Where is the radio hidden in the Xiaomi phone: search, activation and error fixing

You bought a new Xiaomi smartphone, but can’t find the app FM-Or did it suddenly disappear after the upgrade? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi devices, POCO Mi line – the manufacturer often hides the standard radio in the depths MIUI In this article, we will explore all possible ways to find radio on Xiaomi phones, including models without a 3.5 mm connector, and explain why it may not work even after activation.

It's important to understand that the radio is not just model-dependent, but also MIUI version, firmware region, and even carrier-specific. For example, the European versions of the Redmi Note 12 have a radio default, and the global firmware for the POCO X5 often removes it. We tested the instructions on devices with MIUI 12-15 and Android 11-14, so the solutions are relevant for most of the modern smartphones of the brand.

1. Standard radio location in MIUI: where to look first

If the radio is not removed from the firmware, it can be found in one of three locations:

• 📱 App screen: icon with an inscription FM Radio or Radio (usually blue/green) scroll through all the menu pages, sometimes hidden on the back screen.
• 🔍 Search by system: scroll down the main screen and type in the radio or radio search box. MIUI It will show all related applications, even hidden ones.
• 📂 Tools folder: on some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) radio hidden in a folder with utilities next to the calculator and voice recorder.

If the icon is not in any of these places, it doesn't mean that the radio is not in the phone, it may be disabled in the settings or requires additional activation.

2. How to turn on hidden radio through the engineering menu (for advanced)

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), the radio is present on the system, but hidden from the user. To activate it, you will need an engineering menu.

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##3644633###
2. Select Hardware Testing → Audio → FM Radio.
3. Press Turn On FM (if the option is active, the radio will turn on immediately).
4. Return to the home screen – now the radio icon should appear in the app menu.

Attention! Not all models support this code. If nothing happens after you enter the combination, your smartphone doesn't have a hidden radio or requires another activation method.

3. Installation of radio through third-party applications (if native)

If you don't have a built-in radio on your phone, you can use third-party software.

• 🎵 NextRadio - Supports FM-chips in smartphones with 3.5 mm connector. Requires headphones (they act as an antenna.
• 📻 Spirit FM — It works on devices with a Qualcomm chip (most of Xiaomi). XDA.
• 🌍 Radio Garden is an online radio service, which is good if you don't have a phone. FM-The official website.

Important: on models without a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Xiaomi 13 or X-ray). POCO F5) FM-The radio won't work, you need an antenna to receive the signal, which is replaced by headphone wires, and in this case, only Internet radio is left.

4.Why the radio doesn't work even after turning on: 5 common reasons

You found a radio, but it doesn't catch a station or it makes a mistake?

• 🔌 Headphones not connected: FM-radio uses them as an antenna, connect the wired headphones (even without a microphone) to the 3.5mm jack.
• 📡 Weak signal: In cities with poor coverage, you may not catch the radio.
• 🔄 Incorrect region: in radio settings (Settings) → In addition, choose Europe or Russia instead of USA.
• 🔇 Unplugged. FM-chip in firmware: some custom firmware (like LineageOS) shuts down the radio.
• 📵 Conflict with other applications: Closed programs that use a microphone or speakers (e.g. Google Assistant or Noisemaker).

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If the radio is jammed, try using a ferrite ring headphone (which reduces electromagnetic hoops), and turning off Wi-Fi and mobile data while listening also helps.

5 How to return the radio after the MIUI update (if it is missing)

Once the firmware update is updated, the radio often disappears from the menu, because Xiaomi removes it from global MIUI versions for some regions, and you can return it in two ways:

Method 1: Reverse to the old version of MIUI

If the radio is missing after the update, try going back to the previous firmware.

1. Download the archive with the desired version of MIUI from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select the firmware file.
4. Please enter the downloaded archive and wait for the process to be completed.

Method 2: Installation of regional firmware

In the European (EEA) and Indian (IN) versions of MIUI, the radio is often saved to return it:

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Charge your phone at least 60%

Download the firmware for your model from en.miui.com

Make sure the MIUI version is not lower than the current version (otherwise brick is possible)

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To change the firmware, use the official MIUI bootloader app or the XiaomiTool utility. After flashing the radio should appear in the menu.

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Check compatibility before changing your firmware! Installing firmware from another model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 instead of Redmi Note 11 Pro) will cause the phone to fail.

Alternatives FM-What to do if your phone doesn’t have a chip

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t support you FM-radio (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F4 GT), The following options remain:

• 📶 Internet radio: apps like TuneIn Radio or Radio Record offer thousands of stations without the need to be used. FM-The downside is the traffic consumption.
• 🎧 Bluetooth radio: devices like Xiaomi Mi Radio (about 1,500) ₽) Connect to Bluetooth and catch them. FM-signal.
• 📱 Outside FM-transmitter: connects to a 3.5 mm connector and broadcasts the radio to the phone via AUX. Example: Belkin TuneCast.

To save traffic when listening to online radio, use:

• Offline mode in applications (for example, Radio Garden allows you to download transmissions).
• Rate with unlimited Internet for music (for some operators).
• Connect to Wi-Fi instead of a mobile network.

7. Xiaomi models with support FM-radio: full list (2020–2026)

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with FM-Below is a current list of models where radio works out of the box (without further manipulation):

If your model is not on the list, check if it is available. FM-chip-on-app AIDA64 (If the chip is missing, the radio will not work under any circumstances.

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In 2023-2026, Xiaomi gradually abandons the FM-The reason for this is the transition to Type-C (no 3.5 mm antenna connector) and the promotion of streaming services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about radio in Xiaomi