The sound of unlocking the screen on Xiaomi smartphones can be annoying — especially if you often check notifications in quiet places, such as at work, in the library or at night. Despite the fact that MIUI offers flexible audio settings, the option to turn off this signal is not always on the surface. In some versions of the firmware it is hidden in the depth of the menu, and in others it is completely absent without the use of additional tools.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to remove the unlock sound on Redmi, POCO, and other Xiaomi devices — from standard settings to hidden features and commands for power users. All methods tested on MIUI 12, 13, and 14 (including global and Chinese versions). If you’re tired of clicking the button every time you turn on the screen, read on.
Why is the unlock sound not turned off through standard settings?
Many users find that even after turning off all system sounds in the Settings → Sound menu, the unlock signal continues to play, the reason lies in the MIUI architecture:
- 🔊 The unlock sound is tied to system events, not notifications or media, so it's adjusted in a separate menu.
- 📱 On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) option hidden due to firmware localization features.
- 🔧 In Chinese versions MIUI The path to setup may be different from global assemblies.
- 🛠️ Old versions. MIUI 11 and below the unlock sound had no separate switch at all.
Important: On devices with unlocked bootloader and custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), standard methods may not work – you will need to edit system files.
If you don't find the right switch in the audio menu, don't rush to reset the settings. It's probably just hidden in another section. Read about that in the next block.
Method 1: Disconnect via the Sound and Vibration menu (MIUI 12/13/14)
The easiest method is to use the built-in settings. It works on most modern Xiaomi devices with current firmware versions.
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
- Go to Sound and Vibration (or Sounds and Vibrations in some localizations).
- Scroll down to the System Sounds block.
- Find the screen unlock sound (may be called lock/unlock sound).
- Switch the slider to the off position. or select the option No sound.
If there is no such item, try an alternative path:
- 🔍 In the search bar in Settings, enter “unlock sound” – the system can prompt a hidden menu.
- 📌 On some devices, the option is hidden in Settings → Special facilities → Sound effects.
☑️ Checking before switching off the sound
Note: On the POCO F3 and Xiaomi 11T with MIUI 13, the unlock sound can be tied to the theme. Try changing the theme to the standard in Settings → Decoration.
Method 2: Use Do Not Disturb (DND) Mode
If the standard shutdown didn’t work, you can bypass the restrictions with Do Not Disturb (DND) mode, a technique that is suitable for devices where the unlock sound is classified as a system notification.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
- Choose Not to Disturb.
- Activate the switch Enable.
- Click the Rules and create a new rule with parameters: 🕒 Validation time: Always or specify an interval (e.g. 22:00 to 8:00). 🔔 Sounds: Turn off System sounds and notification sounds. 📱 Exceptions: Add important apps to the whitelist (calls, alarm clocks).
The downside of this method is that all system signals (charges, notifications, etc.) will be turned off along with the unlock sound. To return them back, you will have to manually adjust the exceptions.
💡
If after switching on the DND, the alarm clock sounds disappeared, check the settings in the Watch → Alarm → The alarm clock sound in the Do Not Disturb mode and activate the option.
Method 3: Editing system files (for advanced users)
If the first two methods didn't work, you can manually turn off the sound by changing the system files, which requires root rights or an unlocked bootloader, without which access to the system folders will be limited!
Instructions for users with root:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Go to /system/media/audio/ui/
- Find files: unlock.ogg – unlock sound; lock.ogg – lock sound; effect_tick.ogg — Alternative (on some devices).
.bak
unlock.ogg.bak
Reset the device.
For rootless devices, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and connect your smartphone to your PC and follow the command:
adb shell settings put system lockscreen_sounds_enabled 0⚠️ Note: Editing system files can lead to malfunctions MIUI. Before the changes, make a backup copy of the folder /system/media/audio/ui/!
What if the sound is still there after renaming the files?
Method 4: Install custom firmware or patch
If your device supports custom firmware installation (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or ArrowOS), you can completely get rid of MIUI system sounds. This method is suitable for advanced users who are willing to sacrifice some features for flexibility.
Alternatively, you can install an Xposed module or a Magisk module that turns off unlock sounds.
- 📦 MIUI Sound Tweaks (for Xposed) – allows you to fine-tune system sounds;
- 🔧 Disable Lockscreen Sounds (Magisk module) – completely removes the lock/unlock sounds;
- 🎵 Audio Modifier – Replaces system sounds with custom.
Instructions for installation of Magisk-module:
- Download the module (for example, with XDA Developers).
- Open Magisk Manager and go to Modules.
- Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded file.
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware or modules will void Xiaomi warranty and may result in bootloop lock. Before the procedure, unlock the bootloader officially via the Mi Unlock Tool.
Method 5: Resetting the sound settings to the factory
If the unlock sound comes after a MIUI update or a change in the themes, resetting the audio settings will help, a method that does not affect user data, but returns all system sounds to default values.
How to reset your settings:
- Open Settings → System and device → More
- Select Settings Reset.
- Click Reset the sound settings (or Reset all settings if the first item is not available).
- Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.
After reset, check if the unlock sound has returned. If so, try combining this method with Method 1 (disabling through the sound menu).
| Method | Difficulty | Required. root/ADB | Risk to the system | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ High (on most devices) |
| Do Not Disturb mode | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Medium (disables all sounds) |
| Editing system files | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Root/ADB | ⚠️ Medium. | ✅ Tall. |
| Custom firmware/module | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Root/Unlock | ❗ High-pitched | ✅ Maximum |
| Resetting sound settings | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Depends on the cause. |
1. MIUI version – in older builds (below MIUI 12) the option may not be available.
2. firmware localization – on Chinese versions, the path to settings is often different.
3. Availability of updates - in new versions MIUI bugs with sounds corrected.-->
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to turn off the unlock sound, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
- 🔕 The sound comes back after the reboot: MIUI Resets the sound settings when you update or restart. Solution: Use Method 3 (system file editing) or Method 4 (Magisk module).
- 📵 There is no "Unlock Sound" item in the settings. MIUI Solution: Update the firmware or use it. ADB-team from Method 3.
- 🔊 All sounds have been turned off except unlock. Reason: The sound is tied to the system event, not the media. Solution: Check the settings in Settings → Special facilities → Sound effects.
- 🔧 After editing the system files, the smartphone does not turn on. Cause: File system damage or incompatibility of changes. Solution: Restore the original files via Fastboot or reflash the device.
⚠️ Note: On devices with Dynamic RAM Expansion sounds can be cached in RAM. After changes to system files, execute the command to ADB: Adb shell sync & & adb shell reboot This will apply changes without data loss.