Are you trying to record a voice message on WhatsApp on your Xiaomi, but the microphone is not working? Or the person can't hear you during the call? The problem is often not a hardware breakdown, but the wrong settings of the system or the messenger itself. In this article, we will discuss all possible reasons, from basic resolutions to hidden MIUI parameters that can block access to the microphone.
Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) have aggressive policies to save energy and protect privacy. MIUI often automatically restricts the background activity of applications, which can lead to a shutdown of the microphone in WhatsApp even if you have given all permissions. In addition, new versions of Android (12+) have additional layers of control over access to audio devices.
Before you take your phone to the service center, go through our checklist. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 5-10 minutes without special skills. And if the microphone does not work only on WhatsApp, but functions normally in other applications (for example, in the Recorder or Google Assistant), it is precisely the settings of the messenger or the conflict with MIUI.
1. Check basic permissions for WhatsApp
The first thing to do is make sure WhatsApp has access to the microphone at the operating system level, and in MIUI, these settings can be reset after updates or changes in the energy saving profile.
Open Settings → Applications → App Management and find WhatsApp in the list. Tap it and select Permissions. Make sure:
- 🎤 Microphone – Status Allowed (if not, move the slider)
- 📱 Storage – required for voice recordings (optional, but recommended)
- 🔄 Autorun – Enable WhatsApp to work in the background
If the microphone permission is already active but the problem persists, try turning it off and on again – sometimes this resets temporary errors. Also check if there is a Special Permits restriction (some versions of MIUI have a separate point for accessing audio while the screen is locked).
Open Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Permits|Enable microphone access|Check auto-start|Reboot your phone after the changes-->
2. Power saving and auto-start settings in MIUI
MIUI is known for its aggressive battery optimization, which often blocks the background of applications, including access to the microphone.If WhatsApp can’t constantly “listen” to the microphone (for example, during voice messages or calls), this mechanism is to blame.
To correct:
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
- Find WhatsApp in the list and select No Limits (or No Limits in new versions).
- Go back and open AutoRun – turn on the WhatsApp slider.
It is also recommended to add a messenger in the optimization exceptions:
- 🔋 Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Set up plans → Choose High Performance for WhatsApp.
- 🛡️ In some models (Redmi Note) 10/11, POCO X3/X4) There is a separate item Protection of applications - add WhatsApp there.
Important: After the changes, restart the phone – this will apply the settings at the core level of the system.
Redmi Note 10/11/12|POCO X3/X4/X5|Mi 11/12/13|Black Shark|Another model-->
3. Checking microphone settings inside WhatsApp
Sometimes the problem is not with the system, but with the messenger itself. WhatsApp has its own audio settings that may conflict with MIUI, for example, if the app selects the wrong sound source or has turned off microphone amplification.
How to check:
- Open WhatsApp and go to any chat room.
- Click on the icon. 🎤 (voice message) and hold – if the message “No microphone access”, the problem is at the OS level (go back to the first partition).
- If recording begins but the sound is quiet or intermittent, tap on the ⚙️ → Microphone settings (in some versions this item is hidden - see spoiler below).
Where to look for microphone settings in new versions of WhatsApp?
If there are no obvious errors in WhatsApp settings, but the microphone still doesn’t work, try resetting the app’s settings:
- 🔄 Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Warehouse → Clear the data (Warning: This will delete chat history!).
- 📥 Reinstall WhatsApp from Google Play by saving a backup beforehand.
4. Conflicts with other applications and services
On Xiaomi, the microphone can be blocked by other programs that use audio in the background.
- 🎵 Music players (Spotify, YouTube Music) with active function Sound Recognition.
- 🤖 Voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alice) in standby mode.
- 🎮 Gaming Utilities (Game Turbo) MIUI), audio-stream.
To check for conflicts:
- Close all background applications through Recent → Close everything.
- Disable Google Assistant: Settings → Apps → Google → Assistant → Disable.
- Check Settings → Special features → Hearing aids – if services are activated here, they can block the microphone.
If the problem only occurs during voice calls, try:
- 📞 Using headphones with a microphone – this bypasses the limitations of the system.
- 🔄 Switch from VoIP to a regular call (if the interlocutor is in contacts).
💡
On the Xiaomi 12T/13 Pro models, there is a bug with a microphone when activated "Game Turbo" mode. Turn it off in Settings → Special features → Game Turbo.
5. Hardware problems and microphone diagnostics
If, after all the manipulations, the microphone still doesn’t work only on WhatsApp, but it works well in other applications (for example, in the Recorder or the Camera), the problem is more software.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The microphone is not working anywhere. | Pollution or damage to the microphone module | Cleaning the connector (compressed air) or replacing the microphone |
| The sound is intermittent, with noises. | Poor contact of microphone plume | Disassembly and inspection of connections (experience required) |
| The microphone only works on speakerphone. | Failure of the lower microphone (main) | Diagnostics at the service center |
| Problems after falling/hitting | Mechanical damage to the microphone membrane | Replacement of microphone module |
For quick diagnosis:
- Start the built-in recorder (recording sound in the MIUI) and check the quality of the recording.
- Call another phone and turn on speakerphone – if the person can hear you, the problem is in the upper microphone (used for calls).
- Connect headphones with a microphone – if sound appears, the built-in microphone is faulty.
⚠️ Attention: On models POCO F3/F4 redmi K40/K50 If the phone is warranty, do not disassemble it yourself - contact the Xiaomi service center with a check.
6. Resetting settings and extreme measures
If none of these methods work, radical methods remain, and make sure to back up your data ( WhatsApp chats, contacts, photos) before using them.
Option 1: Reset WhatsApp settings
- 🔄 Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🗑️ Clear the data (delete the history, but save backup to Google Drive).
Option 2: Reset all network settings (helps in VoIP conflicts):
- 📶 Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
Option 3: Full reset of the phone (last resort)
- ⚠️ Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data.
- After reset, do not restore settings from the backup – set up the phone as new.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi phones with bootloader unlocked, resetting can result in device locking (Anti-Rollback).Before resetting, make sure the phone has not been unlocked for custom firmware.
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In 95% of cases, the problem with the microphone in WhatsApp on Xiaomi is solved by cleaning the app cache, resetting permissions or turning off battery optimization.