Xiaomi smartphone owners often face an intrusive automatic screen control feature, which is designed to save energy, in reality causes a lot of inconvenience, especially during conversations. The screen suddenly goes out when you hold the phone to your ear, or, conversely, lights up in your pocket, activating the dial.
To understand how to disable the light sensor on Xiaomi, you need every user who appreciates the comfort of using your gadget. Standard settings do not always allow you to completely deactivate this module, which forces you to look for workarounds. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from simple switches in the menu to the use of engineering codes.
Ignoring the problem can lead to battery drains and random calls to contacts, so it’s important to understand exactly how the proximity sensor in the MIUI or HyperOS shell works. We’ll take a detailed look at each step so you can choose the best solution for your device model.
Why the proximity sensor is causing problems
The main purpose of this component is to determine the distance between the smartphone and the object, which in theory should prevent accidental cheek pressing during the time, but in practice, the calibration often gets confused, or the sensor itself becomes contaminated, which leads to improper screen operation.
Users complain that the screen goes out even if the phone is just lying on the table, because the infrared emitter reacts to glare or security glass, and in such situations, the only way out is to completely shut down the function through system settings or special applications.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure there is no heavy contamination on the screen before making changes. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply cleaning the top of the display with an alcohol napkin.
It's also worth noting that on some models, such as the Redmi Note or POCO, the sensor can be software-locked by the manufacturer, which is designed to make it cheaper to use the front camera as the sensor, in which case standard shutdown methods may not work.
Standard disconnection through phone settings
The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in settings menu, which requires no additional software installation and is available on most current versions of the MIUI shell. However, the option may be called differently depending on the regional firmware.
To start, you need to go to the call menu. Click on the handset icon on your desktop to open the call log. Then look for the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen.
In the list that opens, look for the incoming call, and that's where the switch is, which is the sensor that you're using during a conversation, and if you don't find it right away, look at all the sub-items, because newer versions of Android may have changed the location.
☑️ Checking call settings
Once you find the right switch, just put it in an inactive position. Now the screen must stop reacting to the approach of objects. If the item is not on the menu, then your version of the firmware does not support standard shutdown, and you will have to use other methods.
Using the Engineering Menu for Diagnostics
If standard settings don't work, you can use a hidden engineering menu, which is designed to test hardware components and allow you to access deep system settings, and be careful, changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable operation.
To enter the menu, open the Phone app and type a special code. For most Xiaomi devices, this is a combination of ##6484##. Once you enter the code, you will open a list of tests where you need to find the Proximity Sensor item.
Inside the test, you can see the current readings of the sensor. Close the top of the screen with your hand: the value should change from 5.0 to 0.0. If the values do not change, the sensor may be physically defective or require calibration.
##6484##Some versions of the engineering menu have the option of forcibly disabling the sensor. Look for the Disable or Off button. However, on modern smartphones, this feature is often blocked, and the menu only works in diagnostic mode.
What if the code doesn't work?
Application of third-party applications for management
When system constraints are too tight, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and there are many utilities that intercept the sensor signal and block it from working at the software level, which is an effective way for models that don't have a built-in switch.
One of the popular solutions is the Proximity Sensor Reset & Fix app, which allows you to not only calibrate, but also completely disable the sensor. Once installed, give the application the necessary permissions and select the option to disable.
Other applications may require root access rights to fully deactivate. If your smartphone is not rooted, the functionality will be limited. Carefully read the program descriptions before installing, so as not to infect the device with malicious code.
- 📱 Proximity Service – allows you to create profiles for different applications.
- 🔧 Sensor Box is a powerful tool for testing and controlling all sensors.
- 🚫 Disable Sensor is a simple application with one function: lock sensor.
⚠️ Note: Install applications only from trusted sources. Third-party software may request excessive permissions, which compromises your privacy.
Comparison of methods of disconnecting the sensor
The choice of method depends on your smartphone model and operating system version, and to make it easier for you to navigate, we have compiled a comparison table of the main ways, which will help you quickly determine which option is right for you.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone settings | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Engineering menu | Medium | Tall. | Average. |
| Third-party annexes | Low. | Tall. | Low. |
| Root rights and ADB | Tall. | Maximum | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, using phone settings is the safest way, but it's not always available, the engineering menu gives you more control, but it requires caution, and apps are the middle ground for most users.
💡
The best solution for the average user is to use specialized applications from Google Play, as it does not require deep technical knowledge.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Root Rights
For power users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of disabling through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to directly interact with the Android system and disable the system services responsible for the sensor.
First, you need to enable USB debugging in the Developer menu, then plug your smartphone into your computer and type in a command to find the name of the sensor service, usually called com.android.sensor.proximity or something like that.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.sensor.proximityExecuting this command will completely shut down the sensor service before the device restarts or before the switch on command, which works even on models where all other settings are hidden, but a mistake in the command can lead to bootloop.
- 🖥️ Install the drivers. ADB computer.
- 🔌 Connect your phone with a cable in file transfer mode.
- ⌨️ Enter the command in the terminal and press Enter.
If you have root rights, you can use file managers with access to the system partition. Find the build.prop configuration file and add a string to disable the sensor. But remember, editing system files is always a risk.
💡
Before using ADB or editing system files, make sure to make a full backup of the data (TWRP or Mi Cloud) to be able to roll back the changes.