It’s worth taking a look at how the iPhone display behaves during a call. Especially if there is film or glass glued to the display.
Sometimes the screen may not turn off when the iPhone is brought close to your ear during an active call. Or vice versa, do not turn back on when moving away from your head until the conversation is completed.
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There may be several reasons for this, so we will look at each separately.
Dirt in the iPhone proximity sensor area
If you do not use your device carefully, some of its components, such as the speakers, charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and proximity sensor area, may become dirty. After this, there may be problems with basic functions and failure of some of them.
If you notice interruptions in the operation of your iPhone: the proximity sensor or backlight suddenly began to “freak out” and work the way they want, try cleaning your iPhone. There may be dirt between the protective glass and your device in the proximity sensor area and it is interfering with normal operation.
Very carefully peel off the protective glass or film, remove the cover, and wipe the device with a microfiber cloth slightly moistened with an antiseptic. Perhaps this will help solve your problem.
Problems with accessories
If all manipulations with the software have not produced any results and the glitch appears with the same frequency, you should proceed to checking the accessories you are using.
1. Get rid of covers and cases.
The first on the list of unsuccessful accessories may be the iPhone case. This is especially true for accessories that cover the screen or the top of the gadget from the front.
The case may interfere with the correct operation of the sensors. This will happen both due to the banal closure of the sensors and due to the presence of magnets in the design of the case.
2. Do not use removable accessories.
Problems with the sensors on the top of the smartphone can be caused by removable accessories such as attached lenses for the camera, an aquabox, or a tripod with a powerful mount.
During testing, avoid such accessories.
3. Remove the glass or protective film.
No matter how much you would like to remove the protective coating from the front panel, it will be removed in any case when checking the gadget at the service center.
Perhaps it is poor quality protection that prevents the proximity sensor from responding correctly.
The display does not go dark after notifications
Another similar problem is that the screen lights up when a notification about a message or other event arrives, and then does not go off. If this happens at night, then by morning you can get a well-discharged smartphone. The problem is unpleasant, but you can solve it yourself, without contacting a service center. For this:
- Open iOS Settings and go to General.
- Select "Auto-lock".
- Set the time interval. The default should be one minute, but you can set it to less. The main thing is not to select the “Never” option - it is because of this that the screen does not go dark after the notification appears.
A little about the iPhone proximity sensor
Proximity sensors have been included in every generation of iPhone since its release in 2007.
This detail is located at the top of your screen. It is responsible for ensuring that the iPhone screen is locked if you bring it to your ear during a call. This way the system protects itself from unnecessary clicks and saves your battery. If your iPhone's proximity sensor is not working properly, you may experience problems with your iPhone draining quickly or the backlight suddenly turning off or turning on.
Who is responsible for screen locking?
The proximity sensor is responsible for locking the iPhone during a call. Its operating principle is as follows:
- The waves come from the emitter and are reflected from a surface - for example, the head to which you brought the phone.
- The reflected wave hits the receiver, which turns off the display.
It is very simple to check the operation of the proximity sensor: if, when connecting to a subscriber, you cover the part of the phone above the display with your finger, the screen will go dark. There are no proximity sensor settings on iOS; you cannot disable it. That is, it either works properly or does not function due to some kind of error, software or hardware.
Causes of the problem
Among the most common causes of the problem are:
- Mechanical damage to the proximity sensor due to impact or fall.
- Poor quality repairs or installation of non-original components.
- Moisture getting under the glass.
- Reflection of the sensor signal with protective film or glass.
- System failure.
Most often, it is possible to detect and fix the problem on your own, but if we are talking about poor-quality repairs and non-original parts or damage due to mechanical stress and water ingress, then you need to contact a service center. In order not to worry about the quality of repairs and the parts used, choose authorized service centers - it will be more expensive, but you won’t have to redo everything all over again.
Important: when the speakerphone is turned on, the display should not go dark. The sensor is triggered only when talking through the speaker.
Reasons why the sensor may fail
To restore the operation of the sensor, you must first establish the cause of its failure. It is quite difficult to do this without preliminary testing. The reason may be software failure or physical damage to the device. The most common ones include:
- Mechanical fall. Sometimes the proximity sensor stops working after an accidental drop of the iPhone 7 or an impact during operation. It should be taken into account that problems often begin some time after mechanical impact. That is, if a sensor failure is detected after a week or a month, there is a high probability that the reason lies precisely in mechanical action;
- Loop wear. A natural cause that does not depend on the operating conditions of the device;
- Accumulation of large volumes of dust. Another operational factor leading to deterioration of contact between smartphone elements;
- Ingress of water or any other liquid;
- Damage to the screen and subsequent independent installation of a non-certified product. In this case, not only the proximity sensor, but also other elements may fail. A large list of functions often becomes unavailable to the user;
- Problems appearing with the firmware. Often a failure occurs after a system update;
- Wrong choice of accessories. It is enough to purchase a case designed for another model so that the sensor is completely covered and cannot work. Similarly, low-quality protective glass affects the performance of the sensor.
Part Three: How to Solve iPhone Proximity Sensor Problem
We've seen what a proximity sensor does and how it can get damaged. Sometimes, for some reason, it is simply not convenient to go to a repair shop. While we recommend that you be as careful as you can, we are going to give you some ideas on ways to fix proximity sensor problems. Besides solution 1 and solution 2, other solutions may cause data loss, so you'd better back up your iPhone in advance.
Solution 1: Restart your phone
It's a bit of an industry cliché. It's a cliché because it often works. It's just that sometimes, even big problems can be solved with a simple reboot. If you find that the sensor is not working, simply reboot. Then, if you fail at the first time, try rebooting the phone, turning it off and again, a second time.
Just turn it off and then on again.
Solving system errors 2. Fixing
As we've already noted, sometimes it's the software rather than the hardware that is the problem. The main software involved in the proper operation of the iPhone is the operating system, which is one of the versions of the firmware that runs your phone. We believe that dr.fone - Repair is one of the best tools as a companion for iOS devices, your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The tools can solve various image problems that might be caused by software and system errors.
Video guide: How to fix iOS system problems with dr.fone
Solution 3: Clean the display
This may seem ridiculously simple, but it is quite possible that another very simple action could solve this problem. Remove your case, and remove any screen protector, and thoroughly clean your iPhone. A glasses cleaning cloth is one of the best things to use.
Check if the sensor is working by calling while standing in front of the mirror, and seeing if the screen dims as you lift the iPhone to your ear. If this happens, the sensor is working. We know that it seems too simple, but, only sometimes, things.
Solution 4: Hard reset
This is really a more brutal version of the first solution. An iPhone factory reset is a little more intensive in its efforts to clear out errors to get everything straightened out correctly and in the right place. All you need to do is the following steps in the below screenshot. Sometimes this will be enough on its own to make the proximity sensor work.
Solution 5: Put iPhone into DFU Mode
By default, Firmware Update restores the structure of the software running on the phone from the foundation. Please keep in mind, however, that when you perform a DFU restore, absolutely everything is deleted and things could simply go wrong. Here's what you should do.
Solution 6: Do It Yourself - Level or Modify the Proximity Hold
This is for the brave, those with a steady hand and probably very keen eyesight.
One part of the Proximity Sensor, the part that keeps it in the right place, correctly aligned, is called the holding distance. It is possible for it to become damaged, but it is very likely that it will need to be replaced if missing. It’s just that sometimes, when a phone is being repaired, say, the screen is being replaced, no one notices it falls out nearby. After holding the iPhone Proximity is replaced or aligned correctly, this should resolve the issue. You can also add a small strip of tape to the sensor to make sure it doesn't fall out.
Solution 7: Problems with non-OEM screens.
Another one for those with the confidence and skills to approach it.
What happens with some of the aftermarket screens that cost much less than the original Apple offers is that they allow too much light. If you disassemble the phone, then with great care, you can put some insulating tape all over the screen, just where the sensor is, and cut two small holes to allow light, but not too much, right up to the sensor.
It can be very frustrating when your iPhone's proximity sensor malfunctions. We really hope that we were able to offer you some solutions.
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