Have you noticed that when you call or record your voice, the microphone on your Xiaomi suddenly stops working? Or the system gives a notification "Microphone off" even though you haven't pressed anything? This problem is found on devices from Redmi, POCO and the Mi lineup — from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14. Most often the fault is software failures, incorrect resolutions or hardware restrictions.
In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to restore the microphone to health, from basic settings to deep system fixes, how to diagnose a problem, what parameters to check first, and what to do if the microphone is turned off only in specific applications (for example, WhatsApp or Zoom), and we will also look at the rare cases when it is not the software that is to blame, but hardware malfunctions – and how to distinguish it from a software bug.
Before you start settings, make sure the problem isn’t due to external factors: check the case (it can block the microphone), clean the microphone hole of dust, and try using headphones with a microphone – if sound is transmitted through them, the problem is exactly in the main microphone of the smartphone.
1. Check the basic microphone settings
Start with the obvious: maybe the microphone is off at the system level or at the application level. There are a few places in MIUI where this could have happened.
Open Settings → Applications → Permissions → Microphone. Here you will see a list of all programs that are allowed to access the microphone.
- 🔹 System applications (e.g. Phone or Camera) have the status of "Allowed».
- 🔹 Messengers (Telegram, Viber) do not have the mark "Forbidden».
- 🔹 Enable the "Allow access to the microphone" switch at the top of the screen.
If everything is OK here, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality. Some MIUI firmware has a Call Noise Cancel option — try turning it off, as it may conflict with the microphone.
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If the microphone is disabled in only one app (like Instagram), delete that app's cache in Settings → Apps → [Title] → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Resetting the sound and network settings
If the microphone is unstable (it turns on, it turns off), the problem can be a conflict of settings. MIUI has a feature to reset the audio and network settings, which often helps:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select Network Settings Reset (this will delete stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but will not affect personal data).
- After restarting, check the microphone.
If this does not help, reset the sound settings:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
- 🔄 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Settings».
- 🔁 Reset the device.
3. Update firmware and fix bugs
Many Xiaomi users are experiencing a microphone shutdown due to firmware bugs, like MIUI 13 had a known microphone problem in Google Meet, and MIUI 14 had a voice recording failure, and the solution is one: update the software.
How to check and install updates:
- Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Click on "Check Updates."
- If a new version is available, download and install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).
If there are no updates, but the problem remains, try manually installing firmware through Recovery:
How to install firmware manually?
Important: If the microphone stopped working after the upgrade, reset to factory settings (see section 6), this may be due to a conflict between old data and new firmware.
4.Verification for viruses and malware
Malware can block access to a microphone or use it in the background, causing crashes, for example, some spy apps turn off the microphone for system processes to hide their activity.
How to check the device:
- 🛡️ Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web) and scan the system.
- 🔍 Check the list of running applications in Settings → Annexes → Running. Notice the unknown processes.
- 🚫 Disable Administrator Permits for Suspicious Applications in Settings → Passwords and security → Device administrators.
If you find a virus, delete it and reboot it. Then check the microphone in safe mode:
⚠️ Attention: To boot in Safe Mode, hold the power button until the turn off menu appears, then press and hold "Switch off power" until reboot. Only system applications are running in Safe Mode - if the microphone is working, the problem is exactly in third-party software.
5. Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions
If none of the software methods worked, there might be a problem with the hardware.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The microphone does not work in any application, even after resetting. | Microphone module or plume damaged | Replacement of microphone in the service center |
| The microphone only works on speakerphone. | Lower microphone (main) is defective | Diagnostics and repairs |
| The sound is transmitted with interference or interrupted. | Oxidation of contacts or moisture | Cleaning or replacing the microphone module |
| The microphone is turned off when you press the body | The plume or microphone connector is damaged. | Repairs at the service |
For self-diagnosis:
- Try recording a voice message to a voice recorder – if the sound is missing or distorted, the problem is hardware.
- Connect headphones with a microphone – if sound is transmitted through them, the main microphone is defective.
- Check if there were any mechanical damage (falls, water).
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If the microphone stopped working after falling or contacting water, don't try to repair it yourself - this can lead to a short circuit.
6.Reset to factory settings
If all previous methods fail, you will have a complete reset, which will delete all data from the device, so back up first:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset.
- 🔄 Select "Resetting settings» → «Erase all data».
- 🔐 Enter a password (if required) and confirm the reset.
After restarting, set the phone as new and check the microphone immediately. If the problem persists, this confirms a hardware malfunction.
Save contacts in a Google account
Copy photos and videos on PC
Record passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts
Delete your Mi Account (if you are selling your phone)
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7. Alternative solutions for specific models
Some Xiaomi models have unique microphone bugs, and here are the solutions for the most common ones:
- 📱 Redmi Note 9/10/11: Turn off the “Voice Improvement” option in Settings → Sound. → Sound quality. It's in conflict with the way the microphone works in messengers.
- 📱 POCO X3/X4: Update Google Play Services app manually via Play Market – this fixes microphone crashes in Google Assistant.
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11/12: Enable the Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 once) and disable “Debugging by USB», if it's on.
- 📱 Redmi 9A/9C: Check if the beta version is installed. MIUI — It often breaks the microphone.
If your model is not listed, try searching for a solution on forums (such as 4PDA or XDA Developers) by specifying the exact model and version of MIUI.