How to adjust the volume of the microphone on Xiaomi: from standard settings to the engineering menu

Mik problems on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are one of the most common user complaints: Does your interlocutor hear you poorly during calls? Voice messages are recorded too quietly? Or applications like WhatsApp and Telegram do not recognize speech? Most often, it is not the hardware fault, but the wrong microphone sensitivity settings.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can turn up the volume of your microphone, from basic settings in your phone's menu to hidden settings in engineering mode, how to check the microphone's performance, what applications can block sound, and what to do if standard methods don't work, and for owners of older models (such as the Redmi Note 4 or Mi A1), we'll give you some recommendations based on the features of their firmware.

Why is the microphone on Xiaomi too quiet?

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand the cause of the problem, and in 70 percent of cases, the low volume of the microphone is not due to a breakdown, but to software constraints.

• 📱 Standard constraints MIUI: Xiaomi’s firmware artificially lowers the sensitivity of the microphone to reduce noise levels, as seen when recording voice messages or when calling via VoIP (for example, Viber or Zoom).
• 🔇 Application-specific settings: Messengers and social networks (such as Instagram or TikTok) can separately adjust the sound recording level, regardless of system parameters.
• 🛠️ Damage to connectors or microphones: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 Redmi 9, the bottom microphone is responsible for noise reduction, and if it's clogged or damaged, the main microphone automatically lowers the volume.
• 📦 Firmware updates: After major updates (for example, switching from a MIUI 12 on MIUI (13) some sound parameters are reset.

If the problem comes on suddenly, first check if it is due to contamination of the microphone holes. Take a flashlight and inspect the lower and upper parts of the case - often there accumulates dust or moisture. Use a toothpick (carefully!) or a spray of compressed air to clean.

Method 1: Customize the microphone volume in standard MIUI parameters

So, let's start with the simplest one, which is to check the basic settings, and in most cases, you just need to adjust the settings in the Settings menu. → Sound. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open Settings and go to the Sound and Vibration section.
2. Slip on Volume (or Volume Levels on new MIUI versions).
3. Check the Microphone slider – if it is not available, then your model does not support direct adjustment through this menu (go to the next method).
4. Some devices (such as Xiaomi 12 or Redmi Note 11) have a separate item called Sound Quality – turn on the option to Improve Voice.

If the microphone slider is not on the menu, try an alternative route:

• 📞 During the call, click on the Loudness icon (speaker) and check if there is an adjustment for the microphone.
• 🎤 In some firmware, the option is hidden in Settings → Special facilities → Hearing settings.

Important! On Android One devices (such as Mi A2 or Mi A3), standard microphone settings may not be available, in which case use the engineering menu (mode 3) or third-party apps (mode 4).

Method 2: Changing the sensitivity of the microphone for specific applications

Many messengers and social networks have their own microphone settings, which can conflict with system parameters, for example, WhatsApp or Telegram can separately adjust the level of recording voice messages.

If the app doesn’t have explicit microphone settings, try the following:

• 🔄 Reinstall the app – sometimes audio recording failures are associated with damaged cache or data.
• 📱 Give permissions manually: go to Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Permits and make sure that access to the microphone is allowed.
• 🔊 Use an external microphone: If the problem is only in one app, connect a Bluetooth headset or wired microphone through USB-C.

💡

Zoom and Google Meet have a hidden "Original Audio" setting that disables voice processing, turn it on in call settings for better quality.

Method 3: Engineering menu - hidden microphone settings

If standard methods don't work, it's time to turn to the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden section of MIUI where you can manually adjust microphone settings, including amplification, sensitivity and noise cancellation. Be careful: improper changes can worsen sound quality or cause malfunctions.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##4636## Some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) may require another combination: ##36446337###
2. Select Phone Information (or Engineering Mode).
3. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio.
4. In the Microphone section, you will see options: Mic Volume – volume level (set 200 to 255), Mic Gain – amplification (optimum: 4 or 5), Noise Suppression – noise cancellation (turn off if the voice sounds muffled).

After the changes, be sure to restart the phone. If the sound gets worse (wheezing or echoing), return the parameters to the original values.

⚠️ On devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (e.g., Qualcomm Snapdragon, POCO X4 Pro or Redmi K50) Changing the Mic Gain settings above 5 can cause a distortion of the sound.

Method 4: Applications for microphone amplification

If you don't want to go through the engineering menu, you can use third-party tools that work as a mediator between the system and the microphone, amplify the signal and filter the noise.-3 tested applications:

• 🔊 Microphone Volume Booster (free, no root): Volume up to +20 dB. Works with most messengers. Minus: background noise may appear.

Check reviews before installing, some apps may conflict with MIUI 14 and later, and note that booster apps increase the CPU load, which can lead to overheating during long conversations.

💡

Microphone amplification applications do not replace hardware settings, but only temporarily increase the volume. Use the engineering menu for a permanent solution.

Method 5: Hardware inspections and repairs

If the software methods fail, the problem may be in the hardware.

1. Microphone holes: Inspect the lower and upper parts of the body for blockages. Use a toothpick or soft brush to clean. Don't blow with your mouth - moisture can damage the microphone!
2. Headphone jack (if any): On some models (Redmi 5, Mi 8), the main microphone is switched off when the headphones are connected, and check if the debris is stuck in the 3.5mm connector.
3. Train damage: If the phone fell or got wet, the plume connecting the microphone to the motherboard could be damaged, signs: the microphone only works on speakerphone or periodically shuts down.

To diagnose hardware problems:

• 🔧 Use the Phone Doctor Plus test app to check the performance of all sensors, including the microphone.

⚠️ Attention! If the sound is not restored after cleaning the microphone holes and the microphone parameters do not change in the engineering menu (values are reset after rebooting), this is a sign of a hardware malfunction, in which case the microphone at the service center is required to be replaced. The average cost of repair for Redmi models is from 800 to 1500 rubles.

Features of setting up the microphone on popular models Xiaomi

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique features in the microphone, and we have collected the most common problems and solutions for popular models:

For POCO owners with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS): check if the microphone permissions have been lost after the firmware is installed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a microphone on Xiaomi