How to clean the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi: from dust, dirt and moisture

The microphone in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is one of the most vulnerable components, and over time it gets clogged with dust, skin particles or moisture, which causes the interlocutor to complain about wheezing, noise or complete lack of voice during calls. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved independently without the help of a service center.

In this article, we will discuss 5 You'll also learn how to identify which microphone is contaminated (usually two or three in Redmi) and what to do if cleaning doesn't work. All methods tested on Redmi Note models 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other popular lines.

Why does the Xiaomi Redmi microphone start to wheez or not work?

Before you start cleaning, it is important to understand the cause of the malfunction. Xiaomi smartphones most often encounter three types of microphone problems:

• 🔍 Dust/mud pollution is the most common cause. Microphone holes on the Redmi are located at the bottom of the body (near the connector). USB-C) And on the top panel (near the speaker), you can easily get dust from your pocket, from pieces of fabric or cosmetics.
• 💧 Moisture intake – even if the phone is not sinking, condensation or high humidity can oxidize the microphone contacts. IP53 (Like Redmi. 9A or Redmi 8).
• 🔧 Software failure is less common, but it happens that the microphone is turned off due to a firmware error MIUI. For example, after updating or resetting the settings.

How do you know if pollution is the problem? Here are the key signs:

• 📞 The interlocutor hears your voice intermittently, wheezing or "like from a barrel".
• 🎤 When recording voice (for example, in a voice recorder) a background noise is heard or the sound is distorted.
• 🔇 In some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), the microphone works, while in others it does not.

⚠️ Attention: If the microphone stopped working after a phone drop or a heavy impact, the problem may be a disconnected plume or damage to the board.

How to find a microphone on Xiaomi Redmi: location and types

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones usually have 2-3 microphones (depending on the model):

To determine which microphone is contaminated, do the following:

1. Open the Dictaphone app and record a few seconds, closing the microphone holes one by one with your finger.
2. If the sound disappears completely when the lower microphone is closed, the problem is in it.
3. If the sound becomes quieter but doesn’t disappear, the top microphone is contaminated.

Important: In Redmi models with IR-The top hole, like the Redmi Note 9 Pro, may not be a microphone, but an infrared port!

Method 1: Dry cleaning with a toothpick or soft brush

This is the easiest and safest method to use for surface dust and small debris removal.

• 🪥 Plastic or wooden toothpick (not metallic!).
• 🖌️ Soft art brush (for example, for watercolor).
• 🔦 Lantern (for illumination of holes).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone to avoid accidental tapping.
2. Hold the flashlight to the microphone hole and inspect it for visible contaminants.
3. Carefully, without pressing, swipe your toothpick around the edges of the hole to remove the accumulated dirt.
4. Use a brush to brush dust off the surface. Don't put it deep into the hole!
5. Blow the microphone with dry air (you can use a can of compressed air for equipment, but keep it at a distance of 10-15 cm).

Turn off the phone.|Look at the flashlight hole|Clean with a toothpick (without pressing)|Remove dust with a brush|Blow with compressed air (optional)-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not use cotton cotton cotton swabs - the villi may remain inside and further contaminate the microphone. Also avoid wet wipes: moisture may enter the body.

If after cleaning the sound quality has improved, but not to the end - repeat the procedure after 1-2 days.

Method 2: Alcohol purification (for persistent contaminants)

If dry cleaning didn't work, it's likely that sticky dirt (like cream or sweat) has accumulated inside, or contacts have oxidized, and isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher) is helpful, and conventional medical alcohol is not suitable, because it contains additives that can leave you in a divorce.

What you need:

• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (can be bought in electronics stores).
• 🪥 Cotton swab (better with a plastic base).
• 🔧 Plastic tweezers (optional).

Instructions:

1. Moisten the cotton swab with alcohol, then squeeze it so that it is barely wet (drops should not drain!).
2. Carefully swipe the edges of the microphone hole with a stick without pressing in. Alcohol will dissolve fat and dirt.
3. Wait 5-10 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate (don’t turn on your phone at this time!).
4. Blow the hole with compressed air or just wait another 30 minutes.

