When you stop hearing or don't hear your interlocutor during an important call, it can be taken by surprise. On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, this is often solved by checking basic volume settings that may have been lost accidentally, but the problem can go deeper: software failures of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, blocking noise cancellation, or even physical damage to the speaker.
In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of lack of sound in a conversation and offer step-by-step instructions for fixing them, how to correctly diagnose a problem, what hidden settings to check first, and when to contact a service center. Careful adherence to the algorithm will help restore normal communication without unnecessary costs.
Basic diagnostics and volume check
The first thing to do when there is silence in the handset is to make sure that the volume level is not twisted to zero. On Xiaomi devices, volume control is divided into several channels: media, alarm, calls and notifications. Often users increase the volume with buttons, thinking that they are setting up a conversation, but actually change the level of playback of video or music.
To check the settings correctly, make a test call (for example, to the number 100 or any contact). During the connection, press one of the volume buttons on the side of the smartphone. A slider will appear on the screen, next to which there will be a gear or arrow down — click on it.
You'll see an extended menu where you'll see separate scales for different modes of operation, find a slider with a phone phone icon and make sure it's raised to the maximum or comfortable level, and that's the setting that controls the volume of the speaker during a conversation.
- 📞 Press the volume button during the call.
- ⚙️ Select the settings icon (three dots or gear) on the scale that appears.
- 🔊 Raise the Calls or Call Volume slider to the top position.
Even if the maximum slider is silent or hoarse, the problem may be that the speaker is contaminated, located at the top of the screen, often hidden behind a thin grid, and dust, pocket pile, or protective film may block the output of the sound.
⚠️ Warning: Never use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) to clean the speaker grid.You can damage the membrane or push the dirt deeper, which will permanently disable the module.
Settings of the “In the pocket” mode and sensors
One of the most common reasons why the person you are talking to cannot hear you or hear you is because the proximity sensor is falsely triggered. Xiaomi smartphones have an In-Pack feature that locks the screen and sometimes silences the sound if it detects that the phone is in a closed space.
If you're holding your phone tightly or using a thick protective glass that covers the top of the screen, the system may mistake it for being in your pocket, which causes the screen to go out and the sound to switch or lock, and you can check and disable this feature in the standard Phone app.
Open the call app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Settings. In the list, find Mode in your pocket and turn it off. This action often solves the problem of sudden loss of sound during a conversation.
☑️ Checking sensors and call settings
Also worth paying attention to is how Bluetooth works. The smartphone could automatically connect to wireless headphones or speakers that are in another room or off, but the system continues to transmit sound to them. Disable Bluetooth completely through the notification curtain and check if the sound appears in the speaker.
Using the Engineering Menu for Testing
If you don't have a simple setup, you need to do a deep hardware diagnostic, and in the MIUI and HyperOS shell, you have access to a hidden engineering menu where you can test each module of the phone separately, and that will help you understand whether the problem is software or hardware.
To enter the test menu, open the Phone app and type the combination ##6484##. If the code is entered correctly, the CIT (Customer Information Test) list will open.
If you run the speaker test, you'll hear a special beep, and if you have sound in this mode, it means that the hardware is working, and the problem lies in the settings of the system or third-party applications, and if there is no sound even in the engineering menu, there is a possibility of a physical breakdown.
| Component | What we check. | Normal result | Possible cause of failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiver | Speaking speaker | Pure high-frequency sound | Pollution, plume break |
| Microphone | Main microphone | Noiseless recording of voices | Moisture hit, malfunction. |
| Speaker | Polyphonic Dynamics | Loud music | Failure of sound drivers |
| Headset | Audio connector/USB | Sound in the connected headset | Oxidation of contacts |
What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
Resetting sound settings and rebooting services
Software failures are frequent guests in the work of Android smartphones. Accumulated cache of system services or a conflict of updates can lead to the fact that the sound driver will stop processing signals correctly, in which case the reset of the sound subsystem settings is effective.
Go to the Settings section of the main menu, scroll down to Advanced Settings (or "Additional"). Find the Specials or Sound and Vibration section, and check if any audio effects that may conflict with the mode are activated.
The most effective method is to completely reset your settings to factory settings, but this is a radical measure. Before you decide on it, try a softer way: reboot in safe mode, which will allow you to start a phone with third-party apps disabled, and if sound appears in safe mode, then one of the applications you installed (for example, a voice recorder or equalizer) is to blame.
To enter Safe Mode, press the turn off button, and when the turn off icon appears on the screen, press and hold it for a few seconds. The system will suggest that you go to Safe Mode. Confirm the action.
- 🛡️ Restart your smartphone in safe mode.
- 📞 Check the sound when calling.
- 🔍 If there is a sound, remove the last installed applications.
- 🔄 If there is no sound, there is a problem with the system or the iron.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse Safe Mode with Recovery Mode. In Safe Mode, the screen corner will read “Safe Mode” and you can use your phone without third-party apps.
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Before you complete a full reset, be sure to back up your contacts and important files in the Mi Cloud or on your computer.Reset will delete all user data without recovery.
Problems with Bluetooth and third-party devices
Xiaomi smartphones today are very wireless, and it happens that the phone sticks on the last connected device, for example, you listened to music through a Bluetooth speaker, turned it off, but the phone still thinks that the output of the sound should go there.
Check the list of paired devices. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and see if there are any active connections. If you see a familiar device but it is not in use now, click on the gear icon next to it and select "Disable" or "Forget device."
Also worth checking is the audio routing settings. In some versions of the shell, when you connect the headset, the sound does not automatically switch back to the speaker after you turn off. Try pressing the speaker icon on the call screen during the call and force you to choose the "Dynamic Phone" or "Speakable Communication" option.
If you're using a smartwatch or a Mi Band bracelet, check their settings. Sometimes the call response function on the watch intercepts the audio stream, and if the watch microphone is not activated, there's silence. Turn off the Bluetooth on the phone completely and check the communication.
Physical damage and maintenance
When software is exhausted, you have to consider a physical malfunction, the speaker and the microphone are vulnerable, and moisture (even as steam in the bathroom), bumps, falls, or just a long life lead to their failure.
Notice the behavior of the sound: if it wheezes, cracks, or only appears when the phone is in a certain position (for example, if it is compressed heavily), it is a sign of a passing contact or a damaged membrane.
It is also worth checking if the speaker is flooded. If a liquid hits the phone, the sound may disappear due to oxidation of the contacts or water entering the mesh, in which case the device should be turned off and dried (without using a hair dryer and rice, it is better to use silica gel or simply leave it in a dry place for 24-48 hours).
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If the test speaker shows an error or no sound in the engineering menu, and cleaning and restarting did not help, you need to replace the conversation speaker in the service center.
To replace the module requires disassembly of the device, which in the conditions of modern glued housing Xiaomi is better to trust specialists. Self-replacement can lead to damage to the plumes or loss of moisture protection.