Sound when unlocking the screen Xiaomi: how to remove permanently or temporarily

Clicking, squeaking, or playing a tune when unlocking Xiaomi is one of the most annoying things for smartphone owners. Even in the quiet of the night, a phone can suddenly make a loud noise, wake up households or attract attention on public transport. The reason for this sound lies in the MIUI’s proprietary shell, which activates audio cues for key actions by default. But the good news is that you can remove it in 2-3 minutes, and it doesn’t always need root rights or complex manipulations.

Complicating the problem, different versions of MIUI (12 to 15) and different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) may have different paths to settings, and after system upgrades, the sound sometimes returns on its own, due to the policy of resetting user settings to factory settings. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable, including hidden options for older devices and workarounds for cases when standard methods do not work.

If you've tried to turn off the sound through Settings β†’ Sounds, but without success, don't rush to reset your phone to factory settings. 80% of the time, the problem is solved through an engineering menu or third-party applications. And for owners of devices with MIUI 14 and later, there is a separate life hack using Do Not Disturb mode, which blocks the unlock sound but leaves active notifications from messengers.

Before you start, make sure your smartphone is not in power-saving mode - some audio settings are blocked by the system in this case. Also check if there are third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or HyperOS Launcher) that can override system sounds.

1. Standard method: disabling through MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use built-in shell options, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-15 devices, including Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi’s flagship series, with the main advantage of not requiring additional apps or superuser rights.

The instructions are relevant for firmware from 2023 to 2026. If you have an older version (e.g. MIUI 11), the path to settings may be different – see the Engineering Menu section.

1. Open the Settings app

2. Go to the section Sounds and vibrations

3. Select the item System sounds

4. disable the slider Unlock Sound (or Lock Screen in some versions)

5.Reboot the device (optional, but recommended)

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On some models (for example, POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12 Lite), the option may be called differently:

  • πŸ”Š The sound of locking/unlocking is in MIUI 13/14
  • πŸ”• Quiet mode when unlocking - in firmware for the European region
  • 🎡 The melody of the lock screen - on devices with custom firmware

If there is no slider at all, then your version of MIUI is hiding this option, in which case try alternative methods in the following sections.

⚠️ Note: On some HyperOS devices (new shell from Xiaomi), the unlock sound is tied to system notifications.

2. Engineering menu: hidden settings for advanced users

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can turn off the sound via an engineering menu (or CIT), a method that is suitable for Qualcomm Snapdragon devices (most Xiaomi and Redmi) and requires input of special code.

Warning: improper actions in the engineering menu can cause failures in the communication module or sound.

Steps to enter the engineering menu:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter ##36446337## (for MediaTek) or #4636## (for Snapdragon).
  3. Select the Hardware Testing option β†’ Audio.
  4. Find the Lock Screen Sound option and set the Disable value.

On some devices (e.g., Redmi Note 10 Pro), the path may look different: Engineer Mode β†’ MTK Settings β†’ Audio β†’ System Sounds β†’ Lock/Unlock Sound β†’ Off.

What to do if the engineering menu is not opened?
If nothing happens after entering the code, check: 1. SIM-map (on some devices, the menu only works with active SIM). 2. Does not block access to antivirus or security application (for example, Security from Xiaomi). 3. Is the firmware version relevant - on the Internet MIUI 15 some codes have changed. Try the alternative code: ##6484## (for multimedia testing).

After the changes, restart the device. If the sound is still, try resetting the sound settings to factory through Settings β†’ System β†’ Resetting β†’ Resetting the sound settings.

3. Use of the Do Not Disturb mode as a workaround

If you can’t turn off the unlock sound directly, you can go another way – set the Do Not Disturb (DND) mode so that it only blocks system sounds, but leaves active notifications from messengers.

This method is particularly useful for devices on MIUI 14/15, where the unlock sound is tied to system alerts.

  • πŸ“± Open the Settings. β†’ Notifications and status bar β†’ Don't disturb.
  • πŸ”‡ Activate the mode and select Rules Setting.
  • 🎧 In the Sounds and Vibration section, turn off System Sounds, but leave Budilmas and Media on.
  • ⏰ Set a schedule (for example, 22:00 to 8:00) or activate the mode manually.

The downside of this is that the unlock sound will only be turned off during the DND period, but you won't miss important notifications, and the system clicks will disappear.

Standard settings MIUI| Engineering menu|Do Not Disturb mode |Third-party apps |I haven't tried anything-->

Third-party applications: when system methods do not work

If none of the above methods work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue, which capture system sounds at the Android level and allow them to flexibly customize their behavior.

AnnexFunctionalNeed root?Reference
SoundAssistantTurns off the lock sounds, adjusts the volume on a scheduleNo.Google Play
MacroDroidCreates automatic rules to turn off sound when unlockedNo.Google Play
TaskerAdvanced Automation (requires customization)No.Google Play
Disable Lock Screen SoundSpecialized solution for XiaomiYeah (for full shutdown)XDA Developers

To apply changes through SoundAssistant:

  1. Install the app and give you access to notifications.
  2. Go to the Volume Controls section β†’ System Sounds.
  3. Turn off the Screen Lock/Unlock slider.
  4. Save the settings and restart the device.

