Xiaomi and Redmi are famous for their functionality, but sometimes standard behavior is annoying. One of the frequent complaints of users is too sensitive or, conversely, incorrectly working proximity sensor, which is responsible for turning off the screen during a conversation when you hold the phone to your ear, preventing accidental cheek pressing.
But in some situations, it gets in the way of the screen, which can go out in the middle of an important conversation, even if the phone is on the table, or, conversely, not respond to the approach, and in such cases, you have to force the sensor to turn off or reconfigure, and you can do this in a number of ways, from simple interface settings to using an engineering menu.
In this guide, we'll take a look at all the current methods of solving a problem, learn how to calibrate, what codes to enter to access hidden functions, and what to do if the software methods do not help. It's important to understand that interfering with system settings requires attention, but the result is a comfortable communication without sudden black screens.
Why the proximity sensor is not working properly
Before we take any drastic measures, it is worth understanding the nature of the malfunction. Xiaomi smartphones most often use infrared or ultrasonic sensors located at the top of the display, and their work can be disrupted due to trivial physical reasons, for example, a thick protective glass or improperly pasted film can block the sensitive area.
Also, the accuracy of readings is affected by software failures in the MIUI shell or HyperOS. After the system update, some settings may get lost, and background processes may start to conflict with the sensor drivers. In rare cases, the problem lies in the contamination of the speaker area where the sensor is hiding.
- 📱 Incorrectly selected protective glass that covers the sensory zone.
- 🧹 Accumulation of dust or fat in the area of the upper speaker.
- 🔄 Software failure after operating system update.
- 🛠️ Physical damage to the plume or module itself after falling.
If you notice that the screen goes out for no reason, try first to wipe the top of the case and remove the case. Often this helps to eliminate false positives without having to go into deep system settings.
⚠️ Warning: Before changing system settings, make sure that the device has no critical data that cannot be lost.While the methods described are safe, experimenting with the engineering menu always carries minimal risk.
Understanding the reason allows you to choose the right method of solution. If there's no codes that can help, you need to change the accessory. If the problem is software, then the following sections of the instructions will be useful to you.
Check and calibration through the engineering menu
The most reliable way to diagnose and try to fix sensor performance is to use the built-in CIT engineering menu, a special diagnostic tool available on all Xiaomi devices, where you can check the sensor response in real time and start automatic calibration.
To enter the diagnostic menu, you need to open the standard Phone app and type a special code, and once you enter the last digit, the menu will open automatically. You do not need to search for it in the settings, since this section is hidden from the average user.
In the list that opens, look for the Proximity sensor. Click on it to go to the test. Palm the top of the screen and remove it. If the numbers change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0), then the sensor is functional and responsive to obstacles. If the values do not change, calibration is required.
To calibrate, press the Calibration button at the bottom of the screen. Put your phone on a flat surface, making sure there's nothing above the sensor. Press OK and wait until the process is complete. The system will determine the base values and write them down in memory.
☑️ Checklist of sensor calibration
After successful calibration, be sure to restart your smartphone, which is necessary for the Android operating system to reread the new sensor parameters, which in most cases completely eliminates the problem of false positives.
Using Hidden Codes to Disable the Function
In some versions of MIUI firmware, it is possible to completely disable the proximity sensor through secret commands. This can be useful if you use a speakerphone or headset and the sensor is constantly intrusive. However, it is worth remembering that after turning off the screen will not go out when you hold the phone to your ear.
To access advanced settings, type ##86569726##. This command activates a hidden menu where you can control various sensors. If the code doesn't work, it's possible that your version of the shell doesn't support this feature or it's blocked by the operator.
In the menu that opens, find the item associated with Proximity and switch the switch to OFF or Disable. After that, the changes will take effect immediately. Check the screen performance during the incoming call to see if you have any results.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the proximity sensor means that during a conversation the screen will always burn.Be careful not to hit the reset or volume button with your cheek.
