Why it’s important to know the location of the microphone on the Redmi Note 8 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is equipped with several microphones that are responsible for various functions, from voice calls to noise cancellation during video shooting. However, users often face problems when the interlocutor does not hear them during a conversation or when recording voice is accompanied by extraneous noises, 80% of the time this is due to the physical overlap of microphone holes or their contamination.
Knowing the exact location of microphones will help avoid common mistakes, such as closing the bottom microphone with your finger when shooting horizontal video or getting dust into the top hole. In addition, when diagnosing malfunctions (for example, when the microphone does not work on WhatsApp or Zoom), understanding the design of the device allows you to quickly determine whether the problem is hardware or software.
In this article, we will not only show you where all the microphones on the Redmi Note 8 Pro are, but also explain how to properly clean, test and troubleshoot common problems.
How many microphones in the Redmi Note 8 Pro and their functions
Unlike the budget models, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is equipped with three microphones, each of which performs its role:
- 🎤 The main microphone is responsible for voice transmission during calls and recording sound when the smartphone is vertically orientation.
- 🎥 Second microphone (for noise reduction) - used in video and voice calls to filter background noise, located at the top next to the speaker.
- 🔊 Third microphone (additional) – duplicates the functions of the main one, but is activated in hands-free modes or when using external accessories (for example, a headset with a microphone).
This scheme allows the smartphone to adapt to different scenarios: for example, when talking on speakerphones, all three microphones are used to improve sound quality, and during a video call in Skype or Discord, the emphasis is on noise cancellation.
It is interesting that in some firmware (for example, on the basis of the MIUI 12.5) you can manually turn off individual microphones through the engineering menu, which is useful if one of them fails and causes interference, but without proper experience, it is better not to experiment, because the wrong settings can lead to complete loss of sound.
Where exactly is the microphone on the Redmi Note 8 Pro: photos and diagrams
To avoid guessing, let’s analyze the location of each microphone with reference to the external elements of the case of the Redmi Note 8 Pro:
- Lower microphone: Located on the lower edge of the smartphone, to the right of the connector USB-C (It's a little hole next to the main speaker, and it's this microphone that's most often clogged with dust or covered with a high-sided case.
- Top microphone: Located on the top edge, to the left of the headphone jack 3.5 mm. The hole is smaller than the bottom microphone, and it is easy to confuse with the light sensor. To make no mistake, light up with a flashlight - the microphone will reflect the light like a small grid.
- Third microphone: Built into the upper body next to the front camera (under the protective glass) and not visible from the outside, but it activates when using hands-free or recording video in a horizontal position.
On official schemes from Xiaomi microphones are designated as:
- MIC1 — lower (main),
- MIC2 — top-down),
- MIC3 — additional (in the camera module).
What does the microphone look like in a broken phone?
How to check the microphone on Redmi Note 8 Pro
If someone complains that they can't hear you well, or if apps like VKontakte or Telegram don't transmit voice, first make sure that the problem isn't a software failure.
Check if the microphone holes are covered with a cover or fingers.|
Make sure there is no dust or moisture in the holes.|
Test the microphone in the standard Dictator app»|
Try calling another number (such as voicemail)|
Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI-->
Method 1: Use a built-in voice recorder
Open the Dictaphone app (if not available, download it from Google Play), record it in a quiet room and listen to it.
- 🔊 Clear voice (no wheezing or interruption),
- 🌪️ Noise level (if interference is heard, the problem may be in the top microphone),
- 📶 Loudness (too quiet sound indicates a malfunction of the main microphone).
Method 2: Testing through the Engineering Menu
For advanced diagnosis:
- Open the Phone app and dial ##4636##.
- Select Phone Information → Test menu.
- Find the Audio section and run the Mic Test for each microphone.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. Incorrect settings can cause the sound system to fail.
Method 3: Verification through third-party applications
Utilities like the Microphone Test (available in the Play Market) allow you to visualize the signal strength from each microphone, and if one microphone fails to respond when speaking loudly, it is malfunctioning or disabled at the software level.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The interviewer can’t hear you during the call. | Lower microphone contamination or a failure in the Phone app | Clean the hole with a soft brush, reboot the smartphone |
| There's noise when you're recording the video. | Failure of the upper microphone (noise suppression) | Test in a quiet room, if necessary, replace the microphone. |
| The microphone only works in the headset. | The main microphone is disabled in the settings or the plume is damaged | Check the sound settings, contact the service center |
Typical microphone problems and their solutions
Even if the microphones are physically sound, they can be disrupted by software conflicts or mechanical damage.
