Many users of the brand's smartphones Vivo face an annoying problem: during a call, the screen goes dark even before you bring the phone to your ear, or, conversely, does not turn off, which leads to accidental pressing of the cheek. This is the work of proximity sensor a small sensor that should save battery and block the touchpad in contact with the body. However, on devices with a shell Funtouch OS or OriginOS this mechanism sometimes does not work correctly due to the factory film or software glitches.
It is often impossible to disable this function using standard means in the regular settings menu, since manufacturers hide this option from ordinary people users, considering it critical for convenience. However, there are proven methods to work around system limitations. In this article, we will analyze in detail how to deactivate the sensor through the engineering menu, special codes and third-party utilities in order to regain control of your device.
Before taking radical measures, it is worth understanding the nature of the problem. Most often, the culprit is not the sensor itself, but its incorrect calibration or a physical obstruction. If you have recently applied a protective glass or film, make sure that it does not cover the top of the display near the earpiece. In some models, such as Vivo Y series or Vivo X, the sensor may be software locked until the first calibration.
Diagnostics and checking the functionality of the sensor
Before you try disable the sensoryou need to make sure that the problem lies precisely in it, and not in a malfunction of the touchscreen or dialer software. On smartphones Android there is a built-in diagnostic mode, which can be accessed through a special testing menu. This will allow you to see the current state of the sensor in real time.
To start the test, open the “Phone” application and enter the universal code ##7780## or brand-specific code *#558#. If the first option did not work, try following the path Settings → System → Developer Mode, where the “Hardware Testing” item is sometimes hidden. In the menu that opens, select the section associated with Proximity Sensor.
⚠️ Attention: Engineering codes may vary depending on the firmware version Funtouch OS. If standard combinations do not activate the menu, your carrier or manufacturer may have blocked this feature at the carrier level.
In test mode, you will see a graph or numeric values that change when you raise your palm to the top of the screen. If the values do not respond to hand movements, then the sensor is physically defective or dirty. In this case, a software shutdown will be the only way out so that the screen stops going dark at the wrong moment.
It is worth noting that on new models with cutouts in the screen (“drop” or “hole”), the sensor is often combined with the front camera or hidden under the display. This makes it more susceptible to software errors. If diagnostics have shown that the sensor “sees” an obstacle constantly, even when there is a clear space in front of it, urgent calibration or complete deactivation is required.
Disablement via the Vivo engineering menu
The most effective way to control the hidden functions of a smartphone is to use the engineering menu. On devices Vivo this interface allows you to directly interact with hardware drivers. To get there, you often need to enter a code ##4636## in the dialer. If this code does not work, try downloading a special application from the store. Inside this section, look for item Play Market, For example, MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Engineering Mode.
After entering the menu, find the section Hardware Testing or Telephony. Inside this section, look for the item Proximity Sensor. Here you can see a switch that allows you to change the state of the sensor. In some firmware versions, an option is available Disablethat completely ignores sensor signals. However, be careful: changing the settings in this menu may affect the operation of other communication modules.
- 🔍 Find the tab
Sensorin the main testing menu. - 📉 Select the item Proximity Sensor Calibration to reset the settings.
- 🚫 If there is a checkmark
Enable, uncheck it to force a shutdown. - 🔄 Reboot the device after making changes.
It is important to understand that the engineering menu interface may look intimidating due to the abundance of technical terms in English. Do not press buttons Write or Set in unfamiliar sections such as RF Band or Network Modeas this may result in network loss. We are only interested in the block responsible for proximity.
What to do if the code does not work?
If entering the code in the dialer does not produce results, try installing the QuickShortcutMaker application. It allows you to create shortcuts to hidden system activities, including the engineering menu, even if the codes are blocked by the operator.
After changing the parameters, be sure to completely reboot the smartphone, and not just turn off the screen. This is necessary for the device driver to re-read the new configuration files. If, after turning on, the phone again began to block the screen during calls, it means that the settings were not applied or were reset by the security system.
Calibrating the sensor as an alternative to disabling
Often users do not need to completely disable the sensor, they just need to configure it correctly. Incorrect calibration leads to the fact that the phone “thinks” that it is at the ear, although it is lying on the table. To solve this problem, smartphones Vivo have a hidden calibration mode, accessible through a code ##6484## (a less common option) or through the standard testing menu.
