How to turn off the motion sensor on the Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where the screen goes out during a conversation, and you can not press the volume button or switch to speaker communication. This is due to the high sensitivity of the proximity sensor, which mistakenly takes the finger or edge of the case for an object in front of the face. In the MIUI and HyperOS interface, this sensor is often called a motion sensor, although technically it responds to the distance to the object.

Many users are looking for a way to completely deactivate this module so that the screen stays active all the time, but it is worth understanding that a complete shutdown at the software level without root rights is often impossible, since this is a system security feature. Instead, we will look at methods to disable related functions such as Pocket Mode and correct calibration methods that solve 90% of the problems with false positives.

There are several ways to solve the problem, from simple settings on the menu to using the engineering menu to test equipment. It is important to act consistently so as not to disrupt the work of other system processes. Below we will discuss each method in detail, explaining what a particular parameter is responsible for and how changing it will affect the performance of your Xiaomi smartphone.

Difference between proximity sensor and accelerometer

Before you make any changes to your settings, you need to be clear about which sensor you want to turn off. In everyday life, users often confuse the proximity sensor and the accelerometer. The first is located at the top of the screen, usually next to the speaker, and determines whether the phone is in your ear, which is the one that turns off the screen when you call.

The accelerometer, or motion sensor, is responsible for rotating the image as the device changes position in space and counting steps. If your goal is to prevent the screen from turning, you don't need this article, but to fix orientation in the notification curtain. We'll focus on the sensor that responds to the distance to the object, because it is the one that causes the main complaints on the blind screen.

Modern Xiaomi models use two types of sensors: hardware and virtual. Hardware have a separate window on the body, and virtual ones use part of the display matrix. Understanding the type of your sensor is important, because the calibration methods for them may differ. Virtual sensors are more susceptible to software failures that require resetting.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off the proximity sensor completely will keep the screen from going out during the call. You can accidentally hit the reset button with your cheek or activate voice dial. Use this feature with caution.

Disconnecting the pocket mode in MIUI

The most common source of problems is Pocket Mode, which is designed to block random taps when the phone is in your bag or pocket, but the MIUI shell algorithms are sometimes too aggressive, blocking the screen even when you lightly touch the top of the display.

To disable this feature, go to your phone's settings. You'll need to find a section related to screen locking or special features.The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same across all Xiaomi brand devices.

Find Pocket Mode and put the switch in an inactive position, which will prevent the system from responding to proximity sensor dimming as a signal that the phone is in your pocket. The screen will stop going out spontaneously, but the screen shutdown function during a conversation may remain active if it is tied to other system processes.

After the handheld mode is turned off, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to apply new configuration parameters and clear temporary files that may have caused conflicts in the operation of the sensors. If the problem persists, it is worth checking whether there is a third-party launcher installed that can intercept the control of the sensors.

Calibration of the sensor through the engineering menu

If a simple shutdown didn't work, it's likely that the sensor needs calibration. Over time or after the screen/glass has been changed, the sensor readings may get lost. There's a hidden engineering menu available through a standard dialer to get back to factory values.

Open the Phone app and enter a special code. For most Xiaomi devices, this is the character sequence that opens the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu. This menu provides a complete list of all the device modules where you can diagnose and configure.

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Once you enter the code, you'll see a list of tests, and you'll find the "Proximity sensor." You'll click on it. You'll see the current readings of the sensor. Ideally, when nothing is covering the top of the screen, it'll be 0.0 or 5.0 (depending on the type of sensor you have). If you close the sensor with your hand, the value should change.

To reset your settings, press the Calibrate button. The system automatically determines the current lighting and distance conditions, setting them as normal. After successful calibration, a success message will appear. If the test shows a constant value of "1" or "5" regardless of whether the sensor is closed or not, there may be a physical malfunction or contamination.

Settings of special features and gestures

In some versions of the firmware, the sensor settings are placed in the special features section, where you can find features that control the behavior of the screen when you bring the phone to your face, and disabling these options can solve the problem with the fading screen during calls.

Go to Advanced Settings or Advanced Settings, then select Special Options. Look for the subsection associated with the proximity sensor. There may be a switch on "Enable screen while you talk to your face." If your goal is to keep the screen on all the time, this feature needs to be deactivated.

You should also look at the gesture settings, and the "Raise to Wake" or "Double tap to turn on" feature uses the same motion sensors, and if they don't work properly, try turning them off temporarily to check if the problem is systemic for all motion sensors at once.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling features in the Special Features section can affect the usability of the phone with one hand.Weigh the need to disable each option separately.

Influence of protective glasses and covers

Often, the cause of a buggy sensor is not software, but physical accessories. Poor security glasses can overlap the sensor area, especially if they are black-framed or mis-painted, in which case the phone "thinks" that it is constantly in front of the object.

Check if your protective glass or film covers the top of the display above the speaker. If the sensor is virtual (located below the screen), any thickening or dirt in that area will distort the readings. Wipe the screen with a soft cloth and make sure there are no air bubbles or glue in the sensor area.

Thick cases with high sides can also cause interference. When you hold the phone to your ear, the edge of the case can cover the sensor earlier than necessary. Remove the case and check the sensor in its pure form. If the problem has disappeared, consider replacing the accessory with a thinner one or with a cutout under the sensor.

Table of sensor types in Xiaomi

Understanding the type of sensor you have in your device will help you choose the right strategy to solve the problem. Different models use different technologies, and the approach to their setting can be made by the user.

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As you can see from the table, virtual sensor owners should be more careful when choosing security glasses. Hardware sensors are more reliable, but they are susceptible to contamination of the window itself. In any case, software calibration often helps to correct small errors in the operation of any type.

Use of third-party applications

If MIUI doesn't allow you to flexibly adjust the sensor's behavior, apps from the Google Play Store come to the rescue. There are utilities that allow you to force the proximity sensor to turn off or reassign its functions. One popular solution is the Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix app.

These programs can run in the background and intercept sensor signals, ignoring them at will. However, using third-party software requires broad permissions, which can affect the autonomy of the device.

Before installing any software, carefully read reviews and check compatibility with your version of Android. Remember that interfering with system sensors through third-party code always carries risks of unstable phone operation. Use this method only if the official settings have not worked.

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Before installing third-party sensor apps, make a full data backup to be able to roll back changes in the event of a system failure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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In most cases, the problem is solved by disabling the “Pocket mode” and cleaning the top of the screen from contamination, radical measures are rarely required.