When you don't hear your voice while you're talking, and voice messages stop recording, it causes panic in any smartphone owner. It's not just a technical problem, it's an actual loss of communication with the outside world, rendering the device useless for its basic function. On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the problem can be either a banal software failure or a physical damage to the hardware.
Before you carry a device to a service center, you need to make a thorough diagnosis to rule out simple errors. Often the cause lies in an incorrectly updated application, a stuck button or even in a protective case that covers the bottom hole, and in 80% of cases the problem is solved without opening the case and replacing components, if you correctly identify the source of the malfunction at the initial stage.
What we do next depends on when the sound is gone, whether it's after a fall, after a moisture hit, or after a spontaneous system update, and we'll look at all the scenarios we can think of, from simple adjustments to complex engineering tests, so you can get the gadget back to full functionality.
Software failures and application conflicts
The most common reason why the microphone doesn't work is software conflicts with the MIUI or HyperOS operating system. Android controls access to audio input, and if one application captures this resource and doesn't let it go, other programs won't be able to access the recording of sound, which often happens after the voice recorder or messenger is incorrectly closed.
Sometimes the culprit is the specific app you use to make calls, and if there is sound in a standard Phone and there is no sound in Viber or Telegram, the problem is localized to the access rights or cache of a particular software, and you need to check the permission settings in the security section.
To eliminate software errors, a simple system restart often helps, which clears RAM and resets the frozen processes. However, if the problem is systemic, a deeper cleaning or resetting may be necessary.
How to make a full reset (Hard Reset)?
There are several signs indicating the program nature of the malfunction:
- 🔊 The sound disappears periodically and returns after the phone restarts.
- 📱 The problem is only observed in one particular application.
- 🔄 Recent system update or installation of new software.
- ⚙️ In the engineering menu, the test is successful, but in real life there is no sound.
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If the microphone works in an engineering test but doesn’t work in life, the problem is with the software or privacy settings.
Physical damage and pollution
The hardware of Xiaomi’s smartphone is extremely sensitive to external influences. The bottom hole of the microphone, usually located next to the charging connector, is a magnet for dust, pile and dirt. Over time, the compressed dust forms a plug that physically blocks the penetration of the sound wave to the membrane.
Even more dangerous is moisture. Even if your smartphone is IP53 or IP54 protected, it's not a guarantee of complete tightness. The ingress of moisture causes the contacts on the plume to oxidize or the microphone board itself to corrosion, leading to complete module failure or wheezing and noise.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone falls into water, do not try to dry it with a hair dryer or put it on the battery. High temperatures can melt the glue holding the display and damage the battery.
Mechanical damage also plays a role, and falling from a height can cause the microphone plume to detach from the motherboard or cause a crack in the membrane itself, in which case the software methods are powerless and require specialist intervention.
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Use a soft toothbrush to clean the microphone mesh carefully. Do not use sharp objects (needles, pins), as they are easy to pierce the protective membrane.
Diagnostics through the Engineering Menu
To accurately determine the status of the microphone in Xiaomi smartphones, there is a built-in CIT engineering mode. This tool allows you to check each device module separately from the main operating system, which gives the most objective picture.
To get into the diagnostics menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. If the menu does not open, check in the settings if this feature is disabled, or try entering the code ##4636##, although the first option is more universal for MIUI.
In the list that opens, you can find "Main Mic" (main microphone) or "Sub Mic" (secondary noise reduction microphone). If you click on the appropriate item, you run a test. You'll need to talk to the phone, and the system will show the incoming signal level in decibels or just play your voice.
| Parameter of the test | Normal value. | Sign of malfunction |
|---|---|---|
| Main microphone | The voice is heard clearly, the schedule is galloping | Silence, static noise, wheezing |
| Secondary microphone | There is a sound when you are brought up to the top. | Lack of response to sound |
| Recording of the recorder | File playback is normal | File is empty or distorted |
| High-profile communication | The interviewee hears perfectly. | The interviewee complains about the silence |
| Status | Pass (Success) | Fail (Mistake) |
If the test shows Fail on the engineering menu or you can't hear yourself, it's a direct signal of a hardware problem, in which case further tambourine dancing around the Android settings is useless.
Setup of permissions and confidentiality
Modern versions of Android and the HyperOS shell pay a lot of attention (privacy).The system can block access to the microphone for certain applications if you previously banned it or if the security mechanism worked.
Check your privacy settings. Go to Settings → Privacy Protection → Permissions Management → Microphone. Here you will see a list of all the apps that request audio access. Make sure the switch opposite the messenger or voice recorder you want is activated.
Also, look at privacy indicators, and you can see that there's a green dot or a microphone icon in the top right corner of the screen, and it signals that an app is using audio input right now, and if you haven't run any programs and the light is on, there may be malware in the phone that's recording.
- 🛡️ Check the "Security" section for viruses.
- 🔒 Disable microphone access for suspicious or unnecessary applications.
- 📱 Update the Security app via GetApps Store or Google Play.
Sometimes, resetting your application preferences helps, and it won't delete your data, but it will return all permissions to factory values, and you can find this option in the app settings menu.
Influence of accessories and covers
And don't discount the trivial physical obstacles. Many protective covers, especially those that aren't original or are not modeled, can cover the microphone hole. Visually, this may be invisible, but a tight silicone cap completely isolates the sound.
Take off the cover and try calling or recording a voice message without it. If a sound appears, the problem is solved. Also check if the dust or dirt protection net is stuck, which is easy to remove with a soft brush.
⚠️ Attention: The use of magnetic car holders mounted on the back cover can in rare cases create electromagnetic tips that affect the operation of antennas and microphones, especially if the holder is poor quality.
When repairs are needed in the service
If all software methods are exhausted, the engineering menu shows an error and the cleaning didn’t help, only hardware repairs remain. In Xiaomi smartphones, the microphone is often part of the bottom plume (sub-board), which also has a charging connector and speaker built in.
Replacing the plume is a low-cost and fast procedure, requiring the wizard to remove the back cover, unscrew some screws, and replace the module, but in some flagship models, the microphone can be soldered directly into the motherboard, requiring microscope work and a skilled engineer.
☑️ Checklist before going to the service
Symptoms requiring a mandatory visit to the service:
- 🔇 Complete lack of sound after phone drop.
- 💧 Getting liquid inside the case (even if the phone is dry).
- 📉 Strong distortions, crackling and noises that interfere with conversation.
- 🤖 Mistake "Microphone is busy" with the phone turned on without running applications.