How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 9C: a complete guide with risks and alternatives

The proximity sensor in the Xiaomi Redmi 9C is a small but important element that is responsible for turning off the screen during a phone conversation when you hold the device to your ear. However, many users face situations where this sensor does not work correctly: the screen does not go out when you call, buttons are accidentally pressed or, conversely, the display turns off for no reason. In such cases, it seems logical to turn off the sensor completely, but it is important to understand the nuances of this process.

Redmi 9C

M2006C3LG

MIUI

Reasons for incorrect operation of the proximity sensor

Before you turn off the sensor, you need to understand why it might not function properly, and most often, the problem is due to one of the following factors:

• 🔄 Sensor contamination: dust, greasy traces, or protective film/glass can block the infrared signal. Try gently wipe the sensor area with alcohol solution.
• 📱 Programmatic failures MIUI: After updating or resetting the sensor may not work stable, in which case it helps to clean the cache of the application Phone.
• 🛠️ Damage after repair: if the smartphone fell or disassembled, the sensor plume or its contacts could be damaged.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Aggressive battery modes (such as Ultra mode) sometimes turn off sensors to save charge.

If the sensor started to glittle after installing custom firmware or root rights, the problem may lie in the incompatibility of the software. In this case, disabling through system settings may not work, and you will need to use ADB or engineering menus.

⚠️ Warning: Before you turn off the sensor, check it through the test menu. To do this, type ##6484## in the phone app and select Proximity Sensor. If the sensor does not respond to the approach of the hand, the problem is hardware, and turning it off will not solve it.

Method 1: Disconnect via MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI options. Unfortunately, in the standard settings of the Redmi 9C there is no direct option to disable the proximity sensor, but you can get around this limitation through special features settings:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Physical Opportunities → Gesture Management.
2. Activate the option to automatically turn off the screen during the call (if you have one in your version of MIUI).
3. If there is no item, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Permissions and disable access to sensors.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5 and later), this method may not work due to system limitations, and alternative methods may be required.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling permissions for the Phone app may cause calls to crash, including the inability to use hands-free or record conversations.

Method 2: Engineering menu (hidden settings)

For power users, a method of disabling through an engineering menu is available, which does not require root rights, but requires caution - incorrect changes can disrupt the smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##36446337## (or #4636## for older versions of MIUI).
2. Select Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor.
3. Here you will see the current sensor readings. To turn it off, look for the Disable Proximity option (the name may vary).
4. Confirm the changes and restart the smartphone.

If you don't have a shutdown option, try the alternative code: ##6484## → Manual Test → Proximity Sensor. In some firmware, you can manually set the threshold for a sensor to actuate (for example, set the value of 255 so that it is always considered "far away").

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Turn on Redmi 9C Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times).
3. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute in the command line: adb shell settings put system proximity_delay 255 adb shell settings put system proximity_offset 0 These commands set the maximum delay of the sensor, effectively turning it off.
5. Reset the device.

To return the sensor to working condition, use the commands:

adb shell settings delete system proximity_delay


adb shell settings delete system proximity_offset

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change other parameters unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, the command adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 0 Turn off the screen automatically, which will lead to a quick discharge of the battery.

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If ADB Does not recognize the device, update the drivers Xiaomi USB Drivers or try using another driver USB-cable (preferably original).

What happens after the proximity sensor is turned off?

Turning off the sensor solves some problems, but creates others.

• 📞 The screen won't go out during a call, which means you can accidentally press buttons with your cheek or ear, such as completing a call or turning on a speakerphone.
• 🔋 It'll increase battery consumption. It'll stay on longer, especially if you're on the phone a lot.
• 🛡️ The risk of damage to the screen: During long conversations, the display may overheat due to constant backlighting.
• 🔊 Headset problems. Some Bluetooth headphones use the proximity sensor signal to automatically switch the sound.

On Redmi 9C, the Raise to Wake function may stop working after the sensor is turned off, since it is partially tied to the same touch module.

An alternative solution is to use apps to force the screen to turn off during a call, such as:

• Proximity Sensor Reset (resets sensor settings).
• Screen Off and Lock (manually switching off the screen)
• Automate (creating automatic rules for the screen)

How to return the sensor to working condition?

If after the shutdown you are faced with inconvenience or the sensor is still needed, you can restore its operation in the following ways:

1. Reset: Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset all settings. This will return all sensor parameters to factory.
2. MIUI Update: Install the latest firmware version through Settings → System Update. Newer versions often fix sensor bugs.
3. ADB-Commands: Execute the instructions specified in Method 3, but with the delete parameter instead of put.
4. Sensor calibration: In the engineering menu (##6484###), select the Calibrate Proximity Sensor and follow the instructions.

If the sensor has been disabled through a change in system files (e.g., after receiving root), it may be necessary to flash the device.

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Before returning the sensor to working state, check if there are applications on the smartphone that block its operation (for example, Tasker or MacroDroid).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When disabling the sensor, users often make the following mistakes:

• 🔧 Use of infidels ADB-For example, the adb shell pm disable com.android.server.telecom command will disable phone functions completely, not just the sensor.
• 📲 Change the settings in the engineering menu without backing up. Always write down the original settings to return them if necessary.
• 🔄 Disabling the sensor through root without knowing the consequences, and on some firmware, it could cause service to fail. system_server.
• 🛠️ Ignoring hardware problems: If the sensor doesn't work because of physical damage, software shutdown won't help -- you'll need repairs.

To minimize the risks:

1. Always back up through Settings → System → Backup.
2. Check the changes on the test device (if possible).
3. Use official Xiaomi tools, not third-party utilities from questionable sources.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the proximity sensor on the Redmi 9C