Strange Proximity Sensor Behavior - Sprint HTC One (M7)

There seem to be several proximity sensor threads but I've done a search and have not found anyone that is having this same problem.
When I make a phone call, my screen turns off right away. I can only get it to come on by pressing the power button or tilting the phone so that a bright light or glare is on the proximity sensor or light sensor. This is a pain. I use my power button to end calls but I have to disable that option. Otherwise, any time I need to use touch tones for an in-call menu, I hang up or spend a minute tilting my phone or holding it up to a light bulb. I know there are workarounds that I could be using but I am wondering if my proximity sensor or light sensor is malfunctioning or if it is a software issue.
Also, when using the visual voice mail app, my screen goes black but not off. I can still see the status bar. It happens as soon as I tap the play button and works just fine after my voice mail stops. This is likely unrelated but I can't be sure.
Thanks in advance to anyone that helps!
Running stock and unrooted with no physical damage or obstruction of sensors. I have tried a factory reset... twice.

I'm having a weird issue with mine as well. Mine is a little different though. If I need to make a call that requires to enter # prompts and as soon as I move the phone away from my face the keypad will start beeping on the other end so the prompts will always get invalid responses. While on the phone and I move the phone away from my face for any reason, the person on the other end will hear the beeping.

mokash34 said:
There seem to be several proximity sensor threads but I've done a search and have not found anyone that is having this same problem.
When I make a phone call, my screen turns off right away. I can only get it to come on by pressing the power button or tilting the phone so that a bright light or glare is on the proximity sensor or light sensor. This is a pain. I use my power button to end calls but I have to disable that option. Otherwise, any time I need to use touch tones for an in-call menu, I hang up or spend a minute tilting my phone or holding it up to a light bulb. I know there are workarounds that I could be using but I am wondering if my proximity sensor or light sensor is malfunctioning or if it is a software issue.
Also, when using the visual voice mail app, my screen goes black but not off. I can still see the status bar. It happens as soon as I tap the play button and works just fine after my voice mail stops. This is likely unrelated but I can't be sure.
Thanks in advance to anyone that helps!
Running stock and unrooted with no physical damage or obstruction of sensors. I have tried a factory reset... twice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like your issue is hardware related. Take it to a sprint repair store and have it exchanged.
mrwicked said:
I'm having a weird issue with mine as well. Mine is a little different though. If I need to make a call that requires to enter # prompts and as soon as I move the phone away from my face the keypad will start beeping on the other end so the prompts will always get invalid responses. While on the phone and I move the phone away from my face for any reason, the person on the other end will hear the beeping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You issue also sounds hardware related. The touchscreen sounds like it is going out. It might be the dialer app but I doubt it. Speaking from experience of course.

I went to Sprint store yesterday and they gave me a replacement for mine.

insuusvenerati said:
It sounds like your issue is hardware related. Take it to a sprint repair store and have it exchanged.
You issue also sounds hardware related. The touchscreen sounds like it is going out. It might be the dialer app but I doubt it. Speaking from experience of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I will head to a store and follow up here for anyone else. Thanks again.

I would check the sensor settings and play around before trying the store. But if that doesnt work it prob is hardware issues

Related

While on Call: Face keeps hitting Mute, etc.. HELP

I thought the screen shuts off when you're in the middle of a call (proximity sensor?). On the iPhone, when you're in the middle of the call, it shuts the screen off when its by your face just so you don't hit anything like mute, etc...
Any way to get around this? Thanks
Legaleye3000 said:
I thought the screen shuts off when you're in the middle of a call (proximity sensor?). On the iPhone, when you're in the middle of the call, it shuts the screen off when its by your face just so you don't hit anything like mute, etc...
Any way to get around this? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine shuts off the screen when your face is close to it.
Settings -> Call Settings, do you have Keep screen awake checked?
I don't see that option. Settings, then call settings... I see voicemail, call forwarding... That's pretty much it. Running Stock 2.1
Mine has done this a couple times now,i'll be talking to someone and all of a sudden start hearing beeps as if hitting the numbers on the keypad. First time it happened I thought it was the person on the other end but it happened again last night and I looked at the phone after I got off the call and it had #2* or something like that in the dialer so something is definitely weird here.
bluehaze said:
Mine has done this a couple times now,i'll be talking to someone and all of a sudden start hearing beeps as if hitting the numbers on the keypad. First time it happened I thought it was the person on the other end but it happened again last night and I looked at the phone after I got off the call and it had #2* or something like that in the dialer so something is definitely weird here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you using a screen protector/skin/case ... anything?
mine has never given a problem.
so far.
Maybe you have a really skinny head that's not passing the sensor?
nmesisca said:
are you using a screen protector/skin/case ... anything?
mine has never given a problem.
so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I imagine this will happen to everyone at some point though. It doesn't happen very often, it just out of the blue will happen one day. I guess the more you talk on the phone the more likely you will be to eventually experience it Maybe it has something to do with enabling the keypad? As that is what I did last night to punch in an extension.
This problem happened with my gf, when she had a droid. For some reason while she was talking on the phone the screen wouldn't always stay off and she would bump the on screen buttons with her cheek and end up usually trying to add a new caller to the call, thus muting whom she was talking to. She also had a lot of problems with the Capacitive touch screens, it wouldn't register half the time where she touched.
I've never had this happen to me, I doubt it actually will. It must be something related to how we hold our phones, and where it lines up to peoples differently shaped heads.
bofslime said:
This problem happened with my gf, when she had a droid. For some reason while she was talking on the phone the screen wouldn't always stay off and she would bump the on screen buttons with her cheek and end up usually trying to add a new caller to the call, thus muting whom she was talking to. She also had a lot of problems with the Capacitive touch screens, it wouldn't register half the time where she touched.
I've never had this happen to me, I doubt it actually will. It must be something related to how we hold our phones, and where it lines up to peoples differently shaped heads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never happened to me in 2-3 years with the Iphone. To act like it is happening because we are holding the phone wrong is a bit absurd, I mean it's not exactly a complicated process I will try and figure out what's happening, haven't paid much attention to it yet because I figured it was a fluke but it happened twice now and is happening to other people.
One thing I noticed last night was the phone screen was still blacked out while the beeps happened so it's not a sensor thing the screen is actually blacking out it's just being activated again by something that happens after it's off I assume.
I'm not using a case or anything. It NEVER happened to me with the iPhone, but it happens quite often with the Nexus One. VERY annoying... It should be like the iPhone, where when its by your face, it shuts off the screen AND disable the touch buttons below the screen.
I think its the touch buttons causing the problem... Because my screen does turn off when its by my face.
Legaleye3000 said:
I'm not using a case or anything. It NEVER happened to me with the iPhone, but it happens quite often with the Nexus One. VERY annoying... It should be like the iPhone, where when its by your face, it shuts off the screen AND disable the touch buttons below the screen.
I think its the touch buttons causing the problem... Because my screen does turn off when its by my face.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the behavior I experience with my nexus one (stock and custom roms). As soon as I place it near my face the proximity sensor turns off the screen.
The capacitive buttons below the screen are disabled when the screen turns off for me as well. I just called in to voice mail and hit every one while the screen was off due to the proximity sensor, not a single response from any button or the screen and no change in call status when I moved the phone away and the screen came back on.
krohnjw said:
This is the behavior I experience with my nexus one (stock and custom roms). As soon as I place it near my face the proximity sensor turns off the screen.
The capacitive buttons below the screen are disabled when the screen turns off for me as well. I just called in to voice mail and hit every one while the screen was off due to the proximity sensor, not a single response from any button or the screen and no change in call status when I moved the phone away and the screen came back on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea it's some kind of fluke, It happens so randomly I am thinking it might be something to do with the internet connection like checking mail or maybe the GPS doing something that wakes up the buttons while the proximity sensor keeps the screen off because everything will be fine then all of a sudden it happens while the screen is still blacked out.
Sounds like a factory reset might fix this issue... definitely not normal behavior.
I think this is happening to a bunch of people. I don't think a factory reset would help. I think its a bug...
uansari1 said:
Sounds like a factory reset might fix this issue... definitely not normal behavior.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not a normal behaviour you are correct however it's not anything a factory reset is going to fix either. It's some kind of software bug that once enough people experience it will get sorted, just a matter of time before enough people start complaining to bring it to attention of Google or HTC.
bluehaze said:
Never happened to me in 2-3 years with the Iphone. To act like it is happening because we are holding the phone wrong is a bit absurd, I mean it's not exactly a complicated process I will try and figure out what's happening, haven't paid much attention to it yet because I figured it was a fluke but it happened twice now and is happening to other people.
One thing I noticed last night was the phone screen was still blacked out while the beeps happened so it's not a sensor thing the screen is actually blacking out it's just being activated again by something that happens after it's off I assume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you accidentally hitting the volume buttons on the side of the phone? It sounds like you might be turning the in call volume down, thus leading to it being muted.
^^ No... My face actually hits the mute button. I then have to click the mute button with my finger once i realize the person can't hear me and then they start hearing me again after I click it.
It happens with other buttons on the screen too.
Legaleye3000 said:
^^ No... My face actually hits the mute button. I then have to click the mute button with my finger once i realize the person can't hear me and then they start hearing me again after I click it.
It happens with other buttons on the screen too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Figured I would ask... I sell cell phones, and I get about 1 person a day in that has muted their in call volum by accidently hitting the volume toggle button without knowing it... all different phones (BB's are the worst!).
Anyways, my proxy sensor works perfect! I even just tested it a bit, and it senses a single finger tip starting about 1" away from the screen anywhere along the top of the screen... worked on both the left and right side and everywhere in between just fine.
I use my phone a lot at work in call (calling in to CS, calling the manager, etc) and have not had a single proxy sensor issue in the week I have had my phone.
bluehaze said:
No it's not a normal behaviour you are correct however it's not anything a factory reset is going to fix either. It's some kind of software bug that once enough people experience it will get sorted, just a matter of time before enough people start complaining to bring it to attention of Google or HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May not be normal, but its not a bug that seems to be effecting all phones. Same thing that not everyone is experiencing random touch events, 2g/3g toggling, or dust/dogfooding. To say every phone has this problem because you do is simply short sighted.
bofslime said:
May not be normal, but its not a bug that seems to be effecting all phones. Same thing that not everyone is experiencing random touch events, 2g/3g toggling, or dust/dogfooding. To say every phone has this problem because you do is simply short sighted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL shortsighted eh? It's a bug it will happen to more and more people eventually and you will see, i'm sure it will happen to you eventually as well. Only thing shortsighted is your reply.
Good day to you sir.

