S4 Proximity sensor issue

**David Cutler** · 09-04-2013, 06:48 PM

Just did the pushed software update for the Galaxy s4. Now the proximity sensor is playing up. ( Once screen switches off during call it wont switch back on after removing from ear...., without pushing home button.) I have tried all the settings.
Anybody else having this issue ? Know how to fix it ? Thanks

**bearda** · 09-04-2013, 07:03 PM

YES! I had the exact same issue and the good news is the fix is simple. I posted about the same problem here before I found an answer on another forum:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sam...-turn-off.html

TL;DR version is that the proximity sensor collects dust and you need to shoot the earpiece (which the sensor is connected to) with a can of compressed air. $5 for the air and 30 seconds and it should work good as new.

**memtenn** · 09-19-2013, 04:17 PM

Just had the same problem. I took my phone to best buy and got a factory reset and still nothing. Come to find out I had a glass screen protector on it that was covering up the sensor. Took it off and what do you know it works. I spent $35 on a glass screen protector I cant even use. I dont exactly know what the glass does to the sensor being transparent and all but my phone did not like it.

**alisamir82** · 10-01-2013, 02:57 AM

Thanks Bearda, you are a life saver

... my PS is working again after blowing some air into the earpiece.

**qtrxist** · 10-01-2013, 03:34 PM

I registered just to say thank you. It worked on mine!!

I did try to activate everything that has something to do with the proximity sensor, air view, etc, also turned off power saver mode. Didn't work.

Good thing we have cans and cans of air here at work. IT WORKED!

Thanks! its annoying when my screen is still off when I want to end the call.

**Edward Binion** · 10-03-2013, 10:38 AM

That's nice...you used compressed air to blow dust away from the ear piece. You know that's not where the proximity sensor is rigth? Guess not. The proximity sensor is the second light sensor to the right of the ear piece.

Now that that's out of the way. I have found that if you wipe away any oils/dirt from it..it works. But only briefly. There is something more going on here. Samsung needs to fix this issue.

**bearda** · 10-03-2013, 02:58 PM

It's all part of the same assembly and it looks like there's no internal partition between the earpiece grill and the sensor. Dust enters via the earpiece and ends up coating the nearby proximity sensor. I'd blow directly on the sensor, but the same grill the dust gets in is the only access point without taking the whole thing apart.

In my case wiping the glass above the sensor didn't help. I tried alcohol, microfiber cloths, etc. If your problem is durt on the surface of the glass more power to you. If your problem is dirt beneath the glass wiping isn't going to help a lot.

**Brian Luedtke** · 10-10-2013, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by bearda

YES! I had the exact same issue and the good news is the fix is simple. I posted about the same problem here before I found an answer on another forum:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sam...-turn-off.html

TL;DR version is that the proximity sensor collects dust and you need to shoot the earpiece (which the sensor is connected to) with a can of compressed air. $5 for the air and 30 seconds and it should work good as new.

Well, what do you know, it worked! I didn't believe it, but since it was a simple thing to try I did, and lo and behold the sensor is working perfectly again.

This is the first knock against the design of the S4 for me. Not a big one, but one nonetheless.

**Edgekrusher187** · 10-24-2013, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by bearda

YES! I had the exact same issue and the good news is the fix is simple. I posted about the same problem here before I found an answer on another forum:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sam...-turn-off.html

TL;DR version is that the proximity sensor collects dust and you need to shoot the earpiece (which the sensor is connected to) with a can of compressed air. $5 for the air and 30 seconds and it should work good as new.

Perfect fix.

**Malarkey721** · 10-30-2013, 04:13 PM

Just registered so I could say thank you for posting/linking to the fix... this issue was driving me bonkers and the compressed air trick worked.

Thank you!

**plucks** · 11-05-2013, 07:11 PM

about 2 months ago I actually got AT&T to exchange my device after a hard reset. It worked for a minute, but on my 2nd device, this issue is happening again. There is clearly a problem and i can't believe more people aren't raising hell or having this issue. Tech support said my call was the first they received, so please call your provider and explain this is a known issue. I might try to get this 2nd phone switched out...too many calls ended due to screen being on after pressing option 2 on the keypad.

**Xducerguy** · 11-15-2013, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by bearda

It's all part of the same assembly and it looks like there's no internal partition between the earpiece grill and the sensor. Dust enters via the earpiece and ends up coating the nearby proximity sensor. I'd blow directly on the sensor, but the same grill the dust gets in is the only access point without taking the whole thing apart.

In my case wiping the glass above the sensor didn't help. I tried alcohol, microfiber cloths, etc. If your problem is durt on the surface of the glass more power to you. If your problem is dirt beneath the glass wiping isn't going to help a lot.

