The problem with the quality of sound transmission on Xiaomi smartphones often comes as a surprise to owners, especially the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, which, despite its excellent screen and performance, has a specific location of acoustic holes. If the interlocutor complains of a quiet voice or extraneous noise, most likely it is a banal contamination of the membrane.
During operation, the speaker is stuffed into the grid with dust, pile from pockets and skin fat, which critically reduces the sensitivity of the acoustic system. You should not immediately carry the device to the service center, since in most cases the situation can be corrected yourself. Proper cleaning will return the device to the factory performance of sound transmission.
Before you start to act, you need to determine exactly which element has failed or become contaminated. The Mi 8 Lite design has two main microphones: the bottom (main) and the top (noise suppressing), the bottom hole is located to the right of the USB Type-C charging port, next to the speaker speaker, while the top entrance is on the end of the device, next to the headphone jack or infrared port.
You don't have to record dictaphone files for diagnosis. There's a hidden engineering menu available on all MIUI firmware. Open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. In the CIT menu that opens, select Main Mic to check the bottom element or Sub Mic for the top one. When you click on the screen during the test, you'll see the signal level in decibels.
If you are not heard when talking in normal mode, and when you have a sound on, then the problem is in the lower microphone. In the case when the interlocutor hears an echo or sound “like from a barrel”, often the upper sensor is to blame, which incorrectly processes background noise.
The safest and most effective way to remove surface contaminants is to use a soft brush, a new paint brush with natural pile or a special antistatic brush for electronics is best suited, and it is strictly forbidden to use toothbrushes, since their stiff bristles can damage the protective net or push the dirt deeper into the case.
The movements must be sweeping, directed from the center of the hole to the edges. Don't press hard on the mesh so as not to deform the sensitive membrane underneath. To remove sticky contaminants, such as hardened sugar or fat, you can slightly moisten the villi of the hand in isopropyl alcohol, but the brush itself must be almost dry.
- 🧹 Use only a soft antistatic brush for dry cleaning.
- 💨 Apply compressed air with short “puffs” at an angle of 45 degrees.
- 🚫 Avoid using sharp objects like needles or pins.
- 🧴 For degreasing, use a minimum amount of isopropyl alcohol.
⚠️ Attention, never blow into the microphone with your mouth. The moist air from your lungs contains microparticles of saliva that settle on the membrane and, once dried, form a saline plaque, killing the sound completely.
After brushing, it's recommended that you blow the holes out with a jet of compressed air. Compressed air canisters are sold in computer stores and are inexpensive. It's important to keep the balloon upright and not shake it so that the refrigerant liquid doesn't get on the parts.
You can use an angle to direct the air stream, not perpendicular to the hole, and this will help blow out the dust without driving it deeper into the acoustic maze of the body, and it takes 2-3 short presses of one second.
If dry methods have not worked and you are sure that organics or sticky dirt are stuck in the grid, you can resort to wet cleaning. This will require cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol (concentration 90% or higher).
Soak the tip of the cotton swab lightly in alcohol and squeeze it well against the edge of the vial. It should be barely wet, it should not drip a single drop. Gently wipe the microphone mesh, trying not to wet the surrounding frame of the case, so that the liquid does not leak under the screen or buttons.
After treatment with alcohol, let the device lie down for 5-10 minutes to completely evaporate moisture, during which time you can turn on the phone, but do not make calls. Alcohol evaporates quickly and does not leave a verge, unlike water.
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If there is no isopropyl alcohol on hand, use special wet wipes to clean electronics screens, but make sure they are not too wet.
The table below shows the main symptoms of malfunctions and recommended methods for their elimination for the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Method of decision | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlocutor hears an echo | The top microphone is contaminated. | Cleaning the upper hole with the brush | Low. |
| Very quiet sound when ringing | Dust in the bottom microphone | Pressure-air purging | Low. |
| Sound, I mean, no. | Oxidation of contacts or moisture | Cleaning with alcohol, drying | Medium |
| Total lack of sound | Breakage or failure of the plume | Disassembly and replacement of the module | Tall. |
Sometimes software failures can simulate a microphone breakdown, and once you update your MIUI firmware or install a heavy app, the sound card settings can get lost, in which case the physical cleaning will not work until you reset.
Try resetting your smartphone to Safe Mode, and then press the off button, and when the off icon appears on the screen, press it and hold it for a few seconds, and the phone will suggest that you go to Safe Mode, and if the microphone is working normally in this mode, then the problem is in a third-party application.
Also, check the permissions for applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the messenger you use (Telegram, WhatsApp) and make sure that you have access to the microphone. Sometimes the MIUI system blocks access to sound to save energy.
☑️ Checklist before disassembly
If the external cleaning didn't help, it's possible that the contamination is deep inside, under the safety net. In the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite model, the bottom microphone is integrated into the charging port plume. To get to it, you'll need to partially disassemble the device.
First, heat the screen with a hair dryer to 60-70 degrees, and this will soften the glue that holds the display. With a suction cup, gently lift the screen and walk around the perimeter with a mediator or a thin plastic map, detaching the adhesive layer. Be very careful: the display plumes are on the sides and below, they are easily damaged.
Once the screen is removed, unscrew the metal frame that covers the motherboard. The bottom microphone is in the charging module. It can be gently blown out or replaced entirely if the membrane is physically damaged. The cost of a new mic plume for the Mi 8 Lite is low.
⚠️ Attention! When disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, it is easy to damage the fingerprint scanner plume that is glued to the back cover.
Can I wash the microphone under the tap?
Once all cleaning and assembly procedures are complete, re-diagnose. Use the ##6484### engineering menu again to check signal levels. The voice should sound clear, without wheezing or interrupting.
Make a check call to a friend or to voicemail, ask them to rate the quality of their communication in different environments: in silence, in the street, in the wind, if the echo problem persists, you may need to calibrate the microphone through service software, which is only done in specialized centers.
Regular prevention will help avoid a recurrence of the situation: once a month, wipe the holes with a soft dry cloth and avoid carrying the phone in pockets with a lot of pile or dust.
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Timely cleaning of the microphone prolongs the life of the acoustic system and eliminates the need for expensive repairs in the future.
In conclusion, it should be noted that most of the sound problems on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite are solved by a simple hygienic procedure, the main thing is to act carefully, not use aggressive chemistry and sharp objects. If after all the manipulations the sound did not appear, most likely, the module itself failed, and its replacement will be the only way out.