How to improve the sound quality of the microphone on Xiaomi smartphones: from settings to upgrades

Have you noticed that the person who is constantly asking you questions while you are making calls and voice messages sound like a barrel recording? Mik problems on Xiaomi are one of the most common user complaints, and the fault is not always hardware defects. Most often the fault is wrong settings, background noises or software limitations of MIUI. In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to improve the sound of the microphone, from basic settings to advanced root access tricks.

It’s important to understand that sound quality depends on a set of factors – from the position of the microphone (on Xiaomi there are usually two: bottom and top) to the noise reduction algorithms that MIUI aggressively applies by default. We will not offer “magic” applications that promise to “improve sound 10 times” – instead, focus on real working methods, confirmed by tests on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1. Checking the hardware serviceability of the microphone

Before you dig into the settings, make sure that the problem is not physical failure. On Xiaomi, microphones often fail due to moisture, dust or after falls.

• 🔍 Testing through the Engineering Menu: dial in the phone application ##4636##, select Information → Microphone Test. Speak to the microphone - if the band is unresponsive or shows zero, the microphone is faulty.
• 📱 Check each microphone: Close the bottom microphone (near the connector) with your finger USB-C) And you talk, if the sound is gone, the top one's working.
• 🎤 Test audio recording: use a standard dictaphone MIUI (Record the sound, and listen to the headphones, listen to the background, wheezing, or distortion.

If the microphone doesn't respond at all, the problem may be oxidized contacts (often after a liquid is injected) or a damaged plume, in which case only the service center will help, but if there is sound but the quality is poor, read on.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with an infrared port (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro), the upper microphone is often combined with an IR sensor. When it is contaminated, the sound becomes muffled. Clean the hole with a soft brush.

2. Shutting down noise reduction in MIUI

By default, MIUI aggressively suppresses background noises during calls and recordings, often resulting in voice robotics or high-frequency cropping, especially in noisy rooms. Here's how to turn it off:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality.
2. Find the option Voice Improvement or Noise Reduction (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Turn off the slider or select off mode.
4. For calls: go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Call settings → Improve sound and deactivate all options.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 12T), these settings are hidden.

Enter the phone app: ##36446337##


Select: Hardware Testing → Audio → Mic Test




Turn off: Noise Suppression (if available)

When you turn off noise cancellation, your voice will become more natural, but you may have more backgrounds in your recordings, and if that's critical, read the next section on third-party apps.

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On the POCO F3 and Redmi K40, noise cancellation is automatically activated when Bluetooth headphones are connected. To avoid this, turn off the high-quality audio option in the Bluetooth device settings.

3. Sound optimization through third-party applications

Standard MIUI tools are limited, so you should use specialized applications to fine-tune the microphone. We tested 5 popular solutions -- results in the table:

For most tasks, we recommend Wavelet, which allows you to disable the built-in MIUI noise cancellation at the system level (even without root), which immediately improves the naturalness of the voice. Install it from Google Play, start calibration, and select the Flat (no effects) profile for clean sound.

If you need to turn up the microphone volume for calls, try Microphone Amplifier, but don’t put the gain above +10 dB – this causes distortion. For streams on Xiaomi, it is better to combine Wavelet (for sound) and OBS Camera (for audio to streaming software).

4. Microphone setting for specific applications

Different programs use the microphone in different ways, like WhatsApp compresses audio more than Telegram, and Zoom can automatically suppress your voice if it thinks it's "background noise." Here's how to optimize the sound for popular services:

• 📱 WhatsApp/Telegram: In the chat settings, turn off Noise Reduction (if any). Use the format OGG instead AAC for voice messages (in Telegram this is configured in Settings) → Data and memory).
• 🎥 TikTok/Instagram: Before recording, turn on high-quality audio in the camera settings. Use an external microphone (even a budget laval) through the adapter USB-C → 3.5 mm.
• 💼 Zoom/Google Meet: In audio settings, turn off Automatic Noise Reduction and Echo Compensation. manually select Microphone (standard) instead of Microphone (improved).

For Discord, Xiaomi has a separate life hack: go to User Settings → Voice and Video → Noise Control Mode and select Off. Then in Additional Settings, set the Microphone Sensitivity to -20 dB – this will reduce the capture of background noise without distorting the voice.

