How to turn on and configure the microphone on Xiaomi Redmi 8: the complete guide

The microphone on Xiaomi Redmi 8 can suddenly stop working for a variety of reasons, from banal shutdowns in settings to system failures. If you can not hear you in calls, voice messages or applications like WhatsApp and Zoom, do not rush to carry the phone to the service center. 90% of the time, the problem can be solved by yourself in 5-10 minutes.

This article will help you understand how to turn on the microphone on Redmi 8, check its performance and fix the typical problems. We will look at all possible scenarios, from basic settings to hidden parameters of the developer.

Important: instructions are relevant for Redmi 8 (ginkgo) based on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-12.

Checking the basic settings of the microphone

Before digging deeper, make sure the microphone is not turned off at the system level. There are several places on Redmi 8 where it can be blocked:

• 🔊 Do Not Disturb: Turns off the microphone for all applications except calls.
• 📵 Energy saving: Can limit background microphone performance to save battery.
• 🔒 Application permissions: individual programs (e.g. Telegram or VKontakte) require manual access to the microphone.

To check the main settings:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Make sure the microphone volume slider (if any) is not at zero.
3. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Microphone and check if access is enabled for the right programs.

If the microphone went off after this manipulation, it was the software problem. If it wasn't, we're moving on.

How to turn on a microphone for a specific application

Often the microphone doesn't work in just one app (like Instagram or Discord), which means that the program is stripped of the rights to use the microphone.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want (like WhatsApp) and tap it.
3. Select Permissions → Microphone.
4. Set the switch in the "Allow" position.

Some applications (such as Google Assistant) may require additional customization:

Settings → Google → Devices and Sharing → Voice Search → Recognition “OK, Google”

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If the microphone still doesn't work after you've allowed it to, try removing the app data from Settings → Apps → Storage → Clear the data. This will reset the program settings to factory settings, but it won't delete your accounts.

If the problem persists, check if the microphone is blocking the antivirus or battery optimizer. for example, MIUI Optimizer sometimes limits the background activity of applications.

Diagnostics of hardware problems

If the microphone doesn't work in any application, including a standard voice recorder, the problem may be hardware.

• 🎤 Main (below, next to the connector) USB-C) — call-and-record.
• 🎤 Noise suppression (top of back panel) – improves voice quality.
• 🎤 Additional (above, next to the speaker) - for video shooting.

To check their performance:

1. Open the standard Dictaphone app and record 5-10 seconds of sound.
2. Play the recording. If you hear a noise but the voice is missing, the microphone is contaminated or damaged.
3. Call another phone and see if the person is listening, and if not, the main microphone is a problem.

The Redmi 8 most often fails the bottom microphone due to moisture or mechanical damage. If the phone fell or came into contact with water, there is a high probability that the microphone needs to be replaced.

Resetting sound and microphone settings

If the software methods didn't work, try resetting the sound settings, which will return all the parameters to factory values, but won't affect your data.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting.
2. Select Reset Network, Sound and Display settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After reset, check the microphone again. If the problem persists, move on to more radical measures.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting the sound settings will also reset all user uniform settings (EQ), Notification and vibration settings. Write down or remember your current settings if they are important to you.

Checking the microphone through the engineering menu

For advanced users, there is an engineering mode that allows you to test each microphone individually and identify hardware problems.

How to open the engineering menu on Redmi 8:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
4. Scroll down to the Microphone block and check the signal levels.

Normal readings:

• 📊 Main Mic: 50–100 dB when talking.
• 📊 Second Mic: 30-70 dB (noise).
• 📊 Third Mic: 0–20 dB if not used).

If the values are 0 dB or N/A, the microphone is faulty, and if the numbers are jumping or overestimated, the contact or noise is a problem.

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The engineering menu shows the actual state of the hardware, and if the microphone is not detected there, it's inevitable that it will be replaced, and the software methods won't help.

Updating the software and system core

Sometimes the microphone stops working after the MIUI update or because of a firmware conflict, and this will help:

• 🔄 Update to the latest version MIUI (if available).
• 🔄 Recoil on stable firmware (if the problem appeared after the update).
• 🔄 Fastboot flashing (extreme case).

How to update software:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on "Check Updates."
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

If the update didn’t work, try resetting your phone to factory settings (don’t forget to make a backup!).

Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Delete all data

⚠️ Warning: After resetting to factory settings, all data from the phone will be deleted, including photos, contacts and messages. Use this method only if other methods have failed and you have a backup.

What to do if nothing helps

If you’ve tried all the techniques, but the microphone on the Redmi 8 still doesn’t work, there are three options left:

1. Contact Xiaomi Service Center – if the phone is warranty, repairs can be free.
2. Independent microphone replacement – suitable for experienced users (cost of microphone ~300-500 rubles).
3. Use an external microphone – via a USB-C or Bluetooth connector (such as a headset).

The average cost of replacing a microphone in the service:

If you want to replace the microphone yourself, you will need:

• 🔧 Screwdriver. T3 and T5 for dismantling Redmi 8.
• 🔧 Dryer or thermo-air station for welding off the plume (if the microphone is soldered).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the microphone on Redmi 8