The microphone in Xiaomi is a critical component that determines the quality of calls, voice recordings, and voice assistants. If your interlocutors complain of poor hearing, interrupted or absent voice, the problem may lie in the microphone. But how do you determine whether hardware or software failure is to blame?
In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for checking the microphone on any Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Mi and POCO. You will learn how to test the microphone without additional applications, what hidden tools are in the system, and what to do if the test showed a malfunction.
Important: If the microphone stopped working after a phone fell, moisture hit or disassembled on its own, it's likely a hardware problem, in which case software tests will confirm the malfunction, but not fix it, and physical damage will require a replacement microphone at the service center.
1. Quickly checking the microphone through voice recording
The easiest way to check the microphone is to use a built-in voice recorder, which requires no third-party apps and takes less than a minute.
How to run the test:
- 📱 Open the application "Dictophone" (standard in the MIUI Or download from Google Play).
- 🎤 Press the recording button and say a few phrases 10-15 cm from the microphone.
- 🔊 Stop the tape and listen to it:
| Parameter | Norma. | Sign of malfunction |
|---|---|---|
| Loudness | Speech is clear, no muffling. | The voice is barely heard, as if from afar. |
| Purity of sound | No hissing, coding or echoing | Extraneous noise, distortion |
| Word recognition | All the words are clear. | The words “swallowed” or indistinct |
If the recording is clean, the microphone is good, and if the voice is missing completely, but the recording is ongoing (the sound wave is visible), the problem may be the speaker, not the microphone, in which case, try listening to the recording through the headphones.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may use noise cancellation when recording in a noisy room. To turn it off, go to Settings → Sound. → Improve sound and deactivate the "Noise Repression" option".
2.Mic testing through a bell
Calling a friend or another phone is a test of the microphone in a combat environment, and it helps to identify problems that only occur when voice communication is used (for example, modem malfunctions or conflicts with the voice). SIM-card).
Instructions:
- 📞 Call another phone (it is better to use a landline or second smartphone for the cleanliness of the experiment).
- 🗣️ Speak clearly while holding your phone at a normal distance from your mouth (5–10 cm).
- 🔄 Ask the interviewer to evaluate:
Volume of your voice (too quiet or too loud may indicate a microphone malfunction or incorrect sensitivity settings).
The presence of noise (cracking, hissing, echoes – signs of hardware problems or poor contact of the microphone with the motherboard).
Communication stability (if the voice is lost periodically, the problem may be in the antenna or communication module, not in the microphone).
If the person you're talking to doesn't hear well, but the recording is normal, the problem may be in the network settings. 4G on 3G or vice versa in settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network.
3.Use of the engineering menu (#4636##)
Xiaomi’s hidden engineering menu allows for deep microphone diagnostics, including signal strength and sensitivity testing, which is suitable for advanced users because it requires accuracy when changing parameters.
How to open the engineering menu:
- Open the phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636### (some models may require ##36446337###).
- Select "Phone Information" (or "Audio" if the menu is in English).
In the Audio section, please note:
- 🎙️ Mic Test is a real-time microphone test, and you talk to the microphone and you watch the signal band, and if it doesn't respond, the microphone malfunctions.
- 📊 Volume — you can see the current microphone volume here. The normal value for most Xiaomi models is 100-150.
- 🔧 Type – type of microphone (e.g. Handset Mic for main or Headset Mic for headset).
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose! Incorrect settings can lead to complete loss of sound or modem malfunction. For example, changing the Mic Gain value to too high can cause distortion or damage the microphone.
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
4. Checking the microphone through the application analyzers
If standard methods do not give a clear answer, specialized software will help. Applications for testing the microphone not only show the signal level, but also analyze the frequency spectrum, revealing hidden defects.
Top.-3 apps:
- 📲 Microphone Test (by Smart Tools) is a simple sound wave visualization test that shows noise levels and maximum volume.
- 📊 Audio Toolbox - professional analyzer with support for tests for different types of microphones (main, noise-cancelling, for the headset).
- 🎛️ Sound Meter – Measuring decibel levels, useful for checking microphone sensitivity in different conditions.
How to use the Microphone Test:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Run the test and speak into the microphone.
