More iPhone 4 Problems – Proximity Sensor Causing Hangups & ‘Face Dialing’
On top of the infamous antenna issues, there appears to be another quite serious iPhone 4 problem that is affecting a good number of users. Namely problems with the iPhone 4 proximity sensor are causing mid-call hangups, unintended dialing and more similar troublesome behavior when using the new iPhone.
I learned of these issues via an email from a regular reader here, Brian Bothwell. Since I ‘ve not yet experienced the issue, I ‘m going to share Brian ‘s rundown of the problem here “ as it is affecting him and he has researched it heavily
As much as I don’t want even more problems related to iPhone 4 to get exposure, this one effects me personally and is a serious problem as it causes hangups during important phone calls. It would be helpful to get more exposure to this problem so Apple starts taking notice and provides a fix.
In short, there are problems with the proximity sensor. Unsure yet if the problem is with iOS 4.0 or iPhone 4. I started noticing it when I got my new iPhone 4, but I had not put iOS 4.0 on my 3GS. Some others are reporting that they are having problems on their 3GS because of it. What happens is even if the phone is against your ear and not moving, the screen randomly activates and de-activates. Many times this causes "face dialing" where your face will push buttons on the screen. This can either hang up your call, start a FaceTime conversation, put the person on hold, put the person on speakerphone, or if you have received a SMS or other popup notification, it can start launching other apps.
It has been extremely frustrating for me. I’ve hung up on many people accidentally because of it. If you guys do post this to help give it exposure, please provide this information in some form:
If any of you are having issues with the proximity sensor (face dialing/hangups) on iPhone4 or iOS4, please go here and add a post: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2475509
Also, it would be helpful to put in a support call in order to improve Apples level 2 exposure, to the problem. Go here:
http://www.apple.com/support/expert/
Enter a description of this problem and your phone number. In your description, explain that the screen turns on and off even when the phone is against your face. Explain that you’ve done a full restore and tried reset all settings. Give them a link to the above discussion thread.
Let us know in the comments if you have experienced this issue on your iPhone 4.
Thanks Patrick. One thing I forgot to mention is it seems to be more of a problem the longer your call lasts. If you only make short calls, you may never see it. The longer I talk, the more often I see the screen start spazzing out.
Hmmm – ok, good to know. I've made a few long-ish calls so far – I'll be keeping an eye out for this for sure.
OMG i was just thinking that! i just got my phone yesterday and am so dissapointed with it!!!!! ive had an iphone for a while now and just now am starting to wish i had a different phone!!!!
The proximity sensor issue is not minor at all; in fact, Apple's support forum is flooded already with hundreds of messages regarding the sensor problem. I am now in the process of re-activating my trusty old 3GS (on hold with AT&T) because my iPhone 4 is totally impossible to use for phone calls.
In just 3 days my ear and cheek muted calls, started FaceTime, moved calls to speakerphone out of the blue, hung up on people I called, went back to the home screen and launched apps… Worst yet: putting one caller on hold while dialing an expensive international call and putting it in conference.
This has NEVER happened to me with my 3G and my 3GS – NEVER, not even once. The iPhone 4 did it to me about 25 times in its first 3 days alone!
This is just not a device you can trust in a normal course of communications and business. I don't understand how this experimental shoddy unit ever made it to market in this condition.
I read somewhere that resetting fixes the problem (Settings-> General-> Reset-> Reset All Settings).
Nope, tried that with no luck. Also tried a completely new iphone 4 from the apple store. Guess need to wait for next update.
