How to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone on Xiaomi: from basic parameters to hidden features

The microphone in Xiaomi smartphones is not just a tool for calling, but a key element for recording videos, streams, voice notes and working with voice assistants. However, many users face problems: the interlocutor does not hear well, the recording is made with noises, or the microphone, on the contrary, catches too many extraneous sounds, all this is due to incorrectly tuned sensitivity, a parameter that determines how strongly the device responds to sound waves.

In this article, we’ll look at how to adjust the microphone sensitivity to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from basic settings in MIUI to hidden engineering menus, how to increase the volume of recording for streams, reduce background noise for calls, and why some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) require a special approach. We’ll also look at software solutions for fine-tuning and hardware limitations that are not mentioned in the official instructions.

Why does Xiaomi’s microphone work so badly?

Before you change the settings, it is important to understand the root of the problem, and the sensitivity of the microphone depends on several factors:

• 🔧 Hardware restrictions: Cheap models (e.g. Redmi) 10A) They are often equipped with single-band microphones that are physically unable to pick up a wide range of sounds. - Flagships (Xiaomi 14, MIX Fold 3) have several noise-cancelling microphones, but they also need to be configured correctly.
• 📱 Version. MIUI: In the firmware older MIUI 12 there is no built-in equalizer for the microphone, and in MIUI 14+ There are hidden options for fine-tuning.
• 🎤 Mikrone Pollution: Dust, moisture, or mechanical damage can reduce sensitivity, for example, after a phone falls, the microphone may start to "wheeze" at high frequencies.
• 🔊 Application conflict: Some programs (such as voice assistants or games) may block microphone access for other applications.

If you notice that the microphone has deteriorated since the MIUI update, the problem is probably software. If the recording quality has deteriorated gradually, check the hardware. For example, on the POCO X5 Pro, users often complain of "muffled" sound after installing custom firmware.

Basic settings of the microphone in MIUI

Start with the simplest, built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for most tasks: improving call quality, recording voice messages or video calls on WhatsApp/Telegram.

Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality. Here you will find a few key options:

• 🎚️ Microphone amplification: The slider can increase the volume of recording by 20 to 30 percent, is useful for quiet rooms, but can add noise in loud environments.
• 🔇 Noise suppression: Turn on this option if there are a lot of extraneous sounds (street, cafe). 12S Ultra and newer works particularly efficiently thanks to a hardware noise-cancellation chip.
• 🎙️ Voice mode: Optimizes the microphone for speech, cutting off low and high frequencies. Useful for podcasts or voice recorders.

Note that some models (e.g. Redmi 9A) may not have audio quality, and you may need to use an engineering menu or third-party apps.

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If the microphone is too quiet after changing the settings, try turning off Bluetooth – some versions of MIUI reset volume levels when connecting the headphones.

Engineering menu: hidden microphone settings

Advanced sensitivity settings will require an engineering menu (also known as MTK Engineering Mode or Qualcomm Diag, depending on the processor) that is suitable for power users, as improper changes can cause crashes.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636### (for Qualcomm processors) or #36446337## (for MediaTek).
3. Select the Hardware Testing → Audio section.

In this menu you will see a few tabs with microphone settings:

Note: Changes to the engineering menu are not saved after rebooting on some models (e.g. POCO F4 GT).To fix settings, use the MTK Engineering Mode app from Google Play.

Customizing the microphone for specific applications

MIUI allows you to set up the microphone separately for different programs, which is useful if, for example, you can't hear well on Zoom, but on WhatsApp you can hear well.

How to change the settings for a particular application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Microphone.
2. Select an app (such as Instagram or TikTok).
3. Click on the Additional settings (if any) and adjust the sensitivity level.

For streamers and content creators, it is important to consider:

• 🎥 YouTube/TikTok: Increase the Mic Volume to 80–90% and turn on noise cancellation.
• 🎮 Discord/Telegram: Turn off sound processing in the application settings to MIUI They didn’t conflict with their algorithms.
• 📱 Games (PUBG, Free Fire: Use the "For Voice" mode in MIUI, snuff out.

Check the cleanliness of the microphone hole

Turn off Bluetooth headphones

Turn on noise reduction in MIUI

Set sensitivity in the engineering menu

Test recording in a quiet and noisy room-->

Software Solutions: Applications for Fine Customization

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can use third-party apps that allow you to:

• 📊 Adjust the microphone equalizer (enhance/attenuate certain frequencies).
• 🔊 Apply pre-processing of sound (compression, normalization).
• 🎛️ Create settings profiles for different scenarios (podcast, stream, call).

The best apps for Xiaomi:

Important: Some applications require ROOT-You can use the right to work properly. 11T Pro without root access will be able to only adjust the volume, but not the frequency characteristics.

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Third-party applications may conflict with the built-in noise reduction MIUI. Before using, turn off sound processing in the system settings.

Hardware problems: when settings do not help

If you've tried all the software methods, but the microphone still doesn't work well, it could be the hardware.

• 🔊 Microphone pollution: The sound becomes muted, wheezing occurs, often after prolonged use in dusty environments (e.g., on a construction site).
• 💧 Moisture: The microphone bubbles or stops working completely. Typical of the Redmi Note 10 Pro after rain.
• 🔧 Weakening of contacts: The sound disappears when the phone is tilted, sometimes after falls or disassembly.
• 🔋 Motherboard problems: The microphone is interrupted, even when everything looks intact. Often accompanied by other glitches (self-reboots).

How to check the hardware serviceability:

1. Blow the microphone hole with compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment).
2. Test the recording in absolute silence – if you hear background noise (hisping, crackling), most likely, the microphone is damaged.
3. Connect the external microphone via USB-C (on supported models), and if the sound is better, the main microphone is the problem.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects to clean the microphone, it can damage the membrane. If after purging the quality does not improve, contact the service center. IP53 (Xiaomi 13 Lite, for example, will lead to loss of warranty.

Specifics of settings for different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are the same – flagships and budget models have different microphone modules and customization options.

On Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 and other foldable models, the microphones are arranged outside the box — one at the top, the other at the USB-C connector. When writing in the folded state, the sound can be distorted. Solution: use the phone in the unfolded form or an external microphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Xiaomi microphone