How to Make the Microphone Louder on Xiaomi Phone

The problem of quiet sound when talking or recording a video is familiar to many owners of smartphones of the Chinese brand, often faced with a situation when the interlocutor stops hearing them, and the recorder barely catches a voice even in silence, this can be caused by software restrictions, accumulation of dust in the speaker grid or incorrect settings of the MIUI and HyperOS system.

Improving the sensitivity of the input signal is a challenge that can be solved in a number of ways, from simple cleaning to using an engineering menu. It is important to understand that hardware limitations will not go away, but software calibration can significantly improve the situation. In this article, we will discuss all available methods of amplifying sound without using third-party amplifiers.

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Before you start any manipulations with sound settings, be sure to check whether the protective film is glued to the microphone area - a common reason for the quiet sound of new smartphones.

Checking physical factors and cleaning the device

Before you go into deep system settings, you need to rule out the trivial physical reasons. The main microphone on Xiaomi smartphones is usually located on the lower end of the case next to the charging connector, which is where dust, pile from pockets and small debris get first, which eventually turns into a dense plug.

Carefully inspect the microphone hole in good light. If you see a gray plaque, it should be removed. Use a soft toothbrush or a dry cotton swab. It is strictly forbidden to use sharp objects like needles or pins, as you can damage the membrane or push the dirt even deeper.

A common cause of volume loss is a case. Some cases have too narrow cutouts or thick sides that block the path of the sound wave. Remove the case and check the volume of the recording or conversation without it. If the sound is noticeably better, the problem is solved by replacing the accessory with a more suitable design.

Multimedia Volume and Calling

Many users don't know that in Android, and in MIUI in particular, the volume levels are divided into several independent channels. The volume of the ringtone, the media and voice calls are regulated separately. If you try to make a video record louder and you turn the call slider, you won't get the result.

To access the advanced settings, click on one of the physical volume buttons. When the scale appears, click on the three-dot icon or gear to expand the menu. Here you will see individual sliders for:

• 🔔 Call – regulates the volume of the incoming call.
• 🎵 Multimedia – responsible for video, games and music (often affecting the volume of recordings).
• 📞 Call voice – the level of the interlocutor’s sound during the conversation.
• 🔔 Alarm clock – independent volume of time signals.

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For maximum volume recording of video or recorder, you need to twist the Multimedia slider, not the Call.

It's also worth checking the sound settings in a particular application, for example, a voice recorder or camera may have its own internal gain sliders, go to the camera settings, look for the "Sound" or "Audio" section, and make sure that it doesn't have a minimum value or a "Silent" mode.

Using the CIT Engineering Menu for calibration

The most effective way to programmatically increase the sensitivity of the microphone is to use the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu, a hidden part of the system that is designed to test components, but is accessible to ordinary users, where you can test the microphone and, in some versions of the firmware, change its sensitivity.

To get to the menu, open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484##. If the code doesn't work, try ##4636##. In the list that opens, select "Microphone" or "Main Mic." The system will prompt you to record your voice and play it.

If you have extended calibration available in your region or version of HyperOS, you'll see Gain sliders (amplification). Be careful: over-increasing Gain will cause wheezing, crackling and background noises. The optimal value is when the voice sounds clear and loud, but without distortion at volume peaks.

Secret codes and commands to amplify sound

In addition to the standard engineering menu, there are special USSD-commands and codes to reset or reset the audio subsystem, which don't work on all models, because the dependency on the Android version and the firmware region is very high, but it's worth trying if the standard methods didn't work.

One useful command is to reset audio settings. Type in dialer code ##3424## (works on some Redmi models) and this will start testing where you can select "Audio" and recalibrate, and sometimes the code ##7266## that opens the audio testing menu helps.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party apps from the Play Market that promise to "make the microphone 5 times stronger" often backfires, and they just programmatically jack up to the maximum, which causes extreme noise and can overload the speaker, making conversation impossible.

If the codes don’t work, you can try using them. ADB-You'll need to connect the phone to the computer. USB, enable debugging and enter a command to change the parameter ro.config.vc_call_vol_steps. However, this requires root rights or specific permissions, making the method challenging for the average user.

Configure noise reduction and additional functions

Modern Xiaomi smartphones feature a noise cancellation system that uses a second microphone (usually on the top end) to cut off extraneous noises. Sometimes this feature works too aggressively, perceiving your voice as background noise, especially if you speak quietly or hold your phone incorrectly.

Go to the audio settings and look for options related to "Enhance Sound," "Noise Reduction," or "HD Voice." Try turning off those features and see if the microphone gets louder. Often, turning off digital filters returns the natural volume of the voice.

Also worth paying attention to is the "Voice Improvement" feature in the voice recorder or video recording settings, and in some cases, turning on the "Interview" or "Conference" mode changes the microphone's algorithm, making the recording louder and clearer, even if the physical signal level does not change.

Table: Comparison of volume-raising techniques

Below is a summary table that will help you choose the right method of solving the problem depending on your situation and level of preparation.

Solving problems with Bluetooth headsets

Special attention should be paid to the situation when the microphone is quiet only when using wireless headphones or headsets. Android has absolute volume, and sometimes synchronization between the phone and the headset works incorrectly.

Try turning off the Absolute Volume feature in the developer menu. To get there, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the About section, then go to Advanced Settings → For Developers. Find the "Disable Absolute Volume" option and activate it. After you restart, check the volume.

⚠️ Note: If the microphone is only silently running on certain apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) after all the manipulations, the problem may be the permissions. Go to the app settings, find the right one and make sure it has access to the microphone and the “High Sound Quality” option is enabled (if available).

Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)