Xiaomi Buds 4 Is Too Quiet? 7 Ways to Make It Louder

Xiaomi Buds 4 is a popular model with excellent value for money, but many users face the problem of insufficient volume. Even at the maximum level, the sound can seem muffled, especially in noisy conditions or when listening to music with low frequencies. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of quiet sound and offer 7 proven ways to increase the volume without harming technology.

It's important to understand that volume limits are often set at the firmware or operating system level of a smartphone. Manufacturers deliberately lower the maximum sound level to protect users' hearing and prevent damage to speakers. However, with MIUI settings, third-party apps and hardware adjustments, you can get around these limitations - the main thing is to do it carefully.

If your Buds 4 suddenly became quieter than usual, first check the obvious points: battery power (at a level below 20%, the sound can automatically be muffled), the density of the ears fittings and no physical damage.

1. Equalizer setting in the Mi Fitness app

The official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Wear) allows you to fine-tune the sound of Xiaomi Buds 4, including the equalizer. The right settings can visually increase the volume by raising high and medium frequencies that the human ear perceives better than low.

To change the equalizer:

• 📱 Open the Mi Fitness app and connect the headphones to your smartphone.
• 🎧 Go to the Devices section → Xiaomi Buds 4 → Sound settings.
• 🎛️ Select Equalizer and experiment with presets: Bass is suitable for electronic music, but can lower the overall volume. Bright, increases the high frequencies, creating a higher volume effect. Custom – manually lift sliders to 1 kHz and 4 kHz (these frequencies are responsible for the intelligibility of speech and the “transparency” of sound).

Tip: If the app does not have an equalizer partition, upgrade Mi Fitness to the latest version via Google Play or AppGallery. For iOS devices, functionality may be limited - in this case, use third-party apps like Equalizer FX.

2. Turning off volume restrictions in MIUI

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones have built-in hearing protection that artificially limits maximum volume, and this includes Bluetooth-connected wireless headphones to remove the constraint:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Loudness.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
3. Turn off the option of Safe Volume for headphones.
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After that, the maximum volume will increase by 15-20%, but be careful: prolonged listening at high volume (above 80% of the maximum) can lead to irreversible hearing impairment.

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If your version of MIUI does not have Safe Volume, try to turn on Developer Mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – press 7 times) and activate the Bluetooth Debugging option in the Developer Menu.

3. Use of third-party amplifiers

If the built-in settings don't work, you can use specialized applications that work as an intermediary between the player and the headphones, amplify the signal at the software level.

Before installing, check the app’s compatibility with your smartphone model. Some utilities (such as ViPER4Android) require root rights, which voids the warranty on the device. Also remember that excessive audio amplification can overheat speakers and shorten their lifespan.

4. Update to the headphone firmware

The manufacturer regularly releases updates for Xiaomi Buds 4, which can improve sound and eliminate software volume restrictions.

1. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
2. Open the Mi Fitness app.
3. Go to the Device Profile → Update the firmware.
4. If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

The latest stable firmware for Buds 4 (March 2026) is version 4.7.0.12, which fixed a bug that automatically lowers volume during long-term listening. If the update is not available, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones to the smartphone.
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes updates are only downloaded on a stable Internet connection).
• 🔋 Charge headphones up to 50% or more.

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Updating your firmware is the safest way to improve sound, as it is optimized by the manufacturer. However, don’t interrupt the upgrade process: it can lead to the “bricking” of the headphones.

5. Resetting headphone settings to factory

If the volume problems occurred after changing the settings or connecting to a new device, resetting will help, which will return all the sound parameters to the default values, which sometimes solves software failures.

Resetting instructions for Xiaomi Buds 4:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Close the lid, wait 30 seconds and reconnect the headphones.

After the reset, you may need to reset the equalizer and pair with the devices. If the problem persists, try resetting the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone:

Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ (settings → Reset network settings

Make sure your headphones are over 30% charged | Disconnect them from all devices in Bluetooth |Be sure to record the current equalizer settings (if you used custom) |Reset your firmware after you reset.

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6. Checking of hardware faults

If the software methods didn't work, you might have physical problems with the headphones, and the most common causes of quiet sound are:

• 🔊 Contamination of speakers - accumulation of earwax or dust on the speaker grid. Clean it with a soft brush or cotton swab soaked in alcohol (do not use sharp objects!).
• 🔋 Battery wear - when the discharge is below 15%, the headphones automatically turn the volume down. Check the battery capacity in the Mi Fitness app.
• 🎧 Membrane damage -- if the sound gets hoarse or there's a distortion, maybe the speaker is damaged, most often after falls or moisture.
• 📶 Bluetooth interference – in areas with a lot of wireless devices (metro, shopping malls) communication can deteriorate, which affects the volume.

For diagnostics, connect Buds 4 to another device (like a laptop or tablet). If the sound is quiet, the problem is with the headphones. If the volume is normal, look for the reason in the settings of the smartphone.

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To check the tightness of the earpieces, turn on the music at medium volume and press the earphone tightly with your finger to your ear. If the sound becomes much louder, it is time to replace the earpieces with new ones (for example, on the SpinFit CP100 for better insulation).

7. Alternative methods of amplifying sound

If the standard methods did not work, you can try less obvious solutions:

• 🎵 Using an external amplifier – connect the headphones to a portable Bluetooth amplifier (e.g. FiiO) BTR3K). This will increase the signal power without distortion.
• 🔊 App-level audio settings – some players (like Poweramp or Neutron Music Player) have separate volume settings for Bluetooth devices.
• 📱 Change the Bluetooth codec - in the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → Bluetooth codec) select AAC or aptX instead SBC. This can improve the quality of sound transmission.

For advanced users, there is a method of modifying the firmware of headphones through ADB, but it requires technical skills and can lead to a loss of warranty.

⚠️ Note: Using external amplifiers or modified firmware may void warranty on Xiaomi Buds 4.In addition, excessive amplification of sound increases the risk of damage to speakers and hearing.

Frequently asked questions

If none of these methods worked, there may be a hardware problem, so go to Xiaomi's authorized service center or consider buying new headphones, and remember that sound is subjective, and sometimes the apparent "quietness" is related to the specifics of a particular music composition or genre.