How to permanently remove spontaneous disconnection of the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi: from settings to firmware

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often experience a problem when the microphone suddenly turns off during calls, recording voice messages or using applications like WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord. Symptoms range from a complete lack of sound to periodic voice failures when the interlocutor hears you intermittently. In 80% of cases, the reason lies in the software limitations of MIUI, but sometimes hardware failures or incorrect security settings are to blame.

This article covers all possible solutions, from basic checks to deep system interventions, we will discuss how to turn off the energy saving for the microphone, reset the application rights, check the physical condition of the connectors, and consider radical measures such as flashing or rolling back to factory settings, especially the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/9A/9C and POCO X3/X4, where the problem is most common.

Before you start, make sure the problem is not due to external factors: check the case (it can block the microphone), clean the microphone hole from dust, test another headphone or headset. If the microphone works in the recorder, but not in messengers - the application settings are to blame, not the hardware.

1. Check basic MIUI settings and application permissions

The first step is to eliminate the software constraints that MIUI imposes on the microphone by default. Most often, the problem is solved in the Settings menu → Applications → Permissions → Microphone.

• 🔍 Check if permission is enabled for system applications (Phone, Camera, Recorder).
• 📱 Make sure that messengers (Telegram, Viber) have access to the microphone at all times, not only during use.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone after changing permissions – sometimes the rights apply only after the reboot.

If the permissions are fine but the microphone is still off, check the battery optimization for the apps:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization
2. Find the app that misses the microphone (such as Zoom) and select No Limits.
3. For Android 12+, also disable the Adaptive Battery in the Additional section.

A critical feature of MIUI 13/14 is that the system can automatically reset microphone permissions after security updates.

2. Reset application settings and cache

Incorrect cache or conflicting application data can cause microphone failures, starting with the safest method, which is to clean the cache for system services:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In search, enter the Phone, open the application and click Clear cache.
3. Repeat for Media Storage, Bluetooth and Google Play Services.

If that doesn’t help, reset all app settings (does not delete personal data, but resets permissions and default settings):

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings

After discharge:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📲 Go to each problem app and manually provide access to the microphone.
• 🎤 Test the microphone in the recorder and during the call.

Clear the cache of system applications

Make a backup copy of permissions (screenshots)

Write down a list of applications with microphone access

Disable battery optimization for key applications-->

3. Checking of hardware faults

If the software methods don't work, the problem can be physical damage. On Xiaomi Redmi, the most common ones are:

• 🎙️ Main microphone (located at the bottom of the body next to the connector) USB-C).
• 📞 Second microphone (for noise reduction, usually next to the top speaker).
• 🔌 Headphone jack (if a wired headset is used).

How to diagnose:

1. Blow into the microphone hole – if you hear noise in the speaker, the microphone is physically healthy.
2. Connect headphones with a microphone: if there is sound, the problem is in the main microphone of the smartphone.
3. Check if the microphone hole is contaminated (use a flashlight and toothpick for careful cleaning).

⚠️ Warning: If you're unsure of your smartphone disassembly skills, don't try to clean or repair the microphone yourself. On Redmi Note 11 and newer models, the microphone is integrated into a shared plume with the speaker - careless actions can lead to sound loss completely.

4. Disconnecting the power saving functions and MIUI Optimizations

MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which can cause the microphone to shut down in applications.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode
2. Select High Performance (disables most restrictions).
3. Go back to Settings → Special features → MIUI Optimizations.
4. Turn off MIUI Optimizations (reboot required).

For Android 12+, you also need to:

• 🔋 Disable Adaptive Brightness and Adaptive Battery in Battery Settings.
• 🛑 Disallow optimization for applications with microphone: Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Battery → No restrictions.

After these changes, the microphone should work steadily, but keep in mind that turning off optimizations can reduce battery life by 10-15%.

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If after disabling MIUI Optimizations, you have lags, return the setting back and try an alternative method – add the problem application to the list of “Secure applications” in the battery settings.

5. Verification for viruses and conflicting applications

Some applications (especially "optimizers" or antiviruses from third-party developers) can block access to the microphone to identify the culprit:

1. Launch your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode).
2. Test the microphone – if it works, the problem is in one of the installed applications.
3. Turning to remove recently installed programs, starting with antiviruses and optimizers.

Check your phone for viruses using Google Play Protect:

• 🛡️ Open Google Play → Menus. → Play Protect → Scan.
• 🔍 Remove all threats detected.
• 🔄 Reset the device.

Pay special attention to applications with administrator or special access rights:

Settings → Applications → Special access → Device administrators

Remove suspicious programs from this list.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Redmi with root rights or custom firmware, viruses can masquerade as system processes. If you suspect an infection, reset to factory settings.

6. Radical methods: reset, firmware and unlocking the bootloader

If all the previous methods didn't work, there are extreme measures, and let's start with the safest one, factory reset.

1. Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. After reset, do not restore data from the backup – check the microphone first.

If the reset didn't help, the problem could be the firmware. There are two options available for Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🔄 Update via Fastboot (saves data but requires PC).
• 📥 Clean installation (full discharge) + firmware).

Instructions for firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

To unlock the bootloader (necessary for custom firmware):

1. Apply for unlocking through the official Xiaomi website.
2. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode and use the Mi Unlock Tool.
3. Once unlocked, install Custom Recovery (TWRP) and run through a clean MIUI or LineageOS.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader resets all data and may result in a loss of warranty.On Redmi models with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Unlocking the bootloader is officially impossible without Xiaomi authorization.

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Fastboot firmware is the most reliable way to fix a microphone's software failures, but it requires technical skills. If you're not sure, contact the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi