Xiaomi Mi 10T approximation sensor is not working well: how to fix

Owners of Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro smartphones often face an annoying problem: the screen goes out during a conversation, but does not light up when the phone moves away from the ear, or, conversely, the cheek constantly resets calls. This malfunction associated with the proximity sensor can turn ordinary communication into torture. The problem is not always a physical failure, often the fault of software calibration or design of the screen.

Modern smartphones use infrared sensors to detect the proximity of objects. In the Mi 10T, this component is hidden under the display, making it sensitive to the quality of protective glasses and software failures of the MIUI operating system. Understanding how it works will help you choose the right solution: software reset or go to the service.

Before you can get the device repaired, you should try a comprehensive diagnostics, calibration of the sensor through the engineering menu solves the problem 80% of the time. If the software methods are powerless, you may need to disassemble or replace the protective glass. Below we will discuss in detail all the steps of restoring the sensor.

Diagnostics and check of sensor performance

The first step is always to make sure you're accurate, and you don't have to wonder if the sensor is working, you better check it through the built-in tools, and the MIUI has a special engineering menu that allows you to test all the hardware components without installing third-party software, and that's the most reliable way to tell if the phone sees your hand.

To run the test, you need to enter a special code in the Phone app. Open the dial and enter the sequence ##6484##. The CIT menu will appear on the screen. Find the item "Proximity Sensor" or "Proximation Sensor" in the list. When you click on it, you will see the current readings.

If the numbers change (usually from 5.0 to 0.0 or vice versa, depending on the firmware version), then the sensor is physically functional, and the problem is the software calibration. If the readings do not change at all, the plume may have gone off or the sensor is out of order.

⚠️ Attention: If in the test CIT The sensor shows a constant zero or a maximum value without reacting to hand movements, there is a high probability of hardware damage.

Software calibration through the engineering menu

If the test shows that the sensor is responding to motions but is not doing it correctly in real life, a forced calibration is necessary. Android's standard settings do not allow you to reset sensitivity settings, so we will again turn to the hidden menu, which often helps after a firmware update, when the old settings conflict with the new software.

In the CIT menu, select "Proximity Sensor," and you'll see the Calibration button or manual control, and the process is this: remove all items from the top of the screen, press Calibrate, then close the sensor with your finger, and press the confirmation button again, and the system will record new trigger thresholds.

After a successful calibration, be sure to restart the device. A normal screen switch is not enough, you need a full restart cycle of the reboot system to write new parameters into permanent memory. If after the restart the problem persists, try calibrating 2-3 times in a row.

It's important to understand that calibration is not a panacea, and if you have a thick protective glass with a black frame covering the area of the sensor, no amount of software tweaking will make it work properly, and then only the replacement of the accessory will help.

Influence of protective glasses and accessories

The Xiaomi Mi 10T is designed to be very close to the top edge of the display, and many users buy cheap, wide-black-framed protective glass to protect the screen, which often overshadows the sensor's invisible eye, making the phone think it's always near the ear.

Check your accessory. If a black strip of glass enters or directly above the speaker area, that's the cause of the malfunction. The temporary solution may be to scrape the black layer of paint neatly over the sensor, but that will spoil the look. The best solution is to buy quality glass with a sensor cutout or a transparent film.

Also worth looking at are the cases. Some cases have a high side, which when it's tightly attached to the cheek can mechanically press on the sensor area or create a shadow. Take off the case and check the phone's performance in the "naked" form. If the problem is gone, then the accessory is poorly selected.

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When buying new glass for the Mi 10T, look for a “Case Friendly” label or make sure the glass has a special cutout at the top of the center.

Resetting and system update

Sometimes the problem lies in deep system errors MIUI. Accumulated cache of applications or conflict of system processes can block correct processing of signals from the sensor. Before resorting to radical measures, try to clear the cache of system applications responsible for the phone book and calls.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Phone app (or Calls), click Clear and select Clear Cache. Then do the same for the Mi Service app, as it often manages sensors. After that, reboot the device.

If simple methods don’t work, check for updates. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix hardware errors. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version. If an update is available, install it. In rare cases, a rollback to the previous firmware version helps if the problem appears after a fresh update.

In extreme cases, if nothing works, you can perform a full reset to factory settings. Remember that a full reset (Wipe Data) will delete all your photos, contacts and applications, so be sure to back up the data before starting the procedure. This is guaranteed to eliminate software conflict.

Hardware causes and module repairs

When software methods are exhausted and the protective glass has nothing to do with it, it remains to suspect "iron." In the Xiaomi Mi 10T, the proximity sensor is integrated into the display plume or located on a separate board under the screen.

Disassembling this smartphone on its own is highly discouraged without experience. The screen is glued around the perimeter, and you need heat and suction cups to open it. Sloppy movement can lead to a matrix crack or a plume damage, which will cost much more than repairing the sensor. If the phone is warranty, take it to an authorized center.

A common cause is also the oxidation of the contacts after moisture hits, and even if the phone didn't sink, high humidity or condensation could do the job, and the service center would do an ultrasound cleaning of the board and check the integrity of the multimetreome plumes.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to heat your phone with a hairdryer or put it on the battery to "dry" the sensor.This can damage the adhesive holding the screen and cause the display to dissect.

Alternative solutions and workarounds

If you can't repair it right now, and you need to call it, you can use workarounds, you can turn off the "Clock Against Accidental Presses" feature in your phone settings, or you can use the default speakerphone, which won't solve the problem, but it will make your phone more comfortable.

There are third-party apps from Google Play that force the proximity sensor to operate, that can ignore or amplify the sensor readings in certain scenarios, but these apps require permanent permissions and can consume battery.

Another option is to use a headset or Bluetooth connection, which is often a different way for the screen to behave, and the proximity sensor may not be as active as when you're talking, with your phone pressed to your cheek, which is a temporary solution, but it allows you to stay connected.

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If the sensor does not work after the glass is reset and replaced, the problem is 99% hardware: you need to replace the plume or display module in the service center.