Smartphones are made up of many components that come together to provide us with the convenient experience we’ve come to expect. Many of the ways we operate our smartphones are made easier by the proximity sensor, and you won’t realize how much until it stops working. Here’s how to fix Android proximity sensor not working.
What is a Proximity Sensor?
Light-emitting and light-receiving components make up a proximity sensor. The light-emitting element’s infrared rays examine the light reflected by actual objects and estimate their separation from the measuring equipment. Its job is to sense how near you are to the smartphone and adjust its response. As a result, functions can be activated in response, such as lighting up the screen when you gaze at it or turning off the display when you hold your phone up to your ear. Your mobile phone’s proximity sensor recognizes your facial characteristics to unlock it. The sensor will stop accidental touches if your phone is in your pocket. It’s a helpful chip that could go unnoticed in daily life but greatly contributes to tiny conveniences.
How to Fix Proximity Sensor Not Working?
There are tests you may run to see if the device’s proximity sensor is functioning properly if you are unsure. Before doing any of the following, we suggest restarting your phone to get rid of any momentary issues or malfunctions that might be impacting it.
Lifting the device up to your face and watching to see if the sensor lights up is one way to test it. Another method is to place the phone near the ear while on a call and check if that dims the screen. If none of this work, you can test the proximity sensors by downloading Sensor Test. After making sure the sensor is actually faulty, you can use the solutions below.
Clean Sensor
Although dirt and debris may not appear to be major issues, once they start to accumulate, they can harm your phone. Dust can prevent your proximity sensor from properly recognizing your face if it is obstructing it. Carefully wipe the top of the phone where the sensor is positioned with a clean cloth. The proximity sensor is almost always found near the top of your phone, regardless of the model.
Test it after cleaning to check if it now functions. Additionally, check for any nearby fractures or scratches that can compromise your sensor. You may need to go to a repair facility if they are there.
Remove Screen Protector
Another major factor in the proximity sensor’s malfunction is screen protectors. The glass may interfere with detection if it is either too thick or not designed for your phone. If you’ve just installed a new screen protector, gently remove it from the touchscreen before cleaning your screen. When purchasing screen guards, be sure to choose one made expressly for the model of your phone and test it to ensure proper operation.
Update Software
Your phone may occasionally experience bugs or other problems. This can be the result of incompatible OS updates or it might just be a case of short-term problems that go away on their own. To address these vulnerabilities, phone manufacturers release updates, so it’s a good idea to ensure your phone is updated.
- Go to Settings > System.
- Check for updates.
Re-calibrate Sensor
Recalibrating the phone’s sensors can aid in resolving issues that may have occurred as a consequence of faults or errors. Calibration is crucial since it makes sure the sensors are appropriately gathering data. You might have seen it when using Google Maps, which periodically asks you to calibrate your compass so that it can always precisely estimate your location.
Recalibrating your sensors helps ensure correct operation, just like when you reset your phone. Use the Proximity Sensor Reset/Fix app, available free from the Play Store, to calibrate your proximity sensor.
Factory Reset
If everything else fails, it’s likely that your phone is broken and must be taken to a repair shop. Because of this, it might be wise to try resetting your phone first. By doing this, all data will be removed, leaving a blank slate in its place. This can eliminate any bugs that other approaches might not have been able to get rid of. Before doing so, it is advisable to create a data backup and sync all of your files to your Google account. By doing it this way, you won’t lose any data, and once the reset is complete, Google can restore everything for you. If you own a Samsung device, then check out their built-in backup tools.
Service Center
If none of the aforementioned fixes succeed in fixing your proximity sensor, it probably needs to be taken to a service center because it is damaged. It’s the most obvious reason if you’ve recently dropped your phone or been involved in any accidents where it was involved. Because it is so fragile, the sensor is sometimes damaged by overpressure.
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