Why Xiaomi Phone’s microphone is not working and how to fix it

Sudden loss of sound when calling or recording voice messages in instant messengers can take any owner of a Xiaomi smartphone by surprise.Situation when the device stops catching a voice often occurs after a system update, a gadget drop or installing questionable software. Users begin to panic, believing that expensive repairs in the service center are inevitable, but statistics show that in most cases the problem is solved by software methods.

Before carrying a phone to a wizard, you need to make a thorough diagnosis. Mike malfunction can be caused by banal contamination of the speaker grid, driver failure or application conflict. In this article, we will examine all possible causes, from simple software errors to complex hardware failures, and provide a step-by-step algorithm for restoring functionality.

It's important to understand that MIUI or HyperOS has a complex audio management structure, and sometimes the sound is not physically blocked, but is blocked at the level of logical constraints imposed by the user or malicious code, so consistently eliminating factors is key to success.

Diagnostics and primary health check

The first step is to determine the scale of the problem: the main microphone, the top (noise reduction) or both does not work, and for this purpose, there is a built-in engineering test in the Xiaomi shell. Launch the Phone app and type the combination ##6484##. In the CIT menu that opens, select Main Mic to check the main microphone and Top Mic for the top one.

During the test, the system will ask you to say a phrase or blow on the microphone, and if the indicator responds to sound and you hear yourself in headphones or through the speaker, then the hardware is good, and the problem lies in the software, and if the silence is maintained and the signal level indicator does not move, there is a possibility of a physical failure or disconnection of the plume.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone has recently been in water, do not try to dry it with a hair dryer or battery. hot air drives moisture deeper into the boards, which can lead to irreversible corrosion of the microphone contacts.

It's also worth checking if the holes are covered with a cover or protective film. Sometimes even a microscopic villi that gets into the speaker's grid can completely block the access of the sound wave to the membrane. Carefully clean the holes with a soft toothbrush, trying not to damage the protective mesh.

Software settings and application access rights

A common reason for the smartphone’s silence is to ban the use of the microphone for specific applications. Android system strictly controls access to personal data, and after the software update, rights may have been reset. To check this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the problem program (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) and select “Allowances”.

Make sure the switch opposite the Microphone is activated.In some versions of MIUI, the Privacy Protection feature is available, which can automatically block microphone access in the background if the application is not actively used.This is a useful security feature, but it often interferes with the normal operation of the recorder or video communication.

• 📱 Check if Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is enabled, which may limit the functionality of the sound.
• 🔒 Make sure that the security settings do not block the call record for all numbers.
• 🔄 Reset the settings of the Phone app through the app information menu if the problem only occurs when calling.

Sometimes conflict arises when two apps are trying to capture the audio channel at the same time. For example, if a voice recorder is running and you're trying to send a voice message in a messenger, one of them may not start. Close all background processes through the menu of running tasks and try to play the recording again.

Cleaning the cache and resetting the sound settings

Accumulated cache of system services may contain errors that prevent the correct processing of the audio signal. Clearing temporary files often helps restore work without losing personal data. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select Show System Processes.

In the list, find audio-related services such as Audio Service, Media Server, or Google Play Services. Go to each of them and click Clear → Clear Cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear Everything, as this will reset the app’s settings to factory settings, which may require re-authorization.

If cleaning the cache didn't work, you can try a more radical method, resetting all the phone settings. This action will return the software part to its original state by removing Wi-Fi passwords, alarm settings and Bluetooth pairings, but save your photos and contacts. The way to this feature is: Settings → About the phone → Reset → Erase all data.

⚠️ Warning: Before performing a full reset, be sure to back up important data in the cloud or on your computer. Recovering deleted files after a reset without a backup is almost impossible.

Updating the system and drivers

Xiaomi developers regularly release updates to fix bugs from previous firmware versions.The microphone problem may be a known software bug that has already been fixed in the newer version. MIUI or HyperOS. check for updates in the Settings section → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Sometimes automatic updates are not correct and some system files are corrupted, in which case it is recommended to re-install the current firmware version through the Recovery menu. To do this, download the current firmware package from the official website, rename it to update.zip and place it in the root of internal memory.

It’s also worth checking for updates to the apps themselves, especially the voice recorder and phone. Go to Google Play Market or GetApps, go to profile and select “Apps and Device Management.” Having older versions of system components can cause conflicts with new data protocols.

Hardware causes and physical examination

If software methods are powerless, then we have to look at the physical causes: the microphone in modern smartphones is a tiny, fragile component that is sensitive to shocks, vibrations and temperature changes, and even if the phone looks whole, the plume connector could have moved away or the membrane burst.

Visually inspect the microphone holes (usually two, from the bottom next to the charging port and from the top on the end). There should be no dense lumps of dust, pile or oxides. You can use a soft brush and isopropyl alcohol to clean, but you need to be extremely careful not to push the dirt deeper.

Often, owners face a problem after replacing the screen or battery, an unqualified craftsman may have damaged the microphone plume when assembled or forgotten to plug it in before clicking, and in such cases, a re-disassembly of the device is required to check the connections.

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Use the “Record Improvement” feature in Xiaomi’s recorder only in quiet rooms. In noisy environments, noise-cancellation algorithms can “cut” the voice, creating the illusion of a microphone breakdown.

Replacement of microphone and repair at home

Replacing the microphone with Xiaomi is a procedure of medium complexity, requiring the presence of thin tools: a dryer for heating glue, suckers, mediators and a set of screwdrivers. The microphone is usually soldered on the bottom plume (sub-board) or is part of a separate module connected to the motherboard.

If the microphone is built into the bottom board (like a budget model like the Redmi Note), it's easier and cheaper to replace the entire board, eliminating the need for a soldering iron and a microscope. You only need to remove the back cover, unscrew some screws and replace the knot.

• 🛠️ To replace the microphone on the board, you need a soldering hair dryer and skills to work with SMD-component.
• 🔍 Before soldering, be sure to turn off the battery to avoid short circuits.
• 💡 New microphones are often sold already pasted into rubber seals - don't lose them when you replace them.

In models with moisture protection (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 or Xiaomi 13), disassembly is complicated by the presence of a large amount of glue. The heating of the rear cover should be uniform so as not to damage the glass. After repair, you need to restore moisture protection by applying a new layer of B-7000 glue around the perimeter of the body.

⚠️ Note: When buying parts, pay attention to compatibility. Microphones for different models may have different heights, sensitivity and contact locations. Using the wrong donor will either not appear or be distorted.

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If you are not sure of your abilities or the phone is on warranty, self-replacement of the microphone will deprive you of the right to free service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)