Note 3 proximity sensor issue during calls

Mine started to behave the exact same way few days back and it was really annoying. While going through the post today , I cleaned the sensor area with lint free cloth .... nothing happened . Then took out the battery and blew real hard with my mouth in the earpiece and restarted the phone. It worked like a charm again . I guess the fine dust particles gathering under the screen infront of the sensor does make sense as blowing hard in earpiece workied for me and I have tried the sensor tes *#0*# and its working fine and even incall fucntion of screen going black and illuminated again once away from the ear have been restored.Thank you guys for the life saving info, appreciate it.
 
Consistent phone bug now..(Nova and/or proximity sensor issue?)

I do have the proximity sensor issue, and not sure if it's related. For the past few weeks, when I receive a call and hold the phone to my ear, the screen shuts off as expected. When I'm done with the call but still connected, I pull the phone away, screen is still blank, and I hit the power button or voume rocker to get the screen back on (proximity sensor problem) and then hit end. However now, no matter which button I press (incl. home key), the screen will not come on until the call has been disconnected by the other (e.g. they have to hang up). Once they do, and I hit a button, the screen comes on reliably at the phone dialogue where I can message the caller,etc.

I did install nova prime and it seems to have started about the same time .. not sure if it's a Nova bug (?). Stock phone app.

When I have time, I am going to exchange the phone for a replacement without the sensor issue. Not sure if that will solve it.

Anyone else with Nova and proximity sensor issue have this?
 
Re: Consistent phone bug now..(Nova and/or proximity sensor issue?)

Have you tried locking the phone before you put it up to your ear? That might bypass the sensor issue.
 
Re: Consistent phone bug now..(Nova and/or proximity sensor issue?)

Sounds like a proximity sensor issue. I have Nova prime and don't have this problem.

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro
 
Re: Consistent phone bug now..(Nova and/or proximity sensor issue?)

This issue occurs for me every few (2 or 3) months (give or take). For awhile it drove me crazy so I tried many remedies and nothing worked.

Finally.. I found out it was dust / lint that is caught in the proximity sensor. I am fairly confident you are experiencing this same issue.

Get some canned air from somewhere and open your Note 3. Ensure to blast the air all along the top and into all the crevices you can along the top. Just blast the air in there (won't hurt anything). I did it with the phone powered off. (pictures below)

After you get all around that area power it up and test it out. From the couple of times I have done this it fixed my proximity sensor issue and actually made it respond faster to being near my face. Also on a site note... I use Nova Prime as well so we are in the same boat.

Let me know how this works out for you! :).

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.
 

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According to the manual, the proximity sensor is on the other side. Otherwise, the compressed air could work.

You could also blow air into the top speaker grill


aqe5u8y4.jpg

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro
 
Did the test and my sensor was reading about 210 just sitting on my desk. Got some compressed air and directed it in the earphone speaker grill. That dropped it down to about 160 and the problem still persisted. Then I unscrewed the inside cover and pulled out the proximity sensor and the area was packed full of lint. Blew it out with the duster air can, reassembled and it works like new now. Score is now 46.
Thanks for the advice. I'm not a dirty person, but I do keep the phone in my jeans pocket. It's too bad that area is not sealed off better from the speaker grill. That's obviously where the lint is getting in.
Kevin.
 
Re: Note3 proximity sensor issue during calls

I had the same issue on my note 3. Proximity sensor does not work on calls or air view. Sensor reading uncovered:
Screenshots_2014-03-28-00-08-28.jpg
I used this tear down video from YouTube and cleaned the phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ntOfJS_1c&authuser=0
The dust build up in my phone looked like:
Screenshots_2014-03-28-00-02-22.jpg
After cleaning the phone, my ADC sensor value uncovered went back to zero.
One thing I will change about phone handling. I use to shove the phone in my pocket just the way I was holding it. Usually causing the phone to be upside down in my pocket. I will now keep the phone right side up so that the ear piece isn't buried in the pocket lint.
 
Re: Note3 proximity sensor issue during calls

I had the same issue on my note 3. Proximity sensor does not work on calls or air view. Sensor reading uncovered:
View attachment 109871
I used this tear down video from YouTube and cleaned the phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ntOfJS_1c&authuser=0
The dust build up in my phone looked like:
View attachment 109873
After cleaning the phone, my ADC sensor value uncovered went back to zero.
One thing I will change about phone handling. I use to shove the phone in my pocket just the way I was holding it. Usually causing the phone to be upside down in my pocket. I will now keep the phone right side up so that the ear piece isn't buried in the pocket lint.

