I can’t hear the interlocutor on the Xiaomi phone: why and what to do

The situation when during an important conversation suddenly disappears sound, familiar to many smartphone owners. Especially hurtful when a device from Xiaomi, known for its functionality, suddenly stops broadcasting the voice of the interlocutor. This can be due to both a software failure and physical damage to the speaker. Owners often panic, believing that the device requires expensive repairs, but in most cases the problem is solved by simple adjustment.

When you look at why you can't hear someone, you need to consider a lot of things, from the banal blocking of foreign objects to the complex conflicts in the MIUI system. Modern smartphones have a complex acoustic system, where different speakers respond to different frequencies. If the voice is lost only in hands-free mode or, conversely, only in the ear, this already narrows the circle of troubleshooting. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios in detail.

To start with, communication quality is not just about hardware, but also about network settings. Sometimes the user accidentally activates a noise cancellation function that doesn't work properly, or installs a third-party app that intercepts audio. Understanding how an audio track works will help you quickly diagnose the problem and return the phone to full functionality without going to the service.

The main causes of sound problems when calling

Before you go into deep settings, you should eliminate obvious physical interference. Often the reason that the interlocutor has become quiet or completely disappeared is a protective film. Many users, when buying a new smartphone, glue a protective glass that covers the upper speaker. Even a minimal gap or a thick layer of glue can significantly reduce the volume.

The second common cause is contamination of the speaker grid, where pile, dust and small debris accumulate in the pockets of clothes, which eventually clog the acoustic system. If you haven't cleaned the top of the screen in a long time, chances are that the problem lies there. To check, you can carefully (without fanaticism) clean the mesh with a soft brush or use a special sticky tape.

⚠️ Warning: Never use sharp objects, needles or toothpicks to clean the speaker. You can pierce the membrane, and then the quiet sound will be replaced by its complete absence and hissing.

It’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode is activated, which in some Xiaomi firmware may not properly handle incoming calls, drowning out the sound after the response. Plus, connected Bluetooth headsets can intercept the audio output. If the phone “thinks” that the sound should go to the headphones that are in the bag, you won’t hear anything in the handset.

• 🎧 Check if the Bluetooth device is connected in the background.
• 🧼 Clean the speaker mesh from dust and pile with a soft brush.
• 📱 Make sure that the protective film does not cover the speaker hole.
• 🔇 Check the volume slider exactly during the incoming call.

If physical causes are ruled out and the voice is still barely audible, it may be the software. MIUI has many layers of sound processing, and a failure in one of them can lead to silence, often after a system upgrade or installation of "heavy" themes that change the system sounds.

Volume and audio codec settings in MIUI

MIUI allows you to flexibly adjust your audio profiles, but sometimes those settings get confused. The first thing you need to do is check the volume levels. Unlike many other shells, Xiaomi has a separate set of media volume and call/talk volume, and if you add sound while watching a video, it doesn't affect the volume of the person you're talking to.

To check the settings, press the volume buttons during the conversation. The voice slider will appear on the screen. Make sure it is twisted to the maximum. There is also a section on the audio settings menu called "Improving Sound" or "Mi Sound" where equalizers can be active. Try turning off all effects and switch to a standard profile.

VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a 4G voice technology that provides high audio quality, but if the operator's network is unstable or the base station is overloaded, the voice may be interrupted or lost, in which case a temporary switch to 3G/2G mode helps.

To change the network settings, go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type. Try to choose Preferred network type. LTE Or vice versa, just 3G If you're in the middle of a test. 3G The sound has appeared, so the problem lies in the coating. 4G your operator in the area.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling VoLTE can reduce sound quality to the level of normal calls, but it is often the only way to restore communication in areas of uncertain reception. 4G.

• 🔊 Adjust the volume with the buttons during the conversation.
• 📶 Try to temporarily disconnect. 4G/LTE link-check.
• 🎚️ Reset the equalizer settings to the standard in the sound menu.

Software failures and application conflicts

Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful energy-saving system that aggressively kills background processes. Sometimes the system services responsible for audio output fall under the optimizer knife. If the sound is lost after the firmware update, there is likely a cache or access rights conflict.

The first thing you need to do is reboot your device. This is a banal but effective tip that resets all temporary files and restarts audio services. If the reboot didn't work, check which apps have access to the microphone and phone. Go to Settings → Apps → Rights → Microphone and see if there are any suspicious programs there.

Often, third-party callers or number detectors installed from the Play Market are problematic, they may intercept the call and mistransmit the audio stream, try removing newly installed communication apps, or reset the phone app settings.

In some cases, cleaning the cache helps, you need to go to the recovery menu, but it requires caution. The safer way is to reset the network settings, and it won't delete your photos or contacts, but it will return the factory settings of the modem and Bluetooth.

Engineering menu and speaker testing

The MIUI is a hidden engineering menu that allows for deep iron diagnostics, which can tell you if the problem is software or physically malfunctioning, and uses a special code in the Phone app to enter the menu.

Dial ##6484##. CIT (Customer Integration Test) will open. Find a item associated with Receiver or Speaker. Run a test: the phone will make a sound. If you hear it clearly and loudly (hardware) properly, look for a problem in the software or network.

##6484## – Xiaomi’s engineering menu login code

If the speaker is wheezing, cracking, or silent in the test, it's a direct indication to replace the part, and you can also check the main microphone (usually called the Mic test) on this menu, and you can talk into the microphone, and you should hear your voice in real time.

Don't change settings you're not sure about, especially in parts that are about calibrating your sensor or modem. Your goal is just to test the sound.

• 🛠️ Use the code ##6484## to enter the diagnostics.
• 🔊 Test separately Receiver and Speaker.
• 🎤 Check recording and playback through the main microphone.

The impact of covers and accessories on sound quality

Don't underestimate the impact of accessories. Dense silicone cases, especially those that aren't original, often have the wrong cutout geometry. The side of the case can overlap the bottom hole of the main microphone, which causes the person to not hear you, and you do it because of the effect of echo or noise cancellation.

Take off your case and call someone. If the sound is normal, the problem is solved by buying another accessory, and also check if there's a thick-edged protective film on the screen that comes into the top speaker grille, a common problem after glass is replaced at service centers.

Another nuance is magnetic rings for holders in cars, which if glued too close to the top or bottom of a smartphone, can cause magnetic interference that affects the dynamic head, although this is less common in modern smartphones.

When repairs are needed: signs of breakdown

If software methods, cleaning and checking the settings didn't help, it's probably a physical malfunction. In Xiaomi smartphones, a conversational speaker is a consumable. Over time, its membrane stretches or tears, leading to a quiet, hoarse sound or complete silence.

Also, the contacts of the speaker plume are often oxidized, especially if the phone is in a wet environment, in which case the sound may disappear periodically, appearing and disappearing when you press a certain part of the body.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone fell or hit the water, don't try to dry it with a hair dryer.Hot air can drive moisture deeper inside the board, leading to corrosion and costly repairs.

Replacing the speaker speaker on most Xiaomi models (Redmi Note, Poco, Mi) is a low-cost and fast procedure, and the detail is often integrated into a plume or glued, but it takes about 30 minutes to replace it in the service.

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Before you go to the service, make a full backup of data. Even when you change the speaker, the wizards may be asked to turn off the phone or reset the settings for verification, and your data may be lost.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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In 80 percent of cases, the problem is solved by cleaning the speaker grid or resetting the network settings. Don't rush to carry the phone for repair until you rule out software factors.