Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often encounter incomprehensible sound artifacts described as gurgling, which can occur when unlocking the screen, during calls or even in standby mode, creating a feeling of malfunctioning of an expensive device. Most of the time, the problem lies in the software settings of the MIUI sound effects, but sometimes it is a physical moisture or hardware failure.
Understanding the source of extraneous noise can be difficult, since the Android operating system in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS has many hidden parameters. Ignoring the problem can lead to the fact that a temporary software bug will develop into a permanent malfunction of the speakers. Below we will discuss in detail all possible causes and methods for fixing them.
Software settings of sound effects MIUI
Most often, strange sounds resembling gurgling or sniffling are associated with activated system effects. Xiaomi developers add various audio accompaniments for user actions that can be perceived as artifacts. First of all, you need to check the sound and vibration section in the main settings of the gadget.
Go to the Settings menu and select Sound and Vibration, and here you should be interested in the Additional Settings or System Sounds subsection, and this is where the switches for lock, unlock and charge sounds that often sound incorrect on some models are hidden.
- 🔊 Turn off the lock sound option if it is active, as it often makes a short slurring sound.
- 📴 Remove the tick from the item Unlock Sound, which on some themes sounds like a splash of water.
- 🔋 Check the settings of the charging sound, sometimes it is the connection of the cable that causes a short-term gurgle in the dynamics.
If simple switches didn't help, you should delve into the theme settings. Some third-party themes downloaded from the MIUI Themes store may contain poorly optimized audio files. Go back to the standard Classic or Default theme to rule this out.
⚠️ Warning: After changing the theme, be sure to perform a full reboot of the device to reset the cache of sound drivers and avoid conflicts.
📊 What sound bothers you the most?
Slurring when unlocking:Noise during the call:Bulking in headphones:Static crackling:Other
Dynamics and equalizer modes
Xiaomi’s current smartphones are equipped with advanced audio processors that use Dolby Atmos algorithms or the company’s own designs to improve sound, but the malfunction of these algorithms, especially when combined with low-quality audio files, can produce gurgling-like artifacts.
To diagnose, you need to go to the Sound and Vibration settings and find the Sound Quality and Effects, and you need to temporarily disable all improvements, including Dolby Atmos, Mi Sound, and any custom equalizer presets, to see if the problem is software processing.
What's Mi Sound?
Mi Sound is Xiaomi’s proprietary technology that tries to adapt the sound to the connected headphones. Sometimes it misidentifies impedance, leading to distortions.> In the same menu, look at the Smart Speaker settings. If this feature is enabled, the phone can automatically turn up the volume in noisy places, which is perceived as a sudden jump or "sucking" of air by the speaker, and turning off this option often solves the problem of spontaneous sounds. It’s also worth checking the settings of specific apps, such as messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp have their own media playback settings that may conflict with Android’s system settings. 🎚️ Reset the equalizer settings to Normal or Flat. 🚫 Turn off Adaptive Audio in Bluetooth settings if a problem occurs when working with the headset. 📱 Check if the Mono-audio mode is included in special features, which can distort the stereo panorama.Diagnostics through the engineering menu For a deeper analysis of the state of the audio system, you can use the hidden engineering menu Xiaomi. This tool allows you to test hardware components independently of the operating system, which helps to identify a physical malfunction of the speaker. To get into the testing menu, open the Phone application and type the combination ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the interface will open. CIT (Customer Information Test: You'll find the sound-related tests, usually called Receiver and Speaker. Press Speaker and run the playback test. Listen carefully to the track you're playing. If you hear gurgling even in test mode, when third-party applications are disabled, then the problem is hardware in nature. It can be damage to the speaker membrane or oxidation of contacts. ☑️ Checking in CIT menu Dial code ##6484##:Select Speaker test:Listen to test track:Check Receiver test:Compare sound with normal: 0 / 1 Don't be alarmed if