How to completely disable wiretapping on Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often wonder how to protect their device from potential wiretapping, a problem that is not only relevant for paranoids: In 2023, researchers at the University of Cambridge proved that even legitimate applications can abuse access to audio recordings without the user's knowledge. MIUI (Xiaomi’s branded shell has its own features in permission management, which requires separate consideration.

In this article, we will analyze all possible vectors of audio leakage on Redmi devices, POCO And Xiaomi, from system services to third-party applications, you'll learn how to turn off the microphone at the Android level, block background access for specific programs, and even physically deactivate the hardware module. MIUI 14/15, which the manufacturer does not advertise in the standard interface.

Signs of possible wiretapping on Xiaomi

Before we move on to radical measures, it is worth assessing whether there is a real reason for concern, and some symptoms may indicate unauthorized access to the microphone:

• 🔋 Unexplained battery consumption – if the phone is discharged 15-20% faster than usual without active use, this can signal the operation of background processes, including recording sound.
• 📱 Spontaneous screen activation – some spyware activates the display to disguise its activities as “system updates".
• 🔊 Noise in the speaker – periodic clicks or echoes during calls may indicate parallel transmission of the audio stream.
• 📡 Suspicious network activity - in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic Check Which Apps Are Consuming Data in the Background.

It's important to distinguish real threats from false positives, for example, Google Assistant and Mi AI are the default to listen to key phrases like "OK, Google" even when locked, which is not wiretapping in the classical sense, but it also requires control.

Disabling the microphone at the Android level

The most reliable way to block wiretapping is to revoke all permissions to access the microphone for applications and system services, which is done through the enhanced privacy settings at MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Application Permissions → Microphone.
2. In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Sort by: All to see the full list.
3. For each application (except system calls), set the switch to the position Prohibit.
4. Pay special attention to messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and applications for recording sound.

After this manipulation, the microphone will be completely blocked for all applications except the standard phone call module, and note that this will turn off voice input, audio messages in instant messengers and voice assistants.

Open Settings → Privacy → Permits

Check the list of applications with microphone access

Disable permissions for all non-systemic programs

Reboot your phone to apply changes-->

For Android 12+ devices (including MIUI 13/14), an additional layer of protection is available, the microphone access indicator. When the app uses the microphone, a green dot appears in the upper right corner to enable this feature:

Settings → Special features → Indicator of sensor use → Enable

Hidden MIUI settings for audio control

Xiaomi has integrated several undocumented features into its shell that allow you to fine-tune access to the microphone.These options are hidden behind the engineering menu and require activation through ADB or third-party utilities.

One of the most effective methods is to block the background recording of sound.

1. Install App Ops (available in F-Droid).
2. In search, enter Record Audio and select android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO.
3. For each application, set a Deny limit.

A more radical way is to disable the com.miui.voiceassist system service, which is responsible for voice control, through ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist

⚠️ Note: Disabling system services through ADB This can cause unstable phone operation. Before executing commands, back up your data via Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

Physically shutting down the microphone (for advanced users)

If you don't like the software, you have to turn off the microphone hardware, which is guaranteed to block any possibility of listening, but it has serious limitations.

• 📵 Inability to make calls – the main microphone is used for voice communication.
• 🎤 No sound recording – voice recording, sound recording, voice messages will not work.
• 🔧 Loss of warranty – disassembly of the phone cancels warranty obligations Xiaomi.

To physically turn off the microphone, you must:

1. Remove the back cover of the phone (need a mediator and a hair dryer to soften the glue).
2. Find a microphone module on the motherboard (usually marked as MIC or Microphone).
3. Carefully solder off contacts or cut the tracks leading to the microphone.

On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) the microphones are duplicated — one at the bottom, the other next to the top speaker, in which case you will have to turn off both.

Checking the phone for spyware

Even after you turn off the microphone, you still have the risk that you have remote control software installed on your phone, and to detect these threats, follow these steps:

1. Check installed applications: Go to Settings → Apps → Application Management. Sort the list by installation date – new unknown programs should raise suspicion. Pay attention to applications with names like System Update, Android Service or Google Play Update – these are often disguised as Trojans.
2. Antivirus scanning: Use Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile for deep validation. Enable the option to scan system files (root access may be required).

Analysis of network traffic

• Install NetGuard or PCAPdroid to monitor outgoing connections.
• If the phone sends data to unknown IP-Addresses (especially in China, the United States or Russia) are a wake-up call.

Pay particular attention to applications that request permissions that are not appropriate for their functionality, for example, if a flashlight requests access to a microphone, contacts and geolocation, this is a clear sign of malware.

💡

To check for hidden processes, use the command adb shell ps -A | grep -i "record\|audio\|spy" in the terminal, which will show all active processes associated with recording sound.

Alternative methods of protection

If you don’t want to turn off the microphone completely, but safety is important, consider the following options:

• 🔒 Using a microphone lock case – some models (e.g. Silent Pocket) have radio shielding inserts that physically block the signal.
• 📱 Second “clean” phone – use a separate device without unnecessary apps for confidential conversations (e.g. Xiaomi) A3 Android One).
• 🔇 White Noise Generator – Apps like the White Noise Generator create background noise that makes wiretapping useless.
• 🛡️ Castom firmware – Installing LineageOS or GrapheneOS removes all Xiaomi proprietary services, including potential bookmarks".

For owners of devices with IR-The blaster (like the Redmi Note 11) is the original life hack: point the remote to the phone and press arbitrary buttons during important conversations. Infrared signals create interference that distorts the recording.

What to do if the wiretapping is confirmed

If you find evidence of unauthorized access to the microphone, follow the following algorithm:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings: Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset. Choose to Erase all data and confirm the action. After reset, don't restore data from the backup - it may contain malware.
2. Install only the necessary applications: Download the programs exclusively from Google Play or the official Xiaomi store. Before installing, check the reviews and permissions of the application.
3. Update your firmware: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. Install the latest version of MIUI – new builds often close vulnerabilities.

Contact us for support of Xiaomi

• If you suspect that the wiretapping is conducted at the firmware level, write to official support with a description of the problem.
• Attach logs from Settings → About the phone → Debugging information.

For more detailed analysis, use the Access Dots app (available on Google Play), which logs all calls to the microphone, camera and geolocation, indicating the time and duration of the session.