Prximity Sensor problem....

Hi, I have a huge problem. Every time I make a call, preferably my voicemail, it asks me to press a number in the keypad.
Okay, that's fine. But the only problem is the screen blacks out immediately when the call is made and I cannot choose any of the options. I'm still in the call, although it will repeat the options for about a minute and just end the call.
I can't end the call manually or use the keypad. Tried pressing the lock button, the search, the menu, and Back button. Nothing seems to work.
Is there anything I can do about this? Because this is really becoming a hinderance.
Hi the proximity sensor should brighten the display up the moment you take it away from your ear, if it dosent prpbably there is a problem with it and you need to check it out with either the provider or HTC if you can.
normally to end call you click on the notification on top of the phone.
It is kinda annoying there is no physical button to end calls but i guess thats touchscreens for you
Probabily you use one case
that cover the proximty sensor
I don't use any case or screen protiction... maybe I should to replace it...Thanks..
dr.alkaiser said:
I don't use any case or screen protiction... maybe I should to replace it...Thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if so, you should replace it ... sorry mate
dr.alkaiser said:
Hi, I have a huge problem. Every time I make a call, preferably my voicemail, it asks me to press a number in the keypad.
Okay, that's fine. But the only problem is the screen blacks out immediately when the call is made and I cannot choose any of the options. I'm still in the call, although it will repeat the options for about a minute and just end the call.
I can't end the call manually or use the keypad. Tried pressing the lock button, the search, the menu, and Back button. Nothing seems to work.
Is there anything I can do about this? Because this is really becoming a hinderance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. Hard reset solved it. Also solved a problem I had connecting with intermittent connections to Wifi. I think a bum app may have caused the problems.
Starting to happen again, not like last time though. Now it's intermitent and seem to recover when the other end hangs up. May try to get a replacement phone this time.
From what I've seen around the internet this is an OS issue... And it happens to me intermittently as well, though my lock button brightens the display... It seems to have something to do with the screen timeout and the lock screen enabling itself...
Mine had the same issue.
I would pull it away from my face, nothing.
Laid it down flat, nothing
Occasionally it would flash.
I had to return it, no problems since.
The sensor must have been loose and slid behind the open area of the glass.
If you can still, get a replacement
My replacement is in the mail. I have found that if I shake or tap the phone it will flicker and come back during a call. I think the sensor is faulty.

[Q] Screen stays off during call no matter what I do!

