How to increase the sensitivity of the microphone on the Xiaomi phone: from basic settings to hidden features

Why the microphone on Xiaomi is bad for hearing: the main reasons

The sensitivity of the microphone on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models) is often a problem for users, with symptoms ranging from a quiet voice in calls to a complete lack of sound when recording video. 80% of cases are not due to hardware malfunctions, but to software limitations or incorrect settings.

The main reasons for low sensitivity of the microphone:

• 🔇 Active noise cancellation – algorithms MIUI aggressively filter background sounds while cutting off useful signals.
• 📱 Application restrictions – messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and social networks (TikTok, Instagram) can artificially reduce the volume of the microphone
• 🔧 Resetting audio settings after the MIUI update (especially relevant for 13-14 versions)
• 🛠️ Microphone hole contamination – dust and pile block up to 30% sensitivity

Before setting up, check the physical condition of the device. Take a flashlight and inspect the microphone grilles (usually located at the bottom of the case and next to the main camera). If you see a buildup of dirt, clean gently with a cotton-tipped toothpick, without using metal objects.

Method 1: Sensitivity settings in standard MIUI parameters

MIUI offers hidden options for adjusting the microphone, which are not available in the basic interface, to activate them:

1. Open the phone application
2. Type the combination: ##36446337## (code for audio engineering menu)
3. Select Audio → Normal Mode
4. Find the Mic Volume parameter and set the value from 200 to 250 (standard - 160).

Important: values above 250 can cause audio distortions. After changing the settings, restart the phone so that the settings apply to all applications.

Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make a backup copy of important data

The battery should be at least 30% charged.

Use the original cable to connect headphones (if you are testing the headset)

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Method 2: Turning off noise reduction in calls

The noise-cancellation function in MIUI uses AI algorithms that sometimes overdo it.

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Call quality
2. Turn off the voice improvement option
3. In the same menu, find Noise Reduction and move the slider to the off position.

For the Xiaomi 12/13 series and POCO F4/F5 models, an additional disconnection may be required in the engineering menu:

Dial ##4636## → Select Phone Information → Menu (three dots) → Battery Settings → Turn off Microphone Optimization

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If after switching off noise reduction there was an echo effect in the dynamics, turn on the "External speaker" mode during the conversation - this will eliminate the problem.

Method 3: Use of the Engineering Menu (MTK and Qualcomm)

Different engineering menus are available for MediaTek and Qualcomm phones. You can determine the type of chipset in Settings → About Phone → Full specs.

Critical information: On phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro), changing the options in the engineering menu can cause the NFC module settings to reset. Before making changes, disable contactless cards in Google Pay.

Method 4: Software amplification of the microphone through ADB

For advanced users, there is a method of changing system parameters through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and a USB- cable.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → Developer-friendly
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global mic_gain 20
3. For application to all applications, use: adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MICROPHONE_CHANGED --ez enable true --ei level 20

Values for mic_gain:

• 🔊 10-15 — Moderate amplification (recommended for calls)
• 🔊🔊 16-20 - strong amplification (background noise may appear)
• 🔊🔊🔊 21+ Extreme gain (risk of distortion)

Method 5: Configure the microphone for specific applications

Some applications have their own microphone settings that overlap system settings.

WhatsApp/Telegram

The messengers often activate automatic noise cancellation to turn it off:

• 📱 On WhatsApp: ⚙ Settings → Storage → Autoup Media → Voice Messages → Quality → High Quality
• 💬 Telegram: ⚙ Settings → Data and memory → Voice quality → Maximum

TikTok/Instagram

Social media artificially reduces the bitrate of audio.

• 🎥 In TikTok: Enable Live audio in the camera settings before recording
• 📸 On Instagram: Use an external recording app (like Open Camera) then upload the video

Google Meet/Zoom

For conference calls:

• 👥 In Zoom: Settings → Audio → Additional → Turn off "Constant Noise Suppression"
• 🎤 In Google Meet: Use the browser version with the chrome://flags/#enable-web-app-install-banners flag (improving audio processing)

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Sound recording applications (such as RecForge II or Hi-Q MP3 Recorder) allow you to manually set the gain of the microphone to +30 dB, which is impossible through system settings.

Method 6: Hardware solutions (if software solutions do not help)

If all the software methods have been tried and the microphone is still not working well, the problem may lie in the hardware.

⚠️ Warning: Before any iron manipulation, turn off the phone and remove the SIM- card. Static electricity can damage the radio module.

Cleaning of the microphone module:

• 🔧 Use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and cotton swab
• 🧴 Apply 1-2 drops to the microphone grille without pressing.
• ⏳ Wait 5 minutes and remove the residues with a dry wipe

Contact check: If the phone fell, the microphone plume could have moved away.

1. Remove the back cover (requires a mediator and a hair dryer to soften the glue)
2. Find a microphone module (usually marked as MIC or 3321)
3. Check the integrity of the contacts with a magnifying glass

Replacement of microphone: The cost of the original module for popular models:

• 💰 Redmi Note 10/11 — 300-500 RUB.
• 💰 Xiaomi 12/13 — 800-1200 rub.
• 💰 POCO X3/X4 — 400-700 RUB.

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When replacing the microphone with a waterproof model (IP53 and above), be sure to apply a new sealant to the installation site.

Method 7: Alternative solutions (external microphones and programs)

If the internal microphone is not configured, consider external devices:

USB-C/Type-C microphones:

• 🎤 BOYA BY-M1D — Compact Lavalier with support for OTG (price ~1500 RUB.)
• 🎤 Shure MV7 — Professional podcast solution (requires an adapter USB-C)
• 🎤 Fifine K688 — budget version with noise reduction (~2500 rubles.)

Bluetooth headsets:

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 — built-in microphone with cVc 8.0 technology
• 🎧 SoundPEATS Air3 — Support for AAC clean sound
• 🎧 Baseus Bowie WM01 — Hybrid noise cancellation

Software amplifiers:

• 🔊 Microphone Amplifier (Play Market) - Virtual amplification up to +20 dB
• 🔊 Wo Mic – transferring audio from PC to phone over Wi-Fi
• 🔊 Voice Changer – has a built-in equalizer for the microphone

⚠️ Warning: When using external USB-C microphones on Xiaomi phones with a Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1 processor (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra, Black Shark 4), you may need to disable optimization USB in the engineering menu (##284# → USB Settings → Disable USB Audio Routing).

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a microphone on Xiaomi