Approximation Sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10: how to turn on, configure and troubleshoot

Xiaomi Mi 10 is a flagship smartphone with advanced hardware, but even its owners sometimes face non-obvious problems. One of the most common is a failed proximity sensor, which prevents the screen from going out during a call or, conversely, accidentally turns off when watching a video. In this article, we will discuss how to properly activate the sensor, where to look for hidden settings in MIUI, and what to do if it works unpredictably.

Structurally, the proximity sensor on the Mi 10 is located at the top of the screen next to the front camera, and it's responsible for turning off the display when you hold the phone to your ear during a conversation, which saves battery power and prevents accidental taps. However, after MIUI updates or resets, the function may turn off, and we'll look at all the ways to restore it, including test menus and manual calibration.

Why you need a proximity sensor and how it works

The proximity sensor is an infrared sensor that detects the distance to an object (like your ear) and sends a signal to the system to turn off the screen. On the Xiaomi Mi 10, it is integrated into the top of the display and works in tandem with MIUI software.

• 📞 Automatically turn off the screen during a call (prevents cheek pressing)
• 🔋 Saving battery power (display is one of the main consumers of energy)
• 🎥 Preventing the accidental completion of video while viewing horizontally
• 🔒 Blocking random gestures (such as swipes in your pocket)

The sensor doesn’t work all the time, it only activates in certain scenarios: during a call, when using a speaker, or in some applications (for example, YouTube or Netflix), if the screen does not go out or, conversely, turns off for no reason, the problem can lie in both the hardware (sensor contamination) and in the software settings.

Check the operation of the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10

Before you set up the sensor, make sure it's functioning at all. There are several ways to do this:

1. Test call: Call another number (or use Air Mode + Wi-Fi Calling enabled) and hold the phone to your ear. The screen should go out in 1-2 seconds. If this does not happen, the sensor is inactive.
2. Manual check via engineering menu: Enter the code ##6484## in the Phone app, then select Proximity Sensor. Cover the sensor with your hand - the value should change from 5 (far) to 0 (close).
3. Third-party apps: Install the Sensor Test utility (available on Google Play) and check the sensor's response to the approach.

If the sensor does not respond to any of the tests, the problem may be:

• 🔧 Software failure (the following settings) MIUI)
• 📱 Sensor contamination (dust, protective glass, cover)
• 🔄 The old slate (especially for the MIUI 12 and below)
• 💥 Hardware failure (damage to the plume or the sensor itself)

💡

If the sensor reacts in the engineering menu but doesn’t work during the call, the problem is most likely in the phone app settings or conflict with the MIUI shell.

How to turn on the proximity sensor through the MIUI settings

In most cases, the sensor is turned off after you update the system or reset to factory settings, to activate it:

1. Open Settings → System → Additional → Special features → Approximation sensor.
2. Make sure the switch is in the position of On. If it is not, proceed to the next method.
3. Check the settings of the Phone application: Settings → Applications → Phone → Permissions → Sensors (there should be permission to access).

On some versions of MIUI 13/14, the proximity sensor may not be on the menu.

Enable Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Tap 7 times)

Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers

Find the Debugging item over USB and turn it on

Scroll down to Hardware Acceleration Block and turn on Approach Sensor

Reboot the phone.-->

Important: On the Xiaomi Mi 10 with MIUI Global Stable 14.0.4+ firmware, the proximity sensor is on by default, but may conflict with some shells (for example, POCO Launcher or Third-party Dialer). If after all the manipulations, the sensor does not work, try resetting the phone application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
2. Click Warehouse → Clear the data (this will delete the call history!).
3. Reset the device.

Calibration of the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10

If the sensor is unstable (for example, the screen goes off too early or, conversely, does not turn off), it must be calibrated.

1. Enter the phone code ##6484## (the engineering menu will open).
2. Select Proximity Sensor.
3. Look at the current values: 🔄 5 - The sensor is free (nothing is blocked) 🚫 0 - sensor is blocked (obstacle detected)

If the values do not change when approaching the hand, the sensor is defective or contaminated.

Calibrate

Reset

Some firmware may not have calibration, and resetting all sensor settings will help:

adb shell settings put system proximity_delay 1000

This command sets the sensor's delay to 1,000 ms (1 second). Connect the phone to a PC with the installed ADB-Drivers and execute commands in the terminal.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after turning on, the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Mi 10 can malfunction.

Special case: If the sensor stopped working after the phone fell or moisture got in, the problem is probably hardware.

• 🛠️ Check the integrity of the plume connecting the sensor to the motherboard.
• 💧 If your phone has been in contact with water, dry it in rice or silica gel for at least 24 hours.
• 📲 Contact Xiaomi Service Center – Self-repair can lead to loss of warranty.

💡

If the proximity sensor doesn't work in just one application (like Telegram or Viber), the problem isn't the hardware, it's the settings of the program. Try clearing the cache or reinstall it.

Hardware causes of sensor malfunction

If software methods fail, the problem may lie in physical damage to components. On the Xiaomi Mi 10, the proximity sensor is located next to the front camera and can fail for the following reasons:

• 💥 Hit or fall: Even a minor mechanical impact can displace the sensor or damage its contacts.
• 🌊 Moisture: oxidation of contacts leads to unstable operation of the sensor.
• 🔥 Overheating: If the phone gets hot frequently (such as during games), it can affect sensor sensitivity.
• 🛡️ Poor security glass: some glasses block the infrared signal of the sensor.

To diagnose a hardware malfunction:

1. Remove the cover and protective glass (if any) and check the sensor for reaction.
2. Light a flashlight on the sensor area – if it is contaminated, you will see dust or stains.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and check the sensor logs through ADB: adb shell dumpsys sensorservice Look for lines with proximity – if there are errors like No data, the sensor is faulty.

⚠️ WARNING: If you're unsure of your phone disassembly skills, don't try to clean the sensor yourself.On the Xiaomi Mi 10, it's soldered to a flexible plume, and careless movement can damage the camera or microphone.

Alternative ways to control the screen during a call

If the proximity sensor is not repairable, alternative screen locking methods can be used:

• 🔄 Gestures: Include Settings in settings → Lock screen → Gestures option Double touch to lock. During the call, just double tap the screen to turn it off.
• 📱 Power button: Teach yourself to press the lock button when you bring your phone to your ear.
• 🤖 Third-party applications: Utilities like Proximity Sensor Fix or Gravity Screen can emulate the sensor through an accelerometer.
• 🔧 Tasker: Set up automatic screen shutdown when you start the Phone app.

The downside of alternative methods is that they are less convenient than a standard sensor and can drain the battery faster, for example, Gravity Screen constantly uses an accelerometer, which increases power consumption by 5-10%.

⚠️ Attention: Apps for approximation sensor emulation require permission Special features that may pose security risks. Install them only from trusted sources (e.g. Google Play).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10