Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality and affordable price, but even in high-quality devices, sometimes there are malfunctions in the audio system. If the interlocutor does not hear you, the recording of the voice is interrupted or the voice recorder is completely silent, the first thing to do is to conduct a competent diagnosis. The problem can lie in both software failure and physical damage to the component.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to check the microphone on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. You will learn how to use built-in engineering codes, the standard Dictophone application and special test programs to detect a malfunction. Understanding which microphone is not working (main or noise cancellation) will help solve the problem faster.
Let's start with simple methods that don't require a lot of technical knowledge, and users often panic ahead of time, even though the situation is solved by a simple cleaning or reboot, but if the software methods don't work, you'll have to dig deeper.
Quick diagnosis through the Dictaphone app
The most obvious and affordable way to test a microphone is to use the standard Dictaphone app, which is pre-installed in the MIUI or HyperOS shell, which allows you to instantly assess the quality of the recording and see if the device picks up sound at all. You don't need to install third-party software or enter complex codes.
Launch the app, press the record button and talk to your phone during the 10-15 Then play it back, if you hear your voice clearly and without any major distortion, the main microphone is in good shape. If the recording is silent or accompanied by a big bang, there's a problem.
It is important to note that modern Xiaomi smartphones have multiple microphones, usually one located at the bottom (main), and the second is at the top or back (for noise cancellation), the recorder uses the bottom microphone by default, and if you are not heard on speakerphone, and the recorder writes sound normally, then the problem may be in the top microphone.
- 🎤 Launch the standard application Dictaphone from the folder "Tools".
- 🗣️ Press the red button and say the phrase in normal volume.
- ▶️ Listen to the recording through the built-in speaker and through headphones.
- 🔊 Pay attention to background noise and purity of sound.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a galloping sound wave graph while recording, but there is silence on the playback, the problem may not be in the microphone, but in the dynamics or software conflict of the audio drivers.
Checking through CIT's engineering menu
To further diagnose the device, Xiaomi engineers have implemented a customized CIT (Customer Information Test) menu, a hidden part of the system designed to test all components of the device before sale and during repair, accessed through a set of special code in the Phone app.
To get to the menu, open the "caller" and dial the combination ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the list of tests will open. Find the Main MIC (Main microphone) or Sub MIC (Advanced microphone). In some versions of the firmware, the path may be different, look for sections associated with the word "Audio" or "Mic".
Inside the test, you're asked to speak to a microphone, and the system will rate the incoming signal in decibels, and if the value changes during the conversation and reaches certain limits (usually above -40 dB), the component is functional, and if the graph is still or the values are extremely low, there is a hardware malfunction.
☑️ Diagnosis in CIT menu
Using an engineering menu is the most reliable way to separate a software failure from an ironclad breakdown, and if a CIT test shows an error, no resets will help, you will need to replace the part.
Use of third-party applications for analysis
If standard tools are in doubt, specialized tools from the Google Play Market come to the rescue. Apps like Microphone Tester or Sound Meter allow you to visualize the sound wave in real time and check the sensitivity of each microphone separately.
These programs often have more flexible settings and can show frequency response, which is useful if the microphone is alive, but sounds deaf or metallic, and you can see how the device responds to different frequencies of your voice.
One of the popular tools is the iPhone Doctor Plus or TestM app, which performs a comprehensive smartphone test, including a test of all microphones, speakers and proximity sensors, which is a great option for those who are planning to buy a used Xiaomi phone and want to make sure that it is working.
- 📲 Download the Phone Doctor Plus app or analogue.
- 🔍 Select the Audio Test (Audio Test) section).
- 🎚️ Follow the on-screen instructions to test each channel.
- 📊 Analyze the status report of the equipment.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications may request excessive permissions. Read carefully what data the program accesses so as not to compromise your digital privacy.
Testing in different communication modes
Often, the microphone is running in the voice recorder, but it fails during the call, this indicates a problem with switching between microphones or a conflict with the communication module. In normal conversation (the phone in the ear) the bottom microphone is used, and when the hands-free communication is on, the upper one is used.
Try calling your answering machine number or another caller, switch between ear and speaker modes during a conversation, and if you're not being heard in one mode, the particular microphone that controls that mode is out of order.
It’s also worth checking the microphone in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and when recording videos. The camera often uses a different audio recording algorithm, and if the video is silent, the problem may be in the application’s resolution to access the microphone.
Remember that in the settings of each application in the section Access Rights, you must allow access to the microphone. If the slider is turned off, the application will not physically be able to record your voice, even if the hardware is working.
Table of malfunctions and their symptoms
To systematize problems, let’s look at the underlying symptoms and their likely causes, which will help you better describe the problem in a service center or when you search for a solution online.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Method of verification | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silence on recording | Mikphone denial or denial of access | Dictator / Rights settings | Checking the rights / Replacement of the plume |
| Strong crackling/noise | Moisture ingestion or oxidation | Listening to the recording | Ultrasound cleaning/Drying |
| I can only hear it on loud. | Lower microphone malfunction | CIT (Main MIC) Test | Replacement of the lower microphone |
| Interlocutor hears an echo | Noise reduction failure | Conversation with LTE enabled | Resetting network settings / software |
This table covers about 80 percent of all cases, but only a specialist with an oscilloscope and experience in board repair can make an accurate diagnosis.
Software glitches and sound settings
Before you carry your phone for repair, eliminate software errors. Sometimes the MIUI system can "glue" and the audio driver stops processing the input signal correctly. First of all, try a banal but effective reboot of the device.
If the reboot didn't work, check the audio settings. Some Xiaomi models have "Sound Improvement" or noise cancellation in the special features settings. Try turning off all audio enhancements and check the microphone again.
You should also pay attention to recent system updates, if the problem appeared immediately after the firmware update, it may be a bug of the new version of MIUI, in which case waiting for a patch or a rollback to the previous version of the software helps.
How to perform a reset of sound settings?
It is not superfluous to check whether the Do Not Disturb mode or any specific sound profiles that may block recording in certain applications are enabled.
Physical damage and cleaning
The most common cause of silent sound or lack of it is contamination of the microphone grid. Dust, pocket pile and earwax can clog the hole in months of use, and visually it is not always noticeable, so careful inspection in good lighting is required.
Use a soft toothbrush or sticky tape (scotch) to clean the microphone, and carefully brush the microphone hole, trying not to damage the protective membrane. Do not use sharp objects (needles, pins) under any circumstances, as they are easy to penetrate the membrane, after which the microphone will finally fail.
If the phone has recently fallen or been in contact with water, the likelihood of plume damage or contact oxidation on the board is high.The moisture protection in Xiaomi's budget models is often symbolic.
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To remove persistent contaminants, you can use a special cleaning foam for electronics, applying it to the brush rather than directly on the phone.
If the microphone is silent after a thorough cleaning and all the software checks, it will most likely require a replacement module. In modern smartphones, the microphone is often soldered into a board or is on a separate flexible plume that changes completely.
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The complex check includes: cleaning the nets, the test with a voice recorder, checking through the CIT engineering menu and analysis in various applications, only if you exclude all options, you can talk about a breakdown.