How to turn off noise cancellation on Xiaomi camera: all ways for different models

Noise reduction on Xiaomi smartphone cameras is a useful feature that automatically improves the quality of video and photos in poor lighting or in the presence of background noise. However, in some situations, it can distort the sound, make it unnatural, or even completely "eat" important details - for example, quiet speech or musical nuances, POCO Xiaomi’s flagship models spoil the record, this article will help to return the natural sound.

We will discuss official and alternative methods of disabling noise reduction, including hidden settings. MIUI, Using third-party apps and even manually editing configuration files for advanced users, especially multi-mic models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+), You'll also learn how to check if the noise cancellation is actually turned off, and what to do if the settings don't persist after the reboot.

Why Xiaomi’s noise reduction might be a problem

Noise Suppression in Xiaomi smartphones is implemented on two levels:

• 🎤 Hardware – signal processing at the microphone level (for example, in models with a Qualcomm Aqstic chip or a computer). MTK Audio DSP).
• 📱 Software algorithms MIUI, which are used after recording (in the application Camera or Recorder).

Problems arise when the system is too active in suppressing not only noise, but also useful sounds.

• 🗣️ Voice becomes "robotic" or as if recorded in the toilet.
• 🎶 Musical instruments (guitar, piano) sound distorted, without overtones.
• 🌬️ Complete disappearance of background sounds (such as wind or rain) that were necessary for the atmosphere.
• 🔇 Sound delay during streaming or video chats (in Zoom, Discord).

It is interesting that in some models (for example, POCO F5 Xiaomi 12T) Noise reduction is activated automatically when you connect your headphones to the microphone -- even if you're recording videos without them -- and this is due to optimizing for voice calls, but it often interferes with the recording of content.

Official method: disabling in camera settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in Camera app options, but not all Xiaomi models have this feature explicitly available.

1. Open the Camera app and switch to Video Mode (or Portrait Video if you use it).
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down to the Sound or Microphone section (the name may vary depending on the version). MIUI).
4. Find the Noise Reduction switch and turn it off.

If there is no such item, try:

• 🔍 In some firmware, the option is hidden under Additional settings → Sound quality.
• 📱 Nana POCO and Redmi with MIUI 13+ You may need to select Pro mode (manual settings) first).
• 🔄 Restart your smartphone – sometimes settings appear after a restart.

Important: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro) Noise cancellation is switched off separately for front and rear microphones. If you're recording a selfie video, check the settings for the front camera!

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI If the noise cancellation is activated again, repeat the procedure or use alternative methods from the following sections.

Hidden settings MIUI: Engineering Mode

If the standard method didn’t work, you can try turning off noise reduction through the Engineering Mode, which is suitable for advanced users and requires caution – incorrect changes can affect the microphones.

Instructions for most Xiaomi models:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##36446337## (or #4636### on some devices).
2. Select Hardware Testing → Audio → Mic Test.
3. Scroll down to Noise Suppression and disable all related options (Enable) → Disable).
4. Save the changes and restart the smartphone.

On models with a MediaTek processor (for example, Redmi Note 11 or POCO M5) path may differ:

Engineering Mode → MTK Settings → Hardware → Audio → Speech → Noise Reduction → Off

If the engineering menu does not open, try installing the app. MTK Engineering Mode from Google Play (MediaTek only) or Qualcomm EngineerMode for smartphones on Snapdragon.

⚠️ Attention: Changes to Engineering Mode may cause microphones to crash. Before experimenting, record a test video to compare the before and after sound. If the quality deteriorates, return the settings to the original state.

Disconnection via ADB (for experienced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try turning off noise reduction via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB.
2. Connect your phone to your PC, install Xiaomi drivers and launch ADB (You can use Google’s Platform Tools).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices Wait for the serial number of the device to appear.
4. Disable noise cancellation command: adb shell settings put global audio_effects_enabled 0 Some models may require: adb shell settings put system audio_noise_reduction 0
5. Reboot your smartphone.

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 and later, noise cancellation can be controlled by a separate service com.miui.audioeffect. To turn it off completely, use:

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

After completing the commands, check the sound recording – if noise cancellation is still working, try the combination:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.media.action.SET_AUDIO_EFFECT --es effect "none"

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If after the shutdown through ADB The sound is completely gone, return the settings with the adb shell settings put global audio_effects_enabled 1 and reboot the device.

Comparison of methods: what works on which models

The effectiveness of methods of disabling noise reduction depends on the model of the smartphone, version MIUI And the hardware platform. The table below shows the current data on popular devices:

If your model is not in the table, focus on the version MIUI chipset:

• 📌 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2: usually ADB ore-menu.
• 📌 MediaTek Helio/Dimensity: Often enough standard camera settings.
• 📌 Budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3): Noise reduction is weak, it is easily switched off.

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On Xiaomi's flagship models (12S Ultra, 13 Ultra) noise reduction is often tied to Qualcomm's hardware filters. Complete shutdown is only possible through ADB custom-made.

Alternative solutions: third-party applications and workarounds

If the built-in techniques didn't work, you could use third-party instruments to record sound without noise cancellation.

1. Sound recording applications

• 🎤 Voice Recorder (Sony) – allows you to turn off manual audio processing.
• 🎤 Hi-Q MP3 Recorder – Records sound in original quality without filters.
• 🎤 ASR Voice Recorder – Supports microphone settings, including turning off noise cancellation.

When using these applications, select the Sound Source settings: Microphone (without processing) or Raw Audio.

2.Recording video through third-party cameras

Some applications (such as Open Camera or Filmic Pro) ignore the system settings for noise reduction. MIUI. To take advantage of them:

1. Install Open Camera from Google Play or F-Droid.
2. Go to Settings. → Audio.
3. Turn off the Noise Reduction and Sound Improvement options.
4. Select the microphone source: External (if connected headphones) or Main.

External microphones

If the software methods don’t help, consider buying an external microphone with a connection through the USB-C or 3.5 mm (on models where the connector is preserved:

• 🎙️ BOYA BY-M1 — budget-lavalier microphone.
• 🎙️ Rode VideoMic – for professional photography.
• 🎙️ Saramonic SmartMic – connects directly to your smartphone.

When using an external microphone MIUI Does not normally apply noise reduction to its signal.

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If you are recording videos for YouTube or TikTok, try synchronizing the sound separately: shoot the video on your smartphone, and record the sound on a voice recorder or a second phone, then summarize in the editor.

How to check if the noise reduction has been switched off

To make sure that noise reduction is actually deactivated, do a test:

1. Record a 10-second video in a quiet room, then in a noisy one (for example, on a windy street).
2. Play the recording and pay attention to: 🔊 The presence of background noise (wind, cars, steps). 🗣️ Natural voice (does not have a "plastic" sound). 🎵 Maintaining high frequencies (cupperware ringing, bird voices).

Compare the record with a reference (for example, made on another device).

For more accurate analysis, use sound analyzer applications:

• 📊 Spectroid – shows the spectrum of frequencies in real time.
• 📊 Audio Tool – Measures noise and distortion.
• 📊 WaveEditor – allows you to visually compare waveforms.

If the sound becomes too noisy after the noise reduction is turned off, try manually adjusting the microphone sensitivity in the engineering menu (Mic Gain — 60-70%.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Lite) may still have easy processing after the noise reduction is turned off, due to the hardware limitations of the microphones, and only an external microphone will help.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off noise cancellation, users often face additional difficulties.

1. Settings are not saved after restarting

This is a typical problem for MIUI 13/14. Decisions:

• 🔄 Disable System Optimization: Settings → Battery → Optimization → Deactivate for the "Camera" app".
• 📱 Install Shizuku + App Ops and Block the Camera Resolution modify_audio_settings.
• 🔧 Use it. ADB for permanent shutdown (adb shell cmd appops set com.android.camera command) android:modify_audio_settings ignore).

2 Noise reduction works only in some applications

For example, in the Camera, the sound is clear, but there are distortions again on WhatsApp or Instagram, which is because some apps use their own processing algorithms.

• 📵 In the messenger settings, turn off the option Sound Improvement or Noise Reduction.
• 🔊 Record the sound separately (for example, via Hi-Q Recorder) and overlay in the editor.
• 🛠️ For Discord or Zoom, use a virtual microphone via Voicemeeter (on PC).

3. After the blackout, the sound disappeared completely.

This can happen if you have changed your settings in the Engineering Mode or through ADB. To bring back sound:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🔊 In the engineering menu, check if the microphone is completely switched off (Mic Mute). → Off).
• 📲 Reset the sound settings with the command: adb shell settings delete global audio_effects_enabled

4.On the new firmware, the option disappeared

Xiaomi is regularly updated MIUI, And sometimes the settings are gone, and if the update is done, the noise cancellation goes back on and there's no way to turn it off:

• 📥 Retraction to the previous version MIUI (via Fastboot or Recovery).
• 🔧 Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or ArrowOS).
• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi with a request to return the feature (sometimes helps collective complaint on the forum Mi Community).

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After the update MIUI noise reduction is forced, check the presence of a new item in the menu "Special features" → "Sound enhancement. Sometimes turning it off solves a problem.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions