How to increase the volume of the microphone on Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite: from Android settings to engineering menu

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is a popular smartphone with a good camera and microphone, but sometimes users face a problem: the interlocutor is not heard during calls, and voice messages are recorded too quiet. The reasons can be different from a dusty microphone hole to the software limitations of MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways to increase the volume of the microphone on the Mi 8 Lite, including hidden settings, engineering menus and third-party utilities.

It's important to understand that the physical limitations of the microphone (like membrane wear) can't be fixed software--just replacing the module will help. But 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by software. We've tested each method on the Mi 8 Lite with MIUI 12.5 and Android 10, but the instructions are relevant for other versions of the firmware.

Before you start settings, check the obvious: is the microphone hole covered with a cover or film, is there any dust in it (you can gently blow or clean with a soft brush).

1. Check basic sound settings in MIUI

To start with, the microphone may be down in the system settings. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has separate microphone controls for calls and recordings.

How to check:

• 📞 To call: Open the phone app, dial ##4636## → Choose Phone Information → Scroll to the audio settings block, and you can change the Volume settings for the microphone (values 0 to 6).
• 🎤 For recordings: run a Recorder or Camera in video mode, then pull the volume slider upwards - sometimes it resets after updates.
• 🔊 General settings: go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Loudness and make sure Media slider (it affects records) is not at a minimum.

If these options are already at their maximum, but the microphone is still quiet, move on to the following methods. Note: on some firmware, menu items may be called differently (for example, Sound settings instead of Sound and vibration).

2.Use of the Engineering Menu (MTK Engineer Mode)

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite is built on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chip, but even here there is an engineering menu available where you can fine-tune the microphone settings. This method requires caution - wrong values can worsen the sound quality.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##36446337## (alternative code: ##4636## → Phone information → Engineer Mode).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.
3. Select Mic (or Microphone), then Mic Volume.
4. Set Level 0: 180–200 (usually 150–160 by default) Level 1: 200–220 Level 2: 220–240 Level 3: 240–255 (maximum)

Set

Critical warning: Do not set the values above 255, which can cause sound distortion or damage to the microphone. After changing the parameters, test the microphone in a call or recording. If there are wheezing or noise, return the values 10-20 units lower.

Make sure the battery is over 50 times charged%|Record the current microphone values (in case of rollback)|Do not interrupt the setup process|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

3. Configure via the application "MTK Engineering Mode" (for advanced)

If the standard engineering menu doesn’t offer the right options, you can use a third-party MTK Engineering Mode app (despite the name, it works on Qualcomm devices, including the Mi 8 Lite), which gives you access to advanced audio settings.

How to use:

• 📱 Download the app from Google Play (or APKCombo if it’s been removed).
• 🔧 Open the Hardware Testing section → Audio → Normal Mode.
• 🎙️ Select Mic and increase Volume values for all levels (similar to the engineering menu, but with a wider range).
• 🔄 Save the settings and restart the phone.

The advantage of this method is that you can fine-tune it to a particular microphone, for example, if you have a noisy background, you can only turn up the volume for medium frequencies, leaving low and high unchanged, but be prepared for experimentation: there are no universal values, you have to adjust the volume to your voice and conditions.

4.Use of third-party applications to amplify microphone

If system methods do not help, you can use specialized utilities that work on top of standard drivers and allow you to amplify the microphone signal programmatically.

Important: microphone amplification apps don't work in a standard phone app (due to Android limitations).

• 📹 Video recordings (in camera or third-party applications such as Open Camera)
• 🎙️ Voice messages in messengers
• 🎮 Video games or streams (if the microphone is used for comments)

For calls, these utilities are useless - only setting through an engineering menu or replacing a microphone will help.

💡

If you record voice messages often, try Sony's Voice Recorder app, which has a built-in equalizer that allows you to amplify your voice without distortion.

5. Cleaning the microphone hole and checking hardware problems

If the software methods failed, the problem may be the physical condition of the microphone. On the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, the main microphone is located at the bottom of the case (near the USB-C connector), and the additional microphone is located at the top (near the speaker).

How to clean the microphone:

• 🧹 Use a soft brush (for example, for drawing) or a toothpick with cotton wool - carefully remove dust from the hole.
• 💨 Blow the hole with compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment) from a distance of 10-15 cm.
• 🚫 Do not use needles, pins or sharp objects – they can damage the microphone membrane.
• 🔍 Check if the microphone is full of a cover or film – sometimes they block the hole.

If the microphone is not working after cleaning,

• 🔧 Check if the microphone module contacts are oxidized (disassembly required).
• 🔊 Test the microphone in service mode (code ##6484## → Manual Test → If the test shows an error, the microphone is faulty.
• 📱 Make sure the problem isn't with the audio codec (a chip that processes sound). To do this, plug in the headphones with the microphone - if they work properly, the built-in microphone is to blame.

⚠️ Note: If the microphone stops working after the phone falls or moisture gets in, do not try to clean it yourself. ~500-800 rubles in the service center).

6.Alternative solutions: external microphone and Bluetooth headset

If all attempts to strengthen the built-in microphone have failed, consider alternative options:

1. External microphone via USB-C or 3.5mm connector

On Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite you can connect an external microphone:

• 🎤 USB-C microphones (e.g., Boya) BY-M1 Fifine K688) — plugged in OTG-adapter.
• 🎧 Headsets with 3.5 mm connector (if your model supports analog sound).
• 📱 Wireless microphones (e.g. Rode Wireless Go) – Connect via Bluetooth.

2. Software sound processing

If you’re recording podcasts or videos, use noise-canceling apps:

• 🎛️ Dolby On – Improves voice and removes background noise.
• 🎚️ Audacity (on PC) - allows you to enhance recorded sound after the fact.
• 🎤 Krisp – Reduces real-time noise (works with Zoom, Discord, etc.).

For calls, the best option is a Bluetooth headset (such as the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds or Sony WH-CH510), which will not only improve the sound quality, but also eliminate problems with the built-in microphone.

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If the built-in microphone is faulty, an external USB-C or Bluetooth microphone will be the best solution – it will bypass the hardware limitations of the smartphone.

7.When to contact the service center

Not all microphone problems can be solved by yourself.

• 🔇 Microphone fails to respond to sounds, tests show error).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water or was exposed to severe humidity (even if then drying out).
• 🔧 You’ve tried all the software methods, but the volume hasn’t changed.
• 📉 The problem appeared after the firmware update (may fail in the audio driver).

The cost of microphone repair on Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite:

Before visiting the service, make a backup copy of the data - sometimes a reset is required for diagnosis.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself - this will void warranty obligations. In official service centers Xiaomi microphone diagnostics is free.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Mi microphone 8 Lite