Badly audible interlocutor in Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: causes and solutions

You call the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and the person complains that they can't hear you -- or does their voice sound like a barrel? -- And 12 percent of the owners of this model have a microphone, speaker, or communication problem, according to service centers in 2023. Most often, connector contamination, software failures, or hardware malfunctions are to blame, but 70 percent of the time, you can solve the problem yourself without going to the workshop.

In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of bad sound when calling on Redmi Note 5 — from the banal clogging of the speaker to break the audio chip. For each cause, we will give step-by-step instructions with the photo, warnings about typical errors and diagnostic methods. If after checking all the points the problem remains, you will know exactly whether you need to replace parts or the fault of the operator.

1. Checking basic sound settings

Start with the obvious: it may not be the device that's the problem, but the settings that are wrong. On the Redmi Note 5, the sound is controlled separately from the media sound during the call, and users often accidentally turn down the microphone volume or turn off the voice amplification.

How to check:

• 🔊 When you call, press the volume button on the sidebar. A slider will appear on the screen that says "Call volume" - it should be at maximum.
• 📞 Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Loudness and make sure the call slider doesn't move to the left.
• 🎤 In the same menu, check for Voice Amplification (if any) – it should be enabled.

If you're still hearing poorly after this manipulation, move on to the next step, a feature of the Redmi Note 5: there's no separate microphone volume control on this model, its sensitivity depends on the firmware and the state of the audio chip.

Microphone Diagnostics: Hardware Tests

Bad sound can be caused by a malfunctioning microphone. On the Redmi Note 5, there are two: the main one (bottom of the case) and an additional one (near the front noise-cancellation camera), and you can check their performance without disassembling the phone.

Diagnostic methods:

• 📱 Use the built-in Diagnostics app: Type on the keyboard ##6484## (or #4636## → Equipment testing. Select Audio → Microphone Test: Speak to the microphone – if the band is unresponsive or the signal level is below 50%, the microphone is faulty.

1. Open the Dictaphone app (or install a third-party one, such as Voice Recorder).
2. Record 10 seconds of speech and listen to the recording. If the voice sounds quiet or jammed, the microphone is a problem.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone freezes or restarts when testing the microphone in the diagnostic menu, this is a sign of a malfunction of the Qualcomm audio chip. WCD9335. In this case, a replacement of the motherboard (cost) will be required. ~3 500 rubles.).

3. Cleaning of connectors and speakers

One of the most common causes of bad sound is contamination of the microphone hole or 3.5 mm connector (if you use a wired headset). On the Redmi Note 5, the microphone is located at the bottom of the case next to the charging connector, which easily gets dust, pile from pockets or particles of hand cream.

How to clean:

For deep cleaning:

1. Take a plastic toothpick (not a metal one!) and gently scrolle it in the microphone hole.
2. Use a compressed air can (sold in electronics stores) to blow out the dust. Hold the balloon upright so you don't freeze the microphone.
3. For a 3.5 mm connector, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (no more than 70%!).

If the sound doesn't improve after cleaning, check the phone for moisture, even a small amount of water can oxidize the microphone contacts, signs of corrosion: green plaque on the connectors or under the microphone grille.

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After cleaning the microphone, check its operation in a quiet room - sometimes extraneous noises (for example, from a fan) drown out your voice for the interlocutor.

4. Check the headset and Bluetooth devices

If you use wired headphones or a Bluetooth headset, the problem may be with them - not with the phone itself. On the Redmi Note 5, a bug is common when the phone "forgets" to switch back to the main microphone after turning off the headset.

How to diagnose:

• 🎧 Turn off all accessories (earphones, speakers, smart watches) and reboot your phone.
• 🔄 During the call, click on the Loud Communication icon (Dynamic) – if the sound appears, the problem is in the headset microphone.
• 📶 Check the Settings. → Connected devices and remove all stored Bluetooth devices.

If the problem only occurs with a specific headset, try:

• 🔌 Wipe the plug 3.5 mm headphones with alcohol (oxidation of contacts is a common cause of bad sound).
• 🔄 Update the firmware of Bluetooth headset (for models with support for updates).
• 🛒 Replace the headset – cheap models often have a bad microphone.

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 5, when you connect some Bluetooth headsets (for example, Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones), the sound in the microphone may disappear. MIUI 10–11, which is fixed by updating the firmware to MIUI 12.5+.

5. Resetting and software update

If hardware checks didn't work, the problem could be software. Audio drivers or application conflicts often lead to sound loss. On the Redmi Note 5, this is especially true because of the features of Qualcomm's WCD9335 audio chip, which is sensitive to firmware versions.

Step-by-step:

1. Update MIUI: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. If a new version is available, install it. The critical update for Redmi Note 5: MIUI 12.5.3.0 (Android 10) fixes bugs with sound when calling via VoLTE.
2. Reset network settings: Open Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset. Confirm action. This will delete stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, but it won't affect personal data.

Perform reset to factory settings

• Create a backup copy of the data.
• Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Resetting.
• Choose Delete all data and wait for the reboot.

After reset, check the sound in safe mode:

• Press the Power button → hold your finger on Turn off power until the suggestion appears to go to Safe Mode.
• In this mode, only system applications work, and if sound appears, one of the installed applications (most often messengers or optimizers) is to blame.

6. Check network settings and operator

If the person is listening intermittently or late, the problem may be related to the quality of the connection. On the Redmi Note 5, this is manifested by:

• 📶 Use of VoLTE (voice through voice) 4G) squat.
• 🔄 Automatic switching between 2G/3G/4G.
• 🌐 Connection to an overloaded operator tower.

How to check:

1. Turn off VoLTE: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Use VoLTE. Turn off the option and restart the phone.
2. Manually select network type: In the same menu, set up Preferred Network Type on 3G (if 4G is unstable).

• Some operators (for example, Tele2) at zero balance, voice transmission is turned off.
• Check with the operator whether outgoing calls are blocked at your rate.

If the problem only occurs with a specific operator, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone in the confident reception area.
• 📱 Insert SIM-card to another phone and check the sound.
• 🏢 Contact the operator support – perhaps your tower is in the process of technical work.

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If someone hears you in a robotic voice, it's a sign of poor network quality (packet loss when VoIP calls) and try turning off VoLTE or switching to 3G.

7. Hardware malfunctions: when repairs are needed

If none of the previous methods worked, the problem is likely hardware. On the Redmi Note 5, the most common ones fail:

• 🔌 Microphone (cost of replacement: 600-1 200 rubles.).
• 📶 Antenna module (responsible for receiving the signal, repair price: 1,500-2,500 rubles.).
• 🔧 Audiochip (the most expensive repair - replacement of the motherboard from 3 000 rubles.).
• 🔋 Trains (microphone contacts or speakers depart, repair: 500–1000 rubles.).

Signs of hardware breakdown:

• The sound disappears even in the recordings of the recorder.
• The phone does not respond to the connection of the headphones.
• When talking, you can hear wheezing, crackling or constant background noise.
• After falling or getting moisture, the sound got worse.

What to do:

1. Contact the service center with a request to conduct a diagnostics of the audio track. The average cost of diagnosis: 300-500 rubles.
2. If the phone is warranty (up to 12 months from the date of purchase), the repair will be free.
3. If you disassemble yourself, you're not guaranteed. If you decide to fix it yourself, use the instructions from iFixit.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 5, the microphone is soldered to the motherboard, not connected through a connector. This makes it difficult to replace it, because if soldered carelessly, you can damage the board tracks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound in Redmi Note 5