you hear static noise on the test menu, which is normal for some models at maximum volume, but a rhythmic gurgle or crackle synchronized with the frequency of sound is a sign of a defect. One of the most common but common causes of gurgling sounds is the ingress of moisture into the speaker's grid. IP53 or IP68, condensate or splashes can get stuck in the holes, creating a characteristic effect when passing a sound wave. Visually inspect the speaker grid in good lighting. If water droplets or contamination are visible, the hole must be cleaned carefully. The use of sharp objects is strictly prohibited, as it is possible to damage the membrane or push the dirt deeper. Cleaning method Efficiency Risk damage Recommendation Toothbrush (dry) High Low Cleaning Tape Medium Low Cleaning Surface Mud Cleaning Very High Medium Only in the service Dryer Dryer Dryer Not recommended (Smoking Damage Risk Recommend) There are many Vibrance applications available in the Market. Turn on maximum volume and run low frequency (165 Hz) sound via YouTube – this often helps push out the droplets. ⚠️ Warning: Don't use a hair dryer to dry your smartphone! hot air can melt the adhesive layer of moisture protection and damage the battery, making the situation worse. If the software settings and cleaning didn’t help, there may have been a build-up of errors affecting audio drivers. Factory Reset is a radical but effective method of solving software conflicts. Before you reset, be sure to back up all important data in the Mi Cloud or on your computer, as all information from the internal drive will be deleted. → The phone. → Reset settings and select Erase all data. It's also worth checking for operating system updates. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix sound bugs.Go to Settings → About the phone and click on the version MIUI HyperOS to check for updates. 🔄 Make sure your battery is over 50% before you start the upgrade. 📶 Use a stable Wi-Fi connection to download the service pack. 💾 Keep a backup of contacts and messages before any system intervention. After updating or resetting, the problem should disappear. If the gurgle remains even on a clean system without installed user applications, the probability of hardware failure is close to 100%. 💡Factory reset eliminates the impact of third-party applications and configuration errors, isolating the problem to hardware or OS Hardware malfunctions and repairs When software methods are exhausted, it remains to consider physical damage to components. Gurgling can be caused by detachment of the speaker membrane, oxidation of contacts due to moisture or defect of the audio codec on the motherboard. Even a microscopic crack can disrupt the speaker's acoustic camera, causing the sound to become choked, requiring disassembly of the device and replacement of the speaker module, and the cost of repair depends on the model of the smartphone. The flagship Xiaomi and Redmi Note series often use a modular design, where the speaker changes in assembly with a frame or subscreen, which increases the price of the spare part. ⚠️ Warning: Self-disassembly of the smartphone will deprive you of warranty. If the device is warranty, immediately contact an authorized service center. If a light tapping gagging increases or changes, it is a sure sign of mechanical damage to the speaker or the drift of the plume. To avoid the recurrence of unpleasant sounds, it is recommended to follow a number of preventive measures. Regular cleaning of speakers from dust and the use of protective covers that do not overlap the acoustic holes, will prolong the life of the audio system. Avoid installing dubious applications for "amplification of sound" from unverified sources. They often conflict with Android system drivers, causing overload of speakers and distortion of the speaker and the use of the speaker in a more frequent condition of the port. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Why does the gurgle only appear at low volume? It's a characteristic sign of the speaker membrane beginning to detach, or the presence of a foreign object (dust, pile) inside the acoustic chamber. At high volume, the amplitude of the oscillation blocks this defect. Can the gurgle be a virus? Viruses themselves rarely cause specific sound artifacts. It's likely an in-app advertising module conflict that tries to reproduce the sound, but is blocked by the system, creating a glitch effect. Will the phone's firmware help if the flashing of the phone is a temporary problem? If it's moisture, ignoring it will cause the board to corrosion and break down completely. If it's a software bug, the phone will live a long time, but the comfort of use will decrease. The hardware defect in the speaker will only progress over time.