Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is a popular smartphone with a powerful filling, but sometimes users face a problem: during a call, the screen does not go out when approaching the ear. This means that the proximity sensor is either turned off or is not working correctly, 90% of the time the problem is solved software - without going to the service center.
In this article, you will find 4 proven ways to turn on the proximity sensor on the Redmi Note 10 Pro (including the m1803e7sg and m1803e7si models), as well as instructions for troubleshooting. We will analyze the MIUI settings, hidden menus and alternative activation methods. If after all the manipulations, the sensor does not work, at the end of the article there is a checklist for hardware problems.
What is a proximity sensor and why you need it
The proximity sensor is an infrared sensor located at the top of the screen next to the speaker, and its primary function is to detect when you bring the phone to your ear while you're talking. When it's triggered, the sensor sends a signal to the system, and the screen automatically shuts down to prevent accidental tapping.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro uses a sensor model STK3311 (or similar), which operates at a distance of up to 5 cm If it is turned off or broken, you will face the following problems:
- 📱 The screen does not go out during the call, which is why you accidentally press the buttons with your cheek or ear.
- 🔋 The battery is quickly down – the system constantly interrogates the inactive sensor.
- 🔊 The sound switches to the speaker instead of the spoken one, even when the phone is pressed to the ear.
- 🛠️ In some cases, the sensor is triggered falsely, blocking the screen for no reason.
On MIUI 12/13/14, the proximity sensor is turned on by default, but it depends on several parameters: call settings, energy saving, and even the shell, for example, after updating the firmware or resetting to factory settings, it can turn off.
Method 1: Enabling the sensor through MIUI settings
The easiest method is to check the phone's settings. There is no separate proximity sensor switch in MIUI, but it depends on the call parameters and special features.
Follow the instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Special Access.
- Go to the Body Sensors (or Physical Sensors in older versions of MIUI).
- Make sure that the Approach Sensor slider is active (if it is in your firmware version).
If there is no such item, try an alternative path:
- 📞 Open the Settings. → Calls.
- 🔍 Check if Autolock screen is enabled during the call (can be called Smart Lock).
- 🔄 If the option is disabled, activate it and restart the phone.
Make sure the sensor is not locked in Special Access
Enable "Screen Autolock" in call settings
Reboot your phone after the changes
Check the operation of the sensor with a test call-->
If after these actions the sensor still does not work, proceed to the next method.
Method 2: Activate through the engineering menu (code ##6484##)
The engineering menu is a hidden section with advanced sensor, network and hardware settings. On the Redmi Note 10 Pro, it can be opened with special code. Careful: don't change the settings unless you're sure they're there!
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##6484## (some firmware may run ##4636##).
- Select Proximity Sensor (Proximity Sensor).
- Check the current value. If the sensor is working, when you approach the top of the screen, the numbers should change from 5 (far) to 0 (close).
- If the sensor does not respond, press Calibrate and follow the instructions.
On some versions of MIUI, the engineering menu may be blocked.
- 🔧 Install the app MTK Engineering Mode from Google Play (MediaTek processors only).
- 📱 Or use Activity Launcher to manually open hidden settings.
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unnecessarily.Incorrect settings can lead to network loss, overheating or even a device blink.
Method 3: Reset sensor settings via Safe Mode
If the proximity sensor stopped working after installing the application or updating, the problem may be a software conflict, in which case Safe Mode (Safe Mode), where only system applications run, will help.
How to run Safe Mode on Redmi Note 10 Pro:
- Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
- Press and hold the "Switch off (or turn off power)" item for about 3 seconds.
- Confirm the transition to Safe Mode (the screen will appear the inscription Safe Mode at the bottom).
In safe mode:
- 🔄 Check the operation of the sensor with a test call.
- 📱 If the sensor is running, there's a problem in one of the apps installed.
- 🔧 If the sensor does not work, reset the settings (see the following method).
To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your phone.
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If the sensor is running in Safe Mode but not working normally, one of the apps is to blame: Start by removing programs that interact with calls (e.g. recording conversations, spam blockers).
Method 4: Completely reset your settings (if nothing helps)
If previous methods didn't work, the last option is to reset to factory settings, which will delete all data from the phone, so back up first.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → The phone.
- Select Backup and Reset → Resetting.
- Click Erase all data and confirm the action.
- After the reboot, set the phone up as new and check the sensor.
If even after reset, the sensor doesn't work, it's probably hardware.
- 🔍 Check if there is any physical damage to the top of the screen (cracks, chips).
- 🛠️ Contact the diagnostic service center, the sensor plume may have broken or it may have failed.
⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the proximity sensor is integrated into one module with light and color sensor. If only the approximation is not working, and the avtobrightness is functioning, the problem is precisely software. If all the sensors are not working, it is a hardware malfunction.
How to check the proximity sensor without a call
You don't have to call a friend to test the sensor. There are several ways to test it without it. SIM-map:
| Method | Instructions | What's going to happen |
|---|---|---|
| Test call | Type ##4636## → Phone Information → Perform the ping test. | The screen should go out when the hand is approaching. |
| Sensor Test Application | Install from Google Play and open the Proximity tab. | The graph should show the change in values when approaching / distance. |
| Manual check | Raise your hand to the top of the screen during the call (you can use Skype or WhatsApp). | The screen goes out in 1-2 seconds. |
| ADB-team | Connect your phone to your PC and do:adb shell dumpsys sensorservice | In the output, look for the proximity bar with the current status. |
If the sensor does not respond to any of the tests, but in the engineering menu shows changes - the problem may be in the firmware or the core of MIUI. Try to upgrade the phone to the latest version.
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If the proximity sensor doesn’t work only in a particular app (like WhatsApp), but it works in a standard call, the problem is with the settings of that app, not the sensor itself.
Frequent causes of proximity sensor failure
On the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the proximity sensor may stop working for the following reasons:
- 📱 Software failure after update MIUI (Especially when switching from 12 to 13).
- 🔧 Conflict of applications blocking access to sensors (antiviruses, optimizers).
- 🛠️ Physical injury after falling or getting moisture.
- 🔋 Energy-saving mode that turns off sensors to save charge.
- 📦 Incorrect firmware (e.g., ported Global) ROM Chinese version).
If you've recently installed custom software or obtained root rights, the sensor might have shut down because of a change in system files, and then just flashing it will help.
Another common cause is sensor contamination, and over time, dust can enter the gap between the screen and the body that blocks the infrared signal, and gently wipe the top of the screen with a soft wipe (do not use alcohol or abrasive materials!).