How to turn on the microphone on the Xiaomi TV: 5 ways to Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV

Why Xiaomi TVs May Not Have a Microphone and How to Fix It

Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV, Mi TV Q, and others) have built-in microphones for voice control, video calls, and voice assistants. However, many users face the problem that the microphone is either disabled by default or ceases to function after a firmware update. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the microphone, from basic settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu.

The main reasons why the microphone may not work are:

🔇 Hardware shutdown – physical button or switch on the case (available on some models).
📵 Software lock – disabling in system or application settings.
🔄 Firmware failure – after updating the software, the microphone can “fly” due to errors.
🎤 Connection problems – if an external microphone is used (e.g. via a USB Bluetooth).

Before you start setting up, make sure your TV model supports voice input. For example, the budget Redmi Smart TV A Series often lacks a built-in microphone, while the flagship Mi TV Q2 or Mi TV Master are equipped with full arrays for recording sound.

📊 What kind of Xiaomi TV is you?

Mi TV 4/4S/4X

Mi TV Q1/Q2

Redmi Smart TV

Mi TV Master

Another model

I don't know.

Method 1: Turning on the microphone through the basic settings of the TV

The easiest method is to activate the microphone in the settings menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI TV, but the overall algorithm is the same:

Press the Settings button (⚙️) remote.
Go to the Devices and Accessories section → Microphone.
Activate the switch to allow access to the microphone.
In the list of applications, select the ones you want to provide access to (for example, Google Assistant, Zoom, YouTube).

If the Microphone item is not on the menu, try an alternative path:

Settings → System → Additional → Privacy → Application permissions → Microphone

Important! Some firmware (MIUI TV 3.0 and below) may be hidden from the microphone, in which case the engineering menu will help.

Update the TV firmware to the latest version

Connect your TV to the Internet (to check voice services)

Make sure the remote has working batteries.

Turn it off. VPN (It can block voice services)-->

Method 2: Using a Google Assistant (XiaoAI)

The microphone on Xiaomi TV is often activated automatically when you first start the voice assistant. If you haven't set up this functionality, do the following:

Hold the Google Assistant button (or Microphone) on the remote for 3-5 seconds.
Follow the on-screen instructions for linking your Google or Xiaomi account.
After authorization, say a test command, such as: “What is the weather forecast today?”.

If the assistant doesn't respond:

🔊 Check the microphone volume level in settings (Settings) → Sound. → Microphone level).
📶 Make sure your TV is connected to the internet (voice commands are handled by cloud services).
🔄 Restart the TV (Settings) → On TV. → Reboot).

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If the voice assistant is switching on but doesn't recognize commands, try retraining the voice model, and then go to the assistant settings and select "Voice Learning."

Method 3: Checking the physical microphone switch (for some models)

On Xiaomi Mi TVs TV Master and some Redmi Smart models TV There's a hardware microphone switch on the back or the bottom of the case, and it's usually marked by an icon. 🎤 and may be in position ON/OFF.

How to find and turn on:

Turn off the TV.
Look for a small slider next to HDMI or USB ports.
Move the switch to the ON position (usually up or right).
Turn on the TV and check the microphone through the voice assistant.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the microphone switch with the reset button! Pressing it will return the TV to factory settings.

Model TV set	Built-in microphone	Physical switch.	Support for Google Assistant
Mi TV Q1/Q2	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.
Mi TV Master	✅ Yes (array of 4 microphones)	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.
Redmi Smart TV X Series	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	✅ Yes.
Redmi Smart TV A Series	❌ No.	❌ No.	❌ No.

If standard methods don't work, you can try turning on the microphone through the engineering menu, which is suitable for advanced users, as incorrect changes can lead to failures.

Instructions:

Open the TV Settings app (or Settings).
Go to the section About TV.
Find the firmware version and quickly click on it 5 times in a row (as when unlocking the developer on smartphones).
The message will be “You are a developer!”
Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new section for developers.
Inside, find the Audio Debugging or Microphone option and activate it.

⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings associated with the Audio Tuning or Hardware Test on the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.

What to do if the engineering menu does not open?

If nothing happens after 5 clicks on the firmware version, try: 1. Update the TV to the latest version of the software. 2. Use the original remote (not universal). 3. Reset to factory settings (Settings → About TV → Reset). If this does not help, your model may not support the developer mode.

Method 5: Connecting an external microphone (USB or Bluetooth)

If the built-in microphone is missing or broken, you can use an external one. Xiaomi TVs support:

🎙️ USB-microphones (e.g., Fifine) K669B or Boya BY-M1).
📶 Bluetooth headsets (with profile support) HFP).
🎧 Wireless headphones with a microphone (for example, Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones).

How to connect:

For USB-Microphone: Put the microphone in the port USB You can go to the settings. → Devices and accessories → USB-Select the connected microphone and activate it.

Bluetooth devices

Settings → Bluetooth → Device Search → [select your headset] → Connect

It's not all. USB-microphones compatible with MIUI TV. Before buying, check the support on the official Xiaomi website.

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An external microphone may be the only solution for models without a built-in one (e.g. Redmi Smart TV A Series).

Troubleshooting: The microphone is on but not working

If the microphone is activated but the TV is not responding to the voice or recording the sound, follow these steps:

Check apps: Open Settings → Apps → Permissions. Make sure that the right programs (like Zoom or YouTube) are allowed to access the microphone.
Update firmware: Settings → About TV → System Update → Check for updates
Reset the sound settings: Go to Settings → Sound → Reset the sound settings. Confirm the action (this will not delete personal data).

Check the remote:

Some Xiaomi remotes have a separate microphone button (🎤). Make sure it is not locked and working (try replacing batteries).

If the problem persists, the microphone itself may have malfunctioned, in which case contact Xiaomi's service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the microphone on Xiaomi TV

My Xiaomi TV doesn't respond to voice commands. What do I do?

First, check: Is the TV connected to the Internet (voice commands are processed by the cloud); is microphone access activated in settings (Settings → Privacy → Microphone); is the microphone disabled by a physical button (on some models); if all is well, try reinstalling the Google Assistant app or resetting the TV settings.

Can I use a microphone on Xiaomi TV for video calls in Zoom?

Yes, but with reservations: Make sure that Zoom selects the right sound source (Settings) → Audio. → Use an external microphone for better quality. USB-On some models, Redmi Smart TV) You may need to manually adjust permissions.

After the firmware update, the microphone stopped working. How do I get it back?

Updates sometimes reset settings. Try: Log in Settings → About TV → Reset and select Network Reset (does not delete data). Reset the voice assistant (Google Assistant or XiaoAI). If it doesn't help, perform a full reset to factory settings (save data!). If the problem persists, check the compatibility table - it's possible that the new firmware has disabled microphone support for your model.

How to check if the microphone is working on Xiaomi TV?

There are several ways: Run Google Assistant and say a command. If voice recognition animation appears on the screen, the microphone works. Open the YouTube app and try voice search. 🎤 Connect the Bluetooth headset with a microphone and check the sound in the call app.

Can I turn off the microphone on Xiaomi TV forever?

Yes, this can be done in two ways: through settings: → Confidentiality → Microphone → Physically: if there is a microphone switch on the TV (e.g. on Mi). TV Master, move it to the position OFF. You can also turn off the voice assistant: Settings → Devices and accessories → Google Assistant → Shut down.