I had the problem with the proximity sensor when making phone calls on with the new iPhone 4. I tried the Reset All Settings and that did not fix the problem. Tonight I spent 2 hours on the phone with a high level Apple tech support person trying to fix the problem. WE DID FIND A FIX. When I first got my new iPhone 4 on June 24, I restored it to the backup I did from my iPhone 3GS. All my data transferred over and I thought all was great till I discovered the the proximity sensor issue when making calls. The problem was resolved by doing a total restore as if it was a new phone. My contacts, calendars, and bookmarks were restored as soon as I added back my mobile Me account in e mail account set up since they were all backed up on Mobile Me. All my apps automatically updated during the process, but lost my folders and arrangements, which I have to adjust manually. Also had to bring in my music, videos, and photos with a new sync. It takes a bit of time to do this, but the proximity sensor on phone calls works like a charm. Hope this helps someone else.
question: does your proximity sensor shut off the screen at around 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch away on the iPhone 4 or has it now started to activate and cut the screen off at around 2 inches away like the older 3GS and other iPhone models did?
Simply amazing. You know I think that Apple is facing all of these issues because they rushed to make the iPhone 4. Android more than likely caused this. However, Steve needs to give an official statement and soon. Until then we can only speculate.
Any how theres this article at http://getyourgadgetsgoing.com/ called "iPhone 4 Is In But The Problems Are Out: Complete Overview"
Check it out for the complete listing of iPhone 4 issues and one that you may yet have heard of but still might be experiencing.
I have a question for everybody that reads this forum regardless of whether you have the problem or not. Please help us and answer this even IF YOU DO NOT have the proximity problem!!! Does ANYBODY have an "iPhone 4" that has a proximity sensor that activates further away than 3/4 to 1 1/4 of an inch away from the phone? The 3GS and previous models seemed to have an activate range of about 2 inches away. Please let us know.
The reason that I am asking is that if NOBODY has a phone that has a better range than the average of 1 inch then it won't matter how many times I go to exchange my phone because it won't be fixed until they update the software or firmware or in worst case do a recall.
I would like to try and find out if this problem is only on some iPhone 4s or if it is all of them and only some of us that use the phone on our ear are having the problem and others are not because of bluetooth headsets etc. and the problem would not affect those users.
This workaround is working so well for me I just wanted to repost it with additions.
djkidkaz wrote:
I think I may have found a temporary solution to our problem while we wait for a real fix from Apple.
Once you start a call, hit the home button and pull something else up on the screen like a photo so that if the screen comes back on it doesn't have options like END CALL or FACE TIME on the screen to accidentally hit. The calculator may be another good choice as the only way to get it off the screen is to hit the home button.
Just wanted to add to this. >>As soon as you initiate a call you can double click the home button to bring up recent items and then just hit the photos or whatever you were using as a quick shortcut. It will take you right back to whatever the last photo you had up and you can go to your call.
You can also use the double click on the home button while you are on the call in the photo app to view recents and then toggle between the phone app and the photo app if you need to get back to the call screen.
We definitely shouldn't have to do this but for people that absolutely need their phone without headphones etc.. this was a great suggestion!
This is working for me so far at least as a work around.
thanks djkidkaz!
I think everybody should have a look at this post that was deleted from the Apple support forums by Apple. It seems that they have no interest in fixing this issue or even making a statement on it unless they are forced to by a lawsuit or something to that effect. I am VERY disappointed in Apple. I have been a fan for over 15 years. It seems as if they have forgotten who they are and just becoming a big bully now. (see below)
iphone4_925 posted "Re: Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls" in "Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls" on Jul 5, 2010 6:16:29 PM.
. He was rather arrogant, too, which really made me mad. Oh well… Back to Best Buy it goes…
————————————————————–
> ramellam wrote:
> I took my phone to the Apple store for repair/exchange this evening. The Genius first said that he had not heard of the issue (yeah, right! total lie). I told him there are nearly 70 pages on the Apple Support forum for this exact issue. He immediately dismissed my comment and said, "We typically don't lend too much credence to support forum posts…" Ok….
>
> Anyhow, the Genius made a call on my phone and, of course, he did not encounter any of the proximity issues I'm having. He gave the phone back to me and said, "There doesn't appear to be any issues with your phone. You'll just have to get used to the new Proximity Sensor location on the iPhone 4…" I was like, "Ummm… Huh?" He refused to exchange the phone.
