Proximity Sensor Issue

**marissaa310** · 06-30-2010, 10:53 AM

I apologize if there is a thread about this already, but I didn't see one...

Is anyone else have an issue with the proximity sensor on iPhone 4? When I am on a call, my screen will randomly turn on occasionally and I end up press buttons with my face that I don't mean to press. I have put my call on Mute multiple times without realizing it, gone into text messages and send gibberish texts to people, and today my phone went into my settings and starting playing ringtones in my ear in the MIDDLE of a call. WTF?!? I hope this is just a software issue....

**ghostface147** · 06-30-2010, 10:55 AM

I've had the issue one time.

**Cleveland** · 06-30-2010, 11:29 AM

Haven't head the issue at all.. maybe the proximity sensor is bad or came loose inside the phone??

**lungho** · 06-30-2010, 11:31 AM

This fixed the problem for me.

Go to Settings, General, and scroll all the way down to the bottom. Tap Reset and the Reset All Settings. Somehow this is supposed to re-calibrates the proximity sensor.

**macharborguy** · 06-30-2010, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by ghostface147

I've had the issue one time.

I have had this issue almost with every single call I make. Last night I was talking to an employee and about 3 times during the conversation, the screen reactivated, my ear pressed against the Mute button, and the person on the other end just kept saying "hello? hellooo?"

It appears that, for some people, the proximity sensor is not registering that it is aiming INTO the ear canal, and thinks there is nothing in front of it, and because of that, reactivates the screen. I have tested this a few times, and can easily replicated it the same every time.

**macharborguy** · 06-30-2010, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by lungho

This fixed the problem for me.

Go to Settings, General, and scroll all the way down to the bottom. Tap Reset and the Reset All Settings. Somehow this is supposed to re-calibrates the proximity sensor.

didn't work for me, there is still that "sweet spot", or in this case, "sour spot", where i can get the phone positioned right up against my head and ear where the screen turns back on.

**ghostface147** · 06-30-2010, 02:03 PM

So I just replicated your issue. If I talk on my phone with it resting on my shoulder and my head leaning on it, the sensor disengages as if I am not on a call. If I even slightly tilt my head, the sensor works as normal. It almost seems that it is a software issue. As if it is too sensitive...

**Joletzring** · 06-30-2010, 02:20 PM

My wife is having this issue. Very annoying...she keeps hanging up on people because of it.

I am hoping it is a software-related issue; my guess is that it is.

When is this OS 4.01 update coming out?!

**Casper TFG** · 06-30-2010, 03:22 PM

I heard some tech pundits say you need to restore it as a "new phone" (from itunes) and that issue will go away. Good luck.

**jakej914** · 06-30-2010, 04:04 PM

You might try resetting setting, but honestly, I think it is just that the software is more sensitive and that the location of the sensor has changed. Try to lower the phone on your ear. That's what I've been doing, and it has been working.

**Hack-My-i** · 06-30-2010, 04:18 PM

i been having this issue tooo!! its gettin on my last nerve! i been loving this phone but it has tooo many issues with this sensor.....

There seems to be a thread about this issue on Apples website and its 513 posts, 35 pages long!! I just posted on it and u should too:

**ghostface147** · 06-30-2010, 04:51 PM

Well I don't really pay attention to threads on Apple.com. Of those 513 posts, I am sure a good number are like, nope not me. No problems here. I believe it's a software bug that makes the sensor too sensitive.

**iregret** · 06-30-2010, 04:56 PM

I have the issue.

**Hack-My-i** · 06-30-2010, 04:58 PM

this damn proximity issue is driving me crazy!!! I was on a call for 1 hour and in that hour, it puts the call on hold, mutes the call, dials other numbers from my contacts!! What the hell APPLE!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! This phone is useless to me now, i will be using my 3G|s| until this is fixed or this i4 will be on eBay!

**macharborguy** · 06-30-2010, 05:04 PM

honestly, the iPhone is a "software" phone in the end. It has become a phone to run software on, and having to reset the phone to "like new" without being able to reload/restore all of the save data (I am NOT playing thru Plants vs Zombies again) is just stupid.

Apple can fix this in a software update, and I am guessing they will.

**Hack-My-i** · 06-30-2010, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by macharborguy

honestly, the iPhone is a "software" phone in the end. It has become a phone to run software on, and having to reset the phone to "like new" without being able to reload/restore all of the save data (I am NOT playing thru Plants vs Zombies again) is just stupid.

Apple can fix this in a software update, and I am guessing they will.

i really hope they do it soon, some ppl say its software and some say hardware... i need a confirmation on this!?

**lungho** · 06-30-2010, 05:27 PM

It's a shame that tapping the Reset All Settings button doesn't fix this for everybody. Although it did make it to where I wasn't muting or putting people on speaker, I have noticed that the sensor still isn't quite right. If I move the phone away from my ear and then immediately put it back, it takes a second or two for the sensor to trigger the display to go dormant.

I'm no expert but this has to be a software issue.

**OTACORB** · 06-30-2010, 06:06 PM

I've had this issue myself and in one call, I hung up 3 times. I was aggrivated and hell. They guy kept thinking it was his phone because he was in a bad area. I never said anything, but I knew it was my phone, because when my face would hit the screen it would hang up and lock the phone. This really needs to be addressed too.

**emily0605** · 06-30-2010, 06:49 PM

I'm having this issue and it's driving me batty. Keeping the phone lower on my ear seems to help some, but is a PITA. I'll try the settings thing. I do hope they do a fix for it.

**rgar3388** · 06-30-2010, 11:12 PM

I'm another one having this same issue. Restored the phone as new, and reseted the settings, neither worked. I've learned to deal with it because I love everything else about the phone but I hope this is fixed soon enough.

**ptb127** · 06-30-2010, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Joletzring

My wife is having this issue. Very annoying...she keeps hanging up on people because of it.

I am hoping it is a software-related issue; my guess is that it is.

When is this OS 4.01 update coming out?!

Its happening to me too, except im hitting the mute button leading ppl to believe I hung up on them. I am also hitting the contacts button so when I go to hang up, I am on the contacts list. I remember the iPhone 3G had this issue but a software update corrected all of it.

**timberga** · 07-01-2010, 01:06 AM

If you have this issue, please report it via this link:

apple DOT com / feedback

(sorry I don't have 10 posts on here yet so I can't post the actual link)

Fill out all the information, the more "actual" feedback Apple gets the more likely they are to act on it. Complaining in the forums won't get it done, and you shouldn't sit back and say, that other guy/gal will submit their issue/feedback, they don't need for me to submit my feedback.

I was told by an Apple technician to go to that link and post my feedback and to encourage anyone else I knew to fill it out as well.....

**Hack-My-i** · 07-01-2010, 08:39 AM

i did it

**nheilweil** · 07-01-2010, 12:07 PM

I've got this problem and Apple is providing a new iPhone 4 in an hour (in store replacement through Genius Bar). Really annoying to be on a call and hear, "beep, beep, boop, beep..." followed by the realization you've hung up on the caller. Tired of cheek zapping people!

**Joletzring** · 07-01-2010, 01:34 PM

My wife just got a replacement phone and the problem is still there. She keeps hanging up on people during phone calls. This is a serious issue. They need to adjust the sensitivity of the proximity sensor ASAP. No one at Apple seems to have any clue what to do. In fact, one of the geniuses at the store reported they are having the same problem with their phone. They suggested using the ear-buds! Unbelievable.