How to disable the proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: all working methods

The proximity sensor in smartphones Xiaomi Redmi is a useful, but sometimes annoying feature. It automatically turns off the screen during a call when you hold the phone to your ear, saving battery power and preventing accidental presses. However, many users encounter problems: the screen goes out too early, does not turn back on after a conversation, or triggers at inopportune moments (for example, when listening to music through a speaker).

This topic is especially relevant for owners of models Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11 and flagship POCO F3/F4where the sensor sometimes does not work correctly due to the features firmware MIUI. In this article we will examine 5 proven methods disabling the sensor - from standard settings to hidden engineering menus. You will learn which method is safer and which can lead to failures, and how to get everything back if something goes wrong.

⚠️ Important: Disabling the proximity sensor can lead to increased battery consumption and accidental clicks during calls. If you make frequent calls, weigh the pros and cons before changing the settings.

1. Disabling the sensor through standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in options MIUI. It is suitable for most models Redmi on firmware MIUI 12–14 (including global and Chinese versions). The main advantage: does not require superuser rights (root) and does not affect the warranty.

Instructions:

1. Open the application Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to section Applications → Manage applications.
3. In the search bar, enter Phone and select the standard application for calls.
4. Tap by Permissions, then find the item Sensors or Proximity sensor.
5. Turn off the switch next to permission to use sensor.

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro) this item may not be available. In this case, proceed to the next method.

After disconnecting, check the operation of the sensor: call another number and hold the phone to your ear. The screen should not go dark. If there are no changes, this method may be blocked on your firmware - try alternative options.

2. Using the engineering menu (code ##6484##)

If the standard settings do not help, you can use the engineering menu hidden section of Android, where advanced sensor parameters are available. This method works on most Redmi, but requires caution: incorrect changes can disrupt the operation of the phone.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Open the application Phone and enter the combination: ##6484## (on some models it may be required ##4636##).
2. You will be taken to the menu Testing (Testing). Select the tab Sensor (Sensors).
3. Find in the list Proximity Sensor (Proximity sensor) and tap on it.
4. In the window that opens there will be a graph or digital value (usually 0 —the sensor is not closed, 1 —is closed).
5. At the bottom of the screen, find the option Disable or Turn Off and activate it.

🔹 What to do if the engineering menu does not open?

• 📱 Check if your operator is blocking access (especially important for MTS i Beeline).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone and enter the code again.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI (sometimes Xiaomi removes access to the engineering menu in older builds).

⚠️ Attention: In the engineering menu You cannot change parameters that you do not understandThis may cause the camera, GPS or other sensors to fail.

3. Disabling via ADB (for advanced users)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a tool for debugging Android devices. This method requires connecting the phone to a computer, but does not violate the warranty (if you do not use root).

What you will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 USB cable (better original).
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and package ADB Tools.

Instructions:

1. Enable on your phone Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone and tap 7 times on the item MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Advanced → For developers and activate USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm permission for debugging.
4. Open the command line (or Terminal) and enter:

adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 1

After executing the command, reboot the phone. To return everything back, use the same command, replacing 1 with 0.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware Xiaomi this command may not work due to In this case, you will need root access.

4. Applications to disable the sensor (without root)

If you do not want to delve into the settings or use ADB, you can use third-party applications. They do not require root access, but their effectiveness depends on the phone model and version MIUI.

Top 3 tested applications:

Name	Link	Features	Cons
Proximity Sensor Fix	Google Play	Calibrates the sensor, can turn it off temporarily	Does not work on MIUI 14
Sensor Disabler	APKMirror	Allows you to selectively disable sensors	Requires permission to access sensors
MIUI Hidden Settings	4PDA	Unlocks hidden MIUI options	May not work on new firmware

🔹 How to use:

1. Download and install one of the applications (preferably from official sources).
2. Run it and provide all the necessary permissions.
3. Find the item in the menu Proximity Sensor and disable it.
4. Reboot your phone to apply the changes.

⚠️ Attention: Applications from third-party sources (for example, 4PDA or APKMirror) may contain malicious code before installing.

What to do if the application does not work?

If the application does not disable the sensor, try:

1. Clear the application cache in the settings.

2. developer.

3. Check compatibility with your model Redmi on the forums (for example, XDA Developers).

5. Disabling the sensor using root access (for experienced)

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option remains - disabling the sensor via root access. This is a radical method that gives complete control over the system, but voids the warranty and can lead to unstable operation of the phone.

What you will need:

• 📱 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 🔧 Installed recovery (TWRP or analogues).
• 🛡️ Data backup (required!).
• 💻 Application Root Explorer or Magisk.

Instructions:

1. Get root access using Magisk (instructions are available at 4PDA).
2. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer).
3. Go to the path /system/usr/keylayout and find the file Generic.kl.
4. Open the file in a text editor and find the line key 217 PROXIMITY.
5. Comment it out by adding a symbol at the beginning #, or delete the line.
6. Save the changes, set the rights 644 and reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to the phone being "bricked" (completely inoperable). If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact to a specialist.

🔹 An alternative method through Magisk:

If you use Magisk, you can install the module Disable Proximity Sensor from the repository. It automatically disables the sensor without manually editing files.

6. if the sensor does not turn off?

If none of the methods worked, the problem may lie deeper: from a malfunction of the sensor itself to software limitations. MIUIHere's what you can do:

🔍 Fault diagnosis:

• 📱 Check the sensor for performance: enter in the phone application ##6484## and see if the graph reacts to the approach of your hand.
• 🔄 Reset your phone to factory settings (don't forget to make a backup!).
• 📲 Update the firmware to the latest version via Settings → System update.

🛠️ Hardware problems:

If the sensor does not respond at all (the graph in the engineering menu does not change), it may be physically damaged. In this case:

• Contact the service center Xiaomi (if the phone is under warranty).
• Replace the sensor yourself (cost - from 300 to 800 rubles depending on the model).
• Check whether the sensor is covered with a protective film or case (especially important for Redmi Note 10 Pro thick bumpers).

📌 Temporary solution:

If you cannot turn off the sensor, but it interferes, you can use headphones with a microphone —in this case the proximity sensor is not activated.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disabling proximity sensor

❓ Is it possible to disable the sensor only for specific applications?

Yes, but only with the help of root access or special modules for Magisk (for example, AppOpsIn standard settings MIUI there is no such function.

❓ Why does the screen not turn off during a call after the sensor is turned off?

This is normal behavior - the sensor is responsible for turning off the screen. If this bothers you, you can manually lock the screen with the power button or use headphones.

❓ Will Face Unlock work after disabling the proximity sensor?

Yes, Face Unlock uses the front camera and infrared sensor, which are not connected to the proximity sensor. However, on some models (Redmi K40) there may be problems with face recognition in the phone. darkness.

❓ How to return the sensor back if something went wrong?

The method depends on the shutdown method:

• If you used settings MIUI —just turn the resolution back on.
• If you used ADB - run the command adb shell settings put global proximity_sensor_disabled 0.
• If you edited system files - restore them from a backup or reflash the phone.

❓ Is it possible to disable the sensor on an always-off screen (AOD)?

No, the proximity sensor does not affect Always-On DisplayIf you have problems with AOD (for example, the screen does not turn off), check the settings in Display → Always-On Display.

🔧 Bottom line: Disable proximity sensor on Xiaomi Redmi There are several ways - from simple settings to complex manipulations with root. Start with the safest method (standard settings or ADB) and only if nothing helps, proceed to radical measures. Remember that the proximity sensor is a useful feature, and disabling it can lead to inconvenience during calls.