Thank you bearda! Some folks just just are not as smart as they think they are. You on the other hand are a gentleman and a scholar.

**Amit Gajjar** · 11-21-2013, 03:24 PM

I also registered just to say thank you ... lol simple fixes are the best

**purplepirate99** · 11-26-2013, 05:32 PM

Did you by any chance have the gadget guard black ice? I'm having issues with my proximity sensor going black and not coming back. Someone has to hang up before I can end the call. I've tried the compressed air on the earpiece and it didn't work for me.

**purplepirate99** · 11-26-2013, 05:36 PM

Memtenn -- Did you by any chance have the gadget guard black ice? I'm having issues with my proximity sensor going black and not coming back. Someone has to hang up before I can end the call. I've tried the compressed air on the earpiece and it didn't work for me.

**maball54** · 12-09-2013, 01:11 AM

Thank you so much for this. I thought my phone was defective but this worked like a charm, fixed it right up.

Thanks again.
-Matt

**Gary Howe** · 12-10-2013, 01:52 PM

I also had this problem and also sorted it by blowing (with a straw) it's annoying that such a high tech phone is subject to such a lo tech problem but at least it seems easily fixable.

**blindfaith76** · 12-13-2013, 01:50 PM

I couldn't believe it, but a 2 second burst of air from my canned air, and the problem is fixed! sometimes its the simple solutions in life!

**plucks** · 12-16-2013, 01:51 PM

Please call your service provide to voice these complaints, nothing will happen if people only post to websites!

**premcupid** · 01-07-2014, 02:37 AM

I registered just to say that you are AWESOME!
I made many trips to service centre. And im about to go today again. After reading your post. I just BLEW into earpiece of my phone with my mouth and it just worked! !
Samsung galaxy note 2 (GT-N7100)

**demontooth** · 01-15-2014, 02:46 PM

Blew all up in the earpiece and now the proximity sensor works again. Thanks!

**jmm74** · 01-15-2014, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by beaSame Issue here,rda

YES! I had the exact same issue and the good news is the fix is simple. I posted about the same problem here before I found an answer on another forum:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sam...-turn-off.html

TL;DR version is that the proximity sensor collects dust and you need to shoot the earpiece (which the sensor is connected to) with a can of compressed air. $5 for the air and 30 seconds and it should work good as new.

I had the same issue. Called Samsung, and they recommended blowing on it as hard as I could. No Joke! I didn't believe it, but it worked. I think the compressed can of air is a smarter solution! He said pocket lint gets into the sensor. I am sure this will continue to happen. I don't like the idea of continuing to push more debris into the phone.

**Nick F1** · 01-25-2014, 11:56 AM

Hello. I have an S4 clone from China and i have the same problem. Maybe if i remove the screen protector and put some air in it will get falright or not?

**Zarlof** · 01-27-2014, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by bearda

YES! I had the exact same issue and the good news is the fix is simple. I posted about the same problem here before I found an answer on another forum:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sam...-turn-off.html

TL;DR version is that the proximity sensor collects dust and you need to shoot the earpiece (which the sensor is connected to) with a can of compressed air. $5 for the air and 30 seconds and it should work good as new.

Thanks sent Bearda. I was also surprised and skeptical. Sorry to see others blasted you before testing this. Hopefully, they will learn something.

Zar

**heckseeds@gmail.com** · 02-04-2014, 04:14 PM

Thanks to all those that posted on this issue. You took me down the path I needed to find the best solution.

The earpiece and the proximity sensor are in fact right next to each other, but they are not actually related except that dust can get in through the earpiece and collect between the screen and the proximity sensor (located just to the right of the earpiece). While blowing compressed air into the grill of the earpiece might work for some or for a while, it did not work for me. I even ran the *#0*# test which, while interesting, only gave me a false sense that my prox sensor was working correctly.
The best fix for your phone is this... Google "Samsung S4 disassembly" and pick one of the many excellent videos on disassembling the back of your phone. I used this one...

Don't sweat it... it is not crazy difficult. Just find a large clean area where you won't lose any of the small screws that you need to remove. Getting into the proximity sensor should take you about 5-15 minutes depending on your skill level. Ultimately you need to flip up the prox sensor from the back and use a slightly moist lint free cloth (or possibly air) to clean the sensor and the back of your screen. Then reassemble everything and you will have a working phone... at least you will until you manage to get too much dust in there again.

If you don't want to do this yourself, I am sure that an local phone repair shop can get you up and running again using this method. Hopefully you find this before you go through the hard reset advice! Losing all your programs sucks...