⚠️ Apps like Disable Lock Screen Sound require ADB-commands to shut down the sound completely. ADB If you're not sure, use rootless solutions.

5. ADB-Teams: A Radical Solution for Experienced Users

If you’re willing to take more serious steps, you can turn off the unlock sound via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that works on 99% of Xiaomi devices, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

  1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
  2. Activate Debugging via USB on your phone (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional β†’ For Developers).
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute adb shell settings put system lockscreen_sounds_enabled 0
  4. Reset the device.

To return the sound back, use the command:

adb shell settings put system lockscreen_sounds_enabled 1

On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T) instead lockscreen_sounds_enabled parameter may be used lock_sounds_enabled. If the team does not work, check the current parameter through:

adb shell settings list system | grep lock

πŸ’‘

Before using ADB, back up your settings through Settings β†’ System β†’ Backup. This will help restore the system in case of an error.

6. Resetting the sound settings to factory

If the unlock sound comes after a MIUI update or third-party application installation, resetting the audio settings will help, a method that doesn't affect user data, but returns all audio settings to factory values.

How to perform the reset:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Resetting settings.
  2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (or Resetting All Settings if the first item is not available).
  3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After reset, check if the sound has returned, and if so, it is written at the firmware level, and you will need one of the radical methods (for example, ADB or engineering menu).

On devices with HyperOS (the new shell from Xiaomi), the path can look like this: Settings β†’ Memory β†’ Resetting β†’ Resetting sound and vibration settings.

πŸ’‘

Resetting audio settings doesn't delete photos, contacts or apps; it returns only sound and vibration alerts to factory settings.

7. Features for old models (MIUI 9–11) and custom firmware

On devices with MIUI 9-11 (e.g., Redmi Note 5, Mi A2), the unlock sound can be hardcoded into system files.

  • πŸ”§ Manual file editing system/media/audio/ui/Lock.ogg (Requires root and file manager with superuser rights).
  • πŸ“¦ Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) where lock sounds are disabled by default.
  • πŸ”Š Replace the sound file with "empty" (you can download here).

For custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), the unlock sound is often turned off from the box. If it does, check the settings in: Settings β†’ Sounds β†’ System Sounds β†’ Lock screen.

On the Mi A-series (devices running pure Android), the unlock sound is turned off in the standard way for Android One: Settings β†’ Sound β†’ System Sounds β†’ Screen Lock Sound.

8 What to do if nothing helps?

If you have tried all the methods, but the sound is still heard when unlocking, the reasons may be as follows:

  • πŸ”„ Firmware failure - try updating MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings β†’ Updating the system.
  • πŸ› οΈ Damaged system files – reset to factory settings (don’t forget to backup!).
  • πŸ“± Hardware problem – on some devices, the unlock sound is played through a separate chip (for example, on Redmi). K40). In this case, only the service center will help.
  • 🎡 Third-party launchers or themes – return the standard theme to Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ Theme.

If the sound appeared after a fall or moisture, this may indicate damage to the speaker or plume. In this case, contact the Xiaomi service center - self-repair can exacerbate the problem.

The last radical method is to disable all system sounds via ADB:

adb shell settings put system sound_effects_enabled 0

But keep in mind: this will turn off all sound effects, including keyboard, charging, and notifications.

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If the unlock sound is accompanied by vibration, check the settings in Settings β†’ Special Options β†’ Vibration when touching. Sometimes these options are related.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's unlock sound

πŸ”Š Why the Unlock Sound Returns After the Update MIUI?
In case of major updates (for example, with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the system resets some user settings to factory settings. To avoid this, check Settings immediately after the update. β†’ Sounds. β†’ System sounds and if necessary, turn off the sound again, and will also help to disable automatic firmware updates in Settings β†’ Updating the system β†’ Settings (βš™οΈ) β†’ Auto-update.
πŸ“΅ Can I turn off the unlock sound for a certain time (at night)?
Yes, it will do: Do not disturb with the schedule (see section 3). MacroDroid app, where you can create a rule: "If the time from 23:00 to 7:00 β†’ turn off the unlock sound."
πŸ”§ Do you need root rights to turn off the sound?
In 90% of cases, no. Root is only required for: Editing system files (for example, replacing Lock.ogg); using some Magisk modules (for example, Disable Lockscreen Sound Module); For most users, standard settings or ADB will suffice.
🎡 Why some Xiaomi devices don’t have the option to turn off the unlock sound?
It depends on: Regional firmware β€” the Chinese version of MIUI often lacks some settings. Operator policies β€” some devices (for example, for Tele2 or MTS) have modified firmware. Android versions β€” on Android 13/14 lock sounds can be controlled through the Media Session API, which makes it difficult to disable them. Solution: install global firmware through Mi Flash Tool or use ADB.
πŸ”‡ How to turn off the unlock sound on Xiaomi Watch or fitness bracelet?
For wearable devices (Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch S3), the unlock sound is turned off via the Mi Fitness app: Open the app and select your device. Go to Settings β†’ Notifications β†’ Sounds. Turn off the Sound option when unlocked. On some bracelets (such as Mi Band 6 NFC), the unlock sound is tied to notifications β€” it can only be turned off completely, along with other alerts.