Badly audible to the interlocutor on the phone Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: causes and solutions

You call Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, but the person you're talking to is so bad, like he's talking from a barrel, or does your voice get jammed or even disappear? The problem with sound during calls is one of the most common complaints of owners of this smartphone. The reasons can lie in both software failures and hardware malfunctions: from a clogged microphone to firmware errors. MIUI.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes of bad hearing on the Redmi Note 8, from the banal (dirty in the dynamics) to the complex (damage to the audio chip), you'll get step-by-step instructions with the photo, checklists for diagnostics and tips on how to avoid problems in the future, and if the phone is no longer guaranteed, you'll find out how much it will cost to repair and whether it's worth it.

Spoiler: 70 percent of the time, you can solve a problem yourself in 5 to 10 minutes without going to the service center.

1. Checking basic sound settings

Before disassembling your phone or resetting your settings, make sure that the problem is not with the basic parameters. Often users accidentally change the volume of the conversation or activate modes that degrade the sound.

Open the Settings menu → Sound and vibration and check:

• 🔊 Call volume and media: push the slider to maximum. Sometimes the volume limiter goes off during a conversation.
• 📞 Talk volume: A separate regulator that appears during a call (click volume buttons).
• 🚫 Don’t disturb: Turn off this mode – it can block the sound of incoming calls.
• 🎧 Audio effects: In the Sound Quality section, disable all enhancements (such as the Noise Cancelation Microphone) as they sometimes distort the voice.

If the sound doesn't improve after this manipulation, move on to the next step, and the problem is often with the microphone settings, which may be affected by the updates. MIUI.

Microphone diagnostics and dynamics

Poor hearing can be associated with physical damage or contamination of audio components. On the Redmi Note 8, the most common are:

• 🎤 Main microphone (located at the bottom of the case next to the connector) USB-C).
• 🔈 Top speaker (used as a conversational speaker).
• 📱 Grid speaker - clogged with dust and pile from your pocket.

How to check the microphone:

1. Open the Dictaphone app and record 10-15 seconds of speech.
2. Listen to the tape. If the voice is muffled or jammed, the microphone is faulty.
3. Try calling WhatsApp or Telegram, and if the messaging sound is normal and the standard call is bad, the firmware is the problem.

How to clean the speaker and microphone:

• 🧹 Use a soft toothbrush (dry!) or compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment).
• 🚫 Do not use alcohol, water or sharp objects – this will damage the membrane.
• 🔍 Light the speaker grid with a flashlight: if garbage is visible, carefully remove it.

If the sound didn't recover after cleaning, the microphone or speaker may have gone off, and you'll need to disassemble the phone.

Problems with the network and SIM-card

The sound quality of a call depends on the stability of the cellular connection. If the signal is weak, the voice of the interlocutor will be interrupted, and your voice will be delayed. On the Redmi Note 8, the most common are:

• 📶 Poor network coverage (especially in basements, elevators, remote areas).
• 🔄 Wrong settings APN (access point).
• 📱 Conflict of the two SIM-Cards (if you use Dual) SIM).

How to improve communication:

1. Switch from 4G on 3G in network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network → 3G.
2. Update the settings APN: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [choose SIM] → Access points (APN) → Reset to default values
3. If you use two SIM-Disable one and check the quality of the communication.
4. Try calling from another phone to the same number – if the problem persists, it’s the operator’s fault.

If the communication hasn't improved after this manipulation, the problem may be in the phone's communication module, in which case only the service center will help.

4.Reset network and sound settings

Sometimes the cause of poor hearing is conflicts in the system settings that can not be fixed manually, in such cases, the reset helps:

• 🔄 Network reset – removes stored Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings.
• 🔊 Resetting sound settings – returns factory volume and audio effects.

How to reset your network settings:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
2. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
3. After restarting, reconnect to the mobile network and check the sound.

How to reset the sound settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone app and select Warehouse → Clear the data.
3. Also clear the data for Contacts and Sound applications.

