How to turn on the microphone Xiaomi Mi 8: 5 ways to solve the problem

Xiaomi Mi 8 is one of the most popular flagships of the brand, but even it is not immune to problems with the microphone. Did you notice that the interlocutor does not hear you during calls? Or voice messages are recorded without sound? The reasons can be both software (deleted permissions, software failures) and hardware (contamination of the connector, damage to the plume). In this article, we will examine all the ways to turn on the microphone on the Mi 8, from basic settings to hardware diagnosis.

It’s important to understand that the microphone on the Xiaomi Mi 8 doesn’t have a separate physical power button, it depends on application resolutions, system parameters and hardware health. If the problem occurred after the MIUI update or the phone fell, the algorithm of actions will differ. We will look at solutions for all scenarios, including cases where the microphone only works in headphones or ceased to function after firmware.

1. Checking basic sound settings

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't with the rudimentary settings.On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the microphone can be "muffled" due to activated Do Not Disturb or error in the sound profile.

Open the Settings → Sound and vibration and check:

• 🔇 Do Not Disturb: Must be turned off or set to skip calls.
• 📞 Sound Profile: Select “General” or “On the street” – in “Quiet” mode, the microphone can work with interference.
• 🔄 Adaptive sound: Turn off this option if it is active (sometimes distorts voice).

If this menu is OK, go to the app permission check, and often the microphone doesn't work because of the blocking of access by messengers or social networks.

2. Setup of permissions for applications

With MIUI 12 and newer, Xiaomi has tightened controls on microphone access, and even if the app used to work fine, it may need new permissions once it's updated.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app that doesn’t have a microphone (like WhatsApp or Telegram).
3. Tap Permissions → Microphone and set the status to Allow.

Pay special attention to system applications:

• 📱 Phone: Without access to the microphone, calls will be one-way.
• 🎤 Recorder: If it doesn't work, the problem is the permissions.
• 🤖 Google Assistant: Often blocks microphone for other services.

If the permissions change, the microphone is up, the problem is solved. If not, go to the software failure diagnosis.

Check the permissions for messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram)

Make sure that the phone system application is allowed to access the microphone

Turn off battery optimization for applications using microphone

Restart your phone after changing permissions-->

3. Diagnostics of program failures

If the microphone stopped working after updating MIUI or installing a new app, a software conflict is to blame. On Xiaomi Mi 8, this is a frequent problem due to unstable firmware for older models.

Try these steps:

1. Cleaning the cache of system applications: Settings → Applications → Application management → Three points (menu) → Show system → Find the “Phone” and “Microphone” → Clear the cache
2. Resetting sound settings: Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting settings → Resetting sound settings
3. Safe Mode: Press the power button → hold “Switch off” → confirm the transition to safe mode. If the microphone is working, the third-party application is to blame.

If the problem has occurred after the MIUI 12.5+ update, try to roll back to the previous version via Fastboot. Instructions for Mi 8 (codenamed dipper) are available on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.

Checking of the hardware

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be the physical damage to the microphone. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, there are two:

• 🎙️ Main microphone: located at the bottom of the body (near the connector) USB-C).
• 📱 Additional microphone: located on top (near the speaker), responsible for noise cancellation.

Perform a visual inspection:

1. Light a flashlight into the microphone holes – if dirt or dust is visible, gently clean them with a soft brush (do not use needles!).
2. Check if the USB-C connector is bent - its damage can affect the microphone plume.
3. Connect headphones with a microphone: if a sound appears, the problem is in the main microphone of the phone.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone falls or gets wet, don't try to disassemble it yourself. On the Mi 8, the microphone is soldered to the motherboard - it can't be replaced without a soldering station.

5. Special cases: firmware, ROOT and custom software

If you’ve installed custom software (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the microphone may not work due to the lack of proprietary drivers. For the Xiaomi Mi 8, this is a typical problem when using informal builds.

Decisions:

• 🔧 Install the correct microphone drivers through TWRP (Look for tagged files dipper_mic_fix.zip).
• 🔄 Get back to the official one. MIUI — Sometimes it's the only way to get back to work.
• 🛠️ Check the build.prop file for strings: persist.audio.fluence.speaker=true persist.audio.fluence.voicecall=If true is not available, add it manually (required) ROOT).

For users with ROOT-The system also has a way to check the microphone. ADB:

adb shell


su




tinycap /sdcard/mic_test.wav

After completing the command, check the file. mic_test.wav If the file is empty, the hardware problem is.

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If after firmware custom software microphone earned, but the sound is distorted, try to disable VoLTE in the settings SIM-It helps sometimes.

Alternative solutions and interim measures

If repairs are delayed and the microphone is needed urgently, use these methods:

• 🎧 Bluetooth Headset: Connect wireless headphones with a microphone (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots).
• 🔌 USB-C Headphones: Mi 8 supports headsets with a Type-C connector.
• 📱 External microphone: connect through USB-C → 3.5 mm adapter (needed) OTG-cable).
• 💬 Voice Messages Through Text: Use Speech Recognition in Google Docs or Yandex SpeechKit.

Calls can be temporarily activated by hands-free (although this is inconvenient in public places). WhatsApp and Telegram have a voice message feature - record them in a quiet place where the microphone picks up the sound.

⚠️ Warning: If you're using the Mi 8 with an unoriginal battery, this may affect the stability of the microphone due to lack of power for the audio chip.

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Before visiting the service center, back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP – a full phone reset may be required when repairing the microphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Mi microphone 8