The speaker on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a hands-free feature during calls; it is a powerful tool for comfortable communication, listening to voice messages and working with virtual assistants. However, many users face difficulties in activating it: the hands-free button does not appear during a call, the sound only goes through the top speaker, the system ignores commands at all. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the speaker on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from basic settings to hidden MIUI functions.
The feature of Xiaomi phones is that the manufacturer often changes the location of options depending on the version of the MIUI firmware. What worked on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12 may not be available on the Xiaomi 13 with MIUI 14. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that are relevant for most models of 2019-2026.
What is a Speaking Speaker and Why You Need It
The speaker (or bottom) in Xiaomi smartphones performs two key functions:
- 📞 Loud communication during calls – allows you to talk without putting the phone to your ear, which is convenient in the car, on the street or when communicating with a group.
- 🎵 Multimedia playback – works in conjunction with the top speaker, creating stereo sound (on models with support for Dual Speakers).
- 🤖 Interaction with voice assistants – used to recognize commands Google Assistant or Xiao AI.
On most Xiaomi devices, the speaker is located at the bottom of the case (near the USB-C connector). It is more powerful than the top speaker, so it is often used to improve the sound of music or video. However, when calling, the system by default can only direct sound to the top speaker - this is done to save battery power and protect against accidental on- speakerphone.
⚠️ Warning: If you notice that the speaker is not working in any mode (calls, music, notifications), the problem may be hardware.In this case, check it for physical damage or contamination - often dust or moisture block the sound holes.
Method 1: Turn on speakerphone during the call
The most obvious way to activate a speaker is to use the hands-free button directly during a conversation, but its location depends on the version of MIUI and the call app used (standard or Google Phone).
Instructions for the standard phone application:
- Make or receive an incoming call.
- On the call screen, find the button with the speaker image (🔊). V MIUI 13-14 it is usually located in the lower right corner.
- You tap the button once, the sound will switch to speaker, and pressing it again will bring it back into the tube.
Dial the test number (e.g. 112 – don’t press the call!)
🔊 Press the speaker button
Check the sound at maximum volume
Turn off speakerphone and repeat the test
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If the hands-free button is not available:
- 🔄 Try to turn the call screen into landscape orientation – sometimes the button appears only in this mode.
- 📱 Make sure you use the standard Phone app, not a third-party app (like Truecaller).
- ⚙️ Check the application settings: go to Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Permissions and enable access to microphone and speakers.
💡
If the hands-free button is inactive (grey), try turning off Bluetooth devices – the system can automatically redirect the sound to them.
If the speakerphone isn't on during the call, the problem may lie in the system's audio settings. MIUI has hidden parameters that regulate the distribution of sound between the speakers.
How to open the advanced sound settings:
- Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
- Scroll down and select Additional Settings (or Advanced Sound Settings in older versions of MIUI).
- Find Multimedia Volume or Dynamics Balance.
- Make sure the volume slider for the speaker is not set to a minimum.
Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T or POCO F4) have a separate switch Use the lower speaker for calls. If not, try resetting the audio settings:
Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting sound settings →
⚠️ Warning: Resetting the sound settings will return all parameters to factory values, including individual volume profiles and sound effects.
Only the top (conversational)
Only the bottom (multimedia)
Both at the same time.
I don't know how to check.-->
If standard methods don’t work, you can try turning on the speaker through the Engineering Mode, which is suitable for advanced users, as incorrect settings can disrupt the device.
How to open the engineering menu:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636###.
- In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Hardware Testing).
- Find the Audio or Loudspeaker section.
- In the speaker test, select the Loud Speaker (bottom speaker) and check its performance.
If the speaker does not make sound in the engineering menu, this may indicate:
- 🔧 Hardware failure (damage to plume or contacts).
- 🛠️ Software failure (reflashing or resetting to factory settings required).
- 🔇 Locking from the firmware (on some models, the speaker is turned off to save energy).
What to do if the engineering menu doesn't open? on some Xiaomi models (e.g., on some Xiaomi models, POCO X3) The engineering menu is locked, and you can use applications like this. MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Engineer Mode (for Snapdragon) Please note that such applications require root rights or may not be compatible with the latest versions. MIUI.--> Method 4
If the system settings do not allow you to turn on the speaker, you can use third-party utilities. They are especially useful for forced redirection of sound to the bottom speaker in applications where it is blocked (for example, in Viber or Zoom).-3 applications for managing speakers: Application SoundAssistant Compatibility Sound forwarding, speaker balance, volume by application MIUI 11–14, Android 10+ Speaker Boost Upgrades sound in lower speaker, equalizer Requires root rights Volume Booster Volume Up for calls and multimedia Works without root, but with limitations ⚠️ Attention: Apps to amplify sound can damage speakers with prolonged use at maximum volume, we recommend testing them at an average volume level and avoid distortion of sound. How to set up SoundAssistant for hands-free: Install the app from Google Play. Open the Call Sound. Enable the default speaker option. In the Phone app settings, select Use the bottom speaker. Method 5: If none of these methods worked, the problem may be in the dynamics. Before visiting the service center, perform a diagnostic: Test speakers without calls: 🎶 Turn on the music through the standard Music app and check if the sound is coming from the bottom speaker. 📹 Record a video with the sound on – if the recording hears sound only from the top speaker, the bottom is faulty. 🔊 Use test sounds in the engineering menu (see Method 3: 🔍 Visible damage to the speaker mesh (dents, rust). 💧 Traces of fluid intake (even if the phone hasn't sunk, condensation can damage contacts). 🔌 Problems with charging (if the connector) USB-C It's damaged next to the speaker, and it can affect how it works. IP53 (For example, Redmi Note 11) The speakers often fail because of the accumulation of dust in the sound channels. Cleaning with compressed air or soft brush can temporarily restore sound. Features on different models Xiaomi Manufacturer implements different sound circuits depending on the series of devices. Series Speaker Features Typical Problems Redmi Note 8–11 One bottom speaker, the top speaker is conversational, stereo only multimedia, often the bottom speaker is turned off when you upgrade. MIUI. Xiaomi 11/12/13 Two full-fledged speakers (Dual Speakers) with support for Dolby Atmos. speakerphones can automatically turn off when Bluetooth devices are connected. POCO F/X Enhanced speakers for gaming, but weak sound insulation of the microphone. In games, sound can "jump" between speakers. - Redmi A1/A2 Budget models with one weak speaker. 50% For models with Dual Speakers (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Pro) you can adjust the sound balance: Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound effects. Choose speaker balance. Adjust the slider to the bottom speaker to amplify hands-free. Frequent errors and how to avoid them Many users face the same problems when trying to turn on the speaker. Here are the most common mistakes and their solutions: 🚫 Ignoring updates MIUI: Older versions of firmware often have sound bugs. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system. 🔕 Blocking the microphone: If the person can’t hear you on speakerphone, check if the microphone is covered with a cover or finger. 📵 Do Not Disturb: In this mode, the speakerphone can automatically turn off. Check the settings in Settings → Notifications → Don't disturb. 🔋 Battery savings: In super-saving mode, the system limits the speaker's performance. Turn it off in Settings → Battery. FAQ: Why is the sound only going through the top speaker when you call, even if you have the speaker on? This is a typical problem for models with a single bottom speaker (e.g. Redmi 9). The system can redirect sound to the top speaker to save energy. Turn on the Developer Mode (7 times click on the Version) MIUI In the developer section, find Debugging. → Turn off the absolute volume and activate this option. Reboot the phone. Can you use a conversational speaker to listen to music? Yes, but the sound quality will be worse than using both speakers. On models with Dual Speakers (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) The music is automatically played through both speakers. On budget models (e.g. Redmi). A1) The sound only goes through the bottom speaker if you turn on the appropriate setting in the Sound and vibration. → Additional settings after the update MIUI Sound is lost in the speaker. What do you do? It's a common problem. Try: Reset the sound settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the sound settings. Clear the cache of the phone application (Settings) → Annexes → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Reverse to the previous version. MIUI via Fastboot (instructions are available on the forum) 4PDA). If nothing works, contact the service center - perhaps the update damaged the firmware of the sound chip? In these applications, speaker is turned on separately: During a voice call, click on the speaker icon (🔊) If there is no button, check the permissions of the application: Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Permits → Microphone and speakers. Telegram may also need to disable the option to save traffic in the app settings. Why is the speaker quieter than the top? This is normal for most Xiaomi smartphones, since the top speaker is optimized for conversations, and the bottom speaker is optimized for multimedia. To equalize the volume: Use the SoundAssistant app (see Method 4). In the engineering menu (#4636##) check the sound balance settings. On models with Dual Speakers, upgrade the firmware to the latest version. MIUI — They often improve their sound profiles.