How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners experience screens that go out during a conversation or don’t turn off when you hold the device to your ear. Often the cause is a misfunction of the proximity sensor, which by default locks the display when objects are detected nearby. In some scenarios, such as using thick edged protective glasses or films, this sensor can behave unpredictably.

Disabling the screen lock function when talking may be necessary to make use of video calls, hands-free communication or specific applications. It is important to understand that the proximity sensor is a hardware module, and you can not programmatically turn it off completely, but you can turn off the system's response to its signals, this will solve the problem of accidental cheek pressing or fading screen in your pocket.

In this article, we will take a look at all the customization methods available, from standard menu switches to hidden engineering codes, how to fix software failures in the MIUI or HyperOS shell and when to think about replacing a part. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by software calibration or removal of the case, not by breaking the sensor itself.

Why users need to turn off the sensor

The main function of the proximity sensor is to save battery power and prevent accidental taps during a phone conversation, but in real life, this useful feature often becomes a source of irritation. For example, if you watch 360-degree video or use a navigator mounted in a car, the screen can go out if a foreign object is nearby.

Another common situation is the use of hands-free or bone conduction headsets, in which case the phone is lying on the table or in the pocket, but the system continues to poll the sensor. If the sensor is contaminated or closed, the screen can constantly turn on and off, consuming energy and interfering with the user, turning off the approach response solves these problems.

And this is also relevant for people who use their smartphones for specific tasks that require constant contact with the display, such as reading books in the dark or using the device as a digital photo frame, and locking the screen in such cases is absolutely unnecessary, but only interferes with the perception of content.

• 📱 Comfortable use of video without the risk of accidentally pressing “finish” with your cheek.
• 🔋 Reducing the number of false screen inclusions in your pocket or bag.
• 🎮 Comfort in games where the edges of the palms can overlap the top of the display.

It's worth noting that new versions of the HyperOS shell have redesigned the sensor algorithms, and now it's smarter to define the context of use, but the old bugs haven't gone away, so manual tuning remains relevant for many models.

⚠️ Attention: By disabling the proximity sensor, you risk accidentally pressing the reset button while talking, pressing your phone with your cheek.

Settings in the standard application "Phone"

The easiest and safest way to control screen response is directly in the caller. The standard Google Phone or MIUI app has a separate partition for incoming calls, and that's where you find the switch that locks the screen when you hold the device to your ear.

To access these settings, you need to open the app, click three dots in the corner of the screen (or menu button) and select Settings. Next, look for Incoming Calls. Here you will find the option "Accurrence Sensor"; if you switch it to an inactive state, the screen will stop turning off during a conversation.

However, if you have a modern version of MIUI installed, this item may be called differently or hidden. In some regions (e.g. Europe or Global), the interface may be different from Chinese firmware. If you didn't find one, it doesn't mean that the feature is not available - it may have been moved to another place or hidden by developers.

It's important to understand the difference between locking the screen and determining proximity. Even if you turn off screen blackout, the sensor can continue to work in the background for other applications. Completely ignoring sensor signals requires deeper intervention.

• 📞 Open the phone app on the home screen.
• ⚙️ Go to the settings menu (three dots or gears).
• 🔍 Find the section “Incoming calls” or “Call settings».
• ❌ Turn off the "approximation sensor" switch».

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note series), this switch may not be available in the stock firmware.

Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration

If you don't have the standard settings or the right item, the CIT comes to the rescue, and it's a hidden part of the system that's designed to diagnose hardware components, and you can not only check the sensor's performance, but also reset or calibrate it, which often solves the sticking problem.

In the Phone app, dial ##6484#. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT (Customer Information Test) menu will open. In the test list, you will find the "Proximity Sensor" or "Proximity Sensor" option.

Inside the test, you'll see a graph or numerical values. Close the top of the screen with your hand, the values should change. If there's no reaction, try clearing the area around the front camera. If the sensor is jerking, press Calibrate. Once you've finished, be sure to restart the device.

In some cases, especially after the display or glass has been replaced, a recalibration is required. The engineering menu may have a "Reset" or "Clear Calibration" button. Once pressed, the phone will ask you to remove all objects from the screen and confirm the reset, which returns factory-made sense settings.

Codes for entering the engineering menu:




- Standard: ##6484##




- Alternative: ##4636##




- For the old MIUI: ##3646633##

Remember, the engineering menu is a powerful tool. Don't change the settings in other sections unless you're sure what they're going to do. A miscalibration can cause the screen to stop responding to the approximation altogether, and you'll have to repeat the procedure again.

Hiding the cutout and program crutches

Smartphone owners with a Notch or camera hole often complain of false positives, and the sensor may perceive the edges of the cutout or protective film as an obstacle, in which case software hiding the area around the sensor helps.

In the screen settings, find the Notch hide option. Select the app that is experiencing problems (like Phone or messengers) and turn on the cover for it. The black bar around the camera will expand, blocking potential sources of interference for the proximity sensor.

There is also a method of using third-party apps from Google Play, such as Proximity Sensor Reset or Fix Proximity, which operate on the principle of constant background calibration, forcibly resetting the state of the sensor if it is stuck in the closed position.

Remember, software crutches can consume extra battery power. Locking apps constantly poll the sensor, keeping the processor from going into deep sleep, and only use them if the standard methods don't work.

Problems with protective glasses and covers

One of the most common but common causes of malfunction is the physical overlap of the sensor area: wide black-framed protective glass or improperly pasted hydrogel film can cover the sensitive element. Even a microscopic air bubble in the receiving area can cause random screen behavior.

Cases, especially thick ones or those with sidebars, can also get in the way. If you notice that the problem occurred after you bought a new accessory, try removing it and checking the sensor, and in some cases, gently wiping the top of the screen with an alcohol wipe to remove fatty traces helps.

If you use a universal glass that doesn't fit the cutout size, the situation gets worse: an infrared beam bounces off the inside of the glass and returns to the receiver, creating the illusion of a nearby object. The solution is one: replacing the accessory with a model specifically designed for your Xiaomi model.

• 🧼 Carefully wipe the top of the screen with a degreaser.
• 📱 Remove the cover and check the work without it.
• 👁️ Inspect the sensor area for bubbles under the film.
• 🔄 Replace the protective glass with a thinner or with the right cutouts.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use aggressive chemicals (acetone, solvents) to clean the screen.This can damage the oleophobic coating and the plastic lens of the sensor.

Resetting and radical measures

When software failures accumulate, neither calibration nor reboot helps, which may require a full reset of the phone’s settings (Hard Reset), which will return all system parameters to factory values, including the configuration of sensor drivers.

Before you reset, make sure to back up your data, and the process will completely delete all your photos, contacts, and apps, and once reset, the phone will look like new, and it's likely that the proximity sensor will work correctly if there's been a software conflict.

If, even after the device is completely reset and flashed, the sensor is not functioning properly, it is a physical failure, it can be a plume, oxidation of contacts or failure of the module itself, in which case the software methods are useless, and a visit to the service center is required.

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Before resetting, try simply restarting your phone in Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button, then hold your finger on the Turn off button on the screen for a long time. If the sensor is working in Safe Mode, the third-party app is to blame.

It is important to distinguish between a software glitch and a component dying. If the sensor has stopped responding fully (the numbers in the engineering menu do not change even when closed with the hand), the probability of hardware failure is extremely high, in such cases, disconnecting through the settings is the only temporary solution before repair.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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If software methods don't work within 10 minutes, it's probably a physical problem (dirt, film, breakdown) and don't waste time on endless reboots.