Many users are faced with a situation where the interlocutor does not hear you during the call or voice messages in messengers stop recording. On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a MIUI or HyperOS shell, this is often due not to a breakdown, but to software access restrictions. Android security requires explicit permission for each application, which can be confusing on the first acquaintance.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why the microphone on your device doesn’t work. We’ll look at the standard paths in the settings menu, hidden engineering tests, and forced access control techniques. Understanding the permission structure will help you quickly return functionality to your gadget.
Importantly, sometimes the problem is the banal locking of accessories, if you use a thick-edged protective glass or case, they can overlap the bottom hole where the main microphone is located. Check the cleanliness of the holes before you go into deep system settings.
Checking basic resolutions in MIUI settings
The first step should always be to check the standard permissions menu. MIUI shell has a strict privacy policy that can by default block microphone access for new applications. To change this, go to Settings and find the App section.
From the menu that opens, select Application Resolution. You need to find the Microphone category. The system will show you a list of all programs that have ever requested access to audio recording. Make sure that the application you need (such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Recorder) is "Allowed."
⚠️ Note: If the app is marked "Request" in the permission list, the phone will ask for your consent every time you run the recording function".
An alternative way to set up is to manage a specific application: Find the program icon on your desktop, press and hold your finger, then select About. From the Application Permissions menu, you can customize the microphone access for that utility in detail without affecting the rest.
Use of a Security Permit Manager
In modern versions of Xiaomi firmware, a separate privacy control tool has been introduced, which allows you to see which apps used the microphone in the background. Open the Security app (green zipper icon), which is pre-installed on all devices of the brand.
Scroll down to Privacy and select Permission Manager, which displays the sensor chronology, and if you see a suspicious app accessing a microphone when you're not using it, immediately restrict its rights, which also helps identify conflict programs that may be hijacking the audio channel.
- 🔒 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🔍 Go to the Privacy section -> Permit Controller.
- ✅ Select the Microphone and check the list of active programs.
- ⛔ Disable access for unnecessary or suspicious utilities.
Privacy Protection can also block the microphone globally. Make sure that the security settings do not include the "Disable microphone" mode, which is sometimes activated by third-party antivirus or parental controls. In some cases, resetting the settings of the Security application itself through the memory management menu helps.
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If you can’t find the app you want in the list, try using the search bar at the top of the permissions settings screen.
Diagnostics through engineering menu and tests
To test the hardware of the microphone in depth, Xiaomi has a hidden engineering menu that allows you to run a cyclic recording of sound from different microphones (main, top noise cancellation and headset), which is the best way to understand whether the hardware is physically working.
Open the standard Caller and dial the code ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT (Customer Information Test) menu will open. Find the Main Mic or Top Mic item in the list. Click on it and start talking to the phone.
CIT login code: ##6484###You have to see how the volume scale responds to your voice, and if the indicators jump, the microphone is good, and the problem is software, and if the scale is silent, even when tapping near the holes, there's a hardware malfunction or a plume break.
What if the code doesn't work?
Configuring access for specific applications
Users often complain that the microphone doesn't work in just one app, like Instagram or TikTok, a classic case of no rights, and unlike system calls, third-party social networks require manual activation.
Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the problem program. Click on App Permission. Make sure the switch opposite the Microphone is blue. In newer versions of Android, it's also important to check if the "Only during use" restriction is worth it.
| Annex | Permission required | Additional parameter |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp / Telegram | Microphone | Auto-start |
| Instagram / TikTok | Microphone, Camera | Access to photo |
| Dictaphone | Microphone, Memory | Working in the background |
| Zoom / Skype | Microphone, Telephone. | Over the other windows. |
Special attention should be paid to the functions of Monopoly Mode. Some audio players or voice recorders can capture the microphone and not give it to other programs. If you hear interruptions, close all background applications through the menu of running tasks.
☑️ Checking the rights of the annex
Resolving conflicts and program errors
Sometimes the microphone on Xiaomi stops working because of a software failure in the audio driver service, in which case a simple reboot may not help.
Try resetting the settings of the application itself, which is being recorded. Go to Settings -> Applications -> Find the problem program -> Memory -> Clear -> Clear everything. This will return the permission settings to factory values for this application.
⚠️ Warning: Clearing the Dictator or Sound system application data may reset your personal equalizer settings and call recordings. Be careful when choosing Clear Everything instead of Clear Cache".
Also, check Do Not Disturb mode. In some use cases (e.g., while sleeping), this mode can block incoming audio signals or voice assistant, turn it off in the notification curtain and check the sound again.
Hardware causes and physical blockage
If software methods didn't work, it's worth considering physical factors. Redmi and POCO often use a two-mic noise reduction system. If the upper microphone hole (usually on the upper end) is clogged, the main microphone may not work properly to compensate for the lack of noise cancellation.
Carefully inspect the holes. They are very small and often clogged with dust from your pockets or pile. Use a soft toothbrush or pear to purge to clean. Never use sharp metal objects (needles, pins), as you can damage the microphone membrane or push the dirt even deeper.
- 🧹 Carefully clean the holes with a soft brush.
- 🌬️ Blow speakers and microphones with compressed air.
- 📱 Remove the cover and check if it covers the holes.
- 🔌 Check the 3.5mm connector (if any) if the headset sensor is stuck there.
Another reason could be the oxidation of the contacts after moisture is injected. Even if the phone has IP53 or IP68 protection, the leakage is broken over time. If the phone has recently fallen into the water and the microphone stopped working immediately after that, drying and cleaning the service is necessary.
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If the engineering test shows no signal and the cleaning didn’t help, it’s likely that a microphone module or plume at the service center will need to be replaced.