- Keep your schedule up: 🟢 Green Zone (20-80 dB) – microphone is working normally. 🟡 Yellow zone (below 20 dB) – signal is too weak. 🔴 Red zone (above 90 dB) – possible distortion or overload.
If the graph stays at zero, no matter how loud your voice is, the microphone doesn't transmit the signal.
- 🔌 Poor microphone contact with motherboard (frequent problem after falls).
- 🛠️ Pollution of the microphone hole (dust, moisture).
- 🔧 Software failure in the audio driver.
Clean the microphone hole with a soft brush |Close all background applications |Connect the charger (for stability of the test) |Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated-->
5. Diagnostics via service code ##6484##
The little-known service code ##6484## runs a built-in hardware test on most Xiaomi smartphones, which, unlike the engineering menu, provides more visual results and does not require in-depth knowledge.
How to run the test:
- Open the phone app.
- Enter the code: ##6484###.
- Select the "Manual Test" (manual test).
- Scroll to the "Microphone" section and click "Start".
- Speak to the microphone, a graph of the signal level will appear on the screen.
Transcription of results:
- 🟢 Pass - microphone is in good condition.
- 🔴 Fail: The microphone does not respond to sound.
- ⚠️ Weak Signal – signal too weak (possible contact issues or contamination).
If the test shows Fail but you are sure the microphone is not physically damaged, try:
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
- 🛠️ Reset network settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
- 📥 Update the firmware (sometimes bugs with the microphone are fixed in new versions) MIUI).
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If the service code doesn't work, try the alternative: ##4636## → Phone information → Choose. SIM-map → Microphone test, some models. POCO This path works more stable.
Checking the microphone through video call (WhatsApp, Zoom)
Video calls via instant messengers are another way to test the microphone in conditions close to real use, and unlike standard calls, they use additional codecs and audio compression algorithms to help identify specific problems.
How to test:
- 📹 Open WhatsApp, Zoom or Google Meet.
- 🎤 Start a video call (you can create a test room in Zoom without other participants).
- 🔊 Turn on the “Listen to Your Voice” option (if any) or record a short video with your voice.
What to look out for:
- 🔇 If your voice is not transmitted, but the video is coming, the problem is with the microphone or app resolution.
- 🔊 If there is sound, but with a delay - perhaps the noise cancellation in the application settings is enabled.
- 📵 If the call is interrupted when the microphone is turned on, the audio module or the conflict with the firmware is defective.
If the microphone doesn’t work only in a particular app (like WhatsApp, but it works in a voice recorder), check:
- 🔒 Permits: Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Permits → Microphone.
- 🔄 Application settings: in some messengers you can select the source of sound (for example, "phone microphone" or "headset").
- 📥 Updates: An outdated version of the application may conflict with firmware.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and later, there is a bug that causes some applications (like Discord) to not access the microphone after the update.Solution: go to Settings → Confidentiality → Special access → Access the microphone and manually allow access for the problem app.
7. Hardware diagnostics: when you need disassembly
If all the software tests show that the microphone is not working, but you did not drop the phone and expose it to moisture, the problem may lie in the contacts of the microphone or audio chip, in which case you will need to disassemble the device.
Signs of hardware malfunction:
- 🔌 The microphone stopped working after a fall or impact.
- 💧 The phone was in contact with the liquid (even if there is no external corrosion).
- 🔊 The problem occurred after replacing the display or battery (possibly damaged the microphone plume).
- 📱 The microphone only works in the headset, but not through the main speaker.
What you can do on your own:
- 🛠️ Contact cleaning: If you're disassembling your phone, check to see if the microphone contacts on the motherboard have oxidized.
- 🔧 Train check: on some Xiaomi models, the microphone is connected through a flexible plume that can move away.
- 🔍 Visual inspection: Look for cracks on the microphone or traces of moisture (white plaque).
If you do not have experience in electronics repair, it is better to contact the service center. The average cost of replacing a microphone with Xiaomi is from 800 to 2000 rubles (depending on the model). In official Xiaomi services, the warranty repair of the microphone takes 3-5 days.
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If the microphone doesn't work after getting moisture, DO NOT dry the phone with a hair dryer or on a battery! This can damage the microphone and other components.The best way is to use silica gel bags (from shoeboxes) and leave the phone in a sealed container for 24 to 48 hours.