Why the sound on Xiaomi Redmi 6 disappeared: a full analysis of the causes and corrections

Xiaomi Redmi 6 owners (codenamed cereus) often face the problem of soundlessness — whether it’s the complete silence of speakers, distortion during playback or a broken microphone during calls. Unlike the new models of the Redmi Note series or POCO, this budget device of 2018 release has a specific sound system architecture, where problems can be hidden in both the MIUI firmware and hardware components. It is important to understand that if the sound is lost after falling or getting moisture, it is a physical failure, whereas spontaneous failures are more often associated with software.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes, from trivial volume settings to complex hardware malfunctions, and give you step-by-step diagnostic and repair instructions. We’ll focus on the unique Redmi 6 feature: a separate Realtek ALC5640 audio chip that often fails when it overheats or when it doesn’t update the firmware properly. If you’ve tried to restart your phone and adjust the volume, read on: the solutions will be non-trivial.

1. Checking basic settings: what you might have missed

Before disassembling your phone or resetting your settings, make sure the problem isn't in the obvious settings. On Redmi 6, the sound can "disappear" because of:

🔇 Activated Do Not Disturb (especially if it is on schedule).
🎵 Disabled audio in a particular application (for example, YouTube or TikTok may have a separate volume control).
📱 A failure in the sound profile (switching between General, Quiet, and No Sound sometimes resets the settings).
🔊 Mechanical pollution dynamics (dust or debris in the lower speaker grille is a common problem after a year of use).

How to check:

Open Settings → Sound and vibration and make sure the volume slider is not at zero.
Check if the mode is activated Do not disturb in the curtain notifications.
Run a YouTube video and try to change the volume with the buttons on the sidebar – sometimes the system sound works and the media doesn’t (or vice versa).

💡

On Redmi 6, volume buttons by default regulate the sound of notifications, not media. To change this, go to Settings → Buttons and gestures → Volume buttons and select Media.

If you don't have a sound after this manipulation, move on to the next section, and it's important that if the speaker is wheezing or crackling, it may indicate that the membrane is damaged, in which case a replacement will be needed.

2. Software glitches: from reboot to reset settings

More than 60 percent of the sound problems on Redmi 6 are due to software errors.

🤖 Conflict after update MIUI (particularly relevant to versions MIUI 10/11, where the audio driver does not always work correctly with the Linux kernel 3.18).
🗑️ Clogging of the audio system cache (files in the /data/system/audio may be damaged).
🔄 Android Audio Policy (responsible for routing sound).

Step-by-step instructions for elimination:

Remove the Settings cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Clear the cache)

Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button → “Reboot Safe Mode”)

Check the sound in Safe Mode – if it works, it’s the third-party app’s fault

Update MIUI to the latest stable version (Settings → About Phone → System Update)

Reset the sound settings to factory (Settings → Sound and vibration → Resetting the sound settings)

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If the problem persists, try resetting all settings (but back up first!).

Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
Select Settings Reset (not to be confused with Factory Reset – this will delete all data!).
After the reboot, check the sound.

Once a month

Only when critical bugs appear

Never update.

Only through custom firmware.-->

Critical case: if the sound is lost after upgrading to MIUI 12+, it is possible that your Redmi 6 model does not support new audio drivers, in which case only a rollback to MIUI 11 or installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS 16) will help.

Hardware malfunctions: speaker, plume, audio chip

If the software methods didn't work, the problem is probably hardware. Redmi 6 is more likely to fail.

Component	Symptoms	Reason.	Decision
Down speaker	Quiet sound, wheezing, total silence	Wear of the membrane, ingress of moisture, break of contacts	Replacement of speaker (article: DM-06016-01)
Dynamic plume	The sound appears when you press the body.	Oxidation or breakage of tracks	Coiling or replacement
Audio chip Realtek ALC5640	There is no sound in the speaker or headphones.	Overheating, voltage surge, corrosion	Chip replacement (requires a soldering station)
3.5 mm connector	The sound is only in one headphone.	Oxidation of contacts, mechanical wear	Cleaning with alcohol or replacing the connector

For diagnosis:

Connect headphones – if there is sound in them, the problem is in the speaker or plume.
Call your phone from another device – if the person can’t hear you, the microphone is faulty (article: MIC-06012-01).
Lightly tap the area around the speaker - if the sound appears, the outgoing plume is to blame.

How to check the audio chip without disassembly?

If there is no sound in the speaker, or in headphones, or in the Bluetooth headset, but at the same time: - The phone determines the connected headphones (an icon appears in the status bar), - Vibration when calling works, - In Settings → The phone. → Version of the kernel no errors such as audio hal load failed, with a probability of 90% to blame the audio chip Realtek ALC5640. The service center will replace it in 1.5-2 hours (cost) ~1500–2000 ₽).

Warning: If you don't have soldering experience, don't try to replace the audio chip yourself! Incorrect heating can damage the motherboard, and repairs will cost many times more.

4. Problems with Bluetooth and wireless headsets

A separate category of issues is related to Bluetooth audio. Redmi 6 is often:

🎧 Connecting a headset without sound (the phone “sees” the device, but the sound goes through the speaker).
🔊 Timid sound with distortion (codec problem) SBC/AAC).
🔄 Unintentional disconnection of the headset (failure in the Bluetooth service) MIDI).

Decisions:

Remove the headset from the list of associated devices (Settings → Bluetooth) and connect again.
Turn off Absolute Volume in the Developer Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 5 times tap → Back to Additional → For Developers → Turn off Absolute Volume.
Update the firmware of the Bluetooth module (if available for your model).

💡

On Redmi 6, Bluetooth 4.2 has a limit to simultaneous connection: if both headphones and a fitness bracelet are connected to the phone, the sound may disappear.

