How to completely disable wiretapping on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9T: 7 working methods

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9T And the question is, can their smartphone listen to conversations without the user's knowledge? This model, launched in 2021, is based on a computer system. MIUI — Xiaomi’s shell, which has been criticized for collecting user data, is not just a problem: many third-party applications (especially from unverified sources) can access the microphone and transmit audio data to third parties.

In this article, we will discuss 7 practical ways to block a potential wiretapping on Redmi. 9T — From standard privacy settings to radical measures like turning off the microphone at the hardware level, it's important to understand: Some methods may limit the functionality of a smartphone (for example, disabling voice assistants or instant messengers), but complete isolation of the microphone from third-party applications is possible only with the use of custom firmware or physical dismantling of the microphone module. Let’s start with the safest and most reversible solutions.

1. Verification of application permissions to access the microphone

The first step is to audit all programs that can theoretically use a microphone. MIUI 12/13/14 (Depending on the version of your Redmi firmware 9T) This is done through the settings menu. Please note that even legitimate apps (like Google Assistant or Viber) can record audio in the background.

How to check:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Confidentiality → Application authorizations → Microphone
• 🔍 Look at the list of apps with access, and pay special attention to programs with suspicious names (such as "Audio Recorder" or "Voice Service")
• ❌ Disable access for all applications except mission-critical (messaging, navigators)

Among the "suspects" are often:

• 🎤 Call recording applications (e.g. Cube Call Recorder)
• 📊 Analytics services (such as AppsFlyer or Firebase)
• 🎮 Voice Chat Games (even if you don’t use them)

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi system applications (e.g. com.miui.voiceassist) are not listed here, but may use a microphone for voice control. → All applications → Show system-based.

2. Disable voice assistants and services Xiaomi

Redmi 9T It is equipped with two voice assistants: Google Assistant and Xiao. AI (Both constantly "listen" to surrounding sounds for activation phrases (e.g., "OK, Google" or "Xiao Ai, Xiao Ai"). Even in sleep mode, they can record short audio fragments for analysis.

How to completely deactivate them:

After disconnecting, it is recommended to restart the phone - some services may continue to work in the background until the reboot. → Battery → Battery use: If the microphone energy consumption dropped to 0% after the assistants were turned off, then they really stopped listening.

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If you notice that the microphone is still periodically activated after disabling the assistants, check for updates. MIUI. In some versions of the firmware for Redmi 9T A vulnerability that allows system services to bypass user restrictions.

3. Using incognito mode for microphone (Android 12)+)

Starting with Android 12, The system has a "Mic Access Indicator" feature, a green dot in the upper right corner of the screen that lights up when any application uses the microphone. 9T s MIUI 13/14 This indicator is unstable, but it can be turned on through the developer.

Activation of the hidden mode:

1. Turn on the settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to unlock the developer menu)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers
3. Find the option to Show microphone usage and turn it on
4. Activate Debugging on USB (will be required for the next step)

Now, when connecting to the PC through ADB You can issue a command that will block access to the microphone for all applications except system ones:

adb shell appops set <package_name> android:record_audio deny

Replace. <package_name> to the ID of a suspicious application (you can find it through the App Inspector in the Play Market).

⚠️ Attention: This method requires technical skills. Misuse ADB It can cause system failure, and we recommend that you first back up your data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Physical shutdown of the microphone (radical method)

If the software is not credible, you have to shut down the microphone hardware. 9T three microphones installed:

• 🎤 Main (lower part of the body, next to the connector) USB-C)
• 🎤 Noise suppressing (top, next to the speaker)
• 🎤 For calls (in front camera module)

To completely deprive the smartphone of the ability to record sound, it is enough to turn off the main and noise-cancelling microphones.

Step-by-step:

Use a plastic blade to open the body.|Turn off the battery before working with microphones|Take a picture of the location of the plumes before disconnecting|Check the health after assembly (calls must be operated through the top microphone)-->

To turn off:

1. Remove the back cover (need a mediator and a hair dryer to soften the glue)
2. Disconnect the battery plume (required!)
3. Find microphone modules (marked as MIC1 and MIC2 board-board)
4. Carefully unfurl contacts or cut the tracks with a scalpel

After this procedure:

• ✅ Calls will work (through the top microphone)
• ✅ Voice messages in messengers will not be sent
• ❌ Noise reduction will stop during conversations
• ❌ No audio video will be recorded.

5. Installation of custom firmware without spyware

Branded firmware MIUI Xiaomi has a lot of telemetry collection services, including mipush, msa (Mobile Security Agent) and analytics. Even after all permissions are turned off, these services can work bypassing user settings. AOSP (LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

Advantages of custom firmware for Redmi 9T:

• 🔒 Complete removal of all Xiaomi spyware modules
• 🛡️ Ability to fine-tune permissions via App Ops
• 🔄 Regular security updates (as opposed to official security updates) MIUI)

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires Xiaomi account binding)
2. Install. TWRP Recovery for Redmi 9T (juice)
3. Download the firmware with XDA Developers (Pixel Experience 13)
4. Fastboot Flash Recovery twrp.img and fastboot boot twrp.img
5. V TWRP run the Wipe → Format Data (this will delete all data!) and install ZIP firmware

After installation:

• 📱 Settings menu → System system → For developers, turn on the Turn off microphone for all applications
• 🔄 Update Google services through the Play Market (in custom firmware they are often outdated)

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data and voids Xiaomi's warranty.On some versions of Redmi 9T (For example, for the Chinese market), it may be necessary to bypass anti-rollback protection, which is fraught with the "bricking" of the device.

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Custom firmware is the only way to guarantee that all Xiaomi spyware modules are removed, but it requires technical skills and takes away official support.

6. Alternative methods of protection against wiretapping

If radical measures don’t work for you, consider these additional ways to minimize the risks:

For paranoids (or those who really have something to hide), a hardware noise generator, a device that creates ultrasonic interference that prevents microphones from recording legible speech, is suitable, such gadgets (such as the White Noise Generator) cost from 2000 rubles and are effective against most embedded microphones.

Another non-obvious tip: regularly check active connections through Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic usage: If an application is transmitting data in the background for no apparent reason (e.g. Com.Android.SystemUI is sending gigabytes of traffic), this is a cause for suspicion.

7.How to check if your Redmi is being tapped 9T right now

If you suspect your smartphone is already hacked or tapped, follow these steps to diagnose:

Test 1: Checking the activity of the microphone

• 🔊 Start recording voice in the recorder and leave the phone in a quiet room for 10 minutes.
• 📊 Check the recording file for extraneous noises or voices
• 🔍 Use the Sensor Box app to monitor microphone activity in real time

Test 2: Network Traffic Analysis

• 🌐 Install Packet Capture or Fing to scan outbound packets
• 🔎 Look for suspicious domains like data.mistat.xiaomi.com or sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com
• 📡 Check if the data is being transmitted to IP-Addresses in China (unless you use Chinese services)

Test 3. Rootkits check

• 🛡️ Install Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile to scan for malware
• 🔧 Check the list of installed applications for unfamiliar services (for example, TestService or Android System Update)
• 📱 Compare the hash of the firmware with the official one through fastboot getvar all

If at least one of the tests showed suspicious activity, we recommend:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Backup and reset)
2. Install all security updates through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system
3. Do not restore data from backups (they may contain malicious code)

FAQ: Frequent questions about wiretapping on Xiaomi Redmi 9T