How to turn on the microphone on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The microphone on Xiaomi smartphones is a key element for calls, voice messages and voice assistants. However, users often face a situation where the device does not recognize voice, the interlocutor cannot hear during a conversation or an application (for example, WhatsApp or Zoom) can not access the microphone. The reasons can be rooted in software failures and physical damage. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to turn on the microphone on Xiaomi, from basic settings to diagnosing hardware problems.

It's important to understand that the algorithm of actions depends on the model of the phone and the version of the MIUI shell. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the path to the microphone settings may differ from the POCO X3, and in MIUI 14 the interface is changed from MIUI 12. We take these nuances into account and provide universal solutions that are relevant to most devices of the brand. If after all the manipulations the microphone does not work, at the end of the article you will find a checklist for the diagnosis of the malfunction.

1. Check the basic microphone settings in MIUI

Before you start complex manipulations, make sure the microphone is not turned off at the system level. MIUI has a separate switch to turn off all microphones - its random press can block access to all applications.

To check this parameter:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Privacy section → Application permissions.
3. Slap the Microphone.
4. Make sure that the slider at the top of the screen (Allow microphone access) is active (lit in blue).

If the slider is turned off, turn it on and restart the phone. On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), this option may be hidden in the Special Permissions section - look for it there if you don't find it in the basic settings.

2. Set up permissions for individual applications

Even if the microphone is turned on at the system level, individual applications (messengers, social networks, games) may not be able to access it, for example, after updating the MIUI or resetting the settings, permissions are reset to factory ones, to check this:

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and select a program that does not have a microphone (such as Telegram or Google Meet).

• 📱 Go to Permits.
• 🎤 Find the Microphone and set the status Allow.
• 🔄 If the permission is already active, try disabling it and turning it back on (sometimes helps reset the permission cache).

On Android 12+ devices (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), you may receive an additional permission request during the first time you use the microphone in the app, and if you accidentally refuse, you will have to manually go to the settings and enable access.

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If the microphone doesn’t work in your browser (like voice search on Google), check the permissions for Chrome or Mi Browser separately.

3. Diagnostics of hardware problems

If the software settings are fine but the microphone is still not functioning, there may be physical malfunctions. Xiaomi smartphones usually have two or three microphones installed:

• 🎙️ Main microphone - located at the bottom of the body (near the connector) USB-C). Responsible for voice during calls.
• 🎤 The second microphone is at the top (near the speaker) and is used for noise reduction.
• 📱 The third microphone (on some models, for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra) – in the camera, for recording video.

To check which microphone is not working:

1. Run the Dictaphone app (standard or third-party, such as Voice Recorder).
2. Turn around each microphone and talk to the phone, and if you close one of them, the recording becomes quieter or disappears, that microphone is in good shape.
3. If the recording is not conducted at all, the problem may be a system failure or damage to the plume.

4. Resetting the sound and microphone settings

If the microphone stopped working after updating MIUI or installing custom firmware, resetting the audio settings will help, a method that doesn't affect user data, but returns all audio-related parameters to factory settings.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode (if it is not already enabled).
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → For developers.
4. Find the option Reset sound settings and confirm the action.

After you restart, check the microphone. If there's a problem, move on to the next method.

🔹 Make a backup copy of important data

🔹 Record passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts

🔹 Make sure the battery is charged > 50%

🔹 Disable two-factor authentication in MI-Account (if used)-->

Verification through the engineering menu (for experienced users)

The Engineering Mode allows you to test the phone’s hardware components, including the microphone, a method that is suitable for advanced users, as incorrect actions can lead to failures.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Type the code on your phone keyboard: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Hardware Testing on some models).
3. Find the Audio or Microphone section.
4. Run the microphone test – if the signal level is displayed as 0 dB, the microphone is faulty or disabled at the hardware level.

On some devices (e.g. POCO F4), the engineering menu may be blocked, in which case use the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Engineer Mode (for Snapdragon).

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If the engineered menu shows a zero signal level, but it's not physically damaged, it could be the firmware or the drivers, and then flashing the phone will help.

6. Update of firmware and system core

Firmware bugs are a common cause of a broken microphone, especially after major MIUI updates. For example, MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10 had a bug that caused the microphone to shut down after the reboot, and the solution was to upgrade the phone to the latest version of the software.

How to check for updates:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, download it and install it.
3. After installation, reset the cache (in the recovery menu, Wipe Cache Partition).

If the official update does not solve the problem, you can try to flash the phone through Fastboot or Recovery using the proprietary utility Mi Flash Tool. On models with a locked bootloader (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) this will require unlocking through the official Xiaomi website.

7. Alternative methods and temporary solutions

If the microphone cannot be turned on by standard methods, you can use workarounds:

• 🎧 Connect headphones with a microphone – many apps (like Discord) will automatically switch to them.
• 📱 Use a Bluetooth headset or smart watch (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Band with call support).
• 🔊 Turn on speaker mode while calling – the person will hear you through the main speaker (although the sound quality will deteriorate).

For voice recordings (for example, for streams or podcasts), you can use an external voice recording. USB-microphone connected through OTG-Most Xiaomi models (starting with the Redmi Note 8) support this feature without additional drivers.

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If you use voice messages frequently, install Voice Changer from the Mi App Store, which lets you test the microphone in real time and change the voice effects to help diagnose the problem.

Checklist: What to do if the microphone is not working

If none of these methods worked, go through this list for a final diagnosis:

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has fallen into water or been hit hard, don't try to disassemble it yourself - contact the service center. Mik damage is often accompanied by contact corrosion, which can only be repaired with soldering equipment.

🔹 Check the microphone in another application (for example, in a standard voice recorder)

🔹 Test your phone in safe mode (hold the power button) → "Safe regime")

🔹 Make sure there is no physical damage (cracks, dents near the microphone)

🔹 Check the microphone after charging (sometimes a problem in the contacts) USB-C)

🔹 Reset your phone to factory settings (last step before visiting the service)-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about the microphone on Xiaomi