How to raise the volume of the microphone on Xiaomi: the complete guide

The problem of quiet microphones on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is often a nasty surprise for users, especially during important calls or video recording. People may complain that your voice is barely audible, and the recorder only captures sounds in the vicinity of the device, which can be due to both software limitations and physical obstacles.

In this article, we'll go into detail about all the possible ways to solve this problem: you'll learn how to properly adjust the sensitivity of the microphone through standard menus, how to use hidden engineering codes for precise calibration, and what hardware factors can reduce sound quality. Troubleshooting does not always require complex manipulation.

Before you start to make complex adjustments, you should rule out the trivial reasons. Often users simply do not notice that the case covers the microphone hole, or the system activates noise reduction mode, which is too aggressively "cut" the voice. Let's start with the basic diagnosis.

Primary diagnosis and cleaning of the microphone

The most common cause of silent sound is the banal pollution, which is stuffed with dust, pocket pile and skin fat in the mic during operation, which creates a physical barrier to the sound wave. Xiaomi uses several microphones (main, secondary for noise reduction and headset), and any of them can clog.

To clean, use a soft dry toothbrush or a special sticky electronics tape. It is strictly forbidden to blow into the holes with your mouth, as moisture from the breath can settle inside and damage the membrane. It is also not recommended to use sharp objects such as needles or toothpicks, so as not to pierce the protective net.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use alcohol or aggressive chemistry to clean the microphone mesh.The fluid can dissolve the membrane's adhesive layer or get inside the housing, causing permanent damage to the sensor.

After physical cleaning, check if the protective case is blocking the microphone hole. Many third-party accessories have inaccurate cutout geometry. Remove the case and make a test record. If the sound gets louder, the problem is solved by replacing the accessory.

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To quickly check all microphones, turn on the recorder and alternately cover the bottom hole (main microphone) and the top one (noise reduction).

Customization of sound in the standard interface MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s operating shells provide basic audio management tools that users often ignore. First of all, check your settings during a call. When you’re in a conversation, the speaker button and additional options appear on the screen. Make sure you don’t activate Quiet or volume limits.

Also worth paying attention to the settings of special features. In the Settings menu → Advanced settings → Special features (the path may differ depending on the OS version) sometimes there are sliders that affect the amplification of sound. However, the main control is through the volume mixer.

Press the volume button and select the gear settings. Here you'll see a few sliders: media, bell, alarm clock and, importantly, the volume of the call. Although there's no separate microphone slider on the standard menu, the overall volume of the system affects how you hear the other person, which indirectly affects how you speak.

Don’t forget to check the settings of a particular app. Messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp have their own settings for sound quality and microphone usage. Go to the settings of the app → Data and Storage → Network usage, and make sure that there is no limit to low call quality to save traffic.

Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration

The most effective way to increase the sensitivity of the microphone is to use the Engineering Menu (CIT), a hidden part of the system designed to test hardware components, accessed through a set of special code in the Phone application.

Enter the code ##6484## or ##3646633##. If the standard code doesn't work (on newer versions of HyperOS, access is often closed), try using the "Mi Dialer" app or third-party snails like "Engineer Mode MTK." In the menu, find the Hardware Testing → Audio → Audio Debug section.

Here you will see a list of scripts (Scenarios), such as Normal (normal mode), Headset (headset), Speaker (loud communication). Select the desired mode, such as Normal. Next go to the Mic section. Here you can adjust the PreAmp or Gain setting (amplification).

Be careful when changing values. The standard value is usually in the range of 120-160 dB. A rise above 200 can lead to severe wheezing, whistles and distortions, making speech indistinct. An increase of 10-15 units from the stock value is considered optimal.

⚠️ Note: Changes to the settings in the engineering menu are reset after the device is restarted on some firmware versions. For permanent effect, root access or profile saving may be required if such an option is available in your version. CIT.

Third-party applications for sound amplification

If the system settings don't work, you can use third-party software from Google Play. There are many applications that work as software amplifiers to process incoming and outgoing audio streams.

One popular solution is the Lesser AudioSwitch or Volume Control Plus, which allows you to force the input device to switch and display the microphone settings to the foreground, and call recording applications that often have their own input amplification settings.

However, the use of such programs has its limitations: on Android 10 and above (and in MIUI 12+), Google has significantly limited the access of applications to the microphone in the background and during calls for security reasons, so many amplifiers can only work when recording a voice recorder, but not during a conversation.

Some applications may require permission to install from unknown sources. → Protection of confidentiality → Special permissions and activate the desired item. APK-Files from questionable resources can be dangerous.

The Impact of Bluetooth Devices and Headsets

Often the problem with a quiet microphone is not the smartphone itself, but the connected Bluetooth devices. Headphones, car systems, and smartwatches all have their own microphones, and their quality can be significantly worse than that of a smartphone.

Check if the Bluetooth gadget is connected to the phone, and try forgetting the device in Bluetooth settings and reconnecting it. Sometimes the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) profile is not working correctly, transmitting sound in low quality (mono, 8 kHz).

In the engineering menu I mentioned above, you can customize your Headset profile separately, and if you use a headset frequently, increase the Gain value for this particular scenario, which will keep the main microphone settings in their original state, but improve audibility when using headphones.

Hardware malfunctions and module replacement

If software methods, cleaning and tuning the engineering menu didn't help, a hardware malfunction is likely: A microphone is a physical component that wears out or fails over time due to moisture, bumps or manufacturing defects.

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often have a microphone plume slipping away, especially after falls, in which case the sound may appear, then disappear, or be very quiet with a characteristic crackle, requiring disassembly of the device and checking the connector.

Replacing the microphone is a low-cost procedure, but it requires care. In most modern models, the microphone is soldered into a sub-board or charging plume. You have to change the entire node. Self-repair is possible with the skills and tools (dryer, suckers, screwdrivers).

⚠️ Warning: When disassembling a smartphone, be sure to turn off the battery before disconnecting the plumes.A short circuit can burn the power controller or audio chip on the motherboard, making repairs economically inefficient.

For diagnosis at home, you can carefully remove the back cover (if it is removable) or the upper part of the case (where the upper noise reduction microphone is often located) and check the visual condition of the contacts. The oxidation of the contacts looks like a greenish or whitish coating.

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If after cleaning and software settings the sound remains quiet and accompanied by a crack, 90% of cases require a replacement of the microphone module or lower board.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)