How to turn on the proximity sensor on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with many sensors that make the use of the gadget comfortable and safe. One of the most important elements is the sensor responsible for the response of the screen to the approach of objects, such as your face during a phone conversation. If this mechanism works improperly, the screen may go out prematurely or, conversely, not turn off, which leads to accidental cheek pressing and interruption of the call.

Device owners often face a situation where the sensor is simply disabled software or its calibration data is down, which can occur after a fall, a change in the display or a failed system update. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to turn on the proximity sensor on Xiaomi, conduct accurate calibration and eliminate software conflicts that interfere with normal operation.

Before we get to the tricky part, it's worth checking the basic settings, because that's where the problem often lies. We'll look at standard MIUI menus, hidden engineering tests, and hardware diagnostics. Understanding how this component works will help you quickly get your phone back to working order without going to a service center.

Principle of operation and location of the sensor

The proximity sensor is an infrared emitter and receiver located at the top of a smartphone, usually hidden under the display glass or in a narrow frame above the screen, its task is to record the distance to the object. When you hold the phone to the ear while you talk, the sensor sends a signal to the system, and the display goes out, blocking the touchscreen, which prevents random action with your cheek or ear.

Xiaomi and Redmi use two main types of sensors: the classic infrared and virtual. The virtual sensor, often found in low-end models with a droplet or cutout, uses artificial intelligence algorithms and accelerometer data to lock the screen, and these models often complain of locking problems, as the software can work unstable.

⚠️ Note: If you have a virtual sensor installed on your phone, physical cleaning of the speaker area will not help. In this case, the problem is solved only by software calibration or firmware updates.

The correct operation depends on the purity of the protective glass and the absence of films that overlap the sensor area. Even a small scratch or thick protective glass can distort infrared radiation, leading to false positives. So before setting up, make sure that the top of the screen is completely clean.

Checking the basic system settings

The first step is to check the call settings, and there's a separate switch in the MIUI and HyperOS shell that activates the lock function of the screen when you talk, and if it's off, the sensor is physically functional, but the system ignores the signal.

To check, go to the Phone app (green handset). Click on the three dots or gear in the corner of the screen to open the settings menu. Find Incoming calls or Call Settings. The Approximation Sensor switch should be active here. If the slider is grey, turn it on.

• 📱 Open the standard "Phone" application on the home screen.
• ⚙️ Go to the settings menu (three dots or gears).
• 🔍 Find the "Incoming Calls" or "Additional Settings" section".
• ✅ Make sure the proximity sensor switch is lit blue.

Sometimes, after updating the system, the settings may get lost. If the switch is already on, try turning it off, restarting the device and turning it on again. This action updates the system configuration file responsible for the equipment survey.

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Before changing your settings, make sure that your phone does not have a third-party caller program (like Google Phone) installed that could conflict with Xiaomi’s standard “caller.”

Calibration through the Engineering Menu

If standard settings don't work, you need to calibrate, which is a process where you train the system to understand what is near and far, and Xiaomi has a hidden CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu to do that.

Open the Phone app and enter the universal code ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the hardware testing menu will open. Find Proximity Sensor or Approximation Sensor on the list. A black field with numbers will appear on the screen.

⚠️ Note: In the engineering menu, do not press the "Clear Data" or "Wipe" buttons if you are not sure about your actions.

The essence of calibration is simple: close the top of the screen with your palm (simulate conversation). The numbers should change, usually from 5.0 to 0.0, and the background color turn green. Remove your hand - the numbers should return to the original value, and the background should turn red or white. If there is no reaction, press the Calibration button and repeat the procedure several times.

After successful calibration, be sure to restart your smartphone, and the system will apply new sensitivity factors, which in most cases solves the problem of a dead sensor after replacing the display.

Diagnostics through the Mi Test application

An alternative way to check and configure is to use the built-in Mi Test (or CIT) application, which is often pre-installed or available through the About Phone menu, and allows for a comprehensive check of all the device modules.

Run the app and select the Proximity Sensor test, you'll be asked to close the screen with your hand, and the test is confirmed with a green plaque and a beep, and if the test fails, the system can offer automatic recalibration.

It's important to understand the difference between the values. If the sensor is stuck in 0.0, the screen will be permanently black, and you can't use the phone. If it's stuck on 5.0, the screen won't go out when you talk.

Removing hardware problems and pollution

Often software methods are powerless against the banal dirt. Dust, finger fat, or residues of glue from protective glass can block IR radiation. Carefully wipe the top of the screen with a microfiber slightly moistened in an alcohol solution.

If you've recently changed a display or glass, the problem may be that you don't build the right one, the wizard may have forgotten to plug the sensor plume or put it curved, and in these cases, the pressure on the frame can temporarily restore contact, which suggests that you need to re-disassemble.

• 🧹 Carefully clean the area of the speaker.
• 🛡️ Remove the protective glass if it covers the sensor.
• 🔌 Check the density of the plume fit (for advanced users).
• 💡 Make sure there is no mechanical damage to the body.

It's also worth checking if the phone has a black-framed smart glass, some cheap glass has an opaque edge that physically covers the sensor, and take the glass off and check the sensor.

Resetting and software update

If nothing works, you may have built up configuration errors, resetting all settings to the factory (Hard Reset) often brings the sensor back to life, and before that, make sure to back up the data to the Mi Cloud cloud or to your computer.

Go to Settings → Phone → Settings Reset. Select "Erase all data." Once back to factory, the sensor should work correctly. If the problem is left even on clean software, there is a high probability of hardware failure.

Also check for system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix sensors. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click "Check Updates."

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If resetting and flashing didn’t help, and in the engineering menu the sensor shows constant errors, most likely, a replacement of the sensor module or plume is required.

In some cases, rolling back to the previous firmware version helps if the problem occurred after the update, but it is a complex procedure that requires an unlocked bootloader and a computer.