1.The microphone does not work after the update. MIUI
After installing a new firmware (for example, with a MIUI 11 on MIUI 12.5) Some users are faced with the fact that the microphone stops transmitting sound in messengers or during calls:
- 🔄 Conflict of sound system drivers,
- 📱 Resetting permissions for microphone in applications,
- 🛠️ Errors in customized firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu).
Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Microphone and check that the right programs (such as WhatsApp or Zoom) have access. If the problem persists, reset your settings through Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Reset application settings.
2. The microphone wheezes or makes noise
Extraneous noises (cracking, hissing) usually occur due to:
- 🌫️ Dust or moisture in the microphone hole,
- 🔌 Damage to the plume connecting the microphone to the motherboard,
- 🔋 Unstable power supply (for example, when the battery is discharged below 15%).
💡
To temporarily reduce noise, turn on Voice Improvement mode in the call settings (Settings) → Calls. → Voice enhancement. This activates software noise cancellation.
3.The microphone only works in the headset
If the sound is transmitted only through headphones, and the built-in microphones are silent, the reasons may be as follows:
- 🎧 In the connector 3.5 mm was left garbage, which is why the smartphone “thinks” that the headset is connected,
- 🔌 Contact connector or microphone plume damaged,
- 📱 In the sound settings activated mode "Headset only" (check in Settings) → Sound. → Audio effects).
⚠️ If after cleaning the connector the problem remains, do not try to disassemble the smartphone yourself - the plume of microphones on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is extremely fragile and easily breaks with careless handling.
How to Clean the Microphone on Redmi Note 8 Pro without Disassembly
Contamination of microphone holes is the most common cause of poor sound quality, and to clean them, you'll need:
- 🖌️ Soft brush (for example, for drawing or cleaning lenses),
- 💨 Compressed air container (optional),
- 🔦 Lighting lamp,
- 🧴 Alcohol wipes (for degreasing the body).
Step-by-step:
- Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-card (to avoid static discharge).
- Hold the flashlight to the microphone hole, and the dust will be visible as dark lumps.
- Carefully walk the brush along the hole without pressing, moving from the edges to the center.
- If the dust is not removed, use a can of compressed air (keep 10 cm away so as not to damage the microphone membrane).
- Wipe the body around the hole with an alcohol napkin.
💡
Never use toothpicks, needles, or cotton swabs – they can pierce the microphone’s protective mesh or leave fibers inside.
After cleaning, turn on your smartphone and check the sound quality in the Dictaphone app. If the wheezing is left, the dust may have penetrated deeper and will require professional cleaning at the service center.
What to do if the microphone does not work after falling or getting moisture
Mechanical damage and fluid are the main enemies of microphones. If your smartphone falls or comes into contact with water, follow the following algorithm:
1. After the fall.
An impact may result in:
- 🔌 Disconnecting the microphone plume from the motherboard,
- 💥 Cracks in the body blocking the microphone hole,
- 📱 Damage to contact on board.
First aid:
- Check if the body is bent around the microphone holes.
- Connect headphones with a microphone – if sound is transmitted through them, the problem is in the hardware of the smartphone.
- If the microphone is intermittent after a fall, the contact may be damaged, and then only disassembly and soldering will help.
2.After moisture has been ingested
Water or condensation can cause the microphone contacts to corrosion.
- Turn off your smartphone immediately and remove the battery (if possible without disassembly).
- Wet the moisture with a napkin, do not rub the holes!
- Put the phone in a silica gel (or rice) bag for 24 to 48 hours. Redmi Note 8 Pro has no official water protection (IP-certificate), so moisture can penetrate deeply.
- Check the microphone after drying, and if the sound is distorted or missing, contact the service, you may need to change the microphone module.
⚠️ Warning: Do not turn on your smartphone if it has been in salt water (such as sea water) - salt accelerates corrosion.