How to turn off headphone mode on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a step-by-step guide

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is a popular smartphone, but even it has software failures. One of the most common is when the phone gets stuck in headphone mode: sound only goes through the headset (even if it is turned off), and the speaker is silent. The reasons can be different, from a clogged 3.5 mm connector to a failure in the firmware. In this article, we will examine all the working ways to return sound to the main speaker, including hidden settings and hardware checks.

It's important to understand that the problem isn't always a problem, and it's often a software glitch that you can fix yourself in 5 to 10 minutes, and if none of the methods work, you'll have to go to a service center (but these are rare), and start with the simplest solutions and gradually move on to the more complex ones.

1. Basic checks: what to do before resetting

Before you dig into the settings, make sure the problem isn't mechanical.

• 🔌 Turn off and reconnect the headphones 2-3 times. Sometimes the contacts in the 3.5 mm connector "stick" and the system does not recognize the headset disconnect.
• 🧹 Clean the connector of dust. Use a toothpick (carefully!) or compressed air. 4X often accumulates dirt at the bottom of the connector – this can simulate a connected headset.
• 🔊 Check the physical volume button. Press Louder, and if you have an icon on your headphones, it means your phone can see them even when you're not connected.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone. It's banal, but it works 30 percent of the time. Press the power button and select "Reboot».

If you don't get the sound back after this manipulation, you go to the software methods, but first, answer the question:

If the phone falls or gets wet, the problem may be the damaged connector, in which case the software won't help, it needs repair, but in 90% of cases it's the software, not the hardware.

2. Disable headphone mode through sound settings

MIUI has hidden options for resetting audio settings, and here's how to activate them:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Scroll down and find the option for Additional Settings (or Advanced Sound Settings in older versions of MIUI).
3. Slip on Reset sound settings (may be called Reset sound by default).
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search, type “Sound” and select the system application com.android.settings (or MIUI Sound Recorder).
• 🗑️ Click on “Clear Cache” and “Erase Data” (this will reset the audio settings to the factory settings).

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If the sound is gone after the reset, check if the phone is in No Sound or Vibration mode. To do this, press the volume button and make sure that the slider is not at zero.

These manipulations help if the failure is due to an application conflict or an error in the cache of the sound system. If the headphone mode is left, move to the next method.

3. Engineering menu: Hidden commands for sound reset

The Xiaomi Redmi 4X has a hidden engineering menu where you can manually turn off the headset mode. Be careful: the wrong settings here can disrupt the phone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337## (this is the code for logging into Engineer Mode on MIUI).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.
3. In the list, look for Headset Mode (or Headphone Mode).
4. If you have Enabled nearby, click on it and select Disabled.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

Alternative code for Redmi 4X (if the first one didn't work):

##4636##

From the menu that opens, select Audio Information → Headset and turn off the mode.

After the headphone mode is turned off in the engineering menu, the sound should return to the speaker, if not, the problem is deeper, and you will need to reset or flash.

4.Resetting settings to factory: Last chance without repair

If the previous methods didn't work, you're left with a hard reset -- a full factory reset -- that will delete all the data, so back up first:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 💾 Click Backup and save data to Mi Cloud or memory card.
• 🔄 Return to the reset menu and select Reset Settings».
• 🔐 Confirm the action with a password (if installed) and wait for the reboot.

Once reset, the phone will turn on as new. Don't restore the backup right away -- first check if the sound is working through the speaker. If so, the problem was the software. If not, maybe the connector or the sound chip is damaged.

Make a backup of contacts and photos|Record logins/passwords from accounts|Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%|Remove the memory card (if any)-->

⚠️ Warning: If the sound never came after the reset, don't try to sew the phone yourself. 4X With a Snapdragon 435 processor, incorrect firmware can lead to a "brick" (complete failure.

5. Hardware causes: when iron is to blame

If the software methods did not help, the problem may be:

To diagnose a hardware breakdown:

1. Connect Bluetooth headphones. If the sound is going through them, the problem is the 3.5mm connector or its circuits.
2. Try listening to music through an external speaker (plug in Bluetooth or USB-C). If there is no sound, the sound chip is to blame.
3. Light the flashlight in the 3.5 mm connector, if you see oxidation or bent contacts, you need cleaning or replacement.

Average cost of repair in the service:

• 🔧 Replacement of the 3.5 mm connector: 800-1 500 ₽.
• 🔧 Repair of the plume: 1,200–2,000 ₽.
• 🔧 Diagnostics of the sound chip: 500–1000 ₽ (may require a soldering iron).

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to clean the connector with a needle or metal objects - this can close the contacts and disable the motherboard.

6. Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If the sound through the speaker and did not appear, but the phone is working, you can use workarounds:

• 🎧 Bluetooth adapter: Buy a low-cost Bluetooth transmitter (such as Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Audio Receiver) and connect your headphones or speaker to it.
• 🔊 USB-C speaker: Modern speakers with connector USB-C bypass the connector 3.5 mm and output the sound directly.
• 📱 Sound Redirection Apps: Utilities like SoundAbout (requires root) can force audio output to switch.

For owners of Redmi 4X with root rights, there is a radical way to:

1. Install Root Explorer or ES File Explorer with superuser rights.
2. Cross the path: /system/etc/ and find the file. audio_policy.conf.
3. Open the file in the text editor and find lines from headset or headphone.
4. Comment on them by adding the # symbol at the beginning of the line.
5. Save the file, reboot the phone.

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If you are unsure of your root skills, don't edit system files. An error can result in a download cycle or loss of sound entirely.

These methods don't solve the problem, but they allow you to use your phone without a faulty connector, and if you're planning to sell or repair a Redmi 4X, you should contact the service right away.

FAQ: Frequent questions about headphone mode on Redmi 4X