iPhone proximity sensor problems

Try a forced restart of your device (depending on your iPhone's model):

• On an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
• On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
• On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.

If the issue still persists, AND if you have nothing (case, screen protector, etc.) that can obstruct your proximity sensor, have your device checked at your most convenient Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider:

Apple - Find Locations - Location Selector

Regards

Giulio

You're quite welcome, Loobzer. Glad it helped.

Well, this procedure is known as a "basic troubleshooting step", and it is very old (I learned about that when I bought my first iPhone 3g (if I remember well on 2008).

Apple still suggests this operation in many support guides, i.e. in 1st chapter of this article (from which I copied the instructions): If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't turn on or is frozen - Apple Support

Have a nice day.

Giulio

Mine started after upgrading to 11.3.1. Just a finger hovering over the proximity sensor (even a half inch off the surface) turned the screen off. It was super frustrating. It took a little while to realize it was the proximity sensor.

The restart worked! Thanks.

I've been experiencing this for a while now on a reasonably new SE running 11.4. Tried hard restart, still no proximity sensor. I wouldn't mind so much except that my cheek keeps putting it in speaker mode during a call which can be frustrating.

I will take it to a store but was hoping to solve some other way. All ideas welcome!

Before you go to the store, have you checked that nothing (case and/or screen protector) can obstruct the proximity sensor's activity?

Shouldn't be this case, then yes, have your device inspected.

Regards

Giulio

Yes, followed all of your helpful instructions when I first found this conversation. Still no luck which is why I posted my question. My case is a back only but I did take it off before forcing the restart just in case.

Thanks,

Escott

My iPhone X (iOS11.4)has the exact same issue, and restarting the device addresses the issue temporarily. But it occurs again after a while. Apple's remote inspection didn't find any hardware issues, so guess this is caused by software.

The problem is that what app/setting causes this. If iOS does, someday Apple may find and resolve, but if 3rd party software, not sure if their developer will find its root cause on their product.

Im with you. Ive done it all to correct this and it only lasts a couple of phone calls. It’s definitely a software issue. Not sure about the app thing as mine showed up after iOS 11 update and I haven’t added apps for a long time. Hoping it gets tracked down, I’m tired of getting speaker phone in my ear. I think it’s still ringing from the last situation...

Justin,

I understand your frustration, but please don't think that we (I and Deggie) are here to make fun of you or other posters.

I use an iP7, my wife uses an iP6 (both running iOS 11.4) and our proximity sensors are acting as usual, only during phone calls.

I have a lot of friends that are using those iPhone models with iOS 11 or later, and they have no issues.

If you made a "restore to factory settings" on your iphone, and tested it without restoring data from your previously made backup, and that sensor's activity is wrong, there could be a hardware failure.

Regards

Giulio

My daughter's 7+ was having this issue, and hard reset did not help. However, it was also getting extremely hot to the touch (different issue, I know) and it is still under warranty, so we contacted support. They are sending a replacement phone.

Iphone 8,ios 11.4

During a call when I draw back the phone from my ear, the screen takes too much time to turn on, sometimes it does nt and I have to push home buttun, doing it again and again the drlay dissapear but the next call, it comes back.

I m sure it s a software issue, let s hope Apple team would solve it

"Reset all settings" affects all the settings that you've set up.

After resetting all settings, you need to check / adjust all the settings that you choose, 'cause they went back to the factory default status.

Regards

Giulio

Typically users talk about hard reset instead of the correct name of the procedure, that is "forced restart".

When you do a forced restart (using a combination of physical buttons, depending on your iPhone model) you force your hardware to reboot, and nothing (data, settings, apps, etc) is affected.

Giulio

I have been annoyed by this exact issue for nearly two months. A forced restart of my iPhone 7+ fixed this problem. Just curious, how did you discover this fix? Thanks for the solution, and it is very much appreciated!

This worked for me in the first place, however the problem keeps coming back up to 2-3 times a day. It's not a big deal to do the forced restart every time, however it start to get kind of annoying.

Is there any information about a long-term fix for the problem?

Thx in advance.

Regards

johannes