How to adjust the sound on Xiaomi wireless headphones: from bass to noise maker

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are some of the most popular gadgets on the market, thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even owners of AirDots Pro 3, Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro don’t always know how to fully unleash the sound potential of their devices. Volume control through touch buttons is only the tip of the iceberg. In fact, the user’s arsenal has equalizers, sound presets, noise reduction settings, and even hidden features in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to tune the sound, from basic to advanced, you will learn how to change the volume without a phone, activate modes for music or conversations, and fix typical problems (for example, when one earphone plays louder than another). We will pay special attention to models with ANC (active noise reduction) and LDAC — They require a separate setup for perfect sound, if you want your Xiaomi to sound like a premium headphone for 20,000. ₽ — read on.

1. Basic methods of volume control

The most obvious method is to use touch buttons on the headphone case, and most Xiaomi models are responsible for this:

• 🎵 Single touch – playback / pause (on some models – answer to a call).
• 🔊 Double touch – increase the volume (on the right earpiece) or decrease (on the left).
• 🔄 Triple touch – switching tracks (forward/backward).
• 🎧 Holding 2 seconds – activation of voice assistant or noise cancellation (depending on model).

Important: Sensor sensitivity may vary, for example, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro has a light touch, and AirDots 2 requires a more confident tap. If the headphones don't respond, check:

1. Clean touch panel (sweat or dirt can block the signal).
2. The density of the earphone to the ear (with weak contact, touches do not work).
3. Firmware version (updates often fix management bugs).

Another way is to adjust it directly on your smartphone. On Android, the volume of the headphones is tied to media volume (a slider appears when playing music). On iPhone, you can control the sound through the Control Center or the player app. Note that some models (for example, Buds 4 Pro) support separate adjustment for multimedia and calls, this is configured in the proprietary app.

⚠️ Warning: If the volume is at maximum but the sound is still quiet, the problem may be the limiting EU Volume Cap (European security standard) To turn it off, go to Settings → Sound. → Security and notification → Remove volume limit (not available on all firmware).

2. Customize the sound through the Xiaomi Earbuds app

Xiaomi Earbuds, the proprietary app (formerly Mi Home), is the main tool for fine-tuning, available for Android and iOS, but the functionality may differ. Here's what you can do:

• 🎛️ Select Preset equalizer (Bases, Rock, Pop, Classic, User).
• 🔇 Set up ANC and transparent mode (available for noise reduction models).
• 🔊 Activate voice amplification (useful for calls in noisy places).
• 🎧 Update the firmware (sometimes adding new sound profiles).

To connect headphones to the application:

1. Install Xiaomi Earbuds from Google Play or App Store.
2. Open the app and allow access to Bluetooth and Notifications.
3. Click Add Device and select your model from the list.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (resetting headphones may be required).

Update the application to the latest version

Charge headphones to at least 50%

Disconnect them from other devices

Enable Bluetooth and geolocation (for some models)-->

Once connected, go to the Sound or Equalizer section. Here you'll see some pre-made profiles. For example, the Bass preset amplifies low frequencies, which is good for hip-hop or electronic music, and the Voice is good for podcasts. For fine-tuning, select User and manually adjust sliders for 60Hz, 230Hz, 910Hz, etc.

In LDAC-enabled models (like FlipBuds Pro), the app offers a choice of codecs. Select LDAC (990 kbps) for better sound, but note that this will increase battery consumption.

Noise reduction (ANC) and transparency modes

If your headphones support active noise cancellation (ANC), setting it can dramatically change the perception of sound. The Xiaomi Earbuds app usually has 3 modes:

To activate the ANC:

1. Open the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
2. Go to Noise Reduction or ANC.
3. Choose the desired mode or adjust the sensitivity (if available).

Some models, like the Buds 4 Pro, can adjust the noise reduction level from light to maximum, and there is also the voice enhancement option, which improves the audibility of the interlocutor during calls. Note: ANC consumes additional energy, so when you use it actively, the headphones will discharge faster by 10-20%.

⚠️ Note: If after activation ANC If you hear a hiss or a whistle, it can be caused by the headphones not fitting tightly, try resizing the earpieces or clearing them of earwax, and in rare cases, the problem is solved by resetting the headphone settings.

4.Sound problems and their solutions

Even premium Xiaomi models sometimes have audio problems, and here are some of the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔈 One earphone is quieter than the other, because the speaker is clogged or the balance settings are lost. Solution: Clean the earphone with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, or reset the settings in the app.
• 🎵 Solution: Reconnect the headphones, move away from the sources of interference (microwaves, routers).
• 🔇 ANC It doesn't work or it doesn't suppress noise very well. It's because it's outdated firmware or it's not properly designed. Solution: update the software and check the density of the fitting.
• 📵 Headphones do not respond to touch Reason: sensor failure or battery discharge Solution: charge the headphones and perform reset (see instructions below).

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the headphones to the factory settings.

1. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (if any) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Open the lid and wait until the headphones reset.
4. Connect them again via Bluetooth.

For models with advanced ANC (like FlipBuds Pro), there is additional diagnostics in the app. Go to Settings → Diagnostics → ANC test – the system will check whether the noise reduction microphones are working correctly.

5. Hidden functions and life hacks to improve sound

Few people know, but Xiaomi headphones have hidden features that can be activated through an app or special combinations of touches.

• 🎚️ In some models (for example, Buds 3 Pro) there is a separate profile for games, which reduces the sound latency. → Regimes.
• 🔄 Automatic device switching If the headphones are connected to multiple gadgets (such as a phone and laptop), they can automatically switch when playing audio.To enable: Bluetooth settings → Additionally. → Auto-connection.
• 🎤 In Xiaomi Earbuds, there is an option called “Voice Amplification” that suppresses echoes and noise during a conversation.
• 🔋 Saving the battery without losing quality if you don’t need it ANC or LDAC, Turn them off manually – this will extend the work time by 2-3 hours.

For touch-controlled models, you can reassign actions. For example, in AirDots 3 Pro, triple tap switches tracks by default, but it can be replaced by calling a voice assistant or switching ANC modes. This is done in the application in the Control → Gesture Customization section.

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If your headphones support spatial sound (like FlipBuds Pro), turn it on in the sound settings, which creates a surround sound effect, like in a movie theater, especially when watching movies.

Another useful trick is calibrating the ANC microphones, and if noise reduction is not working well, the app has an ANC Calibration option (usually hidden in additional settings) that adapts the headphones to the shape of your ear, improving the suppressive ability.

6.Firmware Update: Why It Matters for Sound

The manufacturer regularly releases firmware updates for headphones that fix bugs, add new sound profiles or improve the performance of ANC. For example, one of the updates for the Buds 4 Pro has a Super Bass mode, and for the FlipBuds Pro – support for 360° sound.

To update the firmware:

1. Open the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Go to the section About the device → Software update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

Important: during the upgrade, the headphones should be charged at least 30%, and the case should be charged 50%. If the process is interrupted, a failure may occur and the headphones will stop turning on, in which case only flashing through the PC will help (the instructions are on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).

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Firmware updates often add new sound presets and improve the quality of ANC. Check them every 1-2 months.

After the update, it is recommended to reset (see section 4) to avoid conflicts between old and new settings. Also check the Update Log section of the app - it indicates what exactly has changed in the new version.

7. Comparison of sound capabilities of popular models

Not all Xiaomi headphones are the same – the functionality depends on the model. In the table below, we compare the key sound features of popular lines:

If you care about sound quality, look for models that support LDAC (Buds 4 Pro, FlipBuds Pro) and are lossless, especially on high-bit tracks (like FLAC or WAV). Budget AirDots are also suitable for everyday use, but they lose out on audio detail.

On Android (especially with the MIUI shell), all features work without restrictions. iPhones can have problems with:

• Display the level of charge of the headphones.
• Some gestures (e.g., calling Siri instead of Google Assistant)
• Update the firmware (requires an Android device).

FAQ: Frequent questions about sound tuning