Badly audible interlocutor on the phone on Xiaomi: the reasons and 12 working solutions

You make a call on a big business, but you can barely hear your interlocutor and his voice is interrupted or sounds like a barrel? The problem of poor hearing during calls on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) is more common than it seems, and the fault can be both hardware malfunctions (a contaminated speaker, a damaged microphone) and software failures – from incorrect network settings to firmware conflicts.

In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of poor hearing and offer 12 proven solutions - from basic (volume check) to advanced (reset network parameters or diagnostics through the engineering menu). Particular attention will be paid to the Xiaomi 12/13/14 series, Redmi Note 11/12 and POCO F4/F5, where the problem is often associated with optimizing MIUI. If after self-manipulation the sound does not recover, we will give a checklist to contact the service center with a guarantee of free repair.

1. Check basic settings: volume, call mode and Bluetooth

Start with the obvious: maybe the problem is not the hardware, but the randomly changed settings. When you call, the Xiaomi screen displays a volume slider control panel — make sure it's not kept to a minimum.

• 🔊 Speaker mode: turn it on while you're talking with a button on the callbar. If the sound is clearer, the problem is in the top speaker (we'll look at it later).
• 📞 Sound source: If you have headphones connected (even wireless ones), the sound can only go in them.
• 🔇 "Do Not Disturb" mode: in Settings → Check if the sound is activated for calls.

Pay special attention to Bluetooth devices. Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ has a bug: if the phone previously connected to the headset, the sound can be automatically redirected to it, even if the device is disabled, to reset priority:

1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Forget all devices.
3. Reboot your smartphone.

2.Diagnostics of the speaker and microphone: how to check without service

If the basic settings did not help, the problem may lie in the contamination of the speaker (dust, moisture) or malfunction of the microphone.

1. Speaker test: call another phone and turn on speakerphone. If the sound is clean, it's a problem in the up speaker. If it's distorted and on speakerphone, the bottom speaker or audio chip is defective.
2. Microphone test: record a voice message on WhatsApp or Recorder, and if the recording is silent or jammed, the microphone is contaminated or damaged.

To clean the speaker, use a soft brush (for example, for makeup) or a tank with compressed air. Never use sharp objects - this will damage the speaker's mesh! If the sound has not recovered after cleaning, try drying the phone in dry rice for 12-24 hours (if you suspect moisture).

3. Network Resetting: Why It Helps

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14 firmware often have a bug in which incorrect network parameters affect the sound quality during calls, this is due to the optimization of VoLTE (voice over 4G) and Wi-Fi Calling. Resetting network settings will return the parameters to factory and eliminate conflicts:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map → Additional settings → Resetting network settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After the reset, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling may need to be activated again (if your carrier supports these features).

• 📶 Include mobile data.
• 📞 Make a test call (the first one after the reset can take up to 30 seconds to activate the VoLTE).
• 🔄 If the sound is not restored, switch to 3G: In Settings SIM-map → Preferred type of network select 3G and check the quality of the communication.

Save your Wi-Fi passwords (they will reset)

Remember. APN-parameters (if you use non-standard ones)

Turn off the VPN (if enabled)

Make sure that SIM-card-->

4. Update firmware and fix MIUI bugs

Xiaomi regularly releases updates that correct errors with sound. For example, MIUI 14.0.4 for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ was fixed bug with loss of sound when switching between 4G and 5G.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and wait for the download.
3. If you find an update, install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).

If automatic updates don’t help, try manual installation via Recovery:

• 📥 Download the latest version MIUI For your model from the official Xiaomi website.
• 📁 Move the file to the phone’s root folder (not to the folder!).
• 🔄 Reboot to Recovery (clip the power supply) + Volume up) and select Install update.

⚠️ Note: If the sound is completely lost after the update, reset to factory settings (see section 6.

5. Engineering menu: hidden sound settings

For advanced users, Xiaomi has a hidden engineering menu where you can test audio equipment and change the audio settings.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. Select Phone Information → Select the network type (check if the settings are not lost).
4. For the sound test, type ##36446337## (on some POCO models).

In the engineering menu, pay attention to:

• 🔊 Audio → Normal Mode: Check volume levels for different scenarios (call, multimedia).
• 📡 Network Testing: Communication quality test (if the signal is weak, the sound will be interrupted).

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If the engineering menu doesn't open, try entering the code through the standard Phone app, not through third-party dialers.

6. Reset to factory settings: when necessary

If all the previous methods failed, the last chance before you visit the service is a complete reset, which will delete all data, but return the phone to a "clean" state, eliminating software conflicts.

• 📱 Create a backup copy in Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 🔐 Make sure you know the password from your Mi Account (required to unlock after resetting).
• 📁 Transfer important files to your computer or cloud.

For discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked loader (Xiaomi) 12S Ultra, Redmi K50 Pro) after reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. If you forget your password, the phone will become a “brick»!

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Resetting to factory settings helps in 70% of software failures of sound, but will not fix hardware malfunctions (for example, a damaged speaker).

7. Hardware malfunctions: when to contact the service

If the sound hasn't recovered after all the manipulations, it's probably hardware.

• 🔊 The sound disappears completely (neither in dynamics nor in headphones).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water or was exposed to severe humidity.
• 🔧 The speaker or microphone is physically damaged (cracks, dents).
• 📶 The problem only arises when using a certain SIM-Cards (may be a faulty slot).

At the Xiaomi service center, the diagnostics take 1-2 days.

If the phone is warranty, repairs will be free (provided the fault is not caused by mechanical damage) to check the status of the warranty:

1. Go to the Mi Verify website.
2. Enter the phone’s IMEI (you can find it in Settings → About Phone → All settings).
3. Check the end date of the guarantee.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's sound issues