Is the iPhone 4 having proximity sensor troubles?

The iPhone 4's massive launch hasn't been blemish free, with reports of spotty displays (which seem to have disappeared) and antenna woes being rather widely reported. Well -- it looks like it's possible there's another issue too -- this time with the proximity sensor. Now, we're no strangers to spontaneously turning on speakerphone with our faces (though admittedly our cheeks are pretty round), so it's hard to say if this is an iPhone 4-specific issue, but the mounting reports would suggest that it's possible the new handsets sensor is a little bit... over sensitive. Reported issues include accidentally disconnecting calls, throwing the speakerphone switch, and putting people on hold accidentally. What about you? Are you having problems with your iPhone 4's proximity sensor? Let us know in the comments.

[bnekic Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:16PM]

No issues

[mtw2010 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:16PM]

Seriously- WTF are all of you doing? I received my phone last Wednesday, set it up in 2 min and it has been working flawlessly since.

[izzykareem Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:17PM]

@mtw2010 you should work at the genius bar

[andyg8180 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

@izzykareem lmao! +1

[miggdamac Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:16PM]

I am having issues with the sensor as well. At first I thought I was dropping calls until I realized the mute button would randomly turn on. I talked with Apple Support and this is a known issue that they said could be fixed with a case. No joke, they told me to get a case.

Can someone tell me who manufacturers the bumper case for Apple, I think I'll invest.

[kpoehls Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:16PM]

Yep, been having this prob since the beginning

[redherring79 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:17PM]

Yeah... I've had problems with the proximity sensor. Just yesterday it allowed my face to somehow dig through my address book and call someone I haven't spoken to in over a year - while I was already on the phone with someone else. So then I got to have that awkward "Hey... I know we haven't talked in forever... but I actually didn't mean to call you... and I've got another call that's really important on hold"...

So not cool. Not cool at all.

[Gully666uk Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:17PM]

Oops another issue, Now being left handed means i have no signal unless I hold the phone in my other hand or shell out and buy an ugly bumper I was told yesterday by Apple tech support .Apple have dropped the ball big time.Magical phone no i don't think so.

[skyman375 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:17PM]

I am; accidentally placed a call on hold, and a few minutes later I put it on speaker.

Add in I'm also having 3G problems; signal strength shows 5 bars, but I can't load any data; switch to Edge, and it's fine (albeit, slow. It's Edge!).

[slohia Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:18PM]

I have been all the problems as described

[johnwilke Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:19PM]

I thought it was just me. I have hung up on a few people and put myself on mute several times. I think it is only worse because I have to hold it a specific way to avoid the antenna being shorted out.

[deepen03 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:19PM]

yea if you don't keep it close enough to your face while on a call, the screen stays on.. Before, it was much less sensitive and would stay off when a few inches near the face during a call, now you have to keep it pressed against your face, or the screen stays on and you will press buttons accidently

[Walkerc25 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

Not affecting my iPhone 4 either seems fine and I've used face time twice today

[Lee1019 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

Im an HD2 owner. I've had this issue twice. I don't think this is a real problem. I hate apple and its products, but this is nonsense.

[ddub Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

Not noticed any problems here...

[skiggy619 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

This happened to me. I was on hold with Apple and I managed to get into the keypad and press seven twice with my cheek.

[dynamicskies Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

This happens to me all the time with my 3gs before and after the new os it makes me so mad!!!!. I always mute people and i try to lock it sometimes so this doesn't happen and sometimes it just hangs up on them and sometimes it locks it.
Why apple i love u so and u treat me like trash. We spend money on you and you still talk down to me :'(

[voodoofunk Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

I got this issue.

[brutek Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:20PM]

Maybe they should go ask Motorola, who owns this patent (United States Patent 6246862) that Apple is CLEARLY violating BUT Motorola is too stupid to do anything.

[BeSublime Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

I wondered why endgadget hadn't covered this yet... I noticed it on both of my iPhone 4s the first day.

[benedictm Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

This happens all the time with my iphone 3g

[daisame Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

Today I got off a call and immediately put the phone in my pocket. The proximity sensor should have disabled the keypad but it did not and it called out. Not sure what technology the sensor uses, If heat, it may not have been able to recognize enough heat in the pants pocket.

[obarthelemy Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

let's start a meme:

"There's no issue with the proximity sensor... You're holding it wrong !"

[noaim Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

I am having no issues with the proximity sensor

[mykul155 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:21PM]

it ended a call on my one time

[dswatson83 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:22PM]

At least even if this an issue, its prob software related or software fixable so it won't be around forever. I'm fine with these little hiccups but the antenna thing definitely has me uneasy

[Hunter109 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:22PM]

It wwill put my phone on mute every once in awhile. Only if you move the phone in a certain way/angle. But still an annoyance. I'll be talking and they don't hear a minute of what I'm saying!

[Dellibedaboss Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:23PM]

Alright alright... enough of the fanboy wars... NO product is perfect. Will not everrr be one, but I do hope for that. And the trolls that like to trash Android and call iPhones "perfect" devices that "just work" and have no blemished.... You got OWNED with your precious iP4! Tried to trash my EVO, now it seems everyday there's a new issue..... wake up to reality and stop seeing past them.


This sucks, but as I stated before... I hope alllll of this is worked out when the white iP4 hits. Then, I will be one happy ass camper.... iP4 + Evo on deck.....

[djk1 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:23PM]

I noticed the second day but only a few websites were even discussing it. My brother got the phone at the same time he is actually the one that told me about it. Ever since i noticed it, its been bothering me. I actually put my wife on hold and made a conference call with someone else on accident. How could all of these problems get past quality control?

