Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories for music lovers and gamers, but not everyone knows how to unlock their sound potential. Even budget models like Redmi AirDots 3 or the flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro support an equalizer setting that allows you to customize the sound to your preferences: strengthen the bass for hip-hop, allocate the middle frequencies for vocals or balance the sound for podcasts. Without proper customization, you risk listening to “flat” sound, devoid of depth and detail.
In this article, we will look at all the ways to adjust the equalizer on Xiaomi headphones, from standard presets in the proprietary Mi Fitness app to manual adjustment through third-party programs. You will learn what frequencies are responsible for certain elements of sound, how to avoid distortion when amplifying basses, and why on some models the equalizer can “reset” after connecting to a new device. And for advanced users, we have prepared unique presets equalizer for different musical genres, tested on Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro and Redmi Buds 5 headphones.
Which Xiaomi headphones support equalizer setting?
Not all Xiaomi wireless headphones allow flexible audio customization. The ability to adjust the equalizer depends on the firmware version, the app supported, and the hardware platform.
- 🎧 Full equalizer support: Xiaomi Buds 3/3T Pro, Xiaomi Buds 4/4 Pro, Redmi Buds 4/5 Pro, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro. These models work with the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Wear) and allow you to select presets or adjust frequencies manually.
- 🔊 Presets only: Redmi AirDots 3, Xiaomi Air 2/2S/2 Pro, Redmi Buds 3 Lite. Ready-made sound profiles (e.g., "Bases," "Vocal") are available here, but manual tuning is blocked.
- ❌ Equalizer-free: Redmi AirDots (1st generation), Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic and other ultra-budget models. Their sound is corrected only through the system equalizer of the smartphone.
To check for equalizer support for your model, open the Mi Fitness app, plug in your headphones, and go to the Device Settings section → Sound. If there's an Equalizer tab, you can have full customization. If only the profile switch, you have to settle for presets or use third-party solutions.
⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi headphones with a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip (e.g. Redmi Buds 4 Active), the equalizer may not work smoothly when connected to iOS devices.
Method 1: Configure via the Mi Fitness app (official method)
The proprietary Mi Fitness app (available for Android and iOS) is Xiaomi’s primary headphone management tool, to set up the equalizer:
- Install the app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
- Open Mi Fitness, tap on the headphone icon at the top of the screen.
- Go to the device settings → Sound → Equalizer.
Depending on the model, you will be able to:
- 🎛️ Presets: "Balanced", "Bases", "Vocal", "Classic" etc. (selected by one tap).
- 📊 Manual tuning: sliders to adjust 5-10 frequency bands (60 Hz to 16 kHz).
For manual adjustment, we recommend to adhere to the following principles:
| Frequency range (Hz) | What regulates | Adjustment recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 60–250 | Subbass (deep low frequencies) | Increase for electronic music, but not more than +6 dB, otherwise wheezing will appear. |
| 250–500 | Low frequencies (drums, bass guitar) | Optimal for rock music, reduce with dirty sound. |
| 500–2000 | Medium frequencies (vocals, guitars) | Raise 2–3 dB for clarity in pop vocals. |
| 2000–8000 | High frequencies (plates, violins) | Increase for classics, but no more than +4 dB – the risk of ear fatigue. |
| 8000–16000 | Ultra-high frequencies (air, overtones) | Minimum corrections (up to +2 dB) for "transparency" of sound. |
Are the headphones connected to the app?|Have you listened to changes on the test track?|Have you saved the preset in "My settings"?|Is the sound tested on different genres of music?-->
⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi headphone firmware (e.g. Buds 3 Pro on version 1.7.0.4), the manual equalizer settings are reset after reconnecting to another device. To avoid this, save the preset in the app as "User."
Method 2: System equalizer Android/iOS (if there is no Mi Fitness)
If your headphone model doesn't support equalizer tuning through Mi Fitness, you can use the system tools of your smartphone. This method is less accurate, but works on all wireless headphones.
On Android:
- Open Settings → Sound → Equalizer (the path may differ depending on the shell).
- Turn on the equalizer and select a preset or adjust the sliders manually.
- Activate the option "Apply to Bluetooth devices".
On iOS (only for AirPods and some Xiaomi models with Apple W1/H1 chip):
- Go to Settings → Music → Equalizer.
- Select a preset (e.g., "Basic Booster" or "Rock").
Limitations of the method:
- ⚠️ On iOS, the system equalizer only works with headphones that support AAC-codecs (most Xiaomi use SBC or aptX).
- ⚠️ On Android, settings can be reset when connected to another device.
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If your smartphone doesn’t have a built-in equalizer, install the Wavelet app (from the Poweramp developers) that supports audio adjustment for Bluetooth devices and has more than 100 presets for different genres.
Method 3: Third-Party Applications for Advanced Configuration
For those who do not have the capabilities of Mi Fitness, there are specialized applications with advanced equalizer functions.
- 🎵 Poweramp Equalizer: 10-band equalizer, presets for different genres, Bluetooth support and LDAC. Paid, but there is a trial version.
- 🔊 Equalizer FX: Free with basic settings. Suitable for beginners.
- 🎛️ ViPER4Android: An advanced audio processor with Dolby Surround and Crossfade support, requires root rights on some devices.
Instructions for Poweramp Equalizer:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Connect Xiaomi headphones via Bluetooth.
- Open Poweramp, go to Settings → Audio → Equalizer.
- Activate the option "Apply to Bluetooth".
- Set up sliders or select a preset (e.g., "Electronic" to enhance bass).
Advantages of third-party applications:
- 🔹 More accurate setup (up to 15 equalizer bands vs. 5-7 in Mi Fitness).
- 🔹 Support for audio effects: 3D-sound, compressor, reverberation.
- 🔹 Ability to save unlimited presets.
Mi Fitness|Poweramp Equalizer|Equalizer FX|ViPER4Android|System equalizer |Not configuring-->
Presets equalizer for different genres of music
We tested different combinations of equalizer settings on Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi Buds 5 headphones and prepared optimal presets for popular music genres. These settings can be applied to both Mi Fitness and third-party applications.
| genre | 60-250 Hz | 250-500 Hz | 500–2,000 Hz | 2000–8,000 Hz | 8000-16000 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip-hop/R&B | +6 dB | +4 dB | +1 dB | 0 dB | -1 dB |
| Rock/Metal | +3 db | +5 dB | +2 dB | +1 dB | +2 dB |
| Electronic music | +7 dB | +2 dB | -1 dB | +3 db | +1 dB |
| Classics/Jazz | +1 dB | 0 dB | +3 db | +4 dB | +2 dB |
| Podcasts/Audiobooks | -2 dB | 0 dB | +5 dB | +2 dB | -1 dB |
How to apply presets:
- Open the equalizer in Mi Fitness or a third-party app.
- Move the sliders according to the table (values are indicated relative to the neutral position).
- Listen to the test track of the selected genre and adjust the settings if necessary.
Why does the preset for electronic music have such a strong bass?
⚠️ Warning: Presets in the table are designed for headphones with speakers 10-12 mm in diameter (as in most Xiaomi models). For headphones with large drivers (for example, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro with 11 mm speakers), reduce the bass gain by 1-2 dB to avoid overload.
Common Problems and Their Solutions
When setting up the equalizer on Xiaomi headphones, users often face problems.
- 🔇 Equalizer not saved: Update the headphone firmware via Mi Fitness. If the problem persists, reset the headphones to factory settings (press the button on the case charge case for 10 seconds).
- 🔊 The sound became quieter after tuning: This is normal when amplifying high or medium frequencies. Compensate with the volume on the device or reduce the overall level in the equalizer.
- 🎵 Wheezing at high volume: Reduce bass amplification (especially in the 60-150 Hz range) and check the bitrate of the Bluetooth codec. For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, it is recommended to use LDAC (990 kbit/s) instead of SBC (328 kbit/s).
- 📱 Settings are reset when connected to another device: This is a feature of the firmware. The solution is to set the equalizer separately on each device or use the system equalizer of a smartphone.
If Xiaomi headphones are not defined in Mi Fitness:
- Remove the device from the Bluetooth list on your smartphone.
- Reboot the headphones (put in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out).
- Connect again and check for firmware updates in Mi Fitness.
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Always check the firmware version of the headphones before setting up the equalizer. Outdated versions (e.g. 1.4.0.6 for the Buds 3 Pro) may not support manual frequency adjustment.
Additional Tips for Improved Sound
Setting up the equalizer is just part of the job of making the perfect sound, and here are some more tips for Xiaomi headphone owners:
- 🎧 Check the density of fittings: A loose fit leads to a loss of bass. For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, select the in-boxes from the kit (sizes S/M/L).
- 📶 Choose the optimal Bluetooth codec: LDAC (990 kbit/s) is the best quality but high latency (not suitable for gaming). aptX Adaptive (420 kbit/s) is the balance of quality and stability. SBC (328 kbit/s) is a versatile but compressed sound.
- 🔋 Watch your charge level: When the charge is below 20%, Xiaomi headphones automatically reduce the sound quality to save energy.
- 🎚️ Use volume normalization: In Mi Fitness, enable the option "Adaptive Sound" (Device Settings → Sound) to avoid sharp volume spikes between tracks.
For gamers:
- 🎮 Turn on Low Lag (Device Settings → Game Mode) – this will reduce lag but slightly degrade the sound quality.
- 🔊 For the best spatial sound scene in shooters, use a preset equalizer with an amplification of average frequencies (500–2000 Hz) by +3 dB.