Xiaomi smartphones have a very common bug that you've probably already noticed: sometimes we can't properly hear the audio messages we receive through the WhatsApp app.
Yes, you're not alone. Millions of people have experienced this same problem, which is why we at Mobile Forum wanted to offer a solution. Why aren't WhatsApp audio messages playing on Xiaomi devices, and how can you fix it permanently? We'll explain it in this article.
Why can't WhatsApp audios be heard on Xiaomi?
The problem isn't that you can't hear the audio, since the speakers work fine, but rather that sometimes, when you try to listen to a WhatsApp audio message, the screen goes black . Why does this happen? The most likely reason is that your Xiaomi's proximity sensor is too sensitive.
Let us explain: the function of the proximity sensor on Xiaomi phones is to detect when you bring the phone close to your face and turn off the screen, preventing you from accidentally touching it with your ear. You can test this on another phone of the same brand that doesn't have this issue : call a friend and hold the smartphone to your ear; the screen will turn off . The same thing happens if you bring your hand close to the top edge of the screen, where the camera and speaker are located.
However, sometimes the proximity sensor is activated even when we do not put anything in front of it, which means it has a software or hardware defect or that it is poorly calibrated. Next, we show you how to correct this problem.
Solution: WhatsApp audios are not heard on Xiaomi
First, make sure you don't hold your smartphone to your ear when listening to audio or making a call, as this will activate Xiaomi's proximity sensor. Also, avoid swiping along the top edge of the screen (you can accidentally activate the proximity sensor if you're trying to open notifications, for example).
Now, if even following these recommendations you still can't hear WhatsApp audio on your Xiaomi normally, we recommend trying the following solutions:
Recalibrate the proximity sensor
A miscalibrated proximity sensor is often the reason why WhatsApp audio messages aren't playing correctly. Therefore, if you're experiencing this issue, our first suggestion is to recalibrate your Xiaomi's proximity sensor by following these steps:
- Open the phone app on your smartphone.
- Dial the code * # * # * # * # 6484. The CIT menu will open.
- Press the 3 points in the upper right corner and tap on «Additional tools».
- Choose "Proximity Sensor Calibration».
- Bring your hand close to the sensor on the top edge of the phone to start the calibration. You should see the number go from 5.0 to 1.0.
- Press on Calibrate. If you have done it correctly, the message «Calibration passed«.
- Tap on «Passport«.
Completely disable the proximity sensor
Another solution we recommend trying when you can't hear WhatsApp audio messages on your Xiaomi phone is to completely disable the proximity sensor . However, keep in mind that if you do this, the screen will no longer turn off automatically when you bring your phone to your ear during calls, so you'll have to do it manually by pressing the power button.
Now, to disable this option, follow these steps:
- Open the app Xiaomi Settings.
- Go to Apps > System app settings > Call settings > Incoming call settings.
- You will find the proximity sensor option activated. Turn it off.
Other possible solutions
The above solutions should be enough to fix this glitch, however sometimes this is not the case. In these cases, there are other possible workarounds that could fix the Xiaomi error.
Restart
A simple restart can help clear memory, restore system processes, and fix various software glitches. And, although it might seem like an unconventional solution, a restart can resolve the issue when WhatsApp audio messages aren't playing properly on Xiaomi devices.
To restart your smartphone, simply press and hold the power button for a few seconds and then tap Restart in the options that appear.
Reset factory settings
Like a factory reset, a factory reset can fix any bugs or system errors that might be preventing WhatsApp audio messages from playing normally on your Xiaomi device. However, this method will erase all your data, so we recommend creating system backups beforehand.
If you want to try to fix the error by doing a Xiaomi factory data reset, follow these steps.
- Enter the configuration menu of your Xiaomi.
- Enter to About phone > System updates > More options > Factory reset.
- Finally, select “Delete all data” and wait for the smartphone reboot to complete.
Take your phone to technical service
If none of the above methods have worked, chances are the sensor or maybe another component has been physically damaged and needs to be replaced with something else. For this reason, as a last measure, we recommend that you take your Xiaomi to the technical service so that a professional can check the fault.
Conclusion
Being unable to listen to WhatsApp audio messages correctly is a problem that affects most Xiaomi users, and it's caused by their proximity sensor. Luckily, there are several simple and effective ways to fix this issue, as we've outlined in this article, and we hope one of these solutions has resolved the problem with your smartphone.