How to check the microphone on the phone Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions with tests

The microphone in Xiaomi smartphones is a critical component that determines the quality of calls, recording voice messages and voice assistants. If your interlocutors complain that they can't hear you well, or applications can't recognize your voice, it's time to check the microphone's performance. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved software, but first you need to accurately diagnose the malfunction.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 reliable ways to check the microphone on any Xiaomi model (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.) without resorting to the services of a service center. You’ll learn how to use built-in MIUI tools, third-party applications and even hidden engineering menus for accurate diagnosis.

Important: Before testing, make sure that the problem is not with contaminated speakers or network settings, for example, if a mobile network signal is bad, the voice may be interrupted, although the microphone is good, and let's start with the simplest methods and gradually move to advanced ones.

1. Quick check through a call or voice message

The most obvious but effective way to do this is to call another phone or send a voice message, which helps you identify hardware problems (physical microphone failure) or software failures (such as a microphone that is disabled in your settings).

Here's how to do it right:

• 📞 Call another phone (preferably via Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → A challenge through SIM1/SIM2, Ask the person to rate the quality of your voice: whether there is noise, interruption or silence.
• 🎤 Send a voice message to WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, and listen to the video: if the voice sounds muted or distorted, the microphone is a problem.
• 🔊 Turn on speaker while you're calling (loud button in the call interface). If the speaker is clearly communicating and the phone is not, the bottom microphone (which is responsible for the conversations) may be to blame).

⚠️ WARNING: If you use a Bluetooth headset or wired headphones with a microphone, turn them off before the test! Xiaomi smartphone by default can redirect sound to the connected device, which is why the built-in microphone is not used.

2. Diagnostics through built-in dictaphone

All Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones have a standard Dictaphone app (or Record Sound in newer versions), perfect for checking microphone sensitivity and detecting background noise, and the main advantage is that you don’t need to install third-party programs.

Instructions:

1. Open the Dictaphone application (find through a search system or in the Tools folder).
2. Press the recording button (usually a red circle) and speak into the microphone at a distance of 10-15 cm.
3. Stop the tape and listen to it: 🔊 Loudness: If the voice is barely audible, the microphone is contaminated or damaged. 🎵 Quality: wheezing, cracking or metallic hue indicate a malfunction. 🌪️ Noise: If wind or hiss is heard, the noise-canceling microphone may have failed.

💡 Useful tip: Record the sound in a quiet room and outdoors. If the quality deteriorates dramatically in a noisy environment, then the second microphone (responsible for noise reduction) does not work. On Xiaomi, it is usually located on the upper or lower edge of the smartphone.

Make sure there is no wind or heavy noise nearby|

Turn off Bluetooth and headphones |

Check if the microphone is covered with a cover or a finger |

Record a test fragment 10-15 seconds long-->

3. Testing through the engineering menu (code ##4636##)

Hidden engineering menu (or Testing Menu) allows you to check the hardware components of a smartphone, including the microphone, this method is suitable for advanced users, because it requires accuracy – incorrect settings can disrupt the device.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636##
3. In the menu that appears, select Information (or Information in Russian).
4. Scroll down to the Microphone or Microphone block.
5. Speak to the microphone, the screen should show a graph of sound waves (green bands), and if the graph does not respond or shows zero values, the microphone is defective.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) The engineering menu can be blocked, in which case you can use an alternative code:

##36446337##

4. Applications for testing the microphone: top-3 utility

If standard methods fail, install specialized applications that offer advanced diagnostics, including sensitivity, frequency range and sound delay, and we tested dozens of utilities and selected the best ones for Xiaomi.

🔧 How to use: Install any of the applications, run a microphone test, and monitor your performance. For example, in the Microphone Test, the green bar should fluctuate as you speak. If the lane is stationary or shows an error, the microphone is not working.

Critical information: On some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), apps may not see the second microphone. In this case, check it through video recording - turn on the camera in selfie mode and talk while watching the sound indicator.

5. Checking the microphone through video recording

The camera uses a front microphone (located next to the selfie camera) to record sound, and if it is faulty, the voice in the video will be silent or absent, a method that helps differentiate between the main and secondary microphones.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Video (or Selfie Video) mode.
3. Start recording and speak into the microphone (point your voice to the top of the screen).
4. Stop the recording and listen to it. Compare the volume of your voice to the voice recorder: If the video voice is louder, the main microphone is the problem. If the video voice is quieter or absent, the front microphone is defective.

💡 Useful tip: On stereo-recorded models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the video will use both microphones. To check them separately, close one of the microphones with your finger while recording and watch the sound change.

6.Diagnostics of hardware problems: what to do if the microphone is not working

If all tests show that the microphone is not responding, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🛠️ Physical damage: phone drop, moisture ingress, contact oxidation.
• 🧹 Pollution: Dust or pile in the microphone hole (a common problem with Redmi 9 and the scalp). POCO X3).
• 🔌 Problems with the plume: the microphone connector on the motherboard has left.
• 🦠 Software failure: after the update MIUI or reset.

🔧 Checklist for self-repair:

1. Microphone Cleaning: Use a toothpick or compressed air to remove dust from the hole. Do not use metal objects!
2. Check after falling: If the phone fell, inspect the case for cracks near the microphone hole. Even a small crack can break the tightness.
3. Reset: Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset and select Reset all settings (does not delete files, but resets the audio settings).
4. Update: Install the latest version of MIUI through Settings → System Update. In some cases, microphone bugs are patched.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning and resetting the microphone still does not work, do not disassemble the phone yourself - the risk of damage to the plume or motherboard is too high. mi.com/service). The cost of replacing the microphone in the official service - from 800 before 2000 ruble depending on the model.

💡

If the microphone only works in headphones or via Bluetooth, the problem is definitely in the hardware of the smartphone, in which case the software methods will not help - you need repairs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about microphones on Xiaomi