Disabling noise reduction on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but its noise cancellation system during calls sometimes works too aggressively. Users complain about cropped voices, interference or the complete disappearance of sound in noisy rooms. If you are faced with this problem, our instructions will help to turn off noise cancellation in many ways - from standard settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu.

It’s important to understand that noise cancellation on Redmi 4X is both software and hardware-based, which means that simply turning off the option in the settings may not work as expected. We’ve tested all methods on MIUI 9-12 firmware and are ready to share working solutions and warn of potential pitfalls.

Why noise cancellation is ruining the sound on the Redmi 4X

Noise reduction algorithms on budget smartphones often work on the principle of “overdoing it than not getting it.” In the case of the Redmi 4X, this is expressed in:

• 🔇 Complete loss of the interlocutor’s voice during background noise (for example, in the subway or on the street)
• 🤖 "Robotization of sound – when the voice becomes intermittent and unnatural
• 📉 A sharp drop in volume at the slightest foreign sound
• 🔄 Delays in the transmission of voice (lag) before 1-2 seconds

The reason is hardware limitations: a smartphone has only one microphone (as opposed to a flagship with two or three), so software noise cancellation tries to compensate for the lack of hardware support. Unfortunately, this often leads to the opposite effect - instead of pure sound, you get cropped speech.

Fun fact: some Redmi 4X firmwares automatically activate noise cancellation when you plug in the headset, which is designed to improve the sound quality of the headphones, but in practice often worsens legibility, which is something that few people know, so users have been agonizing about for years with "deaf" calls, unaware of the real reason.

Method 1: Turning off noise reduction through standard settings

The easiest way is to use built-in options. MIUI. Unfortunately, depending on the firmware version, the path to settings may be different. 4X:

1. Open the phone (calling) application.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Go to Calls or Sound and Vibration (depending on the MIUI version).
4. Find the option Voice Improvement, Noise Reduction or Noise Suppression and turn it off.

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

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Special features.
2. Scroll down and find the Sound section.
3. Turn off the call noise suppression option (if any).

An important nuance: on some firmware MIUI 10-11 The noise reduction option may be called HD-Voice or VoLTE enhancements, and disabling these features can also have a positive impact on sound quality, but it also reduces legibility in networks. 4G. Weigh the pros and cons before changing your settings.

Method 2: Engineering menu - hidden microphone settings

If you don't have the standard settings, you'll have to go to the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden section where you can fine-tune the microphone and the audio system, and be careful, if you make the wrong changes, you can make the sound malfunction!

Instructions for entering the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or #4636## → go to Phone Information → Network Selection → Engineer Mode).
3. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.

In the Audio menu, you are interested in the following options:

After the changes, it is mandatory to:

1. Return to the main menu of the engineering mode.
2. Press Back and save settings (if you have a request).
3. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Changes to Mic Gain settings higher 130 This can cause background noise (hisping) during calls — 100-120. If the sound is worse after the changes, return the standard settings.

Method 3: Using third-party applications to control sound

If the built-in tools don't work, you can use third-party utilities, and we tested several applications and selected the most effective ones for Redmi 4X:

• 📱 SoundAbout allows you to reassign audio streams and turn off audio processing. In the settings, select Phone call. → Use default and disable all improvement options.
• 🔊 ViPER4Android — It's a powerful equalizer with noise reduction control, it requires root rights for full functionality, but even without them, it can improve sound.
• 🎤 Microphone Amplifier increases the sensitivity of the microphone, compensating for aggressive noise cancellation!

Step-by-step setting up ViPER4Android (without root rights):

1. Install the app from the official website (not from Play Market!).
2. Enable Compatibility Mode in the settings.
3. Go to Audio Effects → Voice Processing.
4. Disable Noise Suppression and Automatic Gain Control.
5. Install Mic Gain at +3...+6 dB.

Important: Once installed, ViPER4Android may need to reboot and turn on the driver manually through a notification. On some firmware, the application is unstable - if the sound begins to distort, delete it and try alternatives.

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Before installing third-party audio applications, back up your current audio system settings. Press Save Config in the Hardware Testing → Audio menu.

Method 4: Reverse firmware or install custom MIUI

If the noise cancellation problem occurred after the MIUI update, the most radical solution would be to roll back to the previous firmware version, which is true for users who have upgraded from MIUI 9 to MIUI 10/11 and experienced a deterioration in sound quality.

Algorithm of action:

1. Download the required firmware version from the official Xiaomi website (Redmi 4X → Archive section).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Select a firmware file.
4. Please enter the downloaded file and wait for the check.
5. Start the update process (the data will not be erased).

The alternative is to install custom firmware based on MIUI, where noise cancellation is turned off by default.

• 🔧 MIUI Pro – Optimized version with improved sound.
• 🛠️ MIUI Mix – assembly with turned off unnecessary processing.
• 🚀 LineageOS – pure Android without noise reduction (requires unlocking the bootloader).

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware voids warranty and can lead to a device blink.Be sure to unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock Tool before the procedure and make a full backup through TWRP.

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The retracement to MIUI 9 often solves the noise reduction problem on the Redmi 4X, as the sound processing algorithms were less aggressive in this version.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you try to turn off noise cancellation, users often make critical errors that only make the problem worse, and we've collected some of the most common ones:

• 🔕 Echo Cancellation – This causes an echo in the tube that is worse than noise cancellation.
• 📛 Resetting to factory settings without backup will not bring back standard noise cancellation, but will delete all your data.
• 🔊 Excessive increase in Mic Gain – values above 130 cause hissing and distortion.
• 🔄 Using “magic” codes from the internet – many of them are designed for other Xiaomi models and can break the audio system.

Another common mistake is ignoring hardware problems, where if the microphone is physically damaged (for example, after falling or getting moisture), no software settings will help.

1. Record your voice memo in a quiet room.
2. Listen to the recording – if you hear a noise, crackling or sound too quiet, the problem is with the microphone.

In this case, there are only two options: replacing the microphone (cost ~ 500-800 rubles) or using an external headset with a microphone. For the Redmi 4X, any headphones with a 3.5 mm jack and a built-in microphone will suit - they bypass the built-in noise cancellation of the smartphone.

Alternative solutions: how to improve sound without turning off noise reduction

If you haven’t been able to completely turn off noise cancellation or are afraid of breaking your settings, try alternative methods to improve sound quality:

• 🎧 Use a headset – even the cheapest headphones with a microphone often produce better sound than the built-in Redmi microphone. 4X.
• 📶 Turn off VoLTE – in some regions voice calls 4G They're worse than the ones 3G. Try to switch to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choice of network → 3G.
• 🔇 Call in quiet places - noise cancellation is activated more strongly in noisy environments. If possible, step back to a quiet place before the call.
• 🔄 Try messengers – WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber calls often sound better than standard calls.

An interesting life hack: if you make frequent calls in noisy places, turn on In-Car mode during the call (the button appears on the call screen), which disables some of the audio processing, as it assumes that you are using a hands-free system.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions