iPhone 14 Pro Max proximity sensor does not work on whatsapp voice messages

That's not the case in mine: 14 pro with iOS 16.2

The proximity sensor seems to be working ok, the screen goes black instantly on regular calls and also calls on WhatsApp.

I have been in communication with WhatsApp support and they are interested in learning more, it seems they have replicated the problem this way:

On WhatsApp:

• record a voice message that is at least 10 seconds long. (my message is counting the seconds so I know when it turns black when testing).
• Send it.
• Hit play for that message start listenning on the speaker.
• Take the phone to your ear or block the proximity sensor with your palm.

You will see the screen taking 5 seconds to go black.

Let me know if this is also your case. Pura vida!

I am experiencing the same problem. I have the following notes:

Important: the phone screen problem is that is does NOT turn black when the phone is at my ear when I listen a voice message.

On WhatsApp: (Messenger and Business)

Voice Messages: The proximity Sensor takes 5 seconds to block the phone screen.

On Calls: The proximity Sensor works Ok.

On Facebook Messenger:

Voice Messages: The proximity Sensor does not work at all. No matter how long the message is.

On Calls: The proximity Sensor works Ok.

Regular Phone Calls: The proximity Sensor works ok.

On iMessage. The proximity Sensor works ok.

I have not tested Telegram.

Any ideas on if I should report this directly to Meta or if Apple will take are care of this problem?

Using an iPhone 14 Pro purchased on Dec 21st 2022 with iOS 16.2

Hello saqlain36,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. Are you experiencing this behavior with any app other than WhatsApp? If so, please specify.

If not, we'd recommend reaching out to WhatsApp technical support for help with their app. You can contact them by following these steps:

How to contact an app developer - Apple Support

We hope this information is useful. Kind regards.

Still the same .. even after contacting both Apple and Whatsapp's support they both have no clue!

All iphone 14 and 15 pro max have the same issue with no fix for OVER A YEAR now

Hi saqlain36,

To isolate the behavior a bit more, let us know if the display goes black when placing the phone to your ear while on a call using the native Phone app. Make a call on iPhone will walk you through testing this.

"Call someone on your contacts list

Siri: Say something like: “Call Eliza’s mobile.” Learn how to use Siri.

Or do the following:

1. In the Phone app, tap Contacts.
2. Tap the contact, then tap the phone number you want to call.
3. On models with Dual SIM, the default voice line is used for the call unless you set a preferred line for this contact."

If the device screen doesn't go black when the phone is held to your ear while making a call using the Phone app, we'd recommend contacting Apple Support.

Take care!

Enzoiphone_20 wrote:

Contacting WhatsApp support is useless, a computer that doesn't understand what you're telling it always answers you. Terrible situation, considering that years have passed since the iPhone 14 pro was released and now all iPhone 15 have the same problem (all iPhones with dynamic island)

Facebook/Meta has been doing a terrible job lately with iOS/iPadOS and macOS applications. It's an ongoing issue.

It's a typical third party response.

If Apple apps work properly and third party apps do not, they are not properly writing their applications.

There are no "secret" APIs Apple uses that are not available to third parties, and therefore there is no way for just (or all) "third party" applications to be affected.

t0r wrote:

You don’t need to. You can leave a feedback by just having an Apple ID.

The feedback assistant is only accessible to beta testers. Here is the link for non-beta testers→Product Feedback - Apple

It's not only voice messages or WhatsApp. It's the proximity sensor itself, which takes 3 seconds to turn off the screen.

How to reproduce on iPhone 14 serie:

• Make a phone call. There's no need to wait for the other party to answer
• Cover the proximity sensor part with your finger or the palm of your hand
• Don't move it. It will take approximately 3 seconds for the sensor to turn off the screen.

The problem is surely more complicated in WhatsApp, because you press everything with your cheek (you can also feel the dynamic island haptic feedback) and it takes more seconds to turn off the screen.

I went to the Apple Store today and the diagnosis showed no issues (the proximity sensor is there and working).

I insisted about the problem and showed them the difference between an iPhone 13 Pro Max (instantly turning off the screen when making a phone call) and my iPhone 14 Pro Max. The genius guy entered the lab and asked. He came back with an iPhone 14 and showed me it has the same "behaviour" (3 seconds to turn off the screen when making a phone call).

I decided to wait for an update as it seems like it's a software problem.

These are issues with third-party apps and must be addressed by their authors.

Apple has no control over their apps and therefore cannot fix them or "force" them to do so; if you want them fixed, contact them:

• Telegram Support: https://telegram.org/support
• WhatsApp Support: https://www.whatsapp.com/contact

still no solution, I contact whatsapp developers almost every day, but their support service is terrible. you never talk to an operator, but always to a computer.

Dogcow-Moof wrote:

If you think that's bad, try to contact Facebook about an issue.

Doesn't FB own Whatsapp these days?

They do, but the two companies are run separately.

Yes, and it remains true that the only party that can fix this is WhatsApp, and it seems clear it isn't important enough for them to devote staff to.