Proximity sensor won't turn off the screen during calls

[xashyar]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

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Bug description

The proximity sensor works for normal calls, and other apps on the same phone, but not for Signal.

It even works, inside Signal for switching voice note audio outputs from speaker to earpiece.

Steps to reproduce

• Start a call using Signal
• See the screen won't turn off

Actual result: Touch screen buttons get unwanted taps

Expected result: Screen turns off

Screenshots

Device info

Device: Manufacturer Model XVI Android version: 7.0.0 Signal version: 6.0.1

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/android/6.0.1/4f529e0914fb290596ec5025670a8c6bd3b685b405b0ac8332958181cd414921

[R101G]

Plus one for this. It's a major cause of calls cutting off.

[xashyar]

@R101G, Do you mind adding your device info, it looks like the issue is device-specific.

[R101G]

@Xashyar, I use a Unihertz Jelly2 with Android 11.

[stale[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[xashyar]

Annoyingly still reproducibile.

[thegeni]

Very annoying problem. Reproduced on my Oneplus 8 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro, both on Android 13.

[Fehertukor]

Oneplus too. Signal screen goes crazy, but the opposite way! It stays black and I have to wave before the screen (after a normal phone call) to "wake it up". This is the same experience with and without screen protector.

[niktss]

Also on Galaxy A52s 5G, Android 13 https://debuglogs.org/android/6.34.2/beb8a843ff4a9081ee6e506a1cf7e2e9b33099446221624e92b5e4646b0ad107

[gpkvt]

+1

Fairphone 5, Android 13

[cody-signal]

Hi folks,

I just tried out on a OnePlus 8T, Samsung A51, and Pixel 7. All of them would respond correctly to the proximity sensor. I'll note the A51 was for sure slower at responding but it would turn off the screen.

There are a few things that currently prevent the screen from turning off (not saying it's the best ux, just that it's currently implemented this way):

• You have video enabled
• You have speaker phone enabled

[xashyar]

Hi @cody-signal, it used to be that if people had notifications entirely turned off (as many people do, either from OS Settings or within the app); then calls wouldn't be detected as calls and thus the proximity sensor would not be triggered. But now the same can't be reproduced anymore, so if this scenario makes sense, and somehow it has been solved along the way, it's possible that people's notification settings has been the main underlying issue all along (plus for other devices u mention as well).

[hetszunyukapanyanyimonyok]

I had this same problem. Just checked and all of my notifications are enabled. I will check @cody-signal solution and reply as soon as possible.

[korg91]

This bug is still present in Signal 7.28.4 on my Pixel 8 (Android 15). Signal calls behave as if the proximity sensor did not exist. I tried both receiving and making calls, both with screen locked and unlocked, it makes no difference. Notifications are enabled and the speaker is not, so those are not the issue.

The proximity sensor works as expected when listening to voice messages.

[Hurbad]

Still experiencing this bug on Android 14, Nothing Phone 2A 7.28.4. The proximity sensor starts acting up.

[korg91]

Update: today I received a call and the proximity sensor worked as expected. Then I received other calls and it did not. I think it's much more frequent that it does not work. I could not understand if there's any specific factor that affects the behavior.

[bigon]

Hello,

I think that #13646 is duplicate of this one.

I can confirm on my phone that enabling/disabling the speaker workaround the issue and the proximity sensor is working as expected

[lietu]

Just had a call on Signal, phone was freaking out the whole time. Still an issue.

Pixel 6 Pro + GrapheneOS

[Ansarmughal99]

Experienced the Same issue today Device relme gt neo 2 A13 It works 1 time only. Again it was not working If i ond and off speaker during call it response sometime but that is not a soultion.

Here is the log

https://debuglogs.org/android/7.32.3/91cc0fc5bdaadac540a4399fb13cb08e4dcea597643d576dbb0ac090ef6973ae

[dimitris-personal]

I can reproduce just about on demand on up-to-date Pixel phones (6a, 7). Up to date on OS, Play Services. Currently Signal is production (7.32.3) on both.