[bernardino Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:24PM]

Engadget,

At least two people have already pointed out the solution:
Settings/General/Reset/Reset All Settings

I haven't noticed this problem, but then again I rarely ever make voice calls, use mostly data.

I did notice that the proximity sensor is to the right of the top speaker. If I cover the area with my finger, the screen turns off. Just an observation, as this is the way its suppose to work.

Are the people having this issue noticing that the screen is not turning off, or is the screen turning off yet you're still "pushing" buttons? I was thinking if the screen was on you'd notice the light from it.

[one35one Posted Jun 30th 2010 12:12AM]

@bernardino
That does not fix anything u can reset it as many times as u want it's still going to happen.

[MikeChase Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:24PM]

No Issues here.
But then again I am not a Vampire
and my face has a temperature high enough
to to be picked up by the sensor.
I even stuck my head in the freezer for 15 minutes
and it still worked.
So I can help those whom are affected.

[surf5395 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:24PM]

Isolated the problem between four iPhones.

1) It's fixable by reseting the phone.

2) The problem has to do with whether you "recovered" your phone when you got it. That is, if you migrated your data over from a previous phone you probably have the problem. Fresh installs were fine.

[Dorf Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:24PM]

I bet Apple will sell you a magical bluetooth headset. If you have to hold a phone to your cheek you blew it. :)

[a2bucks Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:25PM]

Not having this problem. The problem with these message boards is that the people having problems tend to be the ones who comment. The vast majority of us not having problems, usually can't be bothered to comment on our non-problem (except in cases like this when we see that the people having a problem make it seems like everyone is having the problem). I'm pretty sure a software fix will help those of you experiencing the problems that have popped up in the past week.

[a2bucks Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

@a2bucks Could I say "problem" one more time in that post. Man I need to expand my vocabulary!

[dylanlive Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

Finally! I thought I was just going crazy! I have done everything while talking on my iPhone 4 such as speakerphone, facetime, calling and adding contacts to my favorites while on the phone and walking! Not a pleasant surprise when I put the phone away from my ear.

My thoughts were with the added Gyroscope, and hoping that a new firmware push will fix this! I'm no expert on this though.

[dylanlive Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:28PM]

Glad to see a solution posted! Will try it out! Sorry for not heavily reading into the comments yet! Clearing my settings now!

[Mrinfamy Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

Evo 4g doesn't touch iPhone 4 on sales you clown

[abe326 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

i had proximity sensor issues too!!!! all i did was reset all settings and it worked...seems like the back up restore messed with it...works fine now...now only if they can fix my grip of death issue lol...

[egydarceyes Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

YES I NOTICED THIS, but I automatically thought it was me since Mr. Jobs blamed us on how we hold the phone. I'm sure he'll blame us on how we should place a phone call.

That'd be quite awesome if he instructed a user guide on how to make phone calls and how to hold the phone. Pathetic Apple...pathetic.

In any case, yes I have this problem.
In the beginning I thought I wasn't close to the phone enough and when it's directly in contact with my skin the screen will finally turn off.
I've never had this issue with the 3G I owned. It'd be like half an inch away from me and the screen is still turned off.

Another freaking bug Apple. I'm slowly hating this company...

[gman13 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:26PM]

Have had this problem from day 1. If apple replaces are they giving a new or refurb? This sux. Love the phone but it has issues...

[cpatel Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:27PM]

Yup...these are problems I am facing too...
Sometimes Speakers go ON..Call gets END...!!
Apple should either recall or fix these issues..!!
Already they are antenna issues and I dont see any fix coming from Apple.
Neither they giving out Free Bumper...!!!
They just want to mint money...not customer satisfaction...!!

[crawlgsx Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:28PM]

No issues what so ever here.

No Dropped Calls
No Proximity issues
No screen issues
No signal issues

My only issue is the lack of Jailbreak ;)

[FriarNurgle Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:29PM]

Sensor should be able adjustable. It is on my dumb LG Dare. Had an issue with it and looked up the Service codes. Worked like a charm. Would expect a fancy pants Smart phone to at least be able to have this adjustment, even if it's in store only.

[DannyBres Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:29PM]

Mine is alot!

[gus64 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:29PM]

It did this to me las night twice and my wife though I was crazy.

[zboy88 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:29PM]

Okay, I'm gonna round up peoples suggestions into one post to make it easier.

Issues:
Proximity sensor not turning off/turning on, so many calls are suddenly hung up on. ("Cheek dialing/muting/holding, accidental FaceTime")

Fixes:
(1.) Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- This will most likely help with those issues.
(2.) Restore, and then Restore from Backup.
- It just might have been a software bug that appeared in your new iPhone.
(3.) If you are under warranty, either contact AppleCare, or go to the Apple/ATT Store to get your device checked out or exchanged.
(4.) Check the Apple Discussions site to check your issue out.
- discussions.apple.com is an official Apple support forum
(5.) Look anywhere else online for help.
- Tech forums
(6.) **Not recommended** Wait for Apple to release a Firmware Update 4.0.1 to fix all existing issues.
- This could happen in a matter of minutes, or months, so it would be foolish to wait.
(7.) If you are desperate, then change to another phone... :/
- Beware and be cautioned of the high 'early termination fee'

I hope this covers most of what people have already said.
Thanks.

[csekar15 Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:29PM]

I had this issue a couple of times. It actually went into settings -> sounds -> ringtone and played my ringtone when I was on a call. Pretty annoying. I chalked it up me not holding the phone tight as I was conscious of the antenna issue and i was holding the phone light and away from my ears. But, it seems to be a bigger and real problem.

[zraph Posted Jun 29th 2010 1:30PM]

I had the speakerphone twice
I still have the yellow bar

and don't have signal issue because I have the bumper case

But I LOVE MY IPHONE 4