The microphone on Xiaomi Redmi 4X is a critical component that affects the quality of voice calls, video recording and voice assistants. If the interlocutor complains that he can't hear you well, or the applications can't recognize speech, the problem may lie in the microphone. But how exactly to determine whether the hardware is to blame or a software failure?
In this article, we will discuss 5 reliable ways to check the microphone on the Redmi 4X, from basic tests through standard applications to deep diagnostics through the engineering menu, you will learn how to distinguish hardware failure from software failure, what settings affect the sensitivity of the microphone, and what to do if it stopped working after updating or falling the phone, especially focusing on the specifics of the Redmi 4X model (codename santoni), where the microphone often suffers from oxidation of contacts after moisture.
1. Quick check through voice recording
The easiest way to test is to use a built-in voice recorder, which requires no third-party apps to install and takes less than a minute.
Open the Recorder app (if not available, download any free version from Google Play, such as Easy Voice Recorder). Press the record button and say a few phrases 10-15 cm from the microphone.
- 🔊 Clear sound without wheezing – the microphone is working normally.
- 🎤 Quiet or muffled sound – possible clogged microphone hole or failure in sensitivity settings.
- 🚫 No sound or noise – hardware malfunction or microphone shutdown at OS level.
If the recording is quiet, try repeating the test in a quiet room — sometimes the Redmi 4X automatically reduces the sensitivity of the microphone when there is high noise level.
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On the Redmi 4X, the main microphone is located at the bottom of the case next to the charging connector. Secondary (noise suppression) next to the front camera. Check both!
2. Testing through a call or messenger
Most often, microphone problems occur during calls, and to rule out network errors, run a test through different channels:
- Ordinary call: Call another phone and ask the person to rate the quality of your voice, and if the sound is interrupted or lost, the problem may be network settings or antenna.
- Messengers: Use WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber to send a voice message. These apps use an Internet connection to help separate microphone problems from mobile network problems.
- Video Call: Turn on the front camera and make a video call, and if the person is hearing you worse than the normal call, the secondary microphone may be defective.
Pay attention to the side symptoms:
- 📶 The call stops - check it out SIM-map.
- 🔇 The interviewer hears an echo - a problem in the noise reduction settings (Settings) → Sound. → Improving voice).
- 🔌 The sound disappears when connecting headphones - a 3.5 mm connector or contacts is faulty.
3. Diagnostics through Engineering Menu (CIT)
Xiaomi’s engineering menu allows you to check the hardware status of the microphone without additional applications, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires the input of special codes.
To open the test menu:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the code ##4636## (for hardware testing).
- Select the Hardware Testing option → Audio.
- Press the Microphone Test and watch the signal level indicator.
Ideally, when speaking loudly, the strip should be 70-90% full, if the indicator does not respond or shows a value below 30%, the microphone is faulty or disabled at the software level, and alternative code for advanced diagnostics is also available on Redmi 4X:
##36446337##What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
4. Verification through third-party applications
If standard methods don’t work, install specialized microphone testing tools that provide more detailed information about signal strength, frequencies, and possible interference.
| Annex | Functions | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone Test | Shows the signal level in dB, echo test, recording with frequency visualization | Google Play |
| Sound Meter | Measures the volume of surrounding sounds (useful for sensitivity testing) | Google Play |
| Audio Toolkit | Advanced diagnosis of microphone, speakers and audio track | Google Play |
When using the Microphone Test, pay attention to:
- 📊 Signal level: should fluctuate in range -30 dB…-10 dB in normal speech.
- 🔄 Lag: If the sound in the headphones is more than 0.5 seconds behind, there may be problems with the audio driver.
- 🎛️ Frequency spectrum: Absence of high frequencies (over 5 kHz) indicates damage to the microphone membrane.
Close all background apps | Turn off Bluetooth headphones | Make sure the microphone hole is clean | Check the microphone volume settings in Settings → Sound
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5. Hardware check: what to do if the microphone is not working
If software tests show a malfunction, proceed to check the hardware. On Xiaomi Redmi 4X, most often fail:
- 🔌 Main microphone (lower part of the body) – suffers from moisture or mechanical damage.
- 📱 Microphone plume – oxidized or departs from the motherboard.
- 🔊 Audio codec - responsible for signal processing, when the microphone is broken, the microphone is not determined by the system.
For self-diagnosis:
- Remove the back cover of the phone (a plastic shoulder blade and a hair dryer will be needed to soften the glue).
- Check the integrity of the microphone plume – it should be tightly connected to the connector on the board.
- Check the microphone for corrosion or physical damage. On the Redmi 4X, it's soldered to a small MIC-labeled board.
⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the phone voids the warranty! if your Redmi 4X For more guarantees, contact the Xiaomi service center with an error code from the engineering menu.
If the microphone looks good but doesn't work, the problem may be the firmware.
- 🔄 Reset the settings to factory (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge).
- 📱 Flash your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website).
- 🔧 Update audio drivers through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
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On the Redmi 4X, the microphone often leaves contact with the motherboard after a fall, and if tests show no signal, this is the first sign of a hardware malfunction.
6.Frequent causes of microphone malfunction on Redmi 4X
Analysis of service centers shows that the Xiaomi Redmi 4X microphone fails for the following reasons (in descending order of frequency):
| Reason. | Percentage of cases | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture entering the microphone | 45% | Rice drying (24 hours) or microphone replacement |
| Mechanical damage (fall) | 30% | Checking the plume and ration of contacts |
| Failure after MIUI update | 15% | Firmware rollback or reset settings |
| Clogging of the microphone hole | 8% | Cleaning with a soft brush or compressed air |
| Failure of the audio codec | 2% | Replacement of motherboard |
The Redmi 4X is vulnerable to moisture due to the lack of sealing of the microphone module, and even a brief ingress of water can cause contact corrosion, which will manifest itself in a few weeks.
- Turn off the device.
- Extract. SIM-memory-card.
- Place your phone in a silica gel bag for 12 to 24 hours.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use a dryer to dry - hot air can damage plastic body parts and display!