How to check the microphone on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: from simple tests to deep diagnostics

Why Xiaomi Redmi’s microphone may not work – and how to spot it

The microphone in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a critical component that affects the quality of calls, recording voice messages and voice assistants. If the interlocutor complains that he “can’t hear you” or applications like WhatsApp or Telegram do not recognize speech, the problem can be both software failures and physical damage.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for checking the microphone on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models - from basic tests through standard applications to deep diagnostics using engineering menus and third-party utilities. You will learn how to distinguish a software failure from hardware failure, what settings affect the microphone, and what to do if it "gluts" only in certain applications.

Importantly, some methods require root rights or special commands, which we'll highlight separately, and we'll start with the simplest methods that don't require any additional software.

Method 1: Quick check through a standard recorder

The most obvious and accessible test is voice recording via the built-in Dictaphone app (or Sound Recording, depending on the version of MIUI), which helps to identify obvious problems: complete absence of sound, severe interference or distortion.

How to run the test:

1. Open the Dictaphone app (usually located in the Tools folder or on the home screen).
2. Press the recording button (red circle) and say a few phrases 10-15 cm from the microphone.
3. Stop the recording and listen to it. Notice: 🔊 Loudness: Is the voice heard clearly or too quietly? 📶 Interference: is there a hiss, a crackle, or an echo? 🎤 Distortion: Does the voice sound natural or like "from the barrel"?

If the recording is clean, the problem may be in a particular application (like WhatsApp or Zoom).If there is no sound at all, move on to the following methods.

⚠️ Warning: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) use an external microphone (for noise reduction) in the voice recorder by default. To check the main microphone, close the speaker hole with your finger while recording - if the sound is gone, then only the external mic is working.

Try a different microphone (if you have a headset)

Reboot the phone

Clean the microphone hole from dust

Check the sound settings in MIUI-->

Method 2: Testing by calling another phone

The recorder only checks the recording, not the voice transmission over the network. To make sure that the microphone is working during calls, call another phone (or use a service like the Echo Test from the operator), This method helps to identify problems with:

• 📞 Network settings (e.g., a VoLTE protocol failure).
• 🔧 A microphone for calls (it may differ from the main one).
• 📱 Software restrictions (e.g., microphone locking by antivirus).

Instructions:

1. Call another phone (preferably via a mobile network rather than Wi-Fi Calling).
2. Say the phrase and ask the person you are talking to, how is your voice heard: 🔇 Quiet, with interference? 🗣️ Normal, but with an echo? 🚫 Can you hear it?

speaker-button

If the voice is not transmitted at all, check:

• 🛠️ Is In-Air mode activated or microphone lock in privacy settings activated?
• 🔄 Are your network settings not at fault (try manually selecting the operator in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks).

Basic (for calls)

External (for noise reduction)

Both at once.

Never broke-- >

Method 3: Checking through the engineering menu (codes ##)

The Engineering Mode is a hidden MIUI tool that allows you to test hardware components, including microphones, and is suitable for advanced users because it requires you to enter special codes.

How to open the microphone test:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##6484## (some models run ##64663## or #4636# → Phone information → Check the microphone).
2. Select Manual Test → Microphone (or Audio → Mic Test).
3. Follow the instructions on the screen: usually speak into the microphone, and the system will show the signal level in decibels (dB).

What do the results mean?

⚠️ Warning: On Redmi with MIUI 13/14, the engineering menu may be blocked. If the code doesn't work, try installing the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Service Menu (for Snapdragon).

Method 4: Diagnostics through third-party applications

If standard methods fail, use specialized utilities that allow you to test the microphone in more detail, including frequency analysis and checking for hardware failures.

Top-3 app for checking the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi:

• 📱 Microphone Test (by Smart Tools) – shows the signal level in real time and analyzes the frequency spectrum.
• 🎙️ Sound Meter – Measuring volume in dB, helps detect weak signal.
• 🔍 Phone Check and Test is a comprehensive test of all sensors, including microphones.

How to use the Microphone Test:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the test and talk to the microphone. The screen will show: 📊 Signal Level Graph (to be responsive to voice). 🔊 Frequency analysis (peaks at 100-3,000 Hz indicate normal operation). ⚠️ Warnings about interference or signal breaks.

Compare the results with the reference ones (the application description has examples).

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and other dual-mic models, the app can only show the signal from the main one. To check the second mik, close the bottom hole with your finger and repeat the test - if the graph does not change, the second microphone is faulty.

💡

If the app shows a signal but the people you are talking to can't hear you, the problem may be with VoIP settings (like WhatsApp or Discord).

Method 5: Checking the physical condition of the microphone

If software tests show no problems, but the microphone still doesn't work, it could be physical damage.

• 📍 Lower microphone - next to the USB-C connector (responsible for calls and primary recording).
• 📍 Top microphone – next to the speaker (for noise reduction).
• 📍 Additional microphone on the back (not all models).

How to view the microphone:

1. Take a flashlight and inspect the microphone holes for: 🧹 Dust/mud (can be neatly cleaned with a soft brush or compressed air). 💧 Moisture/oxidation (if the phone fell into the water, there may be white stains). 🔧 Grid damage (if the hole is deformed, the microphone could be off the board).

Blow into the microphone – if you hear a crunch or crack, debris could accumulate inside.

Lightly tap the area around the microphone – if the sound appears/disappears, the problem is with the plume contacts.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (toothpicks, needles) to clean the microphone, this can damage the membrane. If moisture is visible inside, do not turn the phone on until it is completely dry (at least 24 hours in rice or silica gel).

If the microphone is outwardly OK but not working, the reason may be:

• 🔌 Disconnected plume (a common problem after falls or disassembly).
• 🔋 Damage to the sound controller on the motherboard.
• 📱 Firmware failure (e.g., after a failed update MIUI).

💡

If the microphone stopped working after falling or getting moisture, self-repair can aggravate the problem. In such cases, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center - the cost of replacing the microphone usually does not exceed 1-20 thousand rubles.

Method 6: Diagnostics through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work and the engineering menu isn't available, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android through your computer, which is suitable for diagnosing software failures.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Enable debugging on USB on your phone (Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI → 7 times press to unlock Developer Settings).
• 🔌 Cable USB-C (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices (should display the serial number of your Redmi).
3. Run the microphone test: adb shell dumpsys media.audio_flinger In the output, look for lines with mic - if there are errors (error or no device), the microphone is not recognized by the system.
4. For more detailed diagnosis, use: adb shell cat /proc/asound/cards (shows all audio devices, including microphones).

If the commands return errors like Permission denied, you don't have root rights, and then try an alternative method:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "tel:##6484##"

(This will open the engineering menu if it is locked in the interface.)

Method 7: Checking after resetting settings

If the microphone is unstable (i.e., it is not) and the hardware tests have not revealed any problems, the cause may be software conflicts, in which case resetting the settings to the factory will help.

How to reset your settings on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Make a backup of the data (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset (not to be confused with Network Settings Reset!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore settings from backup right away - check the microphone first.
• 📱 Install a minimum set of applications and test the microphone in each.
• 🔊 If the problem goes away, it's the software that's to blame. Gradually add apps to identify the culprit.

⚠️ Warning: On Redmi with the bootloader unlocked, resetting may result in a phone lock (Mi Account Lock).Be sure to remember the username and password from your Xiaomi account before resetting.

If the reset did not help, the reason is precisely in the hardware - contact the service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi microphones