iPhone proximity sensor not working? Try 6 fixes

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2021-02-24
Jide Mbaka

The proximity sensor has been an extremely handy feature on the iPhone. Imagine it doesn't exist... only God knows how many calls you would've hung up with your face. You probably would've made many nasty taps on your screen when you place the phone on your face.  If the proximity sensor on your iPhone infuriates you, there are a couple of things you can do to fix it. And that's why we came up with this article to help fix iPhone proximity sensor not working.

 fix iphone proximity sensor not working

Restart the phone

Start simple. You can fix any issue you face on your iPhone or any device most of the time just by restarting the device. And if your iPhone proximity sensor is not working, restarting your iPhone might fix it and save you out of the mess you find yourself. Restarting your iPhone is super easy, and it takes less than two minutes to get it done. All you need is just to shut down your iPhone and boot it up again. Or depending on which iPhone model you have, you can follow the guides below to force-restart your iPhone.

  • If you use an iPhone 8 or above, you should click and release the Volume up key, click and release the Volume downkey, and finally, long-press the Power key until you see the Apple logo on your iPhone
  • If you use an iPhone 7, long-press the Volume Down button and the Power key until you see the Apple logo on your screen.
  • If you use an iPhone 6 or below, press and hold the Home buttonand the Power key at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

After force restarting your iPhone following the guides above, you should now try making a call to see if the proximity sensor problem is fixed. If not, try other fixes below.

Check the protective case

If you've got a protective case that stretches to some parts of your screen, the iPhone proximity sensor not working problem may happen on your iPhone. There are some cases nowadays that cover the upper part of the screen in the name of providing 360° protection. If you've got one of them on your iPhone, we recommend you remove it right away to fix your malfunctioning proximity sensor.

More so, if you have a screen protector on your iPhone, gently detach it and test if the proximity sensor works as expected. If it works without issue, definitely, you've got a bad screen protector and case. You may consider getting another one that fits your phone properly.  

Clean the screen

After removing the protective case and screen protector, kindly settle down and clean your iPhone screen. As you already know that the proximity sensor is super sensitive and can be affected by dirt, lint, or any form of debris. Cleaning your screen has a high chance of fixing the malfunctioning proximity sensor.

To get started, all you need is a piece of soft, dry, lint-free cloth. You can also make use of wipes or your eyeglasses cleaner if you have one. Gently use the cloth to wipe off all the dirt on your iPhone screen, especially the upper part of the screen where the proximity sensor is located. Try making a call to see if the problem is solved or follow another solution below.

Update the iPhone system

To further ensure your iPhone proximity sensor not working problem is not caused by a software issue, make sure you're running the latest iOS version. iPhone software updates always come with bug fixes, system improvement, and some new features. Updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version might increase the chance of fixing your malfunctioning proximity sensor. To update your iPhone, all you need is a strong Wifi network and sufficient battery. Simply go to Settings > General, then click on Software Update. Finally, tap on Download and Install to update your iPhone to the latest software.

Is it caused by a cracked screen?

As said earlier, the proximity sensor is sensitive and may malfunction if it comes in contact with debris, dirt, and all others. It can even be more aggressive if your iPhone screen is cracked towards the upper part of the screen - even if it's just a slight crack. In this case, thoroughly check your iPhone screen to see if it's cracked or scratched in the upper part. If yes, you may need to visit a repair centre to fix it.

Replace the proximity sensor

Attempting all the solutions above means you've tried enough, at least on your own, to fix your iPhone proximity sensor not working. As you presumably know, you actually can't disable or pause the proximity sensor on your iPhone. The best you could do is to ensure it remains in a pristine condition or fix it at your earliest convenience when it doesn't work. At this point, we recommend you replace the proximity sensor. If you're still within your Apple warranty period, we recommend sending your phone to Apple or visiting the official store near you. With that, you may get the proximity sensor fixed for free if they're no traces of artificial damage on your phone.

Better still, you may get a third party or local repairer near you to replace the proximity sensor for you at an affordable price.