⚠️ Attention: Network reset will delete all stored Wi-Fi passwords and paired Bluetooth devices!

If the reset didn’t help, move on to more radical measures – updating the firmware or-hardware reset.

5. Update firmware and rollback to factory version

Firmware errors MIUI — Xiaomi regularly releases bug fixing updates, but sometimes they break the audio. If bad hearing comes after the update, try it:

• 🔄 Update to the latest version MIUI (if new firmware is available).
• 📱 Reverse to the previous version (if the problem has occurred after the update).
• 🏭 Reset your phone to factory settings (last resort).

How to update firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
3. After the update, restart the phone.

How to Reverse the Previous Firmware:

1. Download the correct version MIUI From the official Xiaomi website (select the Redmi Note 8 model).
2. Transfer the firmware file (.zip) to the root folder of the phone.
3. Press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
4. Select Install update.zip and confirm the installation.

If the problem persists even after a reset, the hardware is most likely to blame.

6. Hardware malfunctions: when repairs are needed

If all the software methods have been tried and the sound is still bad, it's a physical breakdown.

• 🎤 Microphone – contact is lost or the membrane is broken (replacement price: 500–1200) ₽).
• 🔈 Dynamics – the coil burns out or the contacts oxidize (replacement: 800-1500) ₽).
• 📶 Antenna module – responsible for receiving the signal (repair: 1500-2500) ₽).
• 🔌 Audio chip - rare, but occurs when falling or moisture is injected (replacement: 2000–3500) ₽).

How to determine if a replacement is needed:

• 🔊 The sound is completely lost (no speaker or microphone is working).
• 📱 The phone does not respond to volume control.
• 💦 There were falls, water intrusion or overheating.
• 🔧 After disassembly, oxidation or breaks of plumes are visible.

Should I repair it? Depends on the condition of the phone.

• ✅ If the case and screen are intact, repair is justified (the price is lower than buying a new smartphone).
• ❌ If the phone is old or there are other breakdowns, it is cheaper to buy a new one (for example, Redmi Note 12).

⚠️ Warning: Don’t trust repairs to informal workshops if they offer a microphone replacement for 200-300 ₽. You'll probably get a used part that'll fail quickly. Original parts for the Redmi Note 8 cost more!

7. Alternative methods of calling

If repairs are delayed, and you need to call urgently, use workaround solutions:

• 🎧 Headphones with microphones — connect wired or Bluetooth headset. On the Redmi Note 8, the sound through the headphones usually works stably.
• 📱 Speaking up, turn it on when you call (the button in the call interface) minus: people around you will hear the conversation.
• 💬 VoIP calls -- use WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, these apps, they're voice-overs over the Internet, bypassing the cellular network.
• 🔄 Call forwarding – set up redirect to another number in Settings → SIM-map → Call forwarding.

How to enable VoIP calls in WhatsApp:

1. Open the contact chat.
2. Click on the phone tube icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select Voice Call (the sound will go over the Internet).

These methods won’t solve the problem completely, but they will keep you connected until the phone is fixed.

8 Prevention: How to Avoid Sound Problems in the Future

To avoid hearing loss again, follow these simple rules:

• 🧴 Clean the speaker and microphone regularly (every 2-3 months).
• 🚫 Don’t drop your phone – punches often damage your audio chip.
• 💧 Avoid moisture – even a slight dampness can oxidize contacts.
• 🔄 Don't miss updates MIUI, But before installing, read the reviews on the forums (sometimes updates break the sound).
• 📱 Don’t overload your phone – close out background apps that may conflict with sound.

If you make frequent calls in noisy places, consider buying an external microphone (like a 500–1000 Lavalier). ₽). It connects to a 3.5mm connector and significantly improves the quality of voice transmission.

💡

Before selling or renovating your phone, be sure to check the microphone and speaker! a faulty sound can reduce the cost of the device by 20-30%.

Now you know how to diagnose and fix sound problems on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8. 90% of the time, software methods help, but if it’s hardware, do not delay repairs to avoid aggravating the breakdown.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound in Redmi Note 8