How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi with MIUI 12:3 proven methods

The proximity sensor in Xiaomi smartphones is responsible for automatically turning off the screen during a phone conversation when the device is held up to the ear. However, not all users are happy with its work: someone faces false positives, someone wants to manually control the screen during calls, and some just want to test alternative use cases. In the firmware of MIUI 12, the process of turning off this sensor has its own nuances - especially when compared with newer versions of the shell.

In this article, we will analyze three working methods for deactivating the proximity sensor: through standard system settings, using the ADB-And there's a hidden engineering menu, and each method is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, risk warnings, and troubleshooting tips. 10T or another model MIUI 12, here you will find the actual solution.

Why turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi?

At first glance, the automatic screen shutdown feature seems useful, but in practice it is often annoying, and here are the most common reasons why users want to deactivate it:

• 📵 False positives: The sensor responds to random objects (such as a case or fingers) by blocking the screen while watching videos or games.
• 🔇 Sound problems: when talking on speakerphone, the screen goes out, and it has to be returned manually, which interrupts the conversation.
• 🔧 Testing or development: Some applications (e.g., screen recording) conflict with the sensor.
• 🛠️ Sensor malfunction: If it is broken, the screen can blink or shut down at inappropriate moments.

It is important to understand that turning off the proximity sensor does not affect the performance of other sensors (for example, a gyroscope or accelerometer), but can cause inconvenience when traditional calls are made, for example, the screen will remain active during a conversation, which increases the risk of accidental pressing of the cheek or ear.

Method 1: Disconnecting through standard MIUI 12 settings

The easiest way is to take advantage of the built-in options, and unfortunately, MIUI 12 doesn't have a direct proximity sensor setting, but you can get around it through the feature menu.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Special Features (may be called Additional Features on some models).
3. Select Physical buttons and gestures or System settings (depending on the model).
4. Find the option Automatically turn off the screen during the call and turn it off.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter your Phone and select the standard call app.
3. Go to Permissions and find the resolution of the Body Sensors (or Sensor).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 NFC) Turning off the sensor through settings can cause the screen to be constantly active during calls, even if you put the phone to your ear.This is normal behavior, but it increases battery consumption.

Method 2: Use of the ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If standard settings don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and executing several commands.

Before you start, make sure that:

• 🖥️ Drivers are installed on the computer ADB and platform-tools.
• 📱 On the smartphone included debugging on USB (Path: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 You have the original. USB-cable (not all cables support data transmission).

Now, follow the following steps:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission on the phone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices Wait for the serial number of your device to appear.
4. Execute the command to disable the proximity sensor: adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 1
5. Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

To get it back, use the command:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 0

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If the command fails, try the alternative: adb shell settings put secure. proximity_sensor_calibration 0,0:0,0:0,0:0,0. This will reset the sensor's calibration, but won't shut it down completely.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If after executing commands, the smartphone begins to behave unstable (for example, spontaneously restart), reset the settings through Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Method 3: Engineering menu (hidden settings)

Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden engineering menu where you can test and disable sensors, a method that is suitable for models based on Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T).

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## (some models may run ##36446337##).
2. You will be placed in the Manual Test or Hardware Testing menu.
3. Find the Proximity Sensor and tap it.
4. In the window that opens, you will see the current state of the sensor (for example, Far: 5.0cm or Near: 0cm).
5. To turn off the sensor, press and hold the Disable button (if any) or enter the Disable Sensor command (on some firmware).

If there is no switch, you can try recalibrating:

1. In the sensor menu, press Calibrate or Reset.
2. Place your phone on a flat surface and wait for the process to be completed.
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Changes in the engineering menu may cause other sensors to work incorrectly (e.g., light or accelerometer). If after manipulations the screen began to behave strangely (flicker, spontaneously rotate), reset the sensor settings through the same menu or restart the phone.

Diagnostics of approximation sensor faults

Before you turn off the sensor, make sure it's not a hardware malfunction.

1. Enter ##6484## and select Proximity Sensor.
2. Cover the top of the screen (where the sensor is located) with your hand. The Near: 0cm message should appear on the screen.
3. Remove your hand and it should be Far: 5.0cm (or similar).

If the sensor is not responding:

• 🧹 Clean the sensor area of dust and dirt (use a soft brush or compressed air).
• 🛠️ Check the integrity of the security glass – sometimes it blocks the infrared signal.
• 🔄 Reset the sensor settings through the engineering menu (see previous section).
• 🔧 Update the firmware - in some versions MIUI 12 were sensor bugs.

If the sensor is still not working, you may need to replace the module. In Xiaomi service centers, this procedure costs from 800 to 1500 rubles (depending on the model).

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If the proximity sensor is broken, turning it off will not solve the problem of spontaneously turning off the screen, in which case repair or replacement of the sensor is required.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off the proximity sensor, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

Another common mistake is the confusion between the proximity sensor and the light sensor, and these sensors are located next to each other, and sometimes the problems of one are mistakenly attributed to the other.

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If the proximity sensor continues to malfunction after all the manipulations, it may be the firmware that helps flashing through Fastboot or Recovery, but it is a risky process, because if it is wrong, the phone can turn into a brick.

Alternative solutions: if you can not turn off the sensor

On some Xiaomi models (especially custom firmware) the proximity sensor cannot be turned off, in which case you can use workarounds:

• 📱 Use a headset: with connected headphones, the proximity sensor is not activated.
• 🔊 Turn on speaker before the conversation begins – the screen will remain active.
• 🛡️ Install a third-party sensor management app, such as Sensor Disabler (requires root) Hardware Info (for diagnostics)
• 🔄 Update the firmware to MIUI 13/14 — In new versions, additional sensor settings have appeared.

If you use Xiaomi with root rights, you can remove the system application responsible for processing the sensor, but this is an extreme measure – without it, some functions may stop working (for example, automatic volume control during a call).

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Third-party sensor management applications often require root rights; without them, their functionality is limited, and some may contain malicious code; download programs only from official sources (Google Play, APKMirror).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions