Are you trying to use voice search in Yandex, dictate a message in Yandex.Mail or run voice assistant Alice on a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone, but the microphone is stubbornly silent? The problem is familiar to many owners of devices of this brand - despite the seeming simplicity, turning on the microphone for Yandex applications often requires several additional steps due to the features of the MIUI firmware. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of problems and give step-by-step instructions taking into account the latest updates of 2026.
Xiaomi is actively restricting apps from accessing the microphone for security purposes, and Yandex.Services (especially Alice and voice search) require not only standard Android resolutions, but additional settings in MIUI. For example, even if you gave access to the microphone in the phone settings, the application can be blocked by the battery optimizer or auto-start function.
Important: the instruction is relevant for all Redmi models (including Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, Redmi A2, etc.) based on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS. If you have an older version of the firmware, some menu items may differ - we will mention this too.
Why is the microphone not working in Yandex on Xiaomi Redmi?
Before we move on to settings, let’s analyze the main reasons why the microphone may not function in Yandex applications:
- 🔴 Lack of permissions – the app does not have access to the microphone in Android settings or MIUI.
- 🔴 Locking the battery optimizer — MIUI Automatically restricts background activity of applications to save charge.
- 🔴 Disabled Autorun – without this permission, applications cannot use the microphone in the background.
- 🔴 Conflict with other applications – for example, if Google Assistant or a third-party voice recorder is working at the same time.
- 🔴 Firmware problems - bugs in MIUI HyperOS, especially after the updates.
- 🔴 Hardware malfunction – physical malfunction of the microphone (rarely, but possible).
In our experience, 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by setting the first three things, and if the microphone doesn't work in all applications (including calls and video recording), it's more hardware, and then you should go to the service center.
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A Redmi 8 after upgrading to MIUI 14 may reset the permission to use the microphone for Yandex.Browser!
Step 1: Checking the permissions for the microphone in Android settings
Start with a basic permission check. Even if you previously gave access to the microphone, after updating the system or application, the settings may have reset.
Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and find the desired Yandex application (for example, Yandex.Browser, Yandex with Alice or Yandex.Mail). Tap it and select Permissions. Make sure that:
- 🎤 Microphone – Status Allowed (if not, move the slider).
- 📱 Storage – sometimes required for voice data caching.
- 🔄 Auto-start – must be enabled (more on this in the next step).
If the microphone's permission is disabled, turn it on and restart the app. If the problem persists, move on to the next step.
Find the Yandex application in "Application Management"|Enable microphone access|Check the "Storage" permit"|Activate "Space-start"-->
Step 2: Set up Auto Start and Optimize the Battery
One of the most common reasons for a broken microphone in Yandex on Xiaomi is that the battery optimizer blocks the app, because MIUI by default limits the background activity of the apps to extend battery life, which prevents Alice or voice search from using the microphone in the background.
To fix this:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the Yandex application you want (for example, Yandex with Alice).
- Tap Battery Optimization (or Energy Consumption in newer versions of MIUI).
- Choose the option without restrictions.
- Go back and enable AutoRun (if the option is available).
After that, restart your phone. If the microphone is still not working, check the global autorun settings:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Auto-start.
- 🔍 Find Yandex apps in the list and enable auto-run for them.
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If your version of MIUI does not have the “Out-Open” option in the application settings, try to find it through the search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top of the screen).
Step 3: Checking the microphone settings in the Yandex application itself
Sometimes the problem is not the system, but the settings of the application itself, for example, in Yandex.Browser or the Yandex application with Alice, voice input may be disabled.
For Yandex.Browser:
- Open your browser and tap on three points (⋮) lower-right.
- Go to Settings. → Voice search.
- Make sure the microphone is on.
For the Yandex with Alice app:
- Open the app and go to the profile (human icon).
- Select Settings → Alice → Voice Assistant.
- Check if voice recognition and microphone access are enabled.
If there are no obvious errors in the application settings, but the microphone still does not work, try clearing the cache:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Yandex.
- Select Warehouse and click Clear Cache.
- Restart the app.
Yandex.Browser|Yandex with Alice|Yandex.Mail|Yandex.Maps.|Other-->
Step 4: Diagnostics of hardware problems with the microphone
If, after all the settings, the microphone still doesn’t work in any application (including a standard voice recorder or calls), the problem may be hardware.
- 📱 Run the standard Dictaphone app (or install a third-party one, such as Easy Voice Recorder).
- 🎤 Try recording your voice. If there's no sound, the microphone is defective.
- 🔊 Check the microphone during the call (ask the person to confirm if they hear you).
If the microphone doesn’t work only in Yandex applications, but it records sound in the recorder correctly, the problem is software.
| Reason. | How to check | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone contamination | Light a flashlight into the microphone hole (usually at the bottom of the phone or next to the camera) | Clean with a soft brush or compressed air |
| Damage after falling/hitting | Remember if you dropped your phone before the problem occurred. | Contact the service center |
| Problems after firmware update | The problem came immediately after the MIUI update. | Remove the firmware or reset the settings |
| Miracle of microphone plume malfunction | The microphone only works in a certain position of the phone. | Repairs at the service |
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may damage the microphone plume after replacing the display or battery in unofficial services!
Step 5: Resetting and reinstalling Yandex applications
If all previous steps didn’t work, try resetting your settings for Yandex apps or reinstalling them, which often helps with software failures.
To reset the settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Yandex.
- Click Storage → Delete data (this will reset all the application settings, but will not delete it).
- Reboot your phone and reset access to the microphone.
If the reset didn’t help, remove the app and install it again:
- Remove the Yandex application through Settings → Applications or from the desktop.
- Download the latest version from Google Play or AppGallery.
- At the first start, give all the necessary permissions.
Important: If you are using the beta version of the Yandex app, try to upgrade to the stable version – bugs with microphone access are often encountered in beta releases.
What if the microphone doesn’t work after the installation?
Step 6: Update the firmware and kernel of MIUI
If the microphone problem occurred after the MIUI or HyperOS update, it may have been a bug in the firmware.
- 🔄 Check for updates: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 📥 If an update is available, install it and restart your phone.
- 🔧 If the problem appeared after the last update, try to roll back to the previous version of the firmware (via Settings). → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Three-point badge → Select a Service Package).
Xiaomi user forums often discuss microphone bugs in specific firmware versions. For example, MIUI 14.0.3 for Redmi Note 11 had a problem with accessing the microphone for third-party applications - it only fixed after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.5. If you have a similar situation, watch for patches.
⚠️ Note: If you roll back firmware via Fastboot or Recovery, there is a risk of losing data. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
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If the microphone stopped working after the MIUI update, check the forums (like 4PDA or Mi Community) first – the problem may be massive and already has a solution from the developers.