The calibration process usually looks like this: you need to place the phone on a flat horizontal surface, making sure that there are no objects above the top of the screen. Then select Calibrationin the testing menu. The system will ask you to cover the sensor with your hand (the screen will go dark) and then remove your hand (the screen will light up). This procedure must be repeated several times until the message appears. speaker Pass or Success.
| Vivo model | Access code | Sensor location | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivo Y20 / Y30 | *#558# |
Above the speaker | Sensitive to thick glass |
| Vivo X50 / X60 | ##4636## |
In the screen cutout | Requires calibration after replacing the display |
| Vivo V21 / V23 | MTK application | Under the screen | Difficult to disable programmatically |
| Vivo S-series | ##7780## |
Frame on top | Frequent false alarms |
If automatic calibration does not help, you can try a manual reset through the settings. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings and select “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth settings.” Although this item does not directly affect sensors, it often reloads the hardware configuration profile, eliminating logical errors in drivers.
Before calibration, be sure to wipe the top of the screen with an alcohol wipe. Greasy finger stains can distort the readings of the infrared sensor, simulating an obstacle.
Using third-party applications to control the sensor
When built-in tools Android and engineering menus do not give the desired result, applications from third-party developers come to the rescue. In the store Google Play there are many utilities designed to manage sensors. One of the most popular and reliable apps is Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix or Sensor Test.
These applications work on the principle of emulating or intercepting data from a sensor. They can force a signal to the system that there is no obstacle, even if the sensor is covered. Such apps often require rights root accessto operate, but many functions are also available on regular devices through the use of special access permissions (Usage Access).
- 📲 Download the application Proximity Service from the official store.
- 🔐 Grant the application all requested permissions in the system settings.
- ⚙️ Activate the “Force Off” or “Disable Sensor” mode in the app interface.
- 🔋 Add the application to startup so that the settings are saved after restart.
It is worth considering that installing such utilities may slightly increase battery consumption, since they work in the background, constantly polling the system state. In addition, some antiviruses may perceive applications that interfere with the operation of system sensors as potentially dangerous, so download them only from trusted sources.
⚠️ Warning: Applications that require root access may void your device's warranty. Use methods with root access only if you are confident in your actions and understand the risks of losing your warranty.
Solving problems through developer mode
Another hidden reserve of the system is the developer mode. Although there is no direct “Disable sensor” button, you can change the system’s behavior during calls, which will indirectly solve the problem. To activate the mode, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly press 7 times on the item Build number.
After activation, a new section will appear in the menu For developers. Here it is worth paying attention to points related to animation and window operation. Sometimes disabling transition animations (Scale window animation) helps eliminate delays in sensor response that cause the screen to turn off late or not turn on on time. You can also try enabling the option Do not turn off the screen (Stay awake), although this is more related to charging.
☑️ Preparing to modify the system
In some versions Funtouch OS sensor debugging is hidden in developer mode. To access it, you may need to connect to a computer and use debugging software ADB (Android Debug Bridge). The command adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0 can work on some models, forcibly disabling the sensor at the level of system variables.
adb shell settings put system proximity_sensor_enabled 0Using ADB requires installing drivers on the PC and enabling USB debugging on the smartphone itself. This is a more complex, but also more reliable method, since it makes changes directly to the Android settings database, bypassing the shell GUI.
Common errors and how to fix them
Even after following all the instructions, users may find that the problem does not go away. Most often this is due to the fact that in the system Vivo the priority of the hardware interrupt is higher than the software ban. That is, if the sensor is physically closed (for example, due to a crack in the glass), software shutdown can be ignored by the system kernel for security reasons.
An application conflict is also a common error. Third-party dialers, instant messengers, or call recording applications may have their own screen control settings that override the system ones. Check the settings of each app you use for communication to make sure that screen power-saving features are not enabled.
If the screen only goes dark in certain apps (for example, WhatsApp or Viber), the problem may not be with the sensor, but with the optimization of the specific app. Try clearing the cache of the problematic application or reinstalling it. In rare cases, rolling back the system to factory settings helps, but this is an extreme measure that requires a full backup of the data.
If no software method helps, physical damage to the sensor or cable is likely. In this case, only a visit to the service center to replace the module will help.
Is it possible to disable the sensor permanently without root access?
It is difficult to completely and permanently disable the sensor without root access, since the system can reset its settings after updates. However, the use of blocker applications added to startup allows you to emulate a shutdown every time you turn on the phone.
Why does the screen not turn on when I remove the phone from my ear?
This is a classic symptom of a “stuck” sensor. It may be dirty, or the protective glass may be blocking it. Try wiping the screen and recalibrate the sensor through the engineering menu.
Does disabling the sensor affect battery consumption?
The sensor itself consumes minimal energy. However, if the screen does not go dark during a call due to the sensor being disabled, the battery will drain much faster due to the display.
Is it safe to use engineering codes on the new Vivo?
Viewing options in the engineering menu is safe. The only danger is changing values in fields whose purpose you do not know (especially in the network and radio module sections).
What should you do if, after disconnecting, the phone itself hangs up the call?
This may indicate a problem with the power button or sensor, which is interpreted as a press. Try checking the power button for sticking and test the phone in safe mode.