I am going crazy cos I cannot find a way to lock the screen when I am taking/making calls. I must be touching it with my face and without my knowledge it is performing all sorts of tasks....it even managed to enable my 'block calls' setting. Please can someone help as the shop says that all my settings were in order and it should not be happening. ....................? Thanks
DroidForums.net | Android Forum & News
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
lock screen problems
- Thread starter Bugsyros
- Start date
Thank you so much for getting back to me. Yes, that box is checked so would there be a fault with my phone ??? I feel as though I am being incredibly thick!!!
When you hold your phone to your face, the screen should lock. And then unlock once you move the phone away from your face. If that doesn't happen, it may be that the proximity sensor isn't working or is blocked by your case.
This works fine on my phone. Originally, I had the same problem you did until I "checked the box".
This works fine on my phone. Originally, I had the same problem you did until I "checked the box".
Go to the play store and download https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigermonster.proxfinder.
Once run, place your finger above the top of the screen, horizontally parallel to and just to the left of the earpiece. If your finger is within about 3cm above the screen, the software should change from indicating 100cm to 3cm indicating it's signaling to the phone to lock the screen. And as you move your finger away it should change back to 100cm signaling to unlock the screen, this all-on, all-off indication is how it responds if the sensor only supports on and off.
Covered
Uncovered
If it supports variable distance it should read a constantly variable distance depending on how far or near to the sensor you are. It will also show in milliseconds hi long you have it within range to be detected.
If this test is successful it's not the sensor that's faulty.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
If you checked the box I suggested in post #2 and you are holding the phone close enough to your face, then I have no idea.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
First of all, are you a zombie?
Failing that, can't tell from your posts, but are you male? If so, have a beard? I have a beard and no problems, so maybe the beard isolates it. Then again, I suspect guys with beards are a minority of users of the S4. Do you think your skin is making contact?
Well, yes then, the sensor is working properly. I don't know why some consider 3cm to be the threshold distance and others use any number of other distances, but 8cm is a good bit farther than 3cm, so if anything I would think it might blank out too soon (such as if you were trying to shade the screen from sun for instance), rather than not at all.
I can't troubleshoot it more from here than I have already, but since this is a computer and since any number of apps can influence how the computer responds to sensor input, it could easily be an app. Do you have anything installed that is perhaps designed to 'keep screen awake'? Often times things like navigation, video players, craigslist apps, any number of other types of apps which require extended viewing time will essentially turn off the sensor and interrupt the timeout schedule so the app doesn't go black while you are using it.
I would go through all your user-installed apps first and check each one's settings to see if a stay awake setting is checked. Then go through the factory installed ones to see if the same are in those. Aside from that, and this may sound stupid but if you have a screen protector on the phone it can interfere with the sensor working properly. I left the one on the phone that came on it and after about 2 weeks it wouldn't turn on when in a call...power button, volume controls, nothing worked to wake up the screen. I couldn't change it from earpiece to speaker or turn on Bluetooth, I couldn't get the dialpad to select menu prompts, I couldn't even end a call. The only thing that worked was once the other party hung up the screen would wake again.
Once I cut out a section of the screen protector over the sensor it worked perfectly. This can happen with cases too but I know you tried it without the case. You should look to see if the screen protector is over the sensor.
Finally you may be forced to try a FDR (Factory Data Reset), but first I would like you to try the phone in safe mode and see if the same thing happens while in a call.
First, power down the phone by pressing and holding the power button while the screen is on. A menu will pop up and you will select "Power off". Then confirm in the next prompt.
Then press and hold the power button until the phone vibrates shortly and release power button. Next, as soon as you see the Samsung Galaxy S4 logo, press and hold the Volume Down button. Continue holding that Volume down button until the screen awakes and you'll see a black box with white letters showing at the lower left corner of the screen saying "Safe mode". In this mode, the phone will only run those apps which are set to run from those pre-installed. It will not run any of the user-installed apps, and they won't even be in your screen positions or in the app tray.
Now try the phone calls and see if the problem persists. If it doesn't that confirms a third party app's the culprit. If the problem persists, it may be time for an FDR, and if that doesn't work...it's a lemon IMHO.
To get out of Safe mode, simply reboot the phone.
Sorry for the edit to the instructions above, my original source was incorrect. I've tested these instructions on a S4 that I have laying around and they work properly to invoke Safe mode.
Sorry I am getting all my replies muddled up and have only just read this one. You have raised a huge possibility concerning the apps and tomorrow I will follow all your instructions and investigate and let you know how I get on. Many many thanks fo such a long email ................