proximity sensor issue?

gartenspartan

Member
Jul 25, 2014
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Having an issue with proximity sensor on my pixel 3 where even slight smudging from being against my face triggers the sensor and it won't turn the screen on until it's thoroughly wiped. Has been a pain when trying to switch to loud speaker mid call.

Contacted Google and they are sending a replacement. Interestingly the sensor worked better in safe mode.

Anyone else having issues with proximity sensor not working right and being perhaps too sensitive? I know pixel 2 xl had software issues with proximity sensor at times and safemode made me think it could be software, but I'll see how the new phone works.
 
Mine would not turn the screen off during a couple calls yesterday, but that seems to have fixed itself after a reboot.
 
This happened to me but just once on the handful of phone calls I've made so far. A quick google search shows it was also an issue on the Pixel 2.
 
Having an issue with proximity sensor on my pixel 3 where even slight smudging from being against my face triggers the sensor and it won't turn the screen on until it's thoroughly wiped. Has been a pain when trying to switch to loud speaker mid call.

Contacted Google and they are sending a replacement. Interestingly the sensor worked better in safe mode.

Anyone else having issues with proximity sensor not working right and being perhaps too sensitive? I know pixel 2 xl had software issues with proximity sensor at times and safemode made me think it could be software, but I'll see how the new phone works.

Did you have a screen protector installed?
 
I had that problem at first on a couple of calls. Wiping the screen fixed. I then put a mediocre edge adhesive screen protector on that has cutouts for the proximity sensor and it seems it kind of keeps my face from touching the sensor and haven't had a problem since.
 
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Did you have a screen protector installed?

I did have a screen protector on the first day of ownership. After having the problem with the screen protector I took it off and used it for a couple days without a screen protector and was still having the issues.
 
I am seeing the same issue. I noticed that once the other person hangs up, I press the power button and the screen comes back on. I observed this in safe mode too. This, of course, becomes problematic if I want to look up information while in a phone call. Waiting for my call back from google in 1.75 hours to report that safe mode made no difference.
 
Having an issue with proximity sensor on my pixel 3 where even slight smudging from being against my face triggers the sensor and it won't turn the screen on until it's thoroughly wiped. Has been a pain when trying to switch to loud speaker mid call.

Contacted Google and they are sending a replacement. Interestingly the sensor worked better in safe mode.

Anyone else having issues with proximity sensor not working right and being perhaps too sensitive? I know pixel 2 xl had software issues with proximity sensor at times and safemode made me think it could be software, but I'll see how the new phone works.

I've been having this issue as well with the pixel 3 since launch day. I contacted Google this morning and they said it's a known issue and they will be pushing up update out the first part of November. they told me either I can get a replacement a refund or wait for the update and to see if it fixes it.
 
I've been having this issue as well with the pixel 3 since launch day. I contacted Google this morning and they said it's a known issue and they will be pushing up update out the first part of November. they told me either I can get a replacement a refund or wait for the update and to see if it fixes it.

Waiting for my replacement device. If you happen to get the update, let us know if it helps. Sounds like google is much more on top of it then when I called about it right after launch.
 
Having the same issue with my brand new Pixel 3. I'm using AndroSensor app to measure the sensor's outputs. When I wipe the screen squeaky clean with a microfiber cloth, the proximity sensor responds as it should (reading between 2-5 when nothing in front, 0 when i place my hand over the sensor). But when I press my finger over sensor just once or twice to leave a slight smudge, the sensor is reading 0 regardless of whether an object is over it. When I place a call afterwards, the screen stays blank. Wiping the screen clean makes it perform normally again. This seems like a pretty fundamental and unacceptable issue on a brand new $800 phone.

UPDATE: I used the "Proximity Sensor Reset Doctor" app, followed the prompts, and this problem seems to have been solved. Even with smudges, the sensor is reading correctly in AndroSensor and the black screen during calls doesn't occur anymore.
 
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I'm having the same issue. I have oily skin so it happens pretty much every single phone call for me. Quickly wipe it off, works fine again. It honestly is starting to get on my nerves. Never had a phone do this. I'm going to contact Google Monday see what they say. I'm not really sure how a software remedy will fix this, but I'm willing to wait for an attempt before sending it back. I did try the proximity doc app the poster above me had luck with. Made no difference for me. The phone has been absolutely everything as advertised otherwise though.
 
Having an issue with proximity sensor on my pixel 3 where even slight smudging from being against my face triggers the sensor and it won't turn the screen on until it's thoroughly wiped. Has been a pain when trying to switch to loud speaker mid call.

Contacted Google and they are sending a replacement. Interestingly the sensor worked better in safe mode.

Anyone else having issues with proximity sensor not working right and being perhaps too sensitive? I know pixel 2 xl had software issues with proximity sensor at times and safemode made me think it could be software, but I'll see how the new phone works.

I am having the opposite issue: When I make or receive a call the proximity sensor MOST OF THE TIMES does not work, not turning off the screen when I have the phone on my ear, making me press stuff when I dont want to. Very annoying. I have this issue for some months now and the last 2 monthly updates did nothing to fix this.
Anyone else with the same problem? I own a normal Pixel 2 and use a spigen glass screen protector.

Cheers
 
I am having the opposite issue: When I make or receive a call the proximity sensor MOST OF THE TIMES does not work, not turning off the screen when I have the phone on my ear, making me press stuff when I dont want to...I own a normal Pixel 2 and use a spigen glass screen protector.
Have you used one of the recommended apps to test the proximity sensor? If it's not working correctly then you'll have to remove the screen protector and test it again - it's quite possible that the screen protector is interfering with the operation of the sensor.
 
Olá did not, à wholesale Agosto. I'll try the against and posy the results.
Cheers
Have you used one of the recommended apps to test the proximity sensor? If it's not working correctly then you'll have to remove the screen protector and test it again - it's quite possible that the screen protector is interfering with the operation of the sensor.
 
I received a follow up call from Google support as they are tracking this issue. I informed that the November update did not fix the issue for me. I reinstalled Proximity Reset Fixit Doctor and my issue with screen staying black when removed the ear has largely resolved itself. We shall see what December brings.
 
I had this issue with a phone years ago (HTC One M8) in which the proximity sensor starting acting up after a software update (which was fixed finally after another update). So if Google is tracking this issue, they may improve sensitivity of the sensor in a future update.
 

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