Owners of Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 8 Pro smartphone often face the need to accurately locate audio components, especially after moisture or a device falls. Understanding the sound system architecture of this model is critical for quality diagnostics or self-repair, as the design uses a complex noise reduction scheme. Unlike budget devices, it records the sound of multiple sensors, which requires a detailed approach to finding a malfunction.
The main difficulty in disassembling or inspecting the Mi 8 Pro is that the main microphone is hidden under the motherboard and is only available after the battery has been dismantled. The top element used for hands-free communication and video recording is integrated into the top audio plume, which is also responsible for the operation of the speaker. Mistaking to determine the source of the problem can lead to the purchase of unnecessary parts or damage to fragile plumes when trying to replace.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where exactly the microphones of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro are, how to check them with a multimeter and what to do if the interlocutor does not hear you. We will look at the technical nuances of the board, how to program diagnostics and step-by-step algorithm of actions when replacing audio components.
Architecture of the sound system Mi 8 Pro
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro’s engineering layout uses two main microphones to provide active noise reduction and stereo recording technology when shooting video. The first, the main microphone, is located at the bottom of the device and is responsible for transmitting your voice during a conversation in standard mode (when the phone is in your ear) and voice recording. The second, an additional microphone, is located at the top of the case and serves to capture background noise so that the processor can effectively filter them.
It's important to understand that the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has a complex sound routing system. When switching to speakerphone or video in horizontal mode, the software can change the priorities of audio capture, using both sensors simultaneously to create surround sound. This means that if you lost sound only in the recorder, but when you hear calls, the problem may not be the physical damage to the sensor, but the software failure or contamination of a particular hole.
The design of the housing also affects acoustic properties. The bottom edge not only has the main microphone openings, but also the speaker output openings, which often leads to confusion in diagnosis. Users may try to clear the speaker thinking it's a microphone, or vice versa. Accurate knowledge of the layout of the elements helps avoid mechanical damage when cleaning, for example, pushing the pile deep into the body.
- 🎤 The main microphone is located in the lower end, hidden under a protective mesh next to the connector. USB-C.
- 🔊 The top microphone is built into the speaker module at the top of the board.
- 🛡️ Both sensors are protected from dust but are vulnerable to moisture and impact.
- ⚙️ The noise reduction system uses data from both microphones simultaneously.
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Use a soft toothbrush to clean the microphone nets, having previously soaked it in isopropyl alcohol, so as not to damage the membrane.
Detailed location of the main microphone
The main microphone in the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is physically soldered on a separate flexible plume, which also includes a USB-C charging connector and a lower speaker.This component is at the bottom of the motherboard, but access to it is blocked by the battery and metal screen. Visual inspection or replacement of the main microphone requires a full decomposition of the smartphone, which is a time-consuming process due to the glass back cover.
Technically, this microphone is a MEMS-A component sensitive to static electricity and temperature changes, and the inlet for sound is placed on the lower end of the body through a small hole covered by a metal mesh. It is in this grid that dust, pile from pockets and small debris most often get into, which leads to a quiet sound or its complete disappearance.
⚠️ Warning: When trying to clean the hole of the main microphone with a needle, there is a high risk of piercing the protective membrane or damaging the sensitive element itself, after which recovery will be possible only by replacing the plume.
If you are planning a replacement, you will need a new charging plume, as the microphone in the Mi 8 Pro does not change separately from the connector.This increases the cost of repair, but ensures that all components of the bottom part will be new. When installing a new plume, it is important to correctly combine contacts with the pad on the motherboard to avoid signal loss.
☑️ Checking the main microphone
Location and function of the upper microphone
The top microphone in the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is structurally combined with the speaker module and proximity sensor into a single audio plume located at the top of the smartphone under the screen. This component plays a key role in speakerphone and video conversations in landscape mode. Unlike the lower counterpart, access to the upper microphone also requires disassembling the device, but its replacement is usually cheaper, since it does not affect the charging connector.
Diagnosing the top microphone is often complicated by the fact that it is less visible on the outside, the sound intake hole is located on the upper end of the case, next to the IR port and the secondary noise-cancelling microphone (in some revisions, their functions may overlap), contamination of this hole is less likely, but possible when wearing the phone in dusty conditions or using covers that collect dirt.
When the top microphone is damaged, users often notice that when video is recorded, the sound becomes monophonic or the stereo effect disappears. There may also be problems with the Google Assistant voice assistant if it is set to activate through the top channel. In some cases, a software failure may shift priority to the bottom microphone, masking the problem, but the recording quality will be significantly lower.
- 📍 Located in the top audio tail under the screen.
- 🎥 Responsible for stereo sound in horizontal video shooting.
- 🗣️ Critical for noise reduction in hands-free mode.
- 🔍 The sound output hole is located on the upper end of the body.
It is worth noting that in the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, the top plume is a complex node, and damage to it can lead not only to loss of sound, but also to incorrect operation of the proximity sensor, which will not go out during a conversation, so it is often advisable to change the entire plume when replacing a microphone.
Diagnostics of microphone malfunctions
Before you start dismantling the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and finding the microphone, you need to conduct a thorough software diagnostics. In the shell MIUI, which is based on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, built a powerful engineering menu for testing equipment. To access it, you need to dial the code # # #6484## in the Phone application, which will allow you to run hardware tests without installing third-party software.
In the engineering menu, you should select the item associated with the microphone test (usually marked as "Mic" or "Main Mic"). You will be asked to say a few phrases, after which the system will play the recording. This allows you to independently check the operation of the main and secondary channels. If the test has sound but it is not in the messengers, the problem lies in the settings of application permissions.
Code for logging into the engineering menu: ##6484##
The path to the menu: CIT -> Main Mic / Sub Mic TestAlso worth checking is privacy settings. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, each application must have a separate permission to access the microphone. If WhatsApp or Telegram stopped working after the system update, access rights may have been lost. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find the problem application and make sure that the Microphone slider is activated.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Method of verification |
|---|---|---|
| Silence on the bell | Grid contamination or plume break | CIT engineering test |
| Interlocutor hears an echo | Failure of the noise reduction system | A hands-free test |
| The only sound is on loud. | The bottom microphone problem | Comparison of regimes |
| Crack and jamming | Oxidation of contacts or moisture | Visual inspection of fees |
What to do if the CIT test shows an error?
The process of replacing the microphone in Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
Replacing the microphone in the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is a moderately complex procedure that requires special tools and experience with electronics. Since the main microphone is on the bottom plume and the top one is on the top, the algorithm of actions will differ. To replace the main microphone, you need to dismantle the rear glass cover, remove the battery (which requires heating the glue), and unscrew the metal frame that covers the motherboard.
When working with Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is extremely important to observe the temperature regime when uncoupling the lid. Using a hair dryer at maximum power can lead to damage. OLED-It is recommended to heat the perimeter of the body to 80-90 And then you can use suction cups and mediators to open it neatly, and when you take the lid off, you unscrew the battery frame, and then you can access the bottom plume with the microphone.
⚠️ Warning: The battery in the Mi 8 Pro is glued to double-sided tape. Never try to tamper with metal tools - this can cause a puncture, fire or explosion of the battery. Use special hood strips or heat.
After the plume is replaced, you need to assemble the device in reverse order, paying special attention to connecting connectors. The plumes in the Mi 8 Pro are quite thin and fragile, they are easy to damage if you do not handle it carefully. After assembly, be sure to retest through the engineering menu to make sure that the repair is successful.
- 🔥 Heat the back cover to soften the glue.
- 🔋 Carefully remove the battery using exhaust strips.
- 🔧 Unscrew all screws of the metal frame of the motherboard.
- 🔌 Replace the plume and check the density of the connectors landing.
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The quality of the replacement plume is critical: cheap copies often have poor quality microphones, which leads to noise and quiet sound even immediately after repair.
Frequent problems and software solutions
Not always the lack of sound in the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro indicates a physical breakdown of the microphone. Quite often users face software conflicts, especially after updating the MIUI firmware or installing modified versions of Android. In such cases, the microphone may be physically healthy, but the system blocks access to it or improperly distributes audio streams.
One common problem is audio driver sticking, which is when an application that used the microphone doesn't free up a resource and other programs can't access it, and the solution is to reboot the device or clear the cache of the Media Server system process, and it's also worth checking if the Do Not Disturb mode or special settings for people with hearing impairments that can change the behavior of the microphone are activated.
If you use third-party launchers or themes, try switching to the standard interface. Some system modifications may conflict with system audio files. In extreme cases, if the software failure fails, you may need a full reset (Wipe Data), but before that, make sure to back up important data.