Cleaning the speakers Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: safe ways at home

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but over time, even it can have problems with sound. Dust-filled speakers lead to distortion of sound, volume reduction or complete disappearance of bass. If you notice that your phone has become worse at playing music or the voice of the interlocutor sounds muted, chances are that the speakers need cleaning.

Unlike flagship models, budget smartphone speakers are more likely to suffer from pollution due to less secure design. However, cleaning does not always require disassembling the device - in most cases, there are enough tools and accuracy. In this article, we will discuss safe cleaning methods that will not damage the speaker membrane and will not deprive of warranty (if it is still valid).

Before you start, it’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 Pro speaker has two independent modules, the upper (conversational) and the lower (multimedia), and they are cleaned differently. It’s also worth considering that some “folk” methods (such as blowing out the mouth) can aggravate the problem if you do them wrong.

Signs that the speakers are clogged with dirt

Not always a muted sound means a speaker breaks, sometimes it's the program, the settings, or the mechanical damage.

• 🔊 The sound became quieter, especially at low frequencies (bass is missing).
• 🎵 Music and video playback with wheezing or crackling.
• 📞 During the call, the voice of the interlocutor is heard vaguely, as if from a barrel».
• 🌫 Visually, in the speaker holes, dust or fibers of tissue are visible.
• 🔇 After the phone fell, the sound was distorted (in this case, cleaning may not help - repairs are needed).

If at least 2-3 The points match, probably the speakers are really jammed, but before cleaning, be sure to rule out the software reasons:

1. Check the volume in the settings (Settings) → Sound and vibration).
2. Make sure that the “Do Not Disturb” or “Silent Mode” mode is not activated.
3. Restart your phone – sometimes the sound is lost due to a software failure.
4. Test the speakers through the engineering menu (code ##4636##, Audio section).

⚠️ Warning: If the sound is completely lost (for example, only one speaker is working) or after cleaning the problem does not disappear, this may indicate detachment of the membrane or damage to the contacts.

What not to do when cleaning the speakers

Many of the "tips" on the Internet can irrevocably damage the speaker, and here are some of the forbidden methods that are often recommended, but they are dangerous:

It's especially dangerous to combine several methods -- like blowing your mouth first and then wiping it with alcohol -- that's almost guaranteed to knock the speaker out. If you see tips like "try knocking on the phone," ignore them. The Redmi Note 8 Pro doesn't have a removable back cover, and mechanical impacts can damage not only the speaker, but also the battery.

Safe ways to clean without disassembly

If the contamination is not critical, you can do without opening the case.

1. Soft brush (e.g. for makeup)

Suitable for removing dust and fine debris from the speaker's outer grille. Use a brush with natural pile (synthetics can electrify and pull dust back).

New clean brush with soft pile

Flashlight (to illuminate the speaker's openings)

Dry wipe made of microfiber

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Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone to avoid accidental touches of the screen.
2. Hold the flashlight to the speaker, so you will see the pollution better.
3. Carefully, without pressure, run the speaker along the grille with a brush (not across) so as not to drive the dust deeper.
4. After cleaning, remove the fallen particles with a napkin.

This method is effective for surface contaminants, but it won't help if dust has penetrated the speaker. Deep cleaning will require other methods.

2. tape-scotch (for sticky dust and fibres)

If you have cloth fibers or animal hair stuck in the speaker, you can remove them with paint tape (not stationery!) which is less sticky and leaves no trace.

How to do this:

• 📱 Cut a small piece of scotch (1-1.5 cm).
• 🔍 Apply it to the speaker grille with the adhesive side down.
• 🖐 Squeeze it and pull it off (like a patch).
• 🔄 Repeat 2-3 times until the scotch is no longer littered.

⚠️ Note: Do not use tape if there are greasy spots on the speaker grille - the glue can "print" them into the holes, and the sound will become even worse.

Special sticky mass (for complex contaminants)

Electronics stores sell cleaning gels (like Cleaning Putty) that look like plasticine and pull dirt out of hard-to-reach areas, and a regular Blutack is fine.

Algorithm of action:

1. Kneel a piece of mass in your hands so that it becomes soft.
2. Put it on the speaker grille and press it slightly (don’t press!).
3. Hold for 10-15 seconds and slowly pull away.
4. Repeat 2-3 times, using a clean area of mass each time.

This method is the most effective for deep contaminants, but requires caution: if you overdo it, the mass can stick inside the holes.

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If you don't have a mass on hand, you can use a pencil eraser (white, no colored stripes), rub it with a speaker grille, the eraser will collect some of the dirt, but act carefully so as not to crumble it.

Deep cleaning: disassembling the phone

If external methods don't work, you'll have to remove the back cover and clean the speaker from the inside, and it's a risky process, you can damage the plumes or lose the water protection (if you had one), but if you're confident, follow the instructions.

What you need:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-haul) PH00 flat).
• 🧲 Screen suction cup (or mediator).
• 🔥 Fryer (for softening glue).
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+).
• 🧻 Cotton swabs and napkins.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-scatter-card.
2. Heat the back cover around the perimeter (temperature) with a hair dryer. ~50°C) for 1-2 minutes to soften the glue.
3. Insert the mediator into the gap between the lid and the body and gently slap it. Start at the corner next to the power button.
4. Once the lid is removed, unplug the battery (unscrew the screws and turn off the plume) That's a must! Otherwise, you risk closing the charge.
5. Find the speaker (bottom - larger, upper - less) and gently clean it with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
6. Dry for 10-15 minutes before assembly.

If the phone is not recovered after cleaning, check the contacts of the speaker - they may have oxidized or departed.

Prevention: How to protect speakers from pollution

It’s better to prevent a problem than solve it later. Here are some simple rules that will keep your Redmi Note 8 Pro speakers alive:

• 📵 Don’t put your phone in your pocket with coins, keys or other metal objects – they will scratch the speaker grille.
• 🧺 Wash the case once every 1-2 months (it accumulates dust, which then falls into the speaker).
• 🚿 Avoid using your phone in dusty spaces (construction, workshop) or in the rain.
• 🎧 Use headphones more often - this reduces the load on speakers.
• 🔄 Once every six months wipe the speaker grille with a dry wipe (without alcohol!).

If you often listen to music at maximum volume, the speakers wear out faster. The optimal level is 70-80% of the maximum. Also avoid falling the phone: even a slight blow can displace the magnet inside the speaker, which will lead to wheezing.

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Regular cleaning of speakers (every 3-6 months) prevents the accumulation of dirt and prolongs their service life by 30-50%.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with a careful cleaning, users often make mistakes that make the problem worse, and here are the most common mistakes and how not to repeat them:

Another common mistake is to ignore the top speaker, which is that many people only clean the bottom speaker and it gets clogged less often, while the top speaker is more likely to suffer from dust and fat deposits (because of proximity to the ear during calls).

If the sound gets worse after cleaning, you probably:

• Pushed dirt deeper into the speaker (for example, when brushing with a toothpick).
• They have damaged the membrane (crunch and crack during reproduction).
• The magnet was moved inside the speaker (the sound became deaf).

In such cases, it is better to contact the service. Self-repair of speakers requires specialized tools and skills.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions