Where is the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: layout and performance check

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still a popular choice among users due to its balanced performance and reliability, but even in such a proven device, you can have problems with sound — for example, the interlocutor does not hear you when calling or voice commands are not recognized, most often due to a malfunction of the microphone. But before you carry the phone to the service center, it is worthwhile to figure out where the microphone on the Redmi Note 7 is and how to check it yourself.

In this article, we'll not only show you the exact locations of all the microphones in the device, but we'll also explain how to diagnose them without special tools. You'll learn why the microphone can stop working after falling or getting moisture, and what to do if the problem is not in the hardware, but in the settings of the program. For clarity, we've prepared diagrams, photos and step-by-step instructions, all so you can quickly understand the situation.

How many microphones are installed in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

Unlike budget models with a single microphone, Redmi Note 7 is equipped with two microphones that perform different functions:

• 🎤 Main (bottom) microphone - responsible for voice transmission during calls and recording sound when shooting video with the main camera.
• 🎙️ An additional microphone, used to improve sound quality by suppressing extraneous noise, is located at the top of the smartphone, next to the headphone jack.

This allows the device to better filter out the noise, especially in the city or windy weather, but if one of the microphones fails, it immediately affects the quality of communication, for example, if the bottom microphone malfunctions, the person will hear you quietly or with distortion, and if the top one breaks, there will be unnecessary noise in the recording.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 7 doesn’t have a third microphone for stereo recording, unlike Xiaomi’s flagship models, so if you notice that sound is only recorded in mono mode, that’s fine for this model.

The exact location of microphones: diagram and photos

In order not to guess where exactly the microphones are, we have prepared a visual diagram of their location on the case of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7:

In the photos below, you can see exactly what the microphones look like on the device body:

The main microphone is located at the bottom of the smartphone, next to the charging connector, which is easy to confuse with the speaker hole, but the microphone is to the left and has a smaller diameter, usually closed with a small grid, which can eventually get clogged with dust.

The extra microphone is on the top of the body, next to the audio jack, and it's harder to see because it's hidden under a decorative grille, and it's responsible for noise cancellation, so when it gets contaminated or damaged, it can make extraneous sounds in the recording, even if the main microphone is working.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the microphone with an infrared port! In the Redmi Note 7, the IR port is located at the top of the case, but it looks like a small glass window, not like a hole.

How to check the efficiency of microphones

If you suspect that the microphone on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is not working, you first need to make sure that the problem is really in it, not in the settings or software.

Record the voice message in the messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Call another phone and check how you can be heard.

Use an application to record sound (for example, "Dictorphone")

Try to enable Google voice search-->

Method 1: Recording voice through a voice recorder

The easiest way to do this is to use the standard Dictaphone app (if it's removed, install any similar one from Google Play). Record a few seconds of speech and listen to the recording. If the sound is quiet, jammed or absent, the microphone is a problem.

Method 2: Test call

Call a friend or another phone and ask them to rate their sound quality, and if they complain of a quiet voice or noise, try to turn the bottom and top microphones over with your finger while you're talking, and if you close one of them, the sound quality is deteriorating, that microphone is good, and the problem is the other.

Method 3: Checking through the Engineering Menu

You can use a hidden engineering menu to make your diagnosis more accurate.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Go to the tab Information about the phone.
4. Scroll down and find the Microphone item – here the signal level is displayed.

If the signal level does not change during a conversation or recording, the microphone is defective.

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If the engineering menu doesn’t open, try using the MTK Engineering Mode app from Google Play (suitable for MediaTek processors).

Causes of malfunction of microphones and ways to eliminate

The microphones in Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 can fail for several reasons, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🧹 Dust or dirt pollution is the most common problem. Microphone holes get clogged over time, leading to poor sound quality. Solution: gently clean the holes with a soft brush or compressed air.
• 💧 Moisture ingestion - even a small amount of water can cause contacts to corrosion.If the phone is wet, turn it off immediately and dry it in rice or silica gel for at least 24 hours.
• 📱 Fall or mechanical damage – the impact can displace the microphone or damage its contacts on the board.
• 🔧 Software failure — sometimes the microphone stops working after the software update. Solution: reset the settings to the factory or refashion the phone.
• 🔌 Headphone jack problems -- if there's dirt in the connector, the phone can think that the headphones are connected, and turn off the main microphone.

If the microphone stopped working after falling or getting moisture, do not try to disassemble the phone yourself - this can lead to further damage.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) to clean microphones, which can damage the safety net and the microphone itself.

How to Clean the Microphone on Redmi Note 7 at Home

If the problem is pollution, you can try cleaning the microphones yourself.

• Soft brush (for example, for camera lenses)
• Compressed air container (optional)
• Toothpick with cotton wool at the end (not metal!)
• Alcohol napkins

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone to avoid short circuits.
2. Carefully walk with a soft brush over the holes of the microphones, removing visible dust.
3. If there is a can of compressed air, blow the holes with short presses (hold the balloon vertically!).
4. For a deeper brush, slightly moisten the toothpick with cotton wool in alcohol and wipe the area around the microphone.
5. Let the phone dry for 10-15 minutes before turning on.

If the sound quality hasn't improved after cleaning, maybe the problem isn't the pollution, it's the hardware malfunction, and then you better get in touch with the service.

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Regular cleaning of microphones (every 3-6 months) will help to avoid problems with sound and prolong the life of the device.

Frequent Mistakes in the Diagnosis of Microphones

Many users make common mistakes trying to figure out why the microphone on the Redmi Note 7 doesn't work.

• 🔇 Ignoring audio settings – Before sinning on the hardware, check if the microphone is turned off in the application settings (for example, WhatsApp or Zoom).
• 📴 Checking just one microphone - just because noise cancellation isn't working doesn't mean the main microphone is broken too!
• 🔧 Self-disassembly without experience - inside the Redmi Note 7 fragile plumes that are easy to damage.
• 💦 Using wet wipes to clean - moisture can get inside and cause corrosion. Use only dry tools or alcohol that evaporates quickly.
• 🔊 Confusion with the speaker -- if the person you're talking to can't hear you, the problem is the microphone, and if you can't hear them, it's the speaker!

Another common mistake is using non-original parts when replacing the microphone. Cheap analogues can have poorer sound quality or not be suitable in size. If you need a replacement, buy microphones only from trusted suppliers (for example, on AliExpress, look for sellers with high ratings and reviews about compatibility with the Redmi Note 7).

When to contact the service center

Not all microphone problems can be solved by yourself.

• 🔧 The microphone does not work after a fall or a strong impact (the contacts on the board may have departed).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water, and then the sound disappeared (requires cleaning from corrosion).
• 🔊 None of the microphones show signs of life (possible malfunction of the audio codec).
• 📱 After self-cleaning or repair, the problem worsened.
• 🔄 The microphone is periodically (i.e., not) – this may indicate problems with the plume.

The cost of replacing the microphone with Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 in service centers is usually from 800 to 1500 rubles (depending on the region and status of the SC). If you need to replace the plume or soldering contacts, the price can rise to 2000-2500 rubles. However, before repair, ask for a free diagnosis - sometimes the problem lies in the software, and it can be fixed by simple firmware.

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi Note 7 is still warranty, don’t open it yourself – this will void warranty obligations.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Microphones in Redmi Note 7