Methods, devices, non-transitory processor-readable media of various embodiments may enable contextual operation of a mobile computing device including a capacitive input sensor, which may be a rear area capacitive input sensor. In various embodiments, a processor of a mobile computing device including a rear area capacitive input sensor may monitor sensor measurements and generate an interaction profile based on the sensor measurements. The processor of the mobile computing device may determine whether the interaction profile is inconsistent with in-hand operation and may increase sensitivity of the capacitive input sensor in response to determining that the interaction profile is inconsistent with in-hand operation.