I don't think a teardown is really needed. You can do it but that's way more difficult than required. What I posted is the same thing but that's 2 minutes without disassembling the phone.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.
 
That's the same video I used to open my phone. That guy does a great job.
I did take a couple pics of my proximity sensor area before and after I cleaned.
My ADC value didn't drop to zero after I blew out the dust. Maybe next time I'll swab down the area with a Q-tip.

-Kevin
 

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Re: Note3 proximity sensor issue during calls

I don't think a teardown is really needed. You can do it but that's way more difficult than required. What I posted is the same thing but that's 2 minutes without disassembling the phone.

I tried your method and it just didn't fully clean the area inside. My ADC value did drop from 210 to 160 with your method. I think you just need to get under 80 to have success. Your method would probably work for someone in the 81-120 ADC range. This accumulation of lint happened over 6 months of use. I just don't think I would have gotten all the lint out that way.

Who knows? Maybe the Pacific Northwest USA heavy sticky lint just doesn't blow out as easy as the rest of the world's lint?

BTW, I went back in the phone, this time armed with a toothbrush and a fresh can of duster and my resting ADC value went to zero.

-Kevin
 
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That's the same video I used to open my phone. That guy does a great job.
I did take a couple pics of my proximity sensor area before and after I cleaned.
My ADC value didn't drop to zero after I blew out the dust. Maybe next time I'll swab down the area with a Q-tip.

-Kevin

Yes, swabbing the area is what I did. It was like new when I was done. Also cleaned the front camera area and inside speaker grill. It wasn't too hard, as long as you have the right size screw driver. To pry up the back, use the stylus part way in it's hole to lift the back up. Then use a small flat head to work around the back edges.

-Mark
 
There are no warranty tamper stickers covering any of the screws. I don't see how they would even know you opened it. Just don't go spilling your drink in there and triggering the water sensors.

-Mark
 
I had the same problem with my Note 3. I did my research and found the great advice from y'all including the link to YouTube. I followed the instructions on how to disassemble and I was amazed at the dust on the sensor. Samsung needed to put on the proximity sensor the same thing that is on the bottom speaker. If you have disassembled CAREFULLY you know what it looks like. Sometimes the most simple things are overlooked, and the small things cause the most irritation.
I want to thank y'all for the help.
 
My sensor stopped working and stumbled upon this thread. I blew on the ear piece and started working again lol!.. I'll try tearing down the phone when I get home.

I'm going to Samsung next week for work. For whatever it's worth, I'll stop by user trial office and let them know..

Update: I disassembled the phone and cleaned the sensor and sensor window. It was 'somewhat' dirty.
I blew with canned air then cleaned with lens cloth and screen cleaning solution.
ADC value wend down to about 10 (with case on, and screen protector on.)
ADC After just blowing air into ear piece was about 60. (sensor still worked at this level.).
 
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I have a problem with a Samsung s5660.
The proximity sensor works, but the delay for the screen to become visible again is too long.
(On the test screen, the change from green to normal happens instantaneously)

So far no solution found on the internet.
Only solution: Switch to Speaker or use an earphone (which will render voice more clearly)

Or, is there a way to change the delay time?
 
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Hi guys,

I had the same problem where the proximity sensor would turn off the screen during calls, but not turn it on again when I took the phone away from my ear. While this may, indeed, be due to dust buildup inside the case, there is a software fix that you could attempt (you neet to root the phone though). The workaround is to set a calibration value, which is used to shift the sensor values accordingly (not the raw data coming from the sensor, but the values at which the system switches between on and off values for the proximity sensor). I don't know if, as more dust accumulates, the values will need to be re-calibrated. Time will tell, I guess.

The instructions are here: www (dot) infotales (dot) com (forward-slash) samsung-galaxy-note-3-proximity-sensor-issue-fix.
You will need to type some command using the command-line interface, and you will need to have root access. I tested only solution no. 2, and it works as advertised. Be aware that there is a small typo at step 6. Instead of "echo -en $ ‘\x45′ > /efs/prox_cal" you need to type "echo -en '\x45' > /efs/prox_cal" (without the quotes, ofc).

I hope this helps some of you!

Cheers,
Dan

PS: sorry about obfuscating the link, as this is my first post on the forum I'm not allowed to post a link :))
 
hi, I noticed that when making a call the screen blanks out when putting it up to my ear, but it turns back on again after a few seconds while it's on my ear! I played around with the test mode (*#0*#) and found out that the proximity sensor activates fine, also I had my proximity sensor replaced but the problem continues! I also reactivated the phone, I erased everything and repute apps back...still with the problem. Any ideas? Thanks!
 

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