Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

I'm also having this issue while in all phone calls, the slightest change of my talking position causes the screen to light up, and I'm then unknowingly adding contacts, muting calls, initiating facetime, hanging up on people..

It is EXTREMELY annoying.. PLEASE FIX THIS APPLE.

So how do I do a restore? Do I need to back up my phone?

I just did this and when I cover the sensor it goes dark if ido not move my finger at all it stays dark and works fine but any little movement even thought is still well covered the light comes on. It flickers on and off and while it's doing it buttons are now active. Is this well reported or should I call apple?

Tried this - again, fortunately, I have an iPhone that has a proximity sensor that works. I got mine on 6/23, restored from my 3GS. I had iOS 4.0 installed on my 3GS prior to restore.

Add me to the list of having the problem. It is driving me absolutely crazy. I have owned every iPhone since day one and never had this problem. Can Apple fix this with software/firmware update? I can't do this forever. Now I have to hold my phone ever so perfectly (until my bumper arrives) and smash it to my head so I don't mute/hold/call/text while trying to have a conversation.

I am a huge fanboy but this is ridiculous. I am disappointed in the iPhone go around.

I have been following this topic for a few days, and now I would like to add my two cents.

I am experiencing the proximity sensor issue intermittently. Naturally, this is the most frustrating aspect about this problem. Yesterday for example, I made a 40 minute commute using the iPhone paired with a bluetooth device. When I arrived at my destination, I decided to make another call (without bluetooth) to test if the sensor was functioning. To my surprise, the screen did not go off as expected. (even when holding my finger/hand directly on top of the sensor) After going inside, I set the phone on the table for 15 minutes while I ate dinner. During this time period, no changes were made to the phone. I called the test number again, and hovered my finger over top of the sensor repeatedly. This time, the screen went dark and came on when the finger was removed/applied. The phone appeared to be functioning properly. As of this morning, the sensor still appears to be working, but it has been my experience that it will stop functioning at random. When it stops working, I put the phone into standby, and after X amount of time, it starts to work again.


I have already restored & reset all settings, this does not appear to permanently fix the problem. Given the nature of the problem, I question whether or not there is a software solution. I would take this issue to the Apple store, but I fear that when I take the phone it will function perfectly.

It is unfortunate to see that this forum has drawn the attention of a lot of concerned users but not Apple. Apple needs to immediately address this issue and confirm whether or not this problem is hardware/software related. I am in the process of making a video to demonstrate my particular problem. Because I have yet to figure out how to cause the sensor to fail, it may be some time before I finish my video.

** I should also note, my problem is slightly different than most described in this forum. There seems to be the following issues:

1) The sensor functions and darkens the screen, but the buttons are not disabled.

or

2) The sensor darkens the screen only; however, the threshold for the sensor is too sensitive ? therefore the screen will flicker between the darkened and bright state.

or

(my issue)

3) The sensor will darken the screen and disable button presses, but it is an all or nothing behavior. Either the sensor works or does not.

Message was edited by: NemosX

Yes, Back up your phone, and then click restore. When the option comes up to either set up as a new phone or restore from previous, choose set up as new. All of your contacts and such should be back on it, but as per apps and music etc, you'll just have to put them back on. Good luck, so far no probs for me after the restore.

Just want to throw my hat in the ring here. I have the same problem. Hangups, muting, facetime calls. I'm seriously considering taking this thing back.

Ed State wrote:
Do this:

While your on a call (on hold w/ Apple works just fine, lol)...

Put the phone down on a table, switch to "keypad", and hover your finger over the Proximity Sensor: your screen should go dark.

If it doesn't you have a hardware issue, and should probably swap out your phone.

Then, if your screen is dark, using the other finger, randomly press the screen.

Remove the other finger so the screen lights back up.

Chances are your screen says "45880132".

THAT'S THE PROBLEM !

The proximity sensor works. It just doesn't turn OFF the ability to press the button, like it should.

Duh.

Hi Ed,

This is not the problem which manifests itself on my iP4, nor I suspect for most of the people here. It seems that you are describing another problem relating to the screen perhaps. In my case, buttons only become 'pressable' when the screen is alight - and this happens sometimes when clamped to me ear - very irritating.

R.

With my iPhone 4 (which arrived by post on 24th June), I had the yellow dots (which have faded but not completely), calls failing around 50% of the time half way through a conversation in good signal areas and the same proximity sensor issue - I was ending and muting calls and initiating FaceTime invitations by accident because the screen would come back on even when phone was touching my ear. Could be a software issue I guess, but having done some testing, it seems to be temperamental, worse sometimes than others, suggesting a hardware issue (which is worrying).

I must say I am otherwise, however, very impressed with Apple's new device, despite these really important issues that Apple should have sorted out at the beginning of pre-production.

With the signal bar issue - my opinion is: who cares how many bars the software displays? You've either got enough signal to make a call, or you haven't. In my case, the iPhone4 has been dropping calls in the same areas they haven't dropped with the iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS previously.

New one arrives tomorrow morning - hopefully ALL of these issues will be resolved otherwise i'll be back on to tech support... again!

Rich UK

I have conducted three differnt restores and i continue to have this sensor problem. Yes it does activate as long as i keep the phone pressed very hard to my face, however the slightest light deactivates the sensor and the problem persist.

I don't think that I buy the restore solution either - my wife and I both have new iphone 4's and they were set up differently (I restored mine from a 3g backup and hers was set up as a new phone - we both had 3G's before the upgrade). We're both having the proximity sensor issue. Haven't gone cheek dialing or hanging up calls but we can notice the screen turning on and off in our peripheral vision. It flashes even if you maintain the phone up to your ear. I haven't tried the restore solution because, as I said, both of our phones have the issue and were set up differently. Hope this problem is a software issue...

I'm having the same issues with my phone as well. I thought I was the only one. Great I stumbled on this thread. Almost every single call I've mad, the "hold" feature has come on in the middle. Such an inconvenience. I've tried restoring my phone, hard resets, powering on and off, etc.. nothing works. Def an issue that needs to be addressed.

I have also dropped a number of calls, thanks to my face pressing the END CALL button on my iPhone 4. *PLEASE FIX!*

yes it happens to me constantly...will apple read this and fix it? Or how do we make sure they fix it? If it does not stop before my 30 day return policy is up, I am going to return it. I am a new iphone user!