iPhone Screen Stays On During Calls? Fix It

A proximity sensor detects when your face is close and turns the screen off during a call. That saves energy and stops accidental touches. (MakeUseOf) On iPhone it uses infrared light from an emitter at the top of the screen. (MakeUseOf) If your cheek keeps muting or hanging up calls, the sensor isn't doing its job.

Quick Check At Home

1. Test it. Make a call with speaker off and cover the top half of the screen with your palm. The display should go off. (MakeUseOf) It should turn back on when you uncover it. (iFixit Answers 406592)
2. Clean the top of the screen with a moist, lint-free cloth. Don't use rubbing alcohol, window cleaner or vinegar, because they can damage the screen's coating. Dirt there can block the sensor. (MakeUseOf)
3. Restart and update. Restart the app or the iPhone, then check Settings > General > Software Update. (MakeUseOf)
4. Remove the screen protector. A poorly fitted protector is often what's blocking the sensor. (MakeUseOf)

Did It Start After A Screen Repair?

The proximity sensor isn't part of the new screen. On many iPhones it sits in a small module on the back of the display, and it has to be moved from the old screen to the new one during the repair. (iFixit Guide 140593)

iFixit points to a few ways that move can go wrong:

• Missing brackets. Some low-cost screen assemblies don't include the brackets that hold the camera and sensors in place, so the sensor can sit too low or face the wrong way. (iFixit Answers 356430)
• Flex folded too tightly, or the sensor not seated in the right spot. (iFixit Answers 356430)
• Adhesive in the way. On models like the iPhone 12 Pro, the sensor module must be positioned so the proximity sensor isn't obstructed by adhesive. (iFixit Guide 140593)

On Face ID iPhones, that same front sensor assembly is paired to your individual iPhone at the factory. That's another reason it has to be moved over carefully and not swapped. (iFixit Guide 140593)

What A Careful Repair Does

A careful screen repair:

• Moves the sensor parts across.
• Seats them in their brackets with nothing blocking them.
• Tests the phone before it's sealed.

iFixit recommends turning the device on and testing the repair before new adhesive goes down. (iFixit Guide 152975) A quick test call at that stage catches a sensor problem before you leave with the phone.

If your screen stays on during calls, whether or not the phone has been repaired before, we can open it up and check the sensor's placement.

Franchitti's Fix is a home-based iPhone repair workshop at 4515 Texas St, San Diego. Book An Appointment to pick a time.

1-year warranty against defects on undamaged parts and labor (60 days on Budget parts). Budget parts carry a 60-day warranty.

Learn more about Steven Franchitti, who runs the workshop.

Sources

• MakeUseOf, What to Do if Your iPhone's Proximity Sensor Isn't Working: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-to-do-if-your-iphones-proximity-sensor-isnt-working/
• iFixit Answers, Screen is not going black during call: https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/406592/Screen+is+not+going+black+during+call
• iFixit Answers, iPhone 6s proximity sensor not working after screen replacement: https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/356430/iPhone+6s+proximity+sensor+not+working+after+screen+replacement
• iFixit, iPhone 12 Pro Screen Replacement: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+12+Pro+Screen+Replacement/140593
• iFixit, iPhone 14 Screen Replacement: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Screen+Replacement/152975

Franchitti's Fix LLC is an independent repair shop, not affiliated with Apple.