New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on November 30, 2021) follows:

If we leave the ongoing issues and bugs with Pixel 6 & 6 Pro for a while — considering they’ll be sorted out in the near future with software updates — these are arguably the best smartphones Google had to offer.

But what if an issue is hardware-related? Then just a software update won’t be enough. And the owners will need to rush to their nearby Google store in order to get it fixed.

Pixel 6 proximity sensor not turning off screen during calls

With that being said, yet another issue with Pixel 6 and 6 Pro has come to light where users are having problems with the proximity sensor.

pixel-6-inline

Basically, the proximity sensor turns off your phone’s display during a call to avoid distractions or any kinds of mistouches.

However lately, some Pixel 6 users are reporting that the sensor is not turning off the screen and it remains active during calls.

Here are some reports for reference:

Pixel-6-proximity-sensor-not-working
(Source)

I am having issues with my Pixel 6 Pro during calls. The proximity sensor doesn’t seem to work correctly and I’m constantly muting myself with my ear. I’m not using a screen protector, I use the OtterBox Defender case but this behaviour is present without the case anyway. Has anyone else experienced this? I can see the screen goes black if I hold it in the perfect position. But as soon as I move it slightly then screen comes back on. (Source)

I have a similar issue – when I’m already in a call and someone calls on the other line (call waiting), the proximity sensor stops functioning and I start to press with the cheek all the quick notifications toggles. (Source)

As a result, it leads to mistouches and users often end up muting calls. While most of the users say the sensor fails to turn off the screen, others complain the display doesn’t wake up during a call and they have to press the power button.

The root cause of this issue is unknown

It is likely that this is happening due to the placement of the proximity sensor in Pixel 6. Recently, some users also reported Pixel 6 screen popping below the punch hole camera where the proximity sensor is placed and this can be seen in the disassembly video.

So it’s possible that that the placement of the sensor has something to do with this issue discussed here as well. Although, it’s too early to say if the problem is related to the positioning of the proximity sensor on Pixel 6 devices or it’s a software-related bug.

Unfortunately, Google is not aware of this issue as of now and we hope that the company acknowledges this one as soon as possible. And when they do, we will update the space down below to reflect the same.

While we wait for Google to acknowledge this issue with the proximity sensor not working on the Pixel 6 lineup, you can share your thoughts in our comments box below regarding the same.

In the meantime, you can also go through our dedicated Pixel 6 bugs and issue tracker to get insights over all the ongoing bugs that are affecting Pixel 6 users.

Update 1 (December 01)

Now, there might be a workaround to this issue. According to one of the affected users, clearing cache for the Phone app seems to do the trick. To do this, go to Settings/Apps/Phone/Storage – Clear Cache.

google phone proximity issue
Source

Update 2 (December 07)

The December 2021 update is going out to Pixel devices and it brings with it general improvements for sensor stability and response in certain conditions.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated Google section, so make sure to follow them as well.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.

Aashish Singh
502 Posts

I developed a keen interest in technology ever since my school days. And writing about it keeps me closer to this fascinating world. When I’m not working you can catch me playing video games.

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