If the standard codes don't work, you can try an alternative method through the developer's settings, and you need to activate the developer mode by clicking 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section.
In the Developer menu, look for sensor-related options, sometimes you find a Disable proximity sensor or similar, and the options depend on the specific Redmi or Poco model and the Android version.
Configure through the Engineering menu (Engineer Mode)
If the built-in codes do not give the desired result, you can use third-party utilities or deeper settings of the engineering menu, available through the Internet. ADB or APK-However, for the average user, the safest way is to use the Engineering Mode app available in the Play Market.
Once you install the app, launch it and grant the necessary permissions. Find the Hardware Testing or Single Item Test section. Here's a complete list of all the components of your Xiaomi. We're again interested in the Proximity Sensor section.
Unlike the standard CIT-You can see the graph of the change in values in real time, and this helps you understand where the response is going.
| Parameter | Meaning in peace | Closing value | Action. |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS 0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | Norma. |
| PS 1 | 255.0 | 0.0 | Calibration required |
| PS 2 | 1023.0 | 0.0 | Sensor error |
| PS 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | Malfunction |
What do the values in the table mean?
Using third-party engineering menus allows you to bypass some of the limitations of standard firmware, but be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable operation of other functions of the phone.
Solving sensor problems in MIUI and HyperOS
The MIUI shells and the new HyperOS have their own sensor-based features. In recent versions of Android (12, 13, 14), Google changed the way it handles proximity events, causing a wave of problems for Xiaomi users, which could go out too early or not turn back on.
In the phone settings, there's often a separate point to control this sensor. Go to Settings → Apps → App settings → Phone. In some versions, there's a "Draw-up Sensor" switch. If you turn it off, the function will stop working in the call app.
Also, check the permissions for the Phone app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Permissions. Make sure the app has access to the necessary sensors, even though it’s usually system resolution and doesn’t turn off.
- 📞 Update the Phone and Google Play Services app through Play Market.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the "Phone" application in the application settings.
- 🔋 Turn off power saving for the call app so the system doesn't "kill" the sensor.
- 📲 Check if there is a third-party dialer installed that may conflict.
Often, the problem is solved by simply updating Google’s components, and because Xiaomi uses standard Google calls in global versions, they are responsible for processing the sensor signals.
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If you have a Chinese version of a smartphone with global firmware, the proximity sensor may not work properly due to hardware differences, and in such cases, the Global ROM helps.
Alternative methods and third-party applications
If the built-in tools fail to disable the sensor, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many utilities that can intercept the sensor's control. One popular solution is the Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix app.
So these programs allow you to force the sensor to calibrate or emulate the sensor, and you can set the sensitivity threshold manually, which is especially true for devices with non-standard protective glass.
Another method is the use of ADB-So if you connect the phone to a computer, you can type in a command to change the system variable:
adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0This command disables the sensor system handler. However, it does not work on all versions of Android and requires USB debugging enabled. Be careful when entering commands, as an error may lead to the need to reset settings.
⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party applications to manage system sensors requires broad permissions. Use only proven high-rated software to avoid violating data privacy.
Using third-party software is a last resort, and if none of the methods worked, it is likely that the problem is hardware in nature and requires replacing the module at the service center.
What to do if nothing helps
There are times when software methods are powerless, and if calibration, codes, and applications fail, you might want to think about the physical condition of the device, and maybe the sensor plume has moved away from the motherboard, or the sensor itself has failed.
In such cases, you can try resetting your phone to factory settings. This will delete all the data, so be sure to back up. Path to reset: Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all the data.
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If the sensor continues to work incorrectly after a complete reset and flashing, the problem is 99% hardware and requires a visit to the service center.
You should also pay attention to the temperature of the case, because when you get hot, the sensors can give you incorrect readings, and if the phone warms up during a conversation, try removing the case and reducing the load on the processor.
In conclusion, managing the proximity sensor on Xiaomi is a solvable task: Start with simple calibration through the engineering menu, then try hidden codes, and then resort to third-party software.