Here's a debug log from the P6a. Phone "asleep" (screen dark/locked), Received the incoming call (initiated on the P7). Screen lit up, was able to answer the call but proximity sensor was not having any effect.

https://debuglogs.org/android/7.32.3/284ca41c668857308a96758022aabf7b907c96bf9cfc1410dc8e885c42f86625

If it matters, I'm using Niagara launcher on both phones.

Edit: The P6a is a test-ish device, I can install non-production builds on that if it helps.

Edit: P6a call with the just-released production 7.33.2 version

https://debuglogs.org/android/7.33.2/baf38975a073b63266fbba8baa20ac973c7f173c7bc1d4a9031fe70c32f7a5b1

[Garbulix]

I confirm this issue.

Pixel 6a GrapheneOS based on Android 15 Signal 7.34.2 from Google Play

[kevenwyld]

I'm also having this issue. It seems as though the first time I put the phone to my ear after starting a call the proximity sensor works, but if I remove it to look at the screen and then put it back to my ear it won't turn off automatically again.

I'll see if I can get a debug log right after the issue occurs next time I notice it.

GrapheneOS (Android 15) Signal 7.37.3 from the APK

[kevenwyld]

Here is the debug log. I tested an incoming call and the behavior is slightly different than I described above. When I received the call and answered with the phone locked the screen did not turn off when I put it on my ear, or when repeatedly moving it away from my ear and back again.

I then tried turning the screen off with the power button and back on again (phone still locked). After that the proximity sensor worked correctly, even with multiple times of moving it away and back again it worked.

I do feel like sometimes it's the other way around, where it works once and then doesn't work again, but this is how it went with this test.

GrapheneOS (Android 15) Signal 7.37.3 from the APK Pixel 7

[dimitris-personal]

Still reproduces with latest Android and Signal. Adding my comment here from my other issue (#13811) (which I closed as it had drifted and at least partially duplicates this one):

Note the possible correlation with doze mode

Readily reproducable here on the same Pixel 7.

Incidentally, and maybe separate issue (or not?) the first call attempt incoming on a screen-off "sleeping" Pixel 7 failed to surface a ring (and call never went to Ringing on the originating device), but the moment I dropped the call attempt from the originating device I got the missed call notification on the P7.

On the second attempt, after accepting the call I got the "no proximity screen disable until I manually toggle screen off/on with the power button" issue again.

Debug log: https://debuglogs.org/android/7.39.3/e9aef9eeb4e5ffe70871a5e2180af9ad347be24838415349b68ddbe844eb19ea

[kevenwyld]

I'm also still experiencing this problem. 99% of my calls are on signal and it happens on every one, very consistently.

first call attempt incoming on a screen-off "sleeping" Pixel 7 failed to surface a ring

@dimitris-personal is there an issue for this already? I didn't see one but if there is I'd like to follow it. I have that problem with maybe 1 out of every 10 calls. But what I find interesting is that it sounds a LOT like this issue https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/11421-graphene-os-intermittently-fails-to-ring-for-incoming-calls which is actually an upstream bug (https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/381164175 and https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/387203440) impacting the Pixel 7 that google probably won't fix. I know it's really unlikely they are related but it does make me say "hmmm"

GrapheneOS (Android 15) Signal 7.39.4 from the APK Pixel 7

[SebastianJL]

For me the screen turns off during calls but not when listening to a voice message and holding the phone to the ear. The volume turns down correctly though.

Android 14 Signal 7.39.4 from PlayStore Fairphone 5 debug log

[saaste]

I have this issue as well:

Pixel 6 Pro Android 15 Signal 7.41.2 from Google Play

debug log

[theofficialgman]

Same issue. Pixel 7, latest stable release android.

[junx404]

Copypasted my comment from the wrong issue thread: I also have this problem and had it for a long time, did you find a fix? Super annoying when my ear turns on airplane mode mid call. Pixel 7a, grapheneos with sandboxed play

[OlehAhieienko]

Same on Google Pixel 8 on both stock Android 15 and 16 😿

[dougmassay]

Still happening for me on a fully updated Pixel 8 Pro. Really annoying.