Approximation Sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10T: where is it, how to check and clean

Why you need a proximity sensor and why it fails

The proximity sensor in the Xiaomi Mi 10T is a small but critical element that automatically shuts down the screen during a phone call. When you hold your smartphone to your ear, the sensor picks up the obstacle and extinguishes the display, preventing accidental taps and saving battery power. However, over time, this module can start to fail: the screen does not go out when you call, reacts with a delay or, conversely, shuts down for no reason.

The Mi 10T's proximity sensor malfunctions fall into two categories: software and hardware. The first is to blame for firmware failures, application conflicts, or misconfiguration. The second is physical contamination of the sensor (dust, greasy prints), damage to the plume or failure of the sensor itself. The most common problem is that the sensor is located on the front panel, and its hole is gradually clogged with particles from the air or cosmetics.

Before you take your phone to the service center, you should check the sensor itself, and 80 percent of the time, it's a simple cleaning or resetting, but you need to know exactly where the proximity sensor is on the Xiaomi Mi 10T, which is not obvious, especially for beginners.

The exact location of the proximity sensor on the Mi 10T: diagram and photo

In the Xiaomi Mi 10T, the proximity sensor is integrated into the top of the front panel, next to the speaker of the talking device, specifically, it is under the protective grid to the right of the selfie camera (when you look at the phone screen with your face), visually it is not visible - only a small hole with a diameter of ~ 1 mm, through which the infrared signal passes.

To make it easier to navigate, imagine the top bezel of the Mi 10T screen as a horizontal line. From left to right, there are:

• 📸 Front camera (in the screen cutout)
• 🔊 Conversational speaker (under the protective grid)
• 👁️ Approximate sensor (far right hole under the grid)
• 💡 Light sensor (near the proximity sensor, but slightly to the left)

The photos below show the exact location (clickable to zoom in):

Note: Some Mi 10T Pro or regional versions may have slightly different locations, but the sensor is always to the right of the speaker.

How to check the operation of the proximity sensor: 3 working methods

Before you take your phone apart or bring it into service, make sure the sensor is the problem. Here are three reliable diagnostic methods:

1. Test through the engineering menu

The most accurate way is to use Xiaomi’s hidden engineering menu.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Dial ##6484## (or #4636## for older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor.
4. Put your hand up to the top of the screen, and if the sensor is working, it will show a value of 0 (obstacle detected) or 1 (no obstruction).

2. Verification through the annex

If the engineering menu is not available, install the Phone Doctor Plus or CPU-Z utility from Google Play. In the Sensors section, find Proximity and test the sensor response to the approach of the hand.

3.A visual test during a call

Call another phone and watch the screen:

• 📞 When lifted to the ear, the screen should go out after 1-2 seconds.
• 🔄 When you are away from the face, immediately turn on.
• ⏱️ If the delay exceeds 3 seconds or the screen flashes, the sensor is faulty.

⚠️ Warning: If the sensor doesn't respond to any of the tests, but the engineering menu shows up as "working," the problem may be the firmware. Try resetting the phone to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

Step-by-step: how to clean the proximity sensor on the Mi 10T

In 90 percent of cases, the sensor stops working because of the contamination of the hole, and it takes 5 minutes to clean and doesn't require the phone to be disassembled.

• 🧴 Alcohol wipes (or cotton swab) + isopropyl alcohol 70%+).
• 💨 Compressed air cylinder (optional).
• 🔍 Lupe or flashlight (for accuracy).
• 🧲 Plastic spatula or toothpick (not metallic!).

Step 1. Turn off the phone - this will prevent accidental taps and short circuits.

Step 2. Carefully put the safety net over the speaker. It's attached to double-sided tape, so use a plastic spatula. Don't make an effort. The mesh is fragile!

Step 3. Clean the sensor hole:

• Wet the cotton swab in alcohol and in circular movements clean the area around the sensor.
• If dirt is visible inside the hole, use a toothpick (wrapped with a wet wipe) for careful cleaning.
• Blow the hole with compressed air (hold the balloon vertically so as not to freeze the sensor!).

Step 4: Check the result - turn on the phone and test the sensor (see section above). If the problem persists, repeat the cleaning or contact the service.

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Do not use cotton wool without alcohol for cleaning, its fibers can remain inside the hole and aggravate the problem, it is optimal to take microfiber wipes for optics or special cleaning sticks for electronics.

Frequent cleaning errors and how to avoid them

Many users, in an attempt to clean the proximity sensor on the Mi 10T, make critical errors that cause failure.

⚠️ If after cleaning the sensor has ceased to react completely (in the engineering menu shows the sensor). -- or N/A), You probably have damaged the plume, and that would require disassembling the phone and replacing the flexible cable, which is best left to the professionals.

Another common problem is sensor entanglement, and the Mi 10T has a light sensor next to the proximity sensor, and they look similar, but they do different things. If you accidentally close the light sensor with a sticker, for example, the automatic brightness control of the screen will start to fail to distinguish them:

• 👁️ Approximation sensor - right hole, responds to obstacles.
• 💡 Light sensor - left hole, reacts to light.

Software glitches: how to recalibrate the sensor without disassembling the phone

If the sensor is physically clean but not working properly (e.g., it works over a time), the problem may be software calibration. Xiaomi has provided a hidden sensor reset feature, but it is not available in all versions of MIUI.

Try the following methods:

1.Dumping through the engineering menu

Open the engineering menu (code ##6484##) and do:

1. Go to Hardware Testing → Sensor → Proximity Sensor.
2. Press Calibration (if you have a button).
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually hold and remove your hand 3 times).

2. Firmware update

Sensor failures are often fixed in newer versions of MIUI. Check for updates:

Settings → About the phone → System update

If a new firmware is available, install it and restart the phone.

3. Reset all settings

Last resort, if other methods have not helped:

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Reset all settings

⚠️ Warning: This will delete all your data, including photos and apps. pre-backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

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If the proximity sensor on the Mi 10T stopped working after the phone fell or moisture hit, software methods will not help - physical repairs (sensor or plume replacement) are required.

When it’s time to bring your phone to the service: signs of serious breakdowns

Not all proximity sensor problems are solved by cleaning or flashing, but there are symptoms that indicate hardware malfunctions that require specialist intervention:

• 🚨 The sensor is not defined in the engineering menu (N/A or --).
• 🔌 The screen goes out arbitrarily, even without calls (possibly damaged plume).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water or was subjected to severe humidity (oxidation of contacts).
• 🔧 After disassembling the phone, the sensor stopped working (probably not connected to the plume).
• 🔥 Artifacts or stripes appear on the screen when the hand is approached (display problem).

The cost of repairing the proximity sensor on the Xiaomi Mi 10T in service centers varies:

⚠️ Note: If you decide to replace the sensor yourself, consider that the Mi 10T It's soldered to a flexible display plume, and it requires a soldering station and microelectronics experience to replace it, and without the skills, you risk damaging the display array, which will cost 5 to 10 times more.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Mi 10T