Turn off noise cancellation in MIUI|

Install Wavelet with Flat| profile

In OBS settings, select the microphone as "Default" |

Set the audio bitrate to not lower than 128 kbps|

Check the sound in the headphones before streaming-->

5. Hardware improvements: from cleaning to external microphones

If the software methods didn't work, it's time to look at hardware, and let's start with the simplest thing, cleaning the microphone holes, and over time, they get clogged with dust, which leads to a muffled sound.

• 🧹 Soft toothbrush (dry!).
• 💨 A container with compressed air (for computer equipment).
• 🔍 Lupu to see the pollution.

Carefully brush the microphone holes (don't press too hard!), then blow air. Don't use cotton swabs, they leave fibers. If after cleaning the sound has improved, but wheezing remains, the problem may be oxidation of the contacts (requires disassembly of the device).

For serious tasks (podcasts, streams, professional calls) consider external microphones:

• 🎙️ Laval microphones (e.g., Boya) BY-M1): connect through the adapter USB-C → 3.5 mm, give a clear sound without noise.
• 🎤 USB-microphones (e.g., Fifine) K669B): demand OTG-Adapter, but provide studio quality.
• 📱 Bluetooth headsets (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro): They often have built-in noise reduction better than a smartphone.

On Xiaomi USB-C models (starting with the Redmi Note 9), you can plug in a microphone via an adapter, but note: MIUI can limit the volume of external microphones. To get around this, use the USB Audio Player PRO app - it allows you to manually adjust the gain.

⚠️ Attention: POCO X3 Pro and some other models when connecting an external microphone USB-C The internal microphone is completely shut down if you need to record stereo (for example, to record the sound). ASMR), Use a Bluetooth microphone at the same time as the built-in.

6 Advanced methods: root, modified firmware and ADB

If you're willing to take drastic measures, here are a few ways for power users. Warning: these methods can lead to a loss of warranty or unstable device performance.

1. Disconnecting noise reduction via ADB:

Connect your phone to your PC, enable debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times Press → Return to Additional Settings → For Developers).



Enter commands:




adb shell settings put global voice_recognition_service com.android.stk .VoiceRecognitionService




adb shell settings put global audio_effects_enabled 0

2. Install a custom core (e.g., FrancoKernel or Perseus) with improved audio drivers.This requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights. The XDA Developers forum has separate themes for popular Xiaomi models, where users share optimal microphone configurations.

3. Modification of the file mixer_paths.xml (This file contains audio routing settings, for example, to increase the volume of the microphone, find a line:

<path name="handset-mic">


<ctl name="RX1 Digital Volume" value="84" />




</path>

And replace 84 on 90 (No higher, otherwise there will be distortion. /vendor/etc/mixer_paths.xml.

4. Firmware modified MIUI (e.g. MIUI EU or Xiaomi.eu) These builds often contain optimized audio drivers and allow you to fine-tune the microphone through the engineering menu.

7. Frequent errors that spoil the sound of the microphone

Many users are degrading the sound quality themselves without even knowing it. TOP-5 Mistakes and how to avoid them:

• 🚫 Covering the microphone with your finger: Many people instinctively press the phone to their ears while making calls, blocking the top microphone.°.
• 🔇 Use of closed bottom covers: thick bumpers or ear covers block the bottom microphone. Choose microphone necklines.
• 📵 Talking in places with poor signal: with weak network coverage (1-2 Dividing) voice codecs compress audio more tightly. Use Wi-Fi Calling.
• 🔊 Bluetooth enabled while recording: Even if you don't use Bluetooth headphones, the active module can cause interference. → Connected devices.
• 🎵 Too loud music in your headphones: If you listen to music at maximum volume and try to talk, the microphone will capture distorted sound from the speakers (the Larsen effect.

Another common problem is application conflict, for example, if you have Shagomer (using a microphone to analyze ambient noise) and a voice recorder running simultaneously, the recording quality will deteriorate. Close all background programs through Settings → Applications → Launched.

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On Xiaomi models with stereo microphones (such as the Xiaomi 11T Pro), the sound will improve if you hold the phone horizontally, so both microphones capture the voice evenly.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions