How to turn off noise cancellation on Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped with advanced sound processing algorithms that are designed to improve communication quality in noisy places. However, these functions do not always work correctly: sometimes the system too aggressively “cuts” the frequency, which makes the voice of the interlocutor become deaf, robotic or even intermittent. Device owners often face a situation where noise cancellation instead of help creates more problems than solves.

Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the paths to settings may vary, and some options are hidden in the engineering menu. It's important to understand that you can't completely remove software sound filtering on all models, but you can significantly reduce its impact - real. Below we'll look at all the available methods, from simple menu switches to more complex manipulation of engineering code.

Before we start to make a global change, we need to check the basic call settings, because they're often the problem, and we also don't want to ignore the physical state of the microphones, because if the bottom speaker or the top speaker is clogged with dust, the algorithms can work incorrectly, trying to compensate for the quiet sound by amplifying the noise.

Basic Call Settings in MIUI and HyperOS

The first step should always be to check the standard call interface, and recent firmware versions of Xiaomi have introduced the ability to switch microphone modes during a conversation or in the general settings of the phone, which is the most secure method, not requiring superuser rights.

Go to the Phone app and tap the three dots or gear in the corner of the screen. Find Call Settings or Additional Settings. There may be an option called Voice Improvement or Noise Reduction. If the switch is active, try turning it off and check the quality of the connection.

In some regions and on global versions of firmware, this function is called HD Voice or VoLTE. Although it's a high-quality voice technology, it's often tied to aggressive noise cancellation by the operator and the phone. SIM-The cards can drastically change the nature of the sound.

• 📱 Open the standard Phone app and go to the settings menu.
• 🔇 Find the item Improve sound quality or similar in meaning.
• 📡 Try temporarily disabling VoLTE in mobile network settings for verification.
• 🔄 Restart the device after making changes to apply the parameters.

It's worth noting that on some models, like the Redmi Note series, the interface can be stripped down. If you don't find the explicit switches, it doesn't mean that the feature is disabled, it can work at the driver level, and then other methods described below will help.

Use of the CIT Engineering Menu

The Customer Integration Test (CIT) is a powerful tool for diagnosing and fine-tuning equipment, and it's where the audio subsystem's deep settings are often hidden, which are not available in the normal interface, and you can log in through special codes.

Open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code doesn't work, try ##4636## or use the Engineering Menu app if it's installed on the system. In the test list that opens, find the audio-related section, often called Audio, Speaker or Microphone.

Inside the audio partition, you may be interested in the Noise Reduction or NR setting. The value can be set to On or have a numerical expression (e.g., level 1-5). Changing this parameter to Off or lowering the level will disable aggressive filtering. Be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to the disappearance of the sound.

⚠️ Attention: Engineering menus are for professionals, changing settings in non-audio sections (e.g, RF Or Camera, which can disrupt the model or camera!

After the change of settings in CIT-You have to make a test call, and if the sound is cleaner, but the background static is there, you've successfully turned off the software filter. If the sound is gone, you can return the settings to the original state.

Settings of Bluetooth headsets and headphones

Often users confuse the system noise reduction of the phone and the functions of the headphones themselves. If the problem occurs only when connecting Bluetooth devices, then you need to look for a solution in their settings or in the application of the headset manufacturer. The smartphone can transmit an already processed signal or, conversely, receive a signal with the activated ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

For Xiaomi, Redmi Buds and AirDots, there is a special Xiaomi Earbuds app (or Mi Buds) that can control noise reduction modes inside, go to the settings of the connected device and find Noise Reduction or ANC. Switch to Transparency or Off.

Also check the developer's settings in Android. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) to activate the developer menu. Then, in the For Developers section, look for Absolute Volume Level or Bluetooth Codec Customization (SBC, AAC, aptX). Sometimes switching the codec helps bypass noise reduction restrictions.

Remember that some of them TWS-The headphones have touch controls to switch noise reduction modes. Check the instructions for your model, you may accidentally activate this mode by touching the body.