How to reduce the sound on your phone while talking to Xiaomi

The situation when the interlocutor barely hears you during a conversation or, conversely, the sound in the speaker is so loud that it causes discomfort, is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones. In the MIUI operating system or its modern version of HyperOS, audio stream management is not as straightforward as it may seem at first glance. Often users confuse the volume of media with the sound level during a conversation, which leads to incorrect settings and a false feeling of malfunction.

The main problem is that the standard volume buttons on the side of the case by default regulate the multimedia track or the volume of the call, but not the level of sound in the ear speaker during an active connection. To really affect the way you hear the interlocutor, you need to use specific key combinations or delve into the engineering menu. Understanding these nuances will allow you to avoid unnecessary trips to the service center.

In this article, we will take a look at all the adjustment techniques available, from simple system settings to hidden engineering codes that give you complete control over your device’s audio subsystem, and learn not only to reduce sound, but also to calibrate the microphone if the problem is that you are not hearing well.

Standard volume control during a conversation

The most obvious, but often ignored, way to change the sound level is to do it directly. When you're in touch with a subscriber, the physical buttons on the side of a smartphone change their function, instead of adjusting the ringtone or the video, they control the volume of the ear speaker, which is the standard mechanism provided by the developers of Android and the shells based on it.

Many users make the mistake of trying to adjust the sound before the call starts through the settings menu. However, the sliders in the main menu are often responsible for Media or Alarms. To get to the desired section, you need to initiate a test call or call someone from your contacts. Only when the volume button interface is active, it is redirected to the desired audio stream.

⚠️ Warning: If volume buttons don’t respond or adjust music during a conversation, check if a background app (YouTube, player) that can intercept audio channel control is running.

To fine-tune, you should use the following algorithm: first, reset the sound settings to average values, and then, while in, reduce the level to a comfortable minimum, which will allow you to find a "middle ground" in which the voice of the interlocutor will be legible, but not deafening.

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Use the Volume Up feature in the audio settings if you don’t hear well even at maximum, but remember that this can add distortion.

Using the CIT Engineering Menu for calibration

For a deeper customization that goes beyond the standard custom options, Xiaomi smartphones have a special engineering menu. CIT (Customer Integration Test: This tool is designed to diagnose hardware components, but also allows manual calibration of audio devices. USSD-code in the appendix "Phone".

Enter ##6484## or ##4636## (code may vary depending on the model and firmware version). In the menu that opens, find the section related to audio or speaker. Here you can test speakers and microphones. It is important to understand that the changes made to this menu are low-level and can affect the performance of the device as a whole.

Inside the CIT menu, there's often a "Receiver" and a "Microphone" option. Once you run a test, you'll hear a reference sound or you'll be able to record your voice. If the sound is initially too quiet or loud even on test tracks, this may indicate a software glitch in the audio drivers that can sometimes be fixed by resetting the settings in the same menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not change the values of parameters whose value you do not know (especially those marked as RF Calibration, or Calibration, may result in loss of network signal or audio failure.

Set up equalizer and Dolby sound effects

MIUI and HyperOS are often equipped with advanced audio modules, such as Dolby Atmos or a proprietary audio amplifier, which can significantly affect the perception of volume during a conversation, adding bass or making high frequencies sharper. Sometimes it is aggressive processing of sound that creates the illusion of excessive volume or, conversely, "clogging" the voice of the interlocutor.

To check these settings, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Effects. Here you will find the Dolby Atmos switch. Try turning it off completely or select a Voice or Balance profile if available. Experimentally, you can find a configuration that will make it more comfortable without having to reduce the overall volume to a minimum.

You should also look at the "Sound Improvements" settings in the headphone menu if you're using a headset. Some noise-cancellation algorithms may not work properly with your voice, making it quiet and intermittent. Disabling all the improvements will help you understand if the software processing is causing the problem.

Checking physical factors and accessories

Before you go into the software wilds, you need to rule out the banal physical reasons. The volume on Xiaomi can seem low due to the contaminated speaker grid. Dust, skin fat and pile from your pockets eventually clog the output holes of the ear speaker located at the top of the screen.

Use a soft toothbrush or a special sticky tape to clean, and it is strictly forbidden to use sharp objects (needles, pins), as you can damage the speaker membrane or push the dirt even deeper, and also check if the protective glass or film is not properly pasted, blocking the sonic slot.

Another important aspect is the case: Some thick or misfitted covers can partially overlap the speaker or microphone opening, creating a "deaf" sound effect. Take off the case and check if the volume changes. If so, the accessory is solved by replacing the accessory.

• 🧹 Regularly clean the speaker mesh with a soft brush from dust.
• 📱 Check if the protective film is blocking the sound channel.
• 🎒 Remove the cover at the time to exclude its impact.
• 🔌 Use original or certified headsets, as cheap counterparts can have high resistance.

Comparison of models and volume levels

Different Xiaomi smartphones have different maximum volume and sensitivity of microphones. flagship models of the Xiaomi 13/14 series are equipped with better components and noise reduction systems compared to the budget line of Redmi or Poco. Understanding the technical limitations of your device helps to set realistic expectations.

The table below shows a comparison of typical characteristics of audio systems in different segments of devices, which will help to understand what can be achieved by settings, and where the physical limit lies.

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Physical limitations of the speakers of budget models can not be overcome software - the maximum volume is limited by the power of hardware.

Solving problems with a quiet microphone (you can't hear)

If the question is not how to reduce the sound you hear, but if you are not hearing well, then the volume settings will not help. The problem is the sensitivity of the microphone. Xiaomi smartphones usually have two or three: the main (bottom), the additional (top for noise cancellation), and the headset.

A common cause of silent voice is contamination of the bottom microphone, which is located next to the charging connector and quickly gets clogged with dust. Carefully clean this hole. Also check the settings of the Security app → Permissions → Microphone. Make sure that the Phone app or messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram) is given permission to use the microphone.

In some cases, resetting network settings and calls helps. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recover and Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, cellular networks and Bluetooth settings. This action will not delete your personal data, but will return network modules to factory settings, which often resolves software conflicts of audio drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)