Where is the speaker on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: location, inspection and repair

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones from the Chinese brand, released in 2018. Despite its age, the device is still actively used due to balanced performance and reliable build. However, over time, owners face problems with sound: a quiet speaker, distortion or complete lack of sound. To diagnose a malfunction, you first need to know exactly where the speaker on the Redmi Note 5 is located - and there are two of them here!

In this article, we will look at the location of both speakers (conversational and multimedia), learn how to test their performance without special tools, and also consider the typical causes of failure. If you suspect that the problem is not a software failure, but a physical malfunction, our instructions will help confirm or refute this hypothesis before visiting the service center.

How many speakers in Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and their purpose

Unlike the flagship models with stereo sound, the Redmi Note 5 is equipped with two speakers, but their functions are fundamentally different:

• 📞 Speaker - used for voice calls and located at the top of the case, it only plays sound during calls (unless the speaker is activated).
• 🎵 Multimedia (bottom) speaker - responsible for playing music, video, notifications and system sounds.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 5 doesn’t have stereo speakers — the bottom speaker is one, and it’s monophone, and sometimes users confuse it with a microphone or a second speaker, but in fact, only the charging jack and 3.5 mm audio jack (in some versions) are located next to it.

If the sound is only lost during conversations, but the music is playing normally, the problem is the upper speaker, and if the silence is heard when the media is played, the lower speaker is to blame. This is the key point for diagnosis!

Where is the conversational (upper) speaker

The speaker in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is hidden under a grid at the top of the screen, next to the front camera and sensors. It is easy to detect if you look closely:

• 📱 On the front panel, above the display, there is a thin horizontal grille to the right of the camera.
• 🔍 On closer inspection, you can see that the lattice consists of small holes - this is the speaker.
• 🔊 If you bring your ear to this place during the bell, the sound will be clearly audible (with a working speaker).

A common mistake users make is to confuse the speaker with a light sensor or an infrared port (if you have one in your version), and to avoid confusion, remember that the speaker is always on the right of the camera, and the sensors are on the left or in the center.

⚠️ Attention! Do not try to clean the speaker's openings with sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) This can damage the membrane or mesh. Use a soft brush or compressed air to clean.

Location of multimedia (lower) dynamics

The lower speaker in the Redmi Note 5 is located on the right side of the lower edge of the body, if you look at the phone in a standard position (screen to yourself), it is easy to identify by the following features:

• 🎶 Next to the speaker is the Type-C charging connector (or microUSB in early batches).
• 🔊 The speaker holes are stretched in a horizontal line and separated from the connector by a plastic partition.
• 📱 On some versions, there is a second microphone nearby (for noise reduction), but it looks like a small round hole.

The bottom speaker is a separate module attached to the body, connected to the motherboard with a flexible plume, which makes it vulnerable to falls or sloppy disassembly, and if the sound is quieter after repair, there is a good chance that the plume has moved or been damaged.

How to check the performance of speakers

Before you bring your phone to the service, perform a simple diagnostic, which will save time and money if the problem turns out to be software.

Make sure the sound is not turned off by the volume buttons.|Check if the "Do Not Disturb" mode is activated"|Test both speakers separately (call) + music)|Connect the headphones - if there is sound, the problem is in the speakers|Restart your phone (sometimes helps with software failures)-->

For detailed verification:

1. Speaker: Call your phone from another device. If you only have sound when you turn on speakerphone, the speaker is faulty, and you can use the service code ##4636##, select Audio, and test Earpiece.
2. Multimedia speaker: Turn on any melody or video. Put your finger on the bottom edge -- if there's vibration but there's no sound, probably the grid is clogged. If there's no sound or vibration, the speaker doesn't work.

⚠️ Attention! If after the phone drops, one of the speakers is missing, do not shake or knock on the body. This can aggravate the problem (for example, tear off the plume completely.

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If you have a sound but it's very quiet, try cleaning the speakers with compressed air (keyboard canister). Keep the balloon vertically at a distance of 5-10 cm so as not to damage the membrane.

Typical causes of speaker failure

Sound problems in Redmi Note 5 fall into two categories: software (solved by settings or firmware) and hardware (required repair).

• 💻 Software failure - after update MIUI Or resetting the settings, you can fly the audio profiles. Solution: reset the audio settings to Settings. → Sound.
• 🔊 Contamination of speakers - dust, hair or moisture block the membrane, and the lower speaker is more likely to suffer from proximity to the pocket.
• 🔌 Contact oxidation -- if the phone's been damp, the speakers' contacts can corrode. Visually, you can see this when you're disassembling.
• 🛠️ Mechanical damage – falls or severe compression of the body lead to detachment of plumes or cracks in the membrane.
• 🔋 Battery problems – a bloated battery can put pressure on the motherboard, disrupting the speakers’ contacts.

The bottom speaker is particularly vulnerable, because the plume often leaves when the battery or charging connector is not neatly replaced, and if you've recently repaired your phone and the sound has gone, you probably forgot to plug the plume back in.

Another insidious reason is the MIUI updates, for example, after the release of MIUI 12, many users complained about the quiet sound in the dynamics, in which case the pullback to the previous version or manual adjustment of the equalizer in the Music app helps.

What to do if the speaker is not working

The algorithm of actions depends on the diagnosis:

1. Software failure: Reset the sound settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → Reset the sound settings. If it doesn’t help, reset to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!).
2. Pollution: Clean the speakers with compressed air or a soft brush. Don't use wet wipes - this can make contact.
3. Hardware malfunction: If the speaker does not make sounds at all (even after reset), it must be replaced. The cost of replacing the speaker is ~500-800 rubles, the lower one is ~300-600 rubles (depending on the service).

For a temporary solution (if you need a sound):

• Use a Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
• Turn on speaker during calls (works through the bottom speaker).
• Activate the mode in the car (Settings → Sound → Mode in the car) – it increases the volume of notifications.

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If the phone is warranty, don't disassemble it yourself! contact an authorized Xiaomi service center - speaker repair is usually covered by a warranty (except for mechanical damage).

How to Disassemble Redmi Note 5 to Access Speakers

If you decide to replace the speaker yourself, be careful: the Redmi Note 5 has a fragile battery plume and an easily damaged back cover.

• 🔧 Plastic mediators or guitar mediators.
• 🔥 Fryer (for softening glue).
• ⚡ Torx screwdriver T3 and Phillips PH00.
• 🧲 Magnetic screw mat.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-map.
2. Heat the hair dryer around the perimeter (temperature ~60 ° C) for 2-3 minutes.
3. Put the mediator in the gap between the lid and the body at the charging connector, and carefully lead along the edge, snapping the latches.
4. After removing the lid, disconnect the battery plume (it is under the black tape!).
5. To replace the speaker, you need to remove the metal frame of the screen (requires skills). For the lower speaker, you just need to unscrew 2 screws and disconnect the plume.

⚠️ Attention, don't pull the plumes, they're fragile, if you've never taken the phones apart, you'd better leave it to a professional, and failures in disassembling them can cause the display or motherboard to break.

FAQ: Frequent questions about speakers in Redmi Note 5