A proximity sensor not working means your phone cannot tell when it is close to your face, so the screen stays on during calls or goes black and will not come back. Cheeks then touch the screen, mute the call or press buttons by accident.
The sensor is a tiny infrared eye near the earpiece at the top of the phone. It fails most often because of a screen protector, a dirty window or a software bug, and only sometimes from real damage. This page helps you test it, fix it, and know when to visit a service centre. People also call it the call sensor, phone sensor or mobile sensor, and a proximity sensor not working while calling is the usual complaint.
Common causes
1Screen guard or case covers the sensor
How to tellStarted after fitting a new guard or case
What fixes itPeel the guard near the earpiece or fit one with a proper cut-out
2Dirt or oil on the sensor window
How to tellScreen stays on at your ear, mostly after long calls
What fixes itWipe the top of the screen with a dry soft cloth
3Software bug or old system version
How to tellBegan after an update, or the handset was never restarted for weeks
What fixes itRestart and install the latest update
4Sensor needs recalibration
How to tellWorks sometimes, then not, with no pattern
What fixes itUse the phone's built-in sensor test or calibrate option if it has one
5Wrong or poor-quality screen replacement
How to tellFailed right after a screen was changed
What fixes itAsk the repairer to refit or replace the sensor part
6Water or drop damage
How to tellPhone fell or got wet, and other sensors also act strange
What fixes itVisit an authorised technician
How to fix it, step by step
Find out if the sensor reacts at all
Make a short call to a friend and hold the phone to your ear. The screen should go dark. Move it away and it should light again. If it never turns off, the sensor is not reacting. If it turns off and stays black, the wake-up side is failing.
Wipe the sensor area
Take a dry microfibre cloth and clean the top of the screen where the earpiece sits. Face oil builds up there. Do not use water or spray liquids.
Remove the screen guard and case for a test
A thick or cheap guard with no cut-out can block the infrared light. Peel it off or lift the top edge and test again. If the sensor now works, buy a guard made for your exact model.
Restart the phone
Switch off, wait half a minute, switch on. Sensors are read by a background service that sometimes hangs. Then repeat the call test.
Check that the related setting is on
On some Android phones, the option to turn the screen off during calls lives in call settings, and the pocket mode option lives in display settings. The names differ by brand, so look inside the phone's call and display menus. iPhone has no switch for it.
Run the sensor test
Many Android phones have a hardware test, reached by the phone app's dialler or a menu in settings, but the code or path differs by brand, so check your phone's manual instead of guessing. Alternatively, a trusted sensor-test app from the official store shows a changing value when you cover the sensor.
Update the system
Go to the system update screen and install any pending version. Proximity bugs are regularly patched. Do it with enough battery left to finish.
Backup, then try a reset only if needed
If nothing else works and the fault looks software related, back up and reset the phone settings first, not the whole phone. A full factory reset is the last option.
How to check the proximity sensor is working or not
There are three easy tests. First, the call test above. Second, cover the top of the screen with your palm while the phone is on a call or playing a voice message from the speaker earpiece: the display should go black. Third, an app from the official store that shows live sensor data will show a near and far value.
You answer a call and press the phone to your ear. The screen stays bright and your cheek opens the keypad. That is a classic case of the proximity sensor not working during calls.
Why proximity sensor not working looks different on iPhone and Android
On iPhone, the sensor sits near the earpiece and also helps Face ID and the screen turn off during calls. A screen replaced with a poor part is a leading cause. On Android phones, the same sensor often sits beside the light sensor, and some brands combine them. A dead light sensor with a dead proximity sensor usually means a shared connector or module.
Other sensors people mix up with this one
| Sensor | What it does | Sign of failure |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity | Detects your face or pocket | Screen stays on in calls |
| Light sensor | Sets auto brightness | Brightness never changes |
| Accelerometer | Rotates the screen | Auto rotate fails |
| Fingerprint | Unlocks the phone | See fingerprint sensor not working |
Sensors on home items are different: an AC temperature sensor or a TV sensor has nothing to do with this page. For AC trouble start at AC not working.
When to visit a service centre
If the call screen still misbehaves, and the touch panel too (see touch screen not working), the fault may be in the display assembly. If the sensor stays dead after cleaning, guard removal, restart and update, the part or its flex cable needs a technician. The final price depends on the phone and on whether the sensor is separate or part of the earpiece and front camera assembly. Check the warranty first and use an authorised centre for a phone still covered.
Avoid long calls on speaker or earphones until fixed, so accidental touches do not end the call. Never open the phone yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my proximity sensor not working during calls?
A screen guard, dirt on the top of the screen or a software bug are the top reasons. Clean the area, remove the guard, restart and update the phone before assuming damage.
How do I check if the proximity sensor is working on my phone?
Make a call and bring the phone to your ear. The screen should go dark and return when you pull away. You can also use a sensor test inside your phone or a trusted app from the official store.
Can I fix a proximity sensor without repair?
Often yes, when the cause is a guard, dirt or software. If the sensor is physically damaged or came with a faulty replacement screen, a technician must replace the part.
Does a proximity sensor problem affect Face ID or the camera?
It can on some phones, since sensors sit close together near the top. Face ID has its own parts, so test it separately.
Is there a setting to turn the proximity sensor on or off?
Many Android phones have a screen-off-in-call or pocket mode option, but the wording of the menu changes with the brand and model. Look in the call and display settings, or the manual.