The hearing aid in the Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most vulnerable parts of the smartphone, and over time, dust, fat deposits, and sometimes small debris accumulate in its grille, leading to distortion, volume reduction, or the complete disappearance of basses. Many users mistakenly think that it is enough to blow a hole or wipe it with a wet wipe to clean it - but such actions often exacerbate the problem.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to clean the Redmi 8 speaker that do not require disassembling the phone and are suitable even for beginners. You will learn which tools can be used and which are strictly prohibited (spoiler: toothpicks and needles on this list).
Important: Redmi 8 has two speakers, conversational (top) and multimedia (bottom), and this article will focus on the audio (talk) speaker, which is located at the top of the screen, and its cleaning requires special care due to its proximity to the front camera and sensors.
Why the speaker is clogged on Redmi 8: 3 main reasons
Xiaomi Redmi 8 speaker clogs faster than flagship models, and here’s why:
🔹 Design features: The Redmi 8 has wider speaker grille than premium smartphones, which improves sound permeability, but also makes it easier to penetrate dust, and the phone is not certified. IP-protection, which makes it vulnerable to moisture and small particles.
🔹 The plastic case of the Redmi 8 is more electrified than the metal one, attracting dust like a magnet. If you carry your phone in your pocket or bag with the stuffy stuff, pollution is accelerated by 2-3 times.
🔹 Operating in dirty conditions, even if you're not working in a construction site, the speaker gets clogged with the help of a smog:
- 📱 Using the phone while eating (crumbs, fat splashes)
- 🚬 Smoking near a smartphone (tar deposits on the grille)
- 🌳 Walking in windy weather (pollen, sand)
- 🏋️ Sports (sweat and small particles from the mats in the hall)
💡 According to service centers, in 60% of cases of appeals about the “quiet sound” on Redmi 8, the problem is solved by cleaning the speaker, not replacing the part.
Signs of a clogged speaker: when it's time to clean
Don't wait until the speaker stops working at all, and the following symptoms indicate the need to clean up:
✅ The muted sound of the calls -- you can hear the person, but they sound like they're coming from a barrel.
✅ Distortions and wheezing when playing music or video through a conversational speaker (multimedia works normally).
✅ Absence of bass – the sound becomes “flat”, high frequencies prevail over low ones.
✅ Visible pollution — if you shine a flashlight on the speaker grille, you can see dust accumulations or dark spots.
❌ Error "Dynamic is faulty" in the sound settings (Settings) → Sound. → Diagnosis. 80 percent of the time, it's a false positive because of a clogged grid.
⚠️ Attention: If the speaker still doesn't work after cleaning, the problem may be the plume contacts or the membrane damage.
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Before cleaning, check if the "Silent Sound" mode is activated in the special features settings (Settings → Special Opportunities → Hearing → Silent Sound).
What can you clean the speaker Redmi 8: safe tools
The choice of tool depends on the degree of contamination.
| Tool. | For what degree of pollution | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft brush (for drawing or makeup) | Light dust | It does not scratch, removes particles from the surface. | Cannot cope with old pollution |
| Soft bristles toothbrush | Average pollution | Good at cleaning the lattice holes. | It can leave the villi if the bristles are poor quality |
| Scotch (paint or stationery) | Dust, small debris on the surface | Quickly removes particles due to the sticky side | Ineffective for deep pollution |
| Compressed air cylinder | Severe pollution, dust inside the case | Blowing garbage out of hard-to-reach places | Risk of damaging the membrane at high pressure |
| Cotton swab (dry!) | Local pollution at the edges of the grid | Spot cleaning | Could leave the cotton fibres behind. |
❌ What cannot be used under any circumstances:
- 🔪 Needles, toothpicks, paper clips - will pierce the membrane or scratch the grille.
- 💧 Water, alcohol, liquids for cleaning - ingress of moisture will disable the speaker.
- 🧴 Wet wipes – leave divorces and can cause corrosion of contacts.
- 🔥 Hair dryer or heating - deforms the plastic lattice.
Why can't you use a vacuum cleaner?
Step-by-step: how to clean the speaker without disassembling the phone
This is a method that works for 90 percent of the pollution cases, and you'll need a soft bristles toothbrush, a scotch, a flashlight, and a compressed air balloon (optional).
📌 Preparation:
- Turn off the phone (Plug the power button → Turn off).
- Get it. SIM-Card and memory card - vibration from cleaning can move the tray.
- Hold the flashlight to the speaker to assess the degree of contamination.
🔧 Cleanup:
1. Walk with a dry toothbrush along the speaker grille in circular movements (5-7 seconds).
2. glue a piece of tape to the grille, then carefully remove (repeat 2-3 times).
3.If there is dust, use a cylinder with compressed air (keep at a distance of 10 cm!).
4. Check the result by turning on the phone and calling another number.-->
⚠️ Critical mistakes that spoil the speaker:
- 🔊 Cleaning your phone on – vibration from a bell can drive trash deeper.
- 🌀 Too much pressing with a brush - deforms the grille.
- 💨 A cylinder with compressed air too close - the pressure will damage the membrane.
If the sound gets worse after cleaning, you've moved the speaker membrane, and then you can only take the phone apart from the service center.
Deep cleaning: when you can not do without indiscriminate
If the speaker is so jammed that the external cleaning doesn't work, you'll need to remove the grille, which is a risky procedure, but it's possible to do it at home with tools.
🛠 What's the matter:
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers (cross and flat)
- 🧲 Screen suction cup
- 📄 Plastic mediator (for tampering with parts)
- 🔍 Loupe or magnifying glass
⚠️ Warning:
⚠️ Warning: Redmi 8 disassembly will void warranty (if it's still valid), there's also a high risk of damaging the screen plume or disconnecting the speakers contacts. If you're not sure about your skills, contact the service.
📝 Step-by-step process (for experienced users):
- Remove the back cover, poke it up with a mediator around the perimeter (start with the corners).
- Unscrew 6 screws that fix the metal plate over the battery.
- Carefully disconnect the screen plume (it goes to the motherboard).
- Remove the protective mesh speaker - it is attached to latches or glue.
- Clean the speaker membrane with a dry cotton swab (don't press!).
- Collect the phone in reverse order, making sure all plumes are connected.
🎥 Video instructions for the Redmi 8 (in English, but the process is visual):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXAMPLE_VIDEO_IDPrevention: How to protect the speaker from pollution
To avoid cleaning the speaker every 2-3 months, follow these tips:
🔹 Use a speaker-protected case, and the best option is to have cases with raised edges around the talking grille (like the Spigen Rugged Armor or Ringke Fusion-X) that prevent direct dust contact with the holes.
🔹 Blow the speaker regularly. Use a compressed air cylinder once a week (keep 15-20 cm away!) to remove dust without waiting for visible contaminants.
🔹 Avoid "dust" situations:
🔹 Set up moisture protection. Enable Settings option. → Additionally. → Water Protection (available after upgrading to the MIUI 12+). This won’t make the phone waterproof, but it will reduce the risk of condensation hitting the speaker.
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Even when operated carefully, the Redmi 8 speaker requires cleaning every 3-4 months, due to the lack of IP protection and design features.