If the contamination is severe, you can repeat the procedure 2-3 times at intervals of 1 hour. Do not use alcohol to clean the speakers - it can damage the membrane.

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If you don't have isopropyl alcohol on hand, you can use a screen cleaning liquid (without ammonia) to apply it to a microfiber wipe and gently wipe the area around the microphone.

Method 3: Deep cleaning with disassembly of the body (for experienced)

If the surface cleaning didn't work, it might have accumulated dirt under the microphone's protective net, in which case you'd have to partially disassemble the phone, a method that's only suitable for users with experience in disassembling the equipment!

What needs to be prepared:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-haul) PH00 flat).
• 🧲 Screen removal suction cup (optional).
• 📱 Plastic mediator (to separate the body).
• 🔋 Scotch or marker (to mark the location of plumes).

Step-by-step process:

1. Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-memory-card.
2. Heat the back cover with a hair dryer (temperature not higher than 60°C) for 1-2 minutes to soften the glue.
3. Carefully tuck the cover with a plastic mediator, starting at the corner next to the connector USB-C. Be careful - the sleeves may be glued!
4. Unplug the battery (required!), then find the microphone – it looks like a small black square with a metal mesh.
5. Clean the microphone with alcohol and a soft brush. If necessary, remove the protective net with tweezers (it is usually glued).
6. Collect the phone in reverse order, making sure all plumes are tightly connected.

⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the phone removes the warranty (if it is still valid), there is also the risk of damage to the plumes or display. If you are not sure of your abilities, you should contact the service.

Method 4: Software Diagnostics and Resetting

If the microphone doesn't work after cleaning, it might not be the hardware, it might be the software.

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the microphone will freeze after the update MIUI.
• 📱 Check the permissions for the microphone: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Microphone: Make sure that the right apps (e.g. Phone, WhatsApp) are allowed to use the microphone.

Reset the network settings

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset

Test the microphone in the engineering menu

1. Please dial the code ##4636##.
2. Select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down and check the Mic Level, and if it's 0, the microphone is faulty.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your phone to factory settings (don’t forget to back it up!).

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. After the reboot, check the microphone in the standard Dictaphone app.

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If the microphone works in a recorder but doesn’t work in a particular app (like Instagram or Zoom), the problem is with the settings of that app, not the phone.

5: What to do if water is in the microphone?

If Xiaomi Redmi has been in contact with water (even briefly), the microphone may become oxidized or covered with a film of salts.

1. Turn off the phone immediately and remove it. SIM-map.
2. Soak the water with a napkin (do not rub it!).
3. Put the phone in a vertical position (connector) USB-C downwards, so that the glass water.
4. Do not turn on the phone for at least 24 hours - let the moisture completely evaporate.
5. After a day, clean the microphone with an alcohol solution (as in Method 2).
6. If after drying the microphone wheezes - try to blow it with warm air (dryer at minimum power, temperature up to 40).°C).

If the microphone didn’t work after 2-3 days, it was likely that the contacts oxidized, in which case only the replacement of the microphone in the service would help.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use rice or other bulk products to dry, they can fill the microphone holes with dust. Also, do not put your phone in the microwave or on the battery - this will damage the battery!

What can you do when cleaning the Xiaomi Redmi microphone?

Some folk methods can make the problem worse or even make the microphone out of order.

• 🚫 Blow the microphone with your mouth - saliva will get inside and cause corrosion.
• 🚫 Use needles, pins or metal objects – they will scratch the protective net or damage the membrane.
• 🚫 Wash your phone underwater (even if it has protection) IP53).
• 🚫 Apply oils or liquid cleaning products to the microphone (for example, WD-40).
• 🚫 Disassemble the phone without turning off the battery - the risk of short circuit.

Also not worth it:

• 🔥 Drying the phone on a heater or under direct sunlight - this deforms the case and battery.
• 🧲 Use magnets to “clean” – they can damage a compass or speakers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the Xiaomi Redmi microphone