Setting up the radio on Xiaomi: FM-radio-receiver

Introduction: why you need a radio on a smartphone Xiaomi

FM-Radio in Xiaomi smartphones is not just a tribute to retro, but a useful tool for saving traffic, battery and getting news in real time. Unlike streaming services, classic radio does not require an Internet connection, works even with a weak cellular signal and does not “eat” gigabytes of mobile traffic, especially for travelers, drivers or those who often visit areas with unstable Internet.

Many of the Redmi users, POCO Or Mis are facing a problem: Radio is either missing from the menu or not finding the station, and the reason is hardware and software nuances. FM-It's a chip, and in some regions, it's turned off at the firmware level. FM-Module, customize radio through standard and third-party applications, and consider alternatives in the form of Internet radio.

We will focus on common mistakes: why the radio does not catch the station, how to improve the reception with the headphones (they act as an antenna!), and what to do if after the MIUI update the application disappeared. For convenience, we have collected current data on Xiaomi models from 2020-2026, including the flagship Mi 11/12/13/14 series and the budget Redmi Note.

Verification of support FM-Radio in your Xiaomi model

Before you try to set up a radio, make sure your Xiaomi smartphone supports this feature at all.The fact is that since 2019, many manufacturers (including Xiaomi) have started to exclude the option of using the device. FM-It's a chip made of hardware, especially in the top-end models:

• 🔍 Check through the specifications. Go to the official Xiaomi website or GSMArena service, find your model and see the Radio section «FM radio, which means there's a chip, like the Redmi Note 10 Pro. FM, And Xiaomi 12 Pro is not.
• 📱 Search the menu. Open the settings. → Annexes → All applications and find in the list of Radio» (FM If it's not there, either there's no chip or the app is hidden.
• 🛠️ Check through Engineering Mode. Enter ##4636## in the dialer, go to Testing → FM Radio Test. If the test is available, there's a chip.

If your model does not support FM-Radio, don’t worry: In the next section, we’ll look at alternatives – internet radio and streaming services that work even without a physical chip.

Setting up FM-radio via standard application

If your Xiaomi is equipped FM-It's a chip, but the Radio app is not on the menu, you can activate it manually. MIUI 12–14:

1. Activate the application. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → All applications. Type “Radio” in the search box. If the application is found but disabled, click “Enable”.
2. Connecting headphones. FM-Xiaomi radio only works with wired headphones connected – they act as an antenna! wireless headphones (including AirDots) will not work.
3. Search stations. Open the Radio app, click Search (magnifying glass icon). If the stations are not located, try manually entering the frequency (e.g. 100.5 MHz for Europe Plus).
4. Save your favorite stations. Press and hold the station name to add it to Favorites.

If the stations are not playing after searching or the sound is interrupted, try:

• 🎧 Connect headphones with a three-pin connector (3.5 mm) – they catch a signal better than Type-C adapters.
• 📡 Move closer to the window or outside – the walls of buildings screen radio waves.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and repeat the search for stations.

Wired headphones connected|Headphones are inserted to the end in the connector|No active VPN or plane mode|The Radio app is included in the settings-->

Best Third-Party Radio Apps on Xiaomi

If the standard Radio app is missing or is not running smoothly, third-party solutions can be used, which fall into two types:

1. FM-Apps – only work on smartphones with physical FM-chip (e.g, Spirit2: FM Radio).
2. Internet radio – stream stations over the Internet (for example, TuneIn Radio, Radio Garden).

We tested 5 popular apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 and POCO X5 Pro.

For Internet radio, we recommend using mobile Internet with unlimited tariff or connecting via Wi-Fi. The average traffic consumption is 60-120 MB / hour with a quality of 128 kbps.

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If you listen to the radio in your car often, add the app shortcut to the home screen and activate the For Car mode in the MIUI settings. This will make it easier to manage voice commands.

Troubleshooting: The radio is not working

If the radio on Xiaomi is not turned on or not found station, the reasons may be hardware or software.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon processor 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, 13 Ultra) FM-chip is often missing due to the chipset's hardware limitations!

• 🔌 The radio is not turning on. FM-module in Settings → Additionally. → Regional settings: Some firmware for Russia and Europe has radio turned off by default.
• 🎵 The stations don't play. Make sure the headphones are connected before the app starts. Try using headphones with a microphone -- they're better at picking up the signal.
• 📵 No sound. Check the volume level in the Radio app (which is adjustable separately from the system) and make sure that the Do Not Disturb mode is not activated».
• 🔄 After updating MIUI The radio is gone. It's a common problem after switching to the radio. MIUI 13/14. Solution: download APK standard Radio application for your model from the APKMirror website and install manually.

If nothing helps, try resetting the app settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Radio → Storage → Clear data and cache

Internet Radio as an Alternative to FM

If your Xiaomi is not supported FM-Radio, Internet radio, will be a complete replacement:

• 🌍 Access to stations from all over the world (including: BBC Radio 1, Radio France, Jazz FM).
• 🎧 Works without headphones (via speakers or Bluetooth).
• 📱 Support for background playback and notifications.

To listen to the Internet radio on Xiaomi:

1. Install the TuneIn Radio or Radio Garden app.
2. Register (optional, but gives you access to your listening history).
3. Select a station from the directory or enter the name manually (for example, "Our Radio").
4. To save traffic in the app settings, select the 64 kbps bitrate instead of 128 kbps.

If you often listen to the radio on your trips, we recommend:

• 📲 Download stations for offline listening (available at TuneIn Premium).
• 🔋 Use the energy saving mode in MIUI, reduce battery consumption.
• 🚗 Connect to the car via Android Auto for easy control.

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Internet radio is the only option for Xiaomi models without FM-chips (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F4 GT). Sound quality depends on the stability of the Internet connection, so for trips it is better to download your favorite stations in advance.

Hidden Radio Features in Xiaomi

Few people know, but the Radio app on Xiaomi has hidden features that can be activated through Engineering Mode or third-party utilities.

• 📡 Signal amplification. In some firmware, you can manually adjust sensitivity. FM-To do this, type the command in the engineering menu (#3644633##) FM → Set Band → Europe (if you are in Russia).
• 🎚️ Equalizer. Spirit2: FM Radio has a built-in equalizer with presets for speech, music or news.
• 📻 Recording the airwaves with an app. FM Recorder can be saved in the format MP3 (useful for recording interviews or radio performances).
• 🔄 Search on schedule. NextRadio can set up automatic time-based station search (e.g. every morning at 8:00).

For power users: If you have root access, you can modify the file. /system/etc/fm_config.xml, It's risky to unlock additional frequencies or disable regional restrictions, but it's risky to make incorrect edits that could cause the radio to crash.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without root can lead to a bootloader lock on new Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 14).Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about radio on Xiaomi