How to disable the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: 3 proven ways

Why do users want to turn off the proximity sensor on the Redmi 8T?

The proximity sensor in the Xiaomi Redmi 8T is a small but important element that is responsible for turning off the screen during a phone conversation. When you hold the phone to your ear, the sensor blocks touch, preventing accidental pressing. However, many owners have problems: the screen does not go out during a call, the sensor is triggered with a delay or, conversely, the sensor blocks the display for no reason. In some cases, users deliberately want to turn off the proximity sensor to get rid of annoying glitches or use the phone in non-standard scenarios (for example, for streaming with the screen off).

It is important to understand that deactivating the sensor can cause inconvenience during calls: the screen will remain active, and accidental touches with the cheek or ear can interrupt the conversation, turn on speakerphone or activate other functions. However, if you are firmly determined to turn it off, in this article you will find all the working methods, including hidden settings and engineering menus.

Before you start, make sure that the sensor is the problem, and sometimes the failures are caused by a protective film, a cover, or contamination of the top of the screen, and try to wipe the area of the sensor (located to the right of the speaker) and make a test call. If the problem persists, read on.

Method 1: Disconnect the sensor through standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI options. Unfortunately, in the latest versions of Xiaomi Redmi 8T firmware, the direct option to disable the proximity sensor may not be available, but it can be activated through a hidden call menu.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the phone (calling) application.
2. Dial the combination: ##6484## (this is a code for testing sensors).
3. In the menu that opens, find Proximity Sensor.
4. Click on it and select the Disable option.
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If this code doesn’t work, try an alternative:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone.
• 🔍 Press 5-7 times on the item Version MIUI, activate the developer mode.
• 🔧 Return to the main settings, open additional settings → For developers.
• 🔍 Find the option to Disable the proximity sensor (if any).

⚠️ Note: Some of the Redmi firmware 8T This option can be called Disable proximity sensor during call or hidden in the call settings menu. If it's not available, go to the next method.

Method 2: Use of the MTK Engineer Mode

If standard settings don’t work, you can use the MediaTek engineering menu available on the Redmi 8T (the Snapdragon 665 chipset doesn’t support this menu, but an alternative method is described below), which requires caution, as improper actions can disrupt the phone.

Instructions for owners of Redmi 8T with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor:

• 📱 Install from Google Play app MTK Engineering Mode (if it doesn’t start – use Shortcut Master to find hidden menus).
• 🔧 Open the application and go to the Hardware Testing section → Sensor.
• 👁️ Find the Proximity Sensor and click on it.
• 🔘 At the top of the screen will be a slider or button Disable – activate it.
• 🔄 Restart your phone to apply changes.

For Snapdragon versions of Redmi 8T An alternative method is used through ADB (If there is no engineering menu, do not attempt to install unverified menus. APK-Files – this can lead to loss of warranty or malfunctions.

Method 3: Disconnect the sensor via ADB (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to change system settings without superuser permissions, which is suitable for Redmi 8T on any firmware, but requires a connection to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install. ADB-PC drivers.
2. Activate USB debugging on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to turn on Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Redmi 8T

Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB.

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 1

Reboot the phone.

To get the sensor back to work, use the same command by replacing 1 by 0:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 0

⚠️ Note: After the sensor is turned off ADB The screen will remain active during calls, which can lead to accidental taps, so it is recommended to use headphones or turn on speakerphone manually.

What if the sensor is not working correctly?

Before you turn off the sensor, make sure the problem is not due to hardware or software failures.

• 📱 Sensor pollution: Dust, fat, or protective film can block the infrared sensor.
• 🛠️ Damage after falling: If the phone fell, the sensor could shift or move the contact on the board.
• 🔄 Firmware failure: After update MIUI The sensor may be unstable. Try resetting to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).
• 🔋 Battery savings: Ultra-efficient or battery modes can limit the operation of sensors. → Battery.

If the sensor does not respond at all, check its operation through the test menu:

1. Call the phone: ##4636###.
2. Select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Sensors block.
4. Cover the sensor with your hand – the Proximity sensor value should change from 5.0 (far) to 0.0 (close).

If the test shows No data or values do not change, the sensor is faulty, in which case turning it off will not solve the problem - you will need to replace the sensor in the service center.

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If the sensor is working too late (the screen is going out with a delay), try to increase its sensitivity through the engineering menu. Find the Proximity Sensor Calibration setting and set the High value.

Disabling the sensor through system file editing (requires root)

This method is only suitable for power users, as it requires super-user rights (root) and can lead to loss of warranty or system failures. If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to use the previous methods.

Instructions:

1. Install a root-enabled file manager on your phone (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/build.prop.
3. Find the line: ro.lge.proximity.delay=25 or persist.sys.proximity.delay=25 (values may vary).
4. Add a new line to the end of the file: persist.sys.proximity.disabled=1
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

If the phone doesn’t start after editing build.prop, restore the backup or reflash the device via Fastboot.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without a backup can cause a phone to "brick" (completely inoperable). TWRP or MIUI Backup.

Consequences of disabling the proximity sensor: pros and cons

Before you deactivate the sensor, weigh the pros and cons.

If you use your phone primarily for calls, disabling the sensor can create more problems than it solves. In this case, it is better to calibrate the sensor or contact the service. For experiments or specific tasks (for example, automation through Tasker), deactivating the sensor may be justified.

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Disabling the proximity sensor is only useful in cases of malfunction or for highly specialized tasks, and for everyday use, it is better to solve the problem by calibration or repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shutting down the proximity sensor