Have you accidentally deleted the standard application FM radio on your Android smartphone and now you don’t know how to get it back? Don’t panic - in 90% of cases the problem is solved in a few minutes without complex manipulations. Even if the radio icon disappeared from the desktop, the application itself could simply be disabled or hidden in the menu. And if you deleted it manually, there are ways to restore it through Google Play, system settings, or even using ADB.

In this article we will analyze all possible scenarios: from the banal return of a hidden icon to manual installation of an APK file for rare models. Please note that on some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy or Xiaomi Redmi), the radio may be integrated into the application Music or FM radio from the manufacturer. Also note that not all smartphones support FM radio at the hardware level - if your model does not have the corresponding chip, neither method will work.

📊 What smartphone do you have?
Samsung
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco
Huawei/Honor
Other Android
I don’t know

1. Check if the radio is really deleted

Before you begin recovery, make sure that the application is not just hidden. On many smartphones (especially Xiaomi and Realme), the radio can be:

  • 📱 Hidden in the application menu — swipe up on the screen, open All applications and enter "radio" in the search.
  • 🔍 Combined with another service —for example, in Samsung radio is often built into Samsung Music.
  • ⚙️ Disabled in settings —go to Settings → Applications → Show system ones and find FM Radio.

If the application is found but does not start, try:

  1. Clear the cache and data in the application settings.
  2. Update it via Google Play (if available).
  3. Restart the smartphone - sometimes this solves problems with system services.
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On some devices Huawei the radio is hidden in the application Music. Open it, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select FM radio

2. Recovery via Google Play (for most models)

If the radio was deleted as a regular application (not a system one), it can be returned via Play Market. To do this:

  1. Open Google Play and enter in search FM Radio.
  2. Find the official application from the manufacturer of your smartphone (for example, FM Radio from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.).
  3. Press Install. If the button is active, the application will be downloaded and installed automatically.

🔹 Important: If the search does not contain an official application from your brand, do not install third-party radio applications (for example, Simple Radio or TuneIn Radio). They work via the Internet, and not through an FM chip, and will not replace the built-in radio.

Brand Name of the application in the Play Market Does the FM chip support
Samsung Samsung FM Radio Yes (on models with a chip)
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco Mi Radio FM Yes (except for some budget models)
Huawei/Honor FM Radio (built into Music) Yes (on most models)
Realme/Oppo Realme FM Radio Yes (requires headphones as an antenna)
⚠️ Attention: On smartphones Google Pixel, OnePlus (new models) and some other flagships, the FM chip may be physically absent. Check the specifications of your model on the manufacturer's website.

3. Turning on the radio through system settings (without installation)

On many. On devices, the radio is not completely removed, but simply turned off. To get it back:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Show system applications (or Three dots → Show system).
  2. Find FM Radio, Radio or similar.
  3. Tap on it and select Enable (if the button is active).
  4. If there is an option Reset settings, use it.

After this, the radio icon should appear in the application menu. If not, try restarting your smartphone.

Find the radio in the list of system applications|

Try to turn it on. manually|

Clear cache and data|

Reboot the phone-->

4. Manual recovery via ADB (for experienced users)

If the radio was deleted as a system application (for example, via ADB or root access), you can only get it back by re-installing it. To do this you will need:

  • 🖥️ A computer with installed ADB and drivers for your smartphone.
  • 📱 Enabled USB debugging in the developer settings.
  • 🔗 radio APK file for your model (can be found on the forums 4PDA or XDA Developers).

Instructions:

  1. Download the radio APK file (for example, FMRadio.apk) for your firmware.
  2. Connect your smartphone to the PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
  3. Run the command: 
    adb install FMRadio.apk

    If you need to install as a system application:

    adb shell

    su
    

    mount -o rw,remount /system
    

    cp /sdcard/FMRadio.apk /system/priv-app/
    

    chmod 644 /system/priv-app/FMRadio.apk
    

    reboot

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB may disrupt the operation of the system. If you are not sure, it is better to contact a specialist or use other methods.
What to do if ADB does not see the device?

Make sure that it is turned on USB debugging in Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times to unlock the developer menu). Also check the drivers and cable - sometimes changing the USB port or restarting the PC helps.

5. Alternative ways to listen to the radio

If you cannot restore the built-in radio, consider alternatives:

  • 📻 Internet radio: Applications like TuneIn Radio or Radio Garden offer thousands of stations, but require a network connection.
  • 🎧 Bluetooth radio: Some portable FM receivers (for example, Sony ICF-P26) can broadcast sound to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
  • 🔌 External FM tuner: USB or Lightning tuners (for example Belkin TuneCast) connect to a smartphone and work through special applications.

🔹 Disadvantages of alternatives: Internet radio consumes traffic and battery, and external devices require additional costs. However, if your smartphone does not physically have an FM chip, these are the only options.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When restoring a radio, users often encounter typical problems:

  • 🚫 "Application not installed" —check the compatibility of the APK with your version of Android. Download files only from trusted sources.
  • 🔕 "No sound" —connect headphones (they act as an antenna for the FM chip). On some models (Xiaomi), the radio only works with wired headphones.
  • 🔄 "The radio turns on, but does not pick up stations" — try resetting the application settings or updating it.

On smartphones with Android 12+ and a dynamic update system (for example Google Pixel 6), the restoration of deleted system applications may be blocked. In this case, only a factory reset or flashing will help.

💡

If the radio was deleted via root access, the easiest way is to return it using a backup copy or reinstall the firmware.

Is it possible to restore the radio without a computer?

Yes, if the radio was simply turned off or hidden. Try:

  1. Find it in Settings → Applications → Show system ones and enable it.
  2. Install the official application from Google Play (if available for your model).
  3. Reset your smartphone to factory settings (the last option if all else fails).

If the radio was removed as a system application, without ADB or root access will not be able to return it.

Why does the radio not work after restoration?

Possible reasons:

  • The FM chip is disabled at the hardware level (for example, on some models for the USA).
  • Application installed, but does not have rights to access the chip (try to give all permissions manually).
  • Problems with firmware - try updating Android to the latest version.

Also check if your model supports FM radio. For example, in Google Pixel 4 and newer there is no chip.

Where can I download the original radio APK for my model?

Official APKs can be found:

  • On the forums 4PDA (section of your model).
  • In topics on XDA Developers (search by smartphone name + "FM Radio APK").
  • In firmware archives (for example, on the website SamMobile for Samsung).

⚠️ Warning: Download files only from verified sources. Installing modified APKs may disrupt the operation of the system.

Can you use the radio without headphones?

On most smartphones, headphones act as an antenna, so without them the radio either does not work or has very poor reception:

  • Some models Sony Xperia have a built-in antenna.
  • Smartphones with a metal body (for example, iPhone or HTC) can use the case as an antenna.

If your model does not support operation without headphones, try using an extension cord with headphones or an external antenna (if the connector allows it).

What should I do if my smartphone does not have an FM chip?

If the manufacturer does not provide hardware support for FM radio (as in most flagships Google, OnePlus or Apple), alternatives:

  • Use Internet radio (for example, TuneIn Radio, Radio Garden).
  • Buy portable FM receiver with Bluetooth support (for example, Sangean HB-15B).
  • Connect external USB tuner (works with an OTG adapter on Android).

Remember that Internet radio consumes traffic and battery, and external devices require additional attachments.