How to increase the volume on the Xiaomi smartphone: from standard settings to hidden features

Have you ever encountered a situation where the volume on your Xiaomi or Redmi seems to be insufficient? Music sounds quiet, the interlocutor in the pipe barely audible, and system sounds are generally lost in the noise of the environment. This problem is familiar to many owners of brand devices - despite the powerful speakers in top models, the software limitations of MIUI often "smother" the sound. Fortunately, there are several ways to get around these limitations and squeeze the maximum out of the audio system of your smartphone.

In this article, we’ll look at all the available volume-boosting techniques, from basic MIUI settings to engineering menus and third-party utilities. It’s important to understand that some of the ways you do this require caution: the wrong things can cause sound distortion or even damage to your speakers. We’ll explain the risks in detail and give you recommendations on how to avoid them. And if you’re a user of POCO or an old Xiaomi model (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi 9T) – don’t worry, most of the methods are universal and work on all devices with MIUI.

Before you start setting up, make sure that the problem is not the hardware. Check this out simply: turn the music on at maximum volume and put your ear to the speaker. If the sound is clean, but quiet is the problem with the software constraints. If you hear wheezing, crackling or interrupting, it may be that the speaker is damaged (in which case only a replacement will help). It is also worth cleaning the speaker grille with a soft brush - sometimes this solves the problem without additional manipulation.

1. MIUI Standard Settings: What You Can Do Without Root

Let's start with the simplest, the built-in MIUI tools, and even if you think you've tried all the options, check these settings again, because newer versions of the firmware can change them.

The first thing to do is to turn off the volume limit for the EU, a software restriction that Xiaomi sets up to comply with European security standards, to remove it:

1. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional Settings.
3. Find Volume Limit (EU) and turn it off.

If this is not the case, then your firmware has no European restrictions (or has already been removed).The next step is to adjust the sound uniformity. In the same Additional settings, find Adaptive Sound or Sound Improvement and experiment with presets (such as Music, Film or Game), these profiles automatically adjust the frequency range, making the sound louder at certain frequencies.

Don't