It’s a very small component and we often don’t realize it’s in our phone: the proximity sensor has a very specific job that can be completely annoying if it doesn’t work properly. Because have you accidentally hung up a call just because the screen remained on during the call and you hung her with your face? Well, there is a way to reset the sensor to regain its use.
Not all cell phones have the same way of detecting the proximity of the face: from an infrared sensor that senses the entry of light to turn off the screen when the face casts a shadow to the use of ultrasound to detect the proximity of objects; through virtual proximity sensors, motion recording that (supposedly) detects when a cell phone comes close to the face during a call. All of them can be restarted in case they are not working properly.
Restart your mobile sensors to reactivate their operation
This is not a magic solution, as face detection issues in calls often occur They are more representative of the quality of the sensors than of their operation, but it never hurts to have a tool to improve your phone usage. Do you notice that the screen does not turn off properly during calls or when listening to WhatsApp audio when you hold the phone to your ear? Keep reading.
Android does not allow resetting the proximity sensor separately, yes, you can turn all sensors on the phone on and off; which, for all intents and purposes, is equivalent to restarting that specific component.
Let’s see the specific process step by step. It is valid for any Android device, whatever version you have and whatever the brand:
- Go to your Android settings and navigate to phone information.
- Go to Android version and search for “Build number”. Tap it repeatedly until Developer Options is enabled.
- Go back to the main Android settings and enter the new developer menu. It’s usually found under “System.”
- Write “sensors disabled” in the search box above. Click on the result.
- You will have accessed a quick settings panel for developers: check the option we mentioned, “Sensors disabled”.
- With the previous step you will have disconnected all the sensors from your phone: temperature, movement, battery… and also proximity. Activate the sensors again and you will have reset them.
Whenever you want to reset your Android’s proximity sensor, you can perform the previous process: This usually fixes the screen turning off issues when the sensor is not working properly.
Cover image | Ivan Linares
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