The proximity sensor is an important part of a smartphone, without which it is impossible to have a comfortable phone conversation or a moderate screen brightness. But unfortunately, this sensor sometimes begins to work incorrectly. Therefore, many are interested in how to calibrate the proximity sensor on Xiaomi, returning it to its normal working state.
What is the proximity sensor?
You’ve probably noticed that during a call, the screen turns off completely and does not respond to accidental taps and touches. Thus, the user will not turn off the ear of the current call, open the keypad or go on speakerphone. This is very convenient. In addition, when the display is turned off, the battery is significantly saved.
This uncomplicated feature is called a proximity sensor. The sensor detects the physical proximity of the device to any object, and the screen automatically fades.
But where is the proximity sensor, and what is it? You can notice the detail on the device’s front panel near the front camera. It looks like a small round element.
Pre-check the sensor
If you notice that the sensor does not work correctly, do not immediately conduct a calibration. It may be disconnected. Below you will find some tips to help you determine the activity of the option and set it correctly.
Enabling the proximity sensor
- First, we go into “Calls”. In the lower-left corner, there will be “three bars”. Click on them.
- We are redirected to the standard page with all the items for detailed configuration. Click on the section “Incoming calls”.
- Now, look at the inscription “Proximity Sensor”. Is the slider blue? It means that the function is activated, and the sensor does not work for other reasons. If the slider is gray, move it to the “On” mode.
Disabling pocket lock function
The proximity sensor also prevents unwanted presses in your pocket or bag. This feature is certainly very useful, but sometimes it doesn’t work properly.
If the sensor is functioning intermittently, try disabling the lock in your pocket. To do this:
- Find the “Settings” icon on the home screen, launch the menu;
- Go to the “System and Device” section, where you click “Lock and Protect.”
- Next, go to “Advanced Settings”. And here, we move the slider to the mode “Off” opposite the inscription “In the pocket”. Done.
Disabling the accidental press prevention feature
Here, the situation is almost similar. The screen goes out when the sensor does not detect the arrival of light. For example, in the same pocket, the display will not function.
But sometimes, even in the owner’s hand, the phone does not respond to touch, and Face ID does not work. In such situations, it is necessary to disable the function. To do this, you need to:
- Go to Settings and visit “Lock screen and password”;
- Go down to the “Advanced” tab;
- And uncheck the “Prevent accidental presses” section.
Please note! The sequence of items may vary slightly depending on MIUI version and phone model.
Instructions for calibrating the proximity sensor on Xiaomi
If the above steps did not have any result, there is only one way out – calibration of the proximity sensor (light). On Xiaomi smartphones, this is a fairly quick and simple procedure, but still, be careful.
Entering the engineering menu
First, you must get into the menu through which the calibration is carried out. So we take the phone, open “Calls” and dial the following key combination without quotes and dots: * #*#6484#*#*.
We do not press the call button because the menu opens automatically. A page with the name hardware test should appear on the screen in seconds.
Let’s test the light and distance sensor
In the window that appears, pay attention to “Light Sensor” and “Distance Sensor”. In turn, go to each tab, following the instructions on the screen. Namely:
- Cover the phone’s front panel with your hand, bringing your palm close and moving it away several times.
- Just below the text in the gray background marked the value 0.0. We look there. The zeros will change to another number if everything is OK with the sensor. If there is no change, the sensor is defective and needs calibration.
- Now let’s move to the distance sensor: press the “Calibration” button.
What to do if calibration didn’t work
Proximity sensor does not work even after calibration? This is already a red flag, reporting a serious malfunction. Below you will find some tips that may be relevant in such a situation.
Resetting the settings
The first thing to do if calibration doesn’t work is to perform a factory reset. Unfortunately, this option doesn’t always work, but it’s worth trying as a precaution.
To avoid losing important data, backup before starting the operation. Also, transfer the necessary materials to a safe place (computer or external storage).
Authentication
Are you sure that you own a real smartphone from Xiaomi? Recently, the release of absolutely low-quality fakes has increased, so users need to be careful.
Make sure that your phone is genuine by going through a special test. This is especially true for recently purchased mobile devices, where some functions suddenly stop working.
To avoid such problems in the future, always buy electronics from trusted sellers. The best way is to buy from the company’s branded stores.
Changing MIUI version
If you are an experienced user with good technical skills, you should try to reflash. Poor-quality software, such as “Vietnamese” firmware or crooked custom firmware, often causes bugs and glitches in certain options.
The best option is to install Global Stable ROM. Yes, these shells have some disadvantages, but the stable and smooth operation of the phone is guaranteed.
Going to the service center
And the last option to solve the problem is a visit to the service center. Specialists will diagnose and possibly disable the sensor, after which a new sensor can be installed. If the smartphone is under warranty, the repair will be completely free of charge.
FAQ
What can prevent the sensor from working properly?
First, it is low-quality protective glass or colored glass glued unevenly. The material completely overlaps the sensor. A similar situation is with films, where there are no special cutouts. Contamination can also be a nuisance: dust and moisture. Therefore, always wipe the front panel of smartphones with special wipes or liquid.
How to configure the sensor on the Xiaomi Mi A2?
Yes, you can use all our tips, even if the device is not based on MIUI firmware. The engineering menu and test screens are slightly different, but the interface is intuitive.
Can I use special calibration apps?
This method is usually less efficient than engineering menu calibration. Also, most utilities require ROOT rights.
Now you know that calibrating the proximity sensor on Xiaomi is not difficult at all. If you follow the provided instructions, you can configure the correct functioning of the sensor on your own without the help of specialists.
