How to set up a radio on Android without headphones: a complete guide with proven methods

FM radio on smartphones Android is often associated with the mandatory connection of headphones - they act as an antenna for receiving the signal. However, few people know that some devices support radio operation without a wired headset, and for others there are workarounds. In this article we will look at all possible methods: from hidden firmware functions to alternative applications and hardware modifications.

It is important to understand that the ability to listen to the radio without headphones depends on three factors: presence of an FM chip in the smartphone, manufacturer support for the function and version Android. For example, models Samsung Galaxy till 2020 often had an active chip, but in new devices (for example Galaxy S23) it can be disabled at the software level. We tested all methods on devices Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, Realme 8 Pro i Samsung Galaxy A52 —the results are summarized in the compatibility table below.

If your smartphone does not support FM radio in hardware, do not worry: at the end of the article we will tell you how to listen to the radio through Internet without restrictions —with minimal traffic consumption and without wasted water. And for those who like experimenting, we will provide instructions for activating a hidden chip via ADB (an unlocked bootloader is required).

1. Checking for an FM chip in your smartphone

Before trying to set up the radio, make sure that your device physically capable receives an FM signal. Many manufacturers (especially in the budget segment) exclude the chip from the circuit in order to save on production. You can check this in two ways:

• 🔍 Via specifications: find the smartphone model on the website GSMArena or 4PDA and check the “Radio” section. If "FM radio: Yes" is indicated, the chip is present.
• 📱 Through the diagnostic menu: enter code ##4636## → select “Phone Information” → scroll to the “FM Radio” block. If the field is empty or missing, there is no chip.
• 🛠️ Disassembly (for advanced): on the motherboard, look for a chip marked Si47xx (for example, Si4709) or RDA5807 —these are popular FM chips.

Please note: even if there is a chip, the manufacturer can disable it programmatically. For example, in Europe ROM for Xiaomi radio is often blocked due to licensing restrictions, but in Global ROM it is available. Check the firmware version in Settings → About phone → MIUI version.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with processors Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xx (for example, Samsung Galaxy S22, OnePlus 10 Pro) the FM chip can be integrated into the SoC, but not connected to the antenna. In this case, the radio will not work.

2. Turning on the radio through a standard application (if the chip is active)

If the FM chip is present in the smartphone and is not blocked, try turning on the radio through the standard application. It is usually hidden in the menu or disabled by default. Instructions for popular brands:

• 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco:
  1. Open the application FM Radio (if it is not there, download it from Mi App Store).
  2. Connect headphones (even if you do not plan to use them) and wait for the stations to be searched.
  3. Disconnect headphones - on some firmware the radio will continue to work through the speaker.
• 🤖 Samsung:
  1. Install the application Samsung Radio from Galaxy Store.
  2. Launch it and press ⋮ → Settings → Antenna mode.
  3. Select External antenna (if available) - this will allow you to use the built-in Wi-Fi/4G antenna.

adb shell settings put global fmradio_headset 0

On smartphones Nokia (for example, Nokia 5.3) and Motorola (series Moto G) the radio often works without headphones “out of the box” - just turn on the application and select a station. If there is no sound, check the volume settings: sometimes the system mixer blocks output to the speaker.

3. Using alternative radio applications

If the standard application requires headphones or does not find stations, try third-party apps. They often bypass manufacturer restrictions and support additional functions (recording broadcasts, alarm clock on the radio). data-i="113">Application

To work Spirit FM or NextRadio you may need permission to change system settingsTo get it:

1. Activate Developer mode (click on “Build number” 7 times in Settings → About phone).
2. Return to Settings → System → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your smartphone to the PC and run the command:

adb shell pm grant com.mobivora.spirit2 android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

⚠️ Attention: Applications like Spirit FM may conflict with energy-saving modes (for example, MIUI Optimization on Xiaomi). Before use, disable optimization for the application in the battery settings.

4. Hardware modifications: how to improve reception without headphones

If software methods do not helped, and there is an FM chip in the smartphone, you can try amplify the signal using a homemade antenna or an external receiver. These methods require minimal soldering skills or the use of adapters.

• 📡 Wire antenna:
  1. Take a piece of shielded cable (for example, from old headphones).
  2. Strip one end and solder to ground (any metal part of the case).
  3. Bring the other end to the top of the smartphone (where the antenna is usually located).

This will increase the sensitivity of the receiver by 30-50%. Suitable for Samsung Galaxy A i Redmi.

For owners Xiaomi Poco X3 and Redmi Note 9 there is a non-obvious life hack: if you connect wireless headphones (for example, Redmi AirDots) and start the radio, the sound will go to them and not to the speaker. This does not solve the problem completely, but gets rid of the wires.

5. Internet radio as an alternative to FM

If the hardware radio on your smartphone does not work without headphones, consider Internet radio. Modern applications offer thousands of stations with quality up to 320 kbps, support background playback and have minimal traffic consumption (from 20 MB/hour). The best options:

• 🌍 TuneIn Radio: 100,000 stations, support for recordings, premium version without extra water ($9.99/month).
• 🎵 Radio Garden: a unique interface with a “globe”, stations from anywhere in the world. Traffic consumption: ~60 MB/hour.
• 📻 Diaspora*: Russian stations with minimal latency, works through Tor (bypassing blocking).
• 🔊 VLC: supports streams .m3u and .pls. You can add your stations manually.

To reduce traffic consumption:

1. In the application settings, select the bitrate 64 kbps or 96 kbps.
2. Use night mode (if available) - it disables the transfer of album covers.
3. Download station playlists in advance via Wi-Fi (in VLC or Winamp).

⚠️ Attention: Some operators (for example, MTS and Beeline) block Internet radio streams on unlimited tariffs. To bypass the restriction, use a VPN (for example, ProtonVPN) or a proxy.

💡

If you need a specific station (for example, “Europe Plus”), find its direct link on the website radio-garden.net or streema.com, then add it to VLC as a network stream. This will save traffic and remove advertising.

6. Hidden settings and ADB commands for activating the radio

On some smartphones, FM radio is disabled at the firmware level, but it can be force activate through ADB or the engineering menu. This method is suitable for devices on Qualcomm i Mediatek, but requires an unlocked bootloader or root access.

Instructions for Qualcomm (for example, Samsung Galaxy A50, Xiaomi Mi A3):

1. Install Platform Tools on PC and connect your smartphone via USB.
2. Enter the command to check FM support:

adb shell dumpsys radio

3. If the response contains the line FM HAL: 1.0, run:

adb shell settings put global fmradio_enable 1
adb shell am start -n com.qualcomm.fmradio/.FMRadio

For Mediatek (for example, Realme 5, Tecno Camon):

1. Install MTK Engineering Mode from Play Market.
2. Go to Hardware Testing → FM Radio.
3. Turn on FM Power On and select Speaker Output.