A communication device includes a processor subsystem that is in communication with a communication module, which is communicatively coupled to a millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna array to transmit and receive signals. The processor subsystem executes a computer program product of a near-field detection application in memory to perform a method. The mmWave antenna array transmits an mmWave signal that is swept across a range of frequencies and receives any back-scattered signals in the range of frequencies. The processor subsystem determines whether a near-field obstruction exists based on magnitude and phase characteristics of the received back-scattered signals. In response to determining that a near-field obstruction exists, the processor subsystem perform a selected one of: (i) altering a transmission beam transmitted by the communication device; and (ii) triggering an application to execute on the communication device, the application intended to interact with a user of the communication device.