When I am in a call, putting the phone to my face turns the screen off using the proximity sensor. However, removing the phone from my face does not turn the screen back on. Nothing turns it back on even if I push all the buttons or hold them or do anything unless the other person hangs up. I cannot remember when it started....before or after the recent update.....but it did start very recently. Any ideas? If I turn off the proximity sensor during calls it works fine by locking and unlocking the screen with the buttons.
MNDZA said:
When I am in a call, putting the phone to my face turns the screen off using the proximity sensor. However, removing the phone from my face does not turn the screen back on. Nothing turns it back on even if I push all the buttons or hold them or do anything unless the other person hangs up. I cannot remember when it started....before or after the recent update.....but it did start very recently. Any ideas? If I turn off the proximity sensor during calls it works fine by locking and unlocking the screen with the buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is anything covering the front facing camera, or light sensor? Like a case, bad screen protector, etc....
Does your front facing camera work just fine as a camera?
How about air gestures? Do they work?
I'm asking these things because it seems your proximity sensors aren't working properly. Your phone thinks it's next to your head all the time, so it's not waking the screen until the other person ends call. We need to find out which one is acting up and why.
The front camera works, but in my office it seems VERY sensitive to light. The lights are glaring heavily. I never use the front camera so I don't know if that's normally how it was. Air gestures work when the screen is on (swiping left and right to view my photos), but the quick glance won't work when the phone is locked. The weird thing is that quick glance works when I do the "try it" tutorial only.
440bro said:
Is anything covering the front facing camera, or light sensor? Like a case, bad screen protector, etc....
Does your front facing camera work just fine as a camera?
How about air gestures? Do they work?
I'm asking these things because it seems your proximity sensors aren't working properly. Your phone thinks it's next to your head all the time, so it's not waking the screen until the other person ends call. We need to find out which one is acting up and why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok now it seems quick glance DOES work when the phone is off....I just couldn't do it correctly.
Main problem still exists though.
What rom are you using
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
My note 2 started like this also. I don't know what's wrong with it.
Sent from iNew V3 using Tapatalk
My phone is completely stock and not rooted.
MNDZA said:
My phone is completely stock and not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then i would contact att and get a warrenty replacement
jerrycoffman45 said:
then i would contact att and get a warrenty replacement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking that, but I'm tempted on resetting my phone and seeing if that helps. The problem is that I would lose all my app data and I'd hate to deal with that.
MNDZA said:
I was thinking that, but I'm tempted on resetting my phone and seeing if that helps. The problem is that I would lose all my app data and I'd hate to deal with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
att will ask you to do that when you call
MNDZA said:
When I am in a call, putting the phone to my face turns the screen off using the proximity sensor. However, removing the phone from my face does not turn the screen back on. Nothing turns it back on even if I push all the buttons or hold them or do anything unless the other person hangs up. I cannot remember when it started....before or after the recent update.....but it did start very recently. Any ideas? If I turn off the proximity sensor during calls it works fine by locking and unlocking the screen with the buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately this sounds like a bad proximity sensor. This can be verified by testing the sensor by dialing *#0*#
I had this happen to my last Note 3. The only difference was I could turn the screen back on with the home button.
done12many2 said:
Unfortunately this sounds like a bad proximity sensor. This can be verified by testing the sensor by dialing *#0*#
I had this happen to my last Note 3. The only difference was I could turn the screen back on with the home button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that *#0*# test and I can activate the proximity sensor, but it seems to stay on after that.
This is a known issue with our phone. I had this issue myself. Plenty of times. Just call ATT and ask for a replacement.
Yeah I just found this:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...-3-proximity-sensor-issue-during-calls-5.html
It's not a software issue use canned air and blow by the speaker and the headphone jack als o press on the back of the phone . This has happened to me
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app
i stumbled upon this thread and took my phone apart and sure enough there was lint in it. in the dial pad using the *#0*# method, when i covered the sensor the screen would light green, vibrate, and stay that way after i moved my hand away. i cleaned it and everything is perfect!!!
Try this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fls4NIRJ1IQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Note 3 SM-N900A rooted by Designgears

