚠️ Warning: After disabling the sensor, get used to completing the call with an on-screen button or side button configured through accessibility features to avoid accidental resets.
Return to factory settings
If you think you're not happy with a constantly burning screen, it's easy to get it back, just reconnect the phone to your computer and type in a command with a value of 1 instead of 0, and the system will immediately react to the approach of objects.
In some cases, you may need to completely reset your settings through the Recovery Mode menu, which is an extreme measure that deletes all user data. Before doing this, make sure to back up your contacts and photos to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer.
Sensor recovery is also possible after updating the firmware to a newer version, if the developers have fixed a driver error.