If you hold your iPhone to your ear, your screen should turn off. What could be the matter if iPhone screen won't turn off when calling? In this tip we tell you about possible causes and solutions.
iPhone screen won't turn off
Just above the iPhone screen is a special proximity sensor that detects whether you hold the iPhone near your head during a call. In that case, the screen will be temporarily turned off to prevent you from touching the buttons on the screen with your head. But it can also happen that the screen does not turn off and then there are a few causes that we will walk you through below. If the screen does not turn off in other situations, your iPhone is probably frozen.
- Not holding properly
- Software problem
- Sensor broken
- Get iPhone repaired
With this function you can also see if someone is making a fake phone call. If someone receives a call and the screen remains on continuously during the call, then that person is probably trying to get away from a conversation or meeting with an excuse. Unfortunately, you often see things go wrong in movies.
You're not holding the iPhone properly
Steve Jobs said it already: “You’re holding it wrong !” This concerned antennagate, where users clasped their device with their hands a little too fanatically while calling. As a result, the reception was lost.
But if the screen does not turn off during a call, there may also be a wrong hold. You may be holding the iPhone too far from your face. You sometimes see this in reality TV shows, where the main characters have their iPhone on the speaker so that the camera can record the conversation. Some people imitate that habit, even when they're away from a rolling camera. In that case, the screen will remain active. After all, no ear or head is detected by the proximity sensor. You may be holding the iPhone upside down or tilted, preventing the sensor from properly detecting your ear.
Try holding the iPhone in a more standard way and see if the screen still doesn't turn off.
Screen won't turn off during call due to software issue
An iPhone is essentially a computer and can start behaving crazy just like any other computer. The sensor may no longer receive a signal that you are on a call with the device against your ear, so that the screen is not instructed to switch off. What can always help is restarting your iPhone to see if that solves the problem. It costs you less effort than going to the Apple Store and then hearing the familiar words: “Have you restarted your device yet?”
See also 
How do I reset my iPhone? These are the options for restarting your iPhone
If you want to reset your iPhone, you can do it in two ways. We explain both iPhone reset methods here, because sometimes it is necessary to restart iPhone.
The sensor is broken
Of course, the proximity sensor can also be broken. You can check if your iPhone's light sensor is malfunctioning quite easily. All you have to do is call someone. As soon as the phone is picked up, cover the top with your hand, so the part where the front camera is located. If the screen goes out, you can be sure that the sensor is still working properly. Does the screen stay on? Then there may be something wrong with the sensor.
Have your iPhone repaired
Of course, we hope that the problem was easily solved by holding the iPhone differently or by restarting your device. If not, it's best to have it looked at. This can be done at the Apple Store or at one of the authorized Apple repair partners, such as Amac. You can contact Apple Support via phone, chat, and other channels. You can then decide for yourself whether you make an appointment with the Apple Store or have your iPhone checked and repaired by another party.
If your iPhone is less than a year old, you can have it repaired free of charge under warranty. In the following year you can still invoke European consumer law, but for that you have to go back to the store where you originally bought the device. We have made an extensive explanation article on the subject of iPhone warranty.
If you are no longer under warranty, you can of course have this problem solved by Apple itself, one of the service partners or an independent repairer. You can read all about it in our tip about iPhone repairs.
See also 
iPhone repair: what are the costs and best options?
An iPhone repair can cost you quite a bit of money. We explain the best options to have your broken iPhone repaired and get it like new again. What are the costs of an iPhone repair and what are the advantages of independent repairers?