Black screen after call - growing tired of this phone

Does anyone else have this issue? It's really driving me crazy to the point where I feel like ditching the Nexus 6. It's not even every call, but it is enough to annoy me. Pull the phone away from my head and the screen wont wake up. All I can do is long hold power to force a reset. It's really annoying. I've tried the proximity fix for 5.1 but it still happens. I can't set "power to end call" because also sometimes the phone doesn't wake the screen when there is an incoming call so I have to press power to wake the screen to see who it is.
Does anyone have any idea how to get around this other than the two solutions above? This has happened on both my devices (Original and RMA) and I just can't take it any more.
I sounds like a faulty proximity sensor. And I've observed intermittent behavior like this on previous phones (but not my N6). You can test this with a number of apps. I've used "Sensor Box for Android", but there are several more. Prox sensor is located near the top LH corner. With the app open and on prox sensor, passing your hand over it should register on the app.
You are so active on this forum that I won't even ask about a screen protector....
The proximity sensor seems to work fine under all tests that I have done. I actually use Tasker to utilise the proximity sensor to set ringer volume based on whether it is activated or not (eg in my pocket, proximity sensor CLOSE, set ringer high).
Its not every call either and multiple Nexus 6 devices have had this issue for me too. Proximity sensor works in every test
That's weird. I've had no issues at all. I assume you have the issue on the stock ROM too.....
I suppose I'll have to test though I don't really want to run stock.
What about disabling Tasker and trying it out.
Happens with or without tasker. It's pretty much always done it since 5.1
There are known issues with the prox being flaky on this device. I just need to find a way to overcome this.
Remember, we need to separate problem solving from the idea of how we want our phone to look and perform. Once you've identified the root cause, you can then decide what steps you want to take to solve it.
*Sigh* Yes I know. But it's so intermittent I won't know if it solves it for a looooong time. It would be quicker to return to stock, sell it and buy something else
I've literally never ran stock on the nexus 6.
Like Camera indicated, I'd try removing the screen protector if you have one and see if it's better.
It's not a protector issue.
Let's assume I've done all the obvious things except flash stock
Edit. I'm going to try and use power button ends call. Just to see of its an active call that causes it.
Hopefully it will happen when I can take a log cat but inise the phone very rarely.
Try this app in the Playstore.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vorlan.screenoncall.free
I had a similar issue where the screen would time out while I was on a call and wouldn't wake when I moved the phone away from my face. I had to hit power button to wake phone and enter pin just to end a call. I make/recieve over 100 calls per day and it was getting old til I found this app. Works perfectly every time.
Thanks but that's not the same issue. Mine will not wake at all. I have to force a reboot to get display
You might give the app a try just to see. It keeps the screen on during a call but the proximity sensor still shuts the screen off unless you are on speaker phone. It may not work, but worth a try to keep your N6!
I've seen the same thing with my N6, display goes black (randomly, not even related to a call) and the only thing I can do is reboot. Haven't wasted any time looking for a solution, 'cause I don't think there is an easy one and there is no way to know if something you try is even going to work! I just reboot and move on.
Just posting to let you know you are not crazy and there is someone else out there with the same problem!!!
I'm not sure what you mean. I've been recommended this app before but I don't like the idea of mybscreen being on.
What do you mean it keeps the screen on but proximity still shuts it off? .
Thanks for confirming
Basically it doesn't let the screen timeout. Proximity sensor still functions like normal.
I would try it and see.
If it helps good, if not no harm. It definitely fixed my issue, even if my issue wasn't exactly what you're experiencing.
Well power button end call didn't help. I don't think it is a proximity sensor issue. Let's hope it happens when I can get a logcat. Unlikely. Maybe a job for tasker.
I had this issue too. I eventually thought it was tied to UV, but then I installed all stock and didnt change anything and it still happened. Maybe a bug in lollipop.

Screen stops responding during call

I've had this problem with 2 different roms now (PureNexus, Chroma) on a few kernels (stock, ElementalX) so I'm not sure whats causing it but I need a fix. In a call, many times the screen just stops responding. Sometimes I can turn the screen on/off using power button and its fixed. Other times nothing works and I have to do a hard reboot by holding down power key since nothing else works on screen.
This is on latest version of the rom/kernels. Any ideas?
When you say its stops responding, do you mean it goes dark and nothing displays on screen? Or that its on with everything displaying but tapping it does nothing?
Only when in contact with ears?
akholicc said:
When you say its stops responding, do you mean it goes dark and nothing displays on screen? Or that its on with everything displaying but tapping it does nothing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its on, touch doesn't do anything. The phone is working since volume keys bring up the UI but you can't do anything. Also proximity sensor works, it turns on/off as I bring near ear. I don't have a screen protector.
ECrispy said:
Its on, touch doesn't do anything. The phone is working since volume keys bring up the UI but you can't do anything. Also proximity sensor works, it turns on/off as I bring near ear. I don't have a screen protector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having a similar issue from the last month.. I'm on DP5
when i get a call most times the screen is off.
To answer the call i've to put on the screen, unlock the phone and then go to the heads up notification and choose answer there..
waiting for nougat final hoping it'll fix this.
Tried fiddling around with notifications importance setting.. it helped a little but then there was the annoying heads up showing along with the regular incoming call screen.
Sometimes (very rarely, has happened twice) the screen just remains black and will only work normally after a reboot.
Anybody have any suggestions?
I was having similar issues, also on the Developer Preview and I ended up noticing that the phone app was blocked from showing any notifications despite the fact that I never set it that way. I would hear the call ringing but would never see the screen to answer. Just changed that setting and everything was back to normal. Perhaps something is causing the phone app to fail to show notifications for you as well.

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