How to turn off the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi 9, feature a variety of sensors designed to make it easier to interact with the device. One of these elements is the proximity sensor, which automatically turns off the screen during a conversation to prevent accidental cheek pressing.

For example, if you’re used to using a hands-free phone or headset, suddenly cancelling your display can interfere with call management or video viewing. There are also cases of incorrect calibration when the screen goes out without finding the phone near your ear. That’s why the question of how to turn off the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains relevant for owners looking for full control of their gadget.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to control this sensor, you will learn about standard settings, hidden engineering menus and specialized applications that will help solve the problem. It is important to understand that completely disabling the function carries certain risks, so you should approach the procedure consciously.

Why you might need to shut down the sensor

The sensor’s main function is to save battery power and protect against false touches. However, in off-label smartphone use scenarios, this feature becomes redundant. Users often look for a way to turn off the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 when using the device to listen to audiobooks or podcasts, holding the phone to the ear but wanting to see the time or status of the track on the screen.

Another common scenario is the use of third-party calling apps like WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram. In some versions of the MIUI shell, the integration of these applications with the system sensor works incorrectly, which causes the screen to go out in the middle of a video call, and the user has to constantly press the on button to return the image.

There are also technical reasons to interfere with the sensor, so if there is a crack in the upper speaker area or if there is a too thick protective film on the protective glass, the sensor may "think" that the phone is near the ear, even lying on the table, in which case a temporary shutdown or software sensitivity correction becomes the only way out before repair.

⚠️ Warning: A complete software shutdown of the sensor can cause the screen to not go out during normal voice calls, and this can cause random call resets, retention activation, or dialing numbers from the contact book with your cheek.

System settings and applications of the call

Before resorting to sophisticated methods, it is worth checking the standard operating system settings. In the MIUI shell installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 9, the control of the sensor is often hidden inside the Phone application. The algorithm of actions can vary depending on the firmware version (Global, EU or China), but the overall structure of the menu remains similar.

First, you need to open the Phone app and go to the settings menu, which is usually indicated by three dots or a gear, and here you should look for the "Incoming Calls" or "Call Settings" section. This is where the "Approximation Sensor" switch is often located. If the slider is active, it must be deactivated so that the screen stops responding to the approach of objects.

It’s worth noting that in recent Android and MIUI updates, developers sometimes remove the ability to directly disable this sensor from the user interface, considering it critical for security. If you don’t find the appropriate switch in the call menu, this means that your firmware version has hidden this option by default.

In some cases, cleaning the phone app data helps. This won’t delete your contacts, but will reset the call settings to factory ones, which can eliminate the software glitch causing false positives. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Phone → Memory → Clean.

Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration

If the standard methods fail to solve the problem, the engineering menu comes to the rescue - a hidden part of the system designed for testing equipment. Access to it on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is through a special code in the dialing application. Enter the command ##6484## or ##4636#. If the code does not work, your version of the firmware may block access, and you will need to install a special activator application.

Once you're on the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu, you'll need to find the Proximity Sensor test. In this section, you'll see the current sensor readings as numbers (usually 0.0 or 5.0). You'll see the change in values if you put your palm to the top of the phone. If you don't, you might need to calibrate.

The calibration process is as follows:

• 📱 Remove all items from the top of the screen and press the "Calibration" button).
• ✋ Close the sensor area (near the speaker) with your palm and wait for the process to be completed.
• ✅ After successful calibration, press "Pass" to save results.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.

It's important to understand that the engineering menu doesn't always allow you to completely turn off the sensor, but it allows you to reset the sensor, which often solves the problem of malfunction. If after calibration the screen continues to go out spontaneously, the problem can lie in the hardware or contamination of the sensor.

Third-party applications for sensor control

When MIUI system constraints fail, users turn to third-party software. There are many utilities in the Google Play store, such as Proximity Sensor Reset & Fix or Lesser AudioSwitch, that allow for more flexible control of sensor behavior. These applications often require enhanced access rights.

One popular strategy is to use applications that force the speaker to turn on when a conversation begins, and the logic is simple: if the speaker is activated, the proximity sensor is often ignored by the system and the screen remains on, a compromise that avoids screen blackout without deep interference.

Another method involves using automation applications such as Tasker or MacroDroid, which can create a macro: “If WhatsApp is running and a video call is going → disable the proximity sensor.” However, to implement such a scenario on Xiaomi Redmi 9, Root rights may be required, obtaining which voids the warranty and carries risks to data security.

⚠️ Warning: Install applications from unverified sources or request root rights can make your device vulnerable to malware.Always check developer ratings and reviews.

Table: Comparison of management practices

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a method comparison table that will help you assess the risks and effectiveness of each approach for your specific situation with the Xiaomi Redmi 9.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the best solution is a combination of call settings and calibration through the engineering menu, and root rights should only be resorted to in extreme cases when other methods have exhausted themselves.

Accessories and physical maintenance

Often the reason for the sensor malfunction is not software, but a physical obstacle. On the Xiaomi Redmi 9, the proximity sensor is located at the top of the screen, next to the speaker grid. Any pollution, greasy spots or improperly pasted protective film can block the infrared beam.

It is recommended to thoroughly wipe the top of the screen with microfiber using a special means to clean the displays. If you use a protective glass with a black frame, make sure that it does not cover the area of the sensor. In some cases, removing the case helps if its sides are too high and hang over the screen.

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Try removing the protective glass for 5 minutes and check the sensor, and if the problem is gone, replace the glass with a model with a cutout for the sensor or a smaller size.

It's also worth checking if there's cracks on the screen, and even a microscopic chip in the sensor area can scatter light and knock down the sensor readings, making the system think the phone is held to the ear, so that software shutdown becomes the only temporary solution.

Frequent problems and their solution

Xiaomi Redmi 9 users often experience sensor settings reset after a system update. If the screen starts to go out again without your knowledge, repeat the settings check procedure in the Phone app. Sometimes MIUI updates change the logic of the sensor, making it more sensitive.

Another common problem is sticking the sensor, and the screen goes out and doesn't light up even if you've removed the phone from your ear, and this is where you can just press the lock button for a short time or lock the screen through the side button and then unlock it, and if the problem happens often, you might need to reset to the factory settings.

⚠️ Warning: Hard Reset will completely delete all your data, photos and contacts. Be sure to back up the information before performing this procedure.

If nothing works and the sensor is chaotic, it may be a sign of a hardware breakdown, in which case software methods, including app installation and flashing, will be useless, and you need to go to a service center to replace the plume or the sensor module itself.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

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Proper calibration through the engineering menu solves 80% of the problems with false positives of the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 without the need to disable the function.