Why you can hear the interlocutor in the Xiaomi phone: a complete analysis of the problem

You make a phone call, but you can barely hear the voice of the other person, even though the volume is at its maximum? The problem of quiet sound in the Xiaomi handset is one of the most common complaints of users, and it can occur on both budget Redmi and flagships Mi or POCO. In 80% of cases, the reason is not a break in the speaker, but software failure or incorrect settings. But how to distinguish a hardware malfunction from a software one, and what to do if after the MIUI update the sound became even quieter?

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes of hearing loss, from the banal contamination of the speaker grid to the hidden parameters of the engineering menu. You'll learn how to check the microphone and speaker without special equipment, what MIUI settings affect the volume of conversation, and when it's time to carry the phone to the service. And for owners of older models (Redmi Note 4/5, Mi A1/A2), we have prepared separate recommendations - their hardware limitations require a special approach.

1. Software reasons for quiet sound: from updates to hidden settings

The first thing to rule out is firmware malfunctions, and most often, a quiet sound appears after a MIUI update, especially if you're using custom or beta versions, because new builds sometimes have sound profiles flying off or conflicts with model-specific optimizations.

How to check:

• 📱 Update your firmware to the latest stable version via Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI. Beta versions often contain sound bugs.
• 🔊 Reset the sound settings: go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Resetting settings (if such item is in your model).
• 🛠️ Clear the cache of system applications Phone and Contacts through Settings → Annexes → Application management.

Special attention should be paid to the engineering menu (called by the code ##4636##) which has hidden volume parameters of the conversational speaker, which sometimes get confused after reset or firmware. On Xiaomi models with a Qualcomm processor (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) in the engineering menu, you can manually increase the volume to 150% of the standard value - but this is fraught with distortion of the sound.

If the problem has occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot. Instructions for specific models are available on the 4PDA forum - look for the topic of your firmware. But remember: rollbacks can lead to data loss if you do not backup in advance.

Hardware malfunctions: when the "iron" is to blame

If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware, and here are the most common "iron" reasons for quiet sound:

🔍 How to Diagnose a Hardware Problem:

1. Call your phone from another device and check the volume in the speaker, hands-free and headphones. If all modes are quiet, the audio codec is to blame.
2. Light a flashlight into the speaker grid: if dust or debris is visible, cleaning is needed.
3. Carefully press the body of the phone near the speaker, and if the sound changes, the contacts weaken.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with waterproofing (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Self-cleaning the speaker with alcohol can damage the hydrophobic coating. Use only dry cleaning with compressed air.

3. Network problems: how the operator affects the volume

Few people know, but the sound quality of a call depends not only on the phone, but also on the communication codecs that your carrier uses. For example, when connecting via VoLTE (voice over 4G), the sound can be cleaner but quieter than in standard 3G mode. And if you are in a low coverage area, the phone automatically lowers the volume to reduce noise.

How to check:

• 📶 Turn off VoLTE in the settings SIM-maps (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [yours SIM] → Use VoLTE).
• 🔄 Switch from 4G on 3G: Sometimes old codecs (for example, AMR-NB) louder.
• 📞 Call from another phone to the same number – if the sound is quiet and there, the operator has a problem.

Some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO X3 Pro) have a bug that automatically lowers volume when the signal is weak, and this is solved by turning off the Smart Volume Control feature in the sound settings.

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If you make frequent calls in areas with poor coverage, try installing a VoIP call app (like Zoiper or Linphone) that uses the internet to transmit voice and can give a more stable sound.

4. MIUI settings that "steal" volume

MIUI is known for its abundance of hidden features, and some of them can affect the volume of a conversation.

1. Settings → Special Features → Sound Improvement – Turn off all options, especially Adaptive Sound.
2. Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb – make sure that the mode is not activated for calls.
3. Settings → Applications → Permissions → Microphone – check if there are restrictions for the Phone application.
4. Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance mode – select High Performance (sometimes the economical mode limits the power of the audio codec).

On Android 12+ and MIUI 13/14, we have a Conversation Privacy feature that can mute the sound to protect against listening, and turn it off:

Settings → Privacy → Confidentiality of conversations → Disable

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) In the engineering menu there is a separate item Audio → Normal Mode → Speech → Max Vol. If it's below 128, it's quiet. Clarify carefully, it's maximum (200).+) Can damage the speaker!

5.Microphone problems: why the interlocutor does not hear you well

Sometimes users confuse the quiet sound in the tube (you can't hear the other person) with the quiet sound of the microphone (the interlocutor can't hear you).

• 🎤 Microphone pollution: The bottom microphone (near the charging connector) is often clogged with dust.
• 🔧 Sensitivity settings: in the engineering menu (#4636##) go to Audio → Mic → Mic Gain and set the value of 255 (maximum).
• 📱 Application conflict: some messengers (like WhatsApp) may "take" the microphone. Close all background apps before calling.

On dual-mic models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), the problem may be that the noise cancellation is not working properly.

Settings → Sound and vibration → Noise suppression when talking → Disable

6. Solutions for Specific Xiaomi Models

Some Xiaomi models have unique sound problems, and here are the most common ones:

For owners of Redmi Note 7/8 and other models with Snapdragon 660/675 processor there is a separate bug: after prolonged use (1.5-2 years), the sound in the speaker becomes quieter due to the degradation of the capacitors on the board, in which case only the replacement of the speaker or the entire motherboard will help.

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If your model is older than 2019 and the sound is quiet for no apparent reason, it is likely that the physical wear of the components is to blame, in which case software methods will not help - you need a diagnosis in the service.

7.When to contact the service: signs of a serious breakdown

If you've tried all the ways, but the sound is still quiet, it's time to bring the phone back for repair.

• 🔇 The sound disappears completely or becomes very quiet after a fall/blow.
• 🔊 In the dynamics, you can hear extraneous noises (crackling, squeaking) even when no one is talking.
• 📵 The problem is observed in all modes: calls, music, video, alarm clock.
• 🔌 After connecting headphones, the sound in them is normal, and in dynamics - quiet.

The cost of repair depends on the model:

• Replacement of the Speaking Speaker: 600–1500₽.
• Repair of the plume / soldering contacts: 1000-2500₽.
• Replacement of audio codec (chip): 3000-6000₽.
• Replacement of motherboard: from 5000₽ (often).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi service centers often offer to replace the entire dynamic module, even if the problem is in the departed contact!

FAQ: Frequent questions about quiet sound in Xiaomi