>
> Luckily, I bought my phone from Best Buy on launch day. I immediately went back to Best Buy and the Mobile Phone sales guy said they've already had 9 of their 30 launch day iPhones returned due to antenna and proximity sensor issues. He put me on a list to exchange the phone. Luckily, I have 45 days to exchange the phone, since I'm a Best Buy silver rewards card holder…
>
> Anyhow, I'm kinda bummed the Genius refused to help me
Wow just cause of this attitude of apple employees They are being SUED by lawyers well apple you should take this time and save yourself from another class action law suit for proximity sensors
PS ~ Apple mods now don't be wasting your time deleting this post since I have a right to say stuff when you guys sell us your defective product and I think if apple doesn't address this issue then we all should return the Iphone 4 at lease those who are having this proximity issues.
And also apple instead of deleting peoples post how about investigating why Iphone 4 proximity sensor is going haywire and maybe you will save yourself from another law suit and also people who are having problem with there iphone 4 with the proximity sensor do report it to KCR LEGAL LAW FIRM
http://kcrlegal.com/iphone-4-class-action-lawsuit…
I exchanged my first phone after experiencing a tremendous amount of what has been described as "face dialing". Same problems as reported here – call placed on hold, speakerphone activated, call muted, conference calling, etc. I hoped that the second phone would fix the problem. Three calls in, one already placed on accidental speakerphone and one switched to a screen that was choosing a custom ringtone. (I'm not sure what that was – I panicked and closed it quickly so I could return to my phone call.) At this point, I have to hold the phone away from my head to avoid inadvertently touching the glass and causing who-knows-what to happen. I think my next step is to send this back and re-activate my 3G.
I too am having the same face dialing problems. I actually have dialed another number while talking with another. This makes me nervous that my conversation may one day not be private. I've already exchanged one and am ready to give up and just get a full refund and go back to my 3GS or try a different model all together.
I just experienced this exact proximity sensor issue tonight. I was on a call when all of a sudden the speaker activated… then the screen would light up while holding the phone to my ear… Then, the worst, while talking on the same call, another call started to someone I hadn't talked to in 10 years, but was in my Contacts. I almost panicked and couldn't press End Call fast enough.
I didn't give much attention to the whole antenna issues, but this really is an issue that can make using the iPhone 4 extremely cumbersome.
I thought maybe my phone alone had issues, but after googling this, it seems that's not an isolated problem.
Looking forward to a fix or something as I don't want to be continuously stressed while holding the phone to my ear.
To address a question above, this is an iPhone 4 issue, not an OS 4 issue. I had OS 4 on my 3GS with no problems. Have only had the iPhone 4 for a couple days now and the proximity sensor issue is simply awful.
going through it now…frustrating
I have had so many problems with this. This is my first iPhone and I HATE this. I talked to an apple tech and tried restoring as a new phone. Nothing worked. They sent me a new phone. SAME ISSUES. So unhappy
I too have noticed that the longer the conversation the more chance of it doing it. (people think I'm crazy when I say my phone does this) I will try the suggestion of putting it on another screen while talking. Wouldn't buy another one (we bought 5).
ugh i have this same problem! The other night I was on the phone with a friend at 1AM, it hung up with her and before I knew it, it was dialing my boss at 1 AM!!! I had to apologize not only for waking her up, but also for waking up her 5 month old baby. I talked to apple and they were like "you just need to get used to holding the phone differently", but this is crazy. the antenna thing was not an issue, this is a huge issue. It happens on every call I make. Today it has started doing something else as well. After it hangs up, when I try to call back it gets stuck. It wont call out, but also wont let you end the call. The only way to kill it is to power down the phone. So not only am I hanging up on people, its taking me 5 mins to call the back. awesome
As someone mentioned above, I've found hitting the home button after the call initiates works well. You can then use the button on top of the phone to end the call. This will have to do until Apple fixes the sensitivity of the proximity sensor with an update.
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I have did all the suggested options and still having the same problems…proximity sensor and reception…This is so frustrating…you pay all this money, thinking you getting the best…this is the first for me…never have experienced this with any other phones…