If the problem persists, try testing the headset on another phone, and if it works, it's the Redmi 6 Bluetooth module (Article: BT-06008-01).

5. The impact of custom firmware and root rights

If you installed custom firmware (such as Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS), the sound may be lost due to:

📦 Absence of proprietary audio drivers (in AOSP-Firmware often does not support Realtek ALC5640).
🔧 Incorrect settings in mixer_paths.xml (The file is responsible for routing the sound).
🛠️ Conflict with Magisk modules (e.g, ViPER4Android can break sound on the drain core).

How to fix it:

Make sure the firmware supports your model (cereus). Check on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forum.
Reflash the phone with a complete cleanup (wipe system, data, dalvik in TWRP).
If you use Magisk, turn off all modules and check the sound.
For correction mixer_paths.xml Download the corrected file for Redmi 6 Replace it with Root Explorer in the /vendor/etc.

💡

Before installing custom firmware on Redmi 6, make sure to check if it includes support for ALC5640. If the firmware description does not mention this chip, the sound will not work!

Note: If the phone doesn't turn on after firmware or gets stuck on the MI logo, you'll need to flash the stock MIUI through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

1. Download the latest stable firmware for cereus from Xiaomi’s website.


2 Unpack the archive and launch the Mi Flash Tool.




3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (keep Volume down + Power).




4. Select the firmware folder and press Flash.

6. Sound recovery after moisture

Redmi 6 has no official water protection (IP-certification), so even a small ingress of moisture can cause corrosion of contacts:

💧 The sound appears 10-20 minutes after the turn on (after the “drying” contacts).
🔊 Sound distortions similar to "gurgling».
📵 The phone doesn't see headphones or Bluetooth devices.

Actions when moisture is ingested:

Turn off the phone immediately and remove the battery (if possible).
Wet with a napkin, don't rub it!
Place your phone in a silica gel (or rice) bag for 24 to 48 hours.
After drying, check the contacts of the speaker and the plume for oxidation (green coating).

What if the sound is lost after bathing the phone?

If Redmi 6 has been in the water for more than 30 seconds: 1. Do not turn it on - this will cause a short circuit. 2. Disassemble the phone (if you can) and wash the board with isopropyl alcohol (90%+). 3. Dry the dryer at a minimum temperature (keep at a distance of 20 cm). 4. Check the power chain of the audio chip with a multimeter. If there is no sound after drying, you need to replace the audio chip and clean the board in the service.

Warning: Do not use a dryer at maximum power - this can melt the plumes! Optimal drying temperature: 40-50 ° C.

7. When to contact the service: prices and guarantees

If you've exhausted all options but the sound hasn't come, it's time to contact the service center. Here's an estimate of the prices for the Redmi 6 repair in 2026:

Service	Cost (₽)	Term	Guarantee
Diagnostics of sound	300–500	30 minutes	—
Replacement of the lower speaker	800–1200	1-2 hours	3 months.
Repair/replacement of the speaker plume	1000–1500	2-3 hours	6 months.
Replacement of the Realtek ALC5640 audio chip	1500–2500	1-2 days	6 months.
Recovery from flooding	2000–4000	2-5 days	1 month.

Where to repair:

🏢 Xiaomi service centers – 6-12 months warranty, but prices are higher by 20-30%.
🔧 Local workshops are cheaper, but check reviews and ask for a guarantee.
🛠️ Self-repair – only if you have experience and tools (sweeter station, tester, tweezers).

Tip: Before visiting the service, make a backup of the data via Mi PC Suite or TWRP – after the repair, you may need to reset your settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound on Redmi 6

🔊 The sound is only in the headphones, not in the dynamics?

This is a typical problem of a speaker plume going out, or a speaker malfunctioning. Try: Put your headphones on and press the 3.5mm connector area a little bit -- if the sound comes up in the speaker, it's the plume. Check the settings: sometimes in Settings → Sound → Speaker can be turned off. If nothing works, you need to change the speaker or the plume.

🎤 The interviewee can't hear me when you call?

On the Redmi. 6 have two microphones: 🎤 Main (near the camera) - for calls. 🎤 Additional (bottom) for noise reduction. If the person can't hear you: Check if the main microphone is covered with a cover or a finger. Clean the microphone hole with a toothpick (carefully!). Test the microphone in the Dictaphone app - if the recording is not going, the microphone is defective (article: MIC-06012-01).

🔄 Sound comes and goes?

This is a symptom of an unstable contact or software conflict. Try: Reboot your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button → “Reboot Safe Mode”). If the sound is stable, it is the third-party application's fault. Check the error log through ADB: adb logcat | grep -i audio If there are lines with AudioFlinger or AudioPolicy, the driver problem. Take to the service - perhaps the plume or the contacts of the audio chip have gone.

🔧 Can I fix the sound myself?

Yes, but only if the problem is: 🔊 Dynamics - its replacement does not require soldering (only a screwdriver and a new speaker are needed). 🧹 3.5 mm connector contamination - can be cleaned with alcohol. ⚙️ Software failure - flashing or resetting settings. Not recommended by yourself: Change the audio chip (Realtek) ALC5640) — It requires a soldering station and experience. It's easy to damage the plume, fine contacts. Clean the board after flooding, without ultrasonic baths and special solutions.

📱 Should I buy a new phone instead of a Redmi 6 repair?

Depends on the cost of repairs: 💰 If the repair costs up to 1500 ₽ (For example, replacing the speaker, it makes sense to fix it. 💸 If the repair is more than 2500 ₽ (audiochip + Cleaning the board, cheaper to buy a redmi Note 8 or a new POCO M6. Redmi 6 repairs: familiar interface, data retention, low cost of spare parts. Cons: outdated firmware (no security updates), weak MediaTek Helio processor P22 It may not be possible to use modern applications.