How to turn on the radio on the Xiaomi phone without headphones: step-by-step instructions

Listen to the radio on the smartphone Xiaomi without headphones seems impossible – the manufacturer traditionally blocks the work FM-There are workarounds, but in this article we'll look at 5 proven methods, including hidden settings. MIUI, Third-party applications and hardware. It's important to understand that not all models support FM-radio at the chipset level, but even in such cases there is an alternative.

The main problem lies in the architecture of smartphones: antenna for the FM-The signal is usually a headphone wire. However, in some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or other devices). POCO X3 Pro, the receiver can work through an internal antenna, you just need to activate hidden options, and for devices without hardware support for radio (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), we will offer solutions based on Internet streaming.

Before you start, check if there is any on your phone. FM-To do this, open the settings. β†’ The phone. β†’ Full specification β†’ Core and hardware. If there's a line in the list "FM-radio, the chip is there, and the chances of success are high. There's no such item? So you'll have to use online radio (this is in the last section).

1. Activation of the hidden FM-radio through the engineering menu

The most reliable way for models with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip (e.g. Redmi 9, POCO F3) is to turn on the radio through an engineering menu, which does not require root rights, but requires careful input.

Instructions:

  • πŸ“± Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337## (code may not work on new versions) MIUI 14+).
  • πŸ”§ If the code doesn’t work, try the alternative: ##4636##, then go to the Phone Information tab.
  • πŸŽ›οΈ In the engineering menu, find the Hardware Testing section. β†’ FM If it's not there, it means the chip is off at the firmware level.
  • πŸ”„ Restart the phone – after that, a standard radio (an antenna icon) may appear in the application menu).

Important: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11) have their engineering menu locked, so move on to the next method.

πŸ’‘

If the engineering menu does not open, try entering the code through the Calculator app (enter the sequence of numbers as a mathematical expression).

2.Use of NextRadio (for the USA/Canada)

NextRadio app – official tool for activation FM-It works even without headphones, but there is a caveat: the service is focused on North America, and in Russia / CIS may not show local stations.

How to set up:

  1. Download NextRadio from Google Play.
  2. At the first start, allow access to the location and microphone (need to determine the nearest stations).
  3. In the application settings (βš™οΈ β†’ Audio Output: Select Phone Speaker.
  4. If the radio is not catching the station, try manually entering the frequency (for example, 100.5 FM for Moscow).

NextRadio uses the phone’s internal antenna, but the reception quality depends on the model: the POCO M3 signal is stable, and the Redmi Note 8 Pro may be jammed.

Why is NextRadio not working in Russia?
NextRadio works with American radio stations and uses their database. In Russia, the app will technically run, but it will not be able to automatically find local stations. Solution: manually add frequencies through the + button in the upper right corner.

3. Alternatives FM-speaker-enabled applications

If standard radio in MIUI requires headphones and engineering menus are not available, try third-party apps. We tested 5 popular options - two showed the best results:

AnnexSupport for the dynamicsRequires root.Compatibility with Xiaomi
Spirit FMβœ… Yes, on some models)❌ No.⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Redmi 9, POCO X3)
FM Radio (by Simple)βœ… Yes.❌ No.⭐⭐⭐ (Mi 10, Redmi Note 11)
Quick FM❌ No (only headphones)❌ No.⭐⭐ (obsolete)

Recommendation: Spirit FM is the most versatile solution.

  1. Launch the application and give permissions.
  2. In the settings (βš™οΈ β†’ Audio Output: Select Speaker.
  3. If there is no sound, restart the phone – sometimes the FM driver is delayed.
πŸ“Š What radio application do you use?
Standard MIUI
NextRadio
Spirit FM
Other
I don't listen to the radio.

4. Hardware bypass: use of 3.5 mm adapter β†’ USB-C

If the software methods do not work, and the phone is FM-So, the trick is to plug an empty 3.5mm plug (without headphones) into an adapter. USB-C (for example, Xiaomi 12T, POCO F4).

What you need:

  • πŸ”Œ Transitioner USB-C β†’ 3.5mm (original from Xiaomi or certified).
  • 🎧 Old headphones with cropped cable (or just a plug).
  • πŸ”§ Insulation or thermal shrinkage (to fix the connection).

Instructions:

  1. Put the adapter on the phone.
  2. Insert a 3.5 mm plug into the adapter (the headphones do not need to be connected!).
  3. Run the standard FM Radio app – it should start working through the speaker.

Buy a USB-C adapter β†’ 3.5 mm

Find an unnecessary 3.5mm plug

Cut the cable, leaving only the plug

Isolate bare wires.

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⚠️ Warning: Low-quality adapters can damage the port USB-C. Use only certified accessories (e.g., the original adapter from Xiaomi or Anker).

5. Online radio as an alternative to FM

If your Xiaomi is not supported FM-So, the hardware-level radio, like the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Black Shark 5, is the only option left, Internet radio, plus: no headphones, a huge selection of stations. Cons: traffic consumption and battery life.

Top.-3 radio-only:

  • 🌍 TuneIn Radio β€” 100 000+ stations, there is an offline mode for premium users.
  • 🎡 Radio Garden - a unique interface with a "globus", allows you to listen to stations from anywhere in the world.
  • πŸ“» Diaz Radio – Optimized for weak internet (suitable for low internet) 3G).

Tip: To reduce traffic consumption, select Low quality (64 kbps) in the application settings. You can also download your favorite stations offline (available in TuneIn Premium).

πŸ’‘

Online radio is the only way to listen to radio on Xiaomi models without any need for a radio FM-chips (for example, the flagships of the series) 12/13).

Problem Solving: Radio is not working or no sound

If none of these methods worked, check out these points:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Radio's off.FM-chip is off in the firmwareInstall custom software (for example, LineageOS)
The sound only goes into the headphones.MIUI LimitationUse Spirit FM with Force Speaker setting
Constant interferenceWeak antenna signalBring your phone to the window or use a signal amplifier

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) A3) post-update MIUI 13+ FM-The radio may be missing from the menu, and in this case, it will help to roll back to the previous version of the firmware or install custom Recovery (TWRP).

FAQ: Frequent questions on the radio on Xiaomi

Can I listen to the radio on Xiaomi 13 without headphones?
No, Xiaomi 13 doesn't have one. FM-Use online radio via TuneIn or Radio Garden.
Why does radio only work with headphones?
The manufacturer uses the headphone wire as an antenna, bypassing this through Spirit FM or a hardware adapter (see section 4).
How to improve radio reception on Redmi Note 10?
Try: Use your headphones as an antenna (even if the sound is going through the speaker); Set up a Region in NextRadio in the US (sometimes catches better); Update your firmware - newer versions of MIUI sometimes improve FM drivers.
Will radio work without the internet?
Yes, but only if your phone has one. FM-chip and you use an offline application (e.g. Spirit) FM). Online radio (TuneIn) requires a connection to the network.
Can I record radio on Xiaomi?
Yes, using the FM Recorder app (available on Google Play), which allows you to record live streams in MP3 or WAV format.