How to enable microphone access on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Are you trying to make a voice call on WhatsApp but the other person can't hear you? Or does Google Assistant refuse to recognize commands when everything used to work? Mik problems on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most common user complaints, and most often they are not related to hardware breakdown, but to the wrong MIUI settings. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the microphone, from basic checks to hidden shell functions.

Xiaomi is a big part of the problem, because it actively restricts applications from accessing the microphone for security reasons. After upgrading to MIUI 14/15, many users find that even system services (such as voice dialing) stop working, and the microphone indicator in the status bar can turn green, which means that the device is physically healthy, but software access is blocked. Next, you will learn how to diagnose the problem and fix it in 5 minutes.

Checking basic settings: whether the microphone is on at the system level

Before digging deeper, make sure the microphone is not turned off at the hardware level. Some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5) have a separate switch in the notification curtain.

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the Microphone icon (usually next to No Sound or Bluetooth).
3. If the icon is illuminated in gray, tap it to activate.

If you don't have a microphone icon, your model doesn't support hardware shutdown, so you can go to the application resolution settings, and note that even if the microphone is on in the curtain, individual programs (such as Zoom or Viber) can be manually locked.

How to Access a Microphone for a Specific Application

The most common reason for a broken microphone is that the app doesn't have permissions. In MIUI, security settings are stricter than in pure Android, so even after a system update, rights can be reset.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a program that doesn’t have a microphone (like Telegram or Instagram).
3. Go to the Permissions section → Microphone.
4. Set the switch in the "Allow" position.
5. Select Always (if necessary for calls) or Only during use (for voice commands) below.

Important: Some apps (like TikTok or Likee) request access to a microphone to record video, but in the background they can use it to collect data. If you don't trust the program, choose the "Ask Every Time" option.

⚠️ Note: If the permission list does not include the "Microphone" item, then the application does not declare the use of the audio recording in the application. AndroidManifest.xml. It can be either a developer error or a sign of malware. check the app through VirusTotal.

Resetting permissions for all applications

If the microphone does not work in all programs (including system calls), the global MIUI settings may have gone wrong.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Application Permissions.
3. Confirm the action (you will need to enter a password or pattern lock).

Once reset, all applications will lose access to the microphone, camera, geolocation, and other features, and you will have to manually allow the microphone to be used for each program again, which helps if the problem occurs after updating the MIUI or resetting to factory settings.

Checking the microphone through the engineering menu (for advanced ones)

If standard methods don't work, you can test the microphone at the hardware level through an engineering menu, which is suitable for Xiaomi models on Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro or POCO X4 Pro).

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down and find the Microphone (or Audio → Microphone).
4. Speak to the microphone – if the sound level band reacts, then the hardware is working.

If the engineering menu doesn't open, try the alternative code: ##36446337## (for hardware testing). On some MIUI firmware, these commands may be blocked - in which case use third-party diagnostic applications, such as Phone Doctor Plus.

Cleaning cache and system application data

Sometimes the microphone stops working because of a failure in the system services responsible for audio, and at MIUI, two key applications are responsible for this:

• 🔊 «Phone (com.android.phone) – manages calls.
• 🎤 «Microphone (com.android.microphone) – handles access to audio input.

To reset their settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three points in the corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find the phone and microphone for each of them:
4. Click Warehouse → Clear the cache and Clear the data.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the application's data Phone will reset call history and forwarding settings. Before the procedure, export important contacts.

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If the microphone is running after cleaning the cache, but after a while it stopped functioning again, set a limit for background processes in Settings → Battery → Performance Mode and select “No Limits” for system applications.

Update of firmware and audio driver core

In rare cases, the problem lies in an outdated audio driver, especially if you use custom firmware or have not updated the system in a long time.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have a MIUI or Android update available, install it.
3. After the update, restart your phone and check the microphone.

If there are no official updates, but the problem persists, try manually updating your audio driver via Fastboot (power users only!).

• 📥 Download the latest firmware version for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
• 🔧 Extract the file. audio.img From the archive and run it through the command: fastboot flash audio audio.img

On Xiaomi 13 Pro and newer models, the audio driver is integrated into the core of the system, so its separate update is impossible - a complete firmware reflash is required.

Hardware malfunctions: when without a service center can not do

If none of the software methods worked, it might be the physical malfunction of the microphone.

• 🔇 Complete lack of response in the engineering menu.
• 💦 Traces of oxidation or moisture in the bottom of the phone (near the connector) USB-C).
• 🔊 Distorted sound when recording (wheezing, crackling).

Xiaomi smartphones usually have two microphones:

1. The main one is located at the bottom (near the charging connector).
2. The upper part is the upper part (for noise reduction).

If only the bottom microphone does not work, and the top one records sound (checked through the voice recorder), then the problem is in the contacts or the module itself. In this case, a replacement is required, which can be done at the Xiaomi service center (cost from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model).

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Before visiting the service center, be sure to back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup, as repairs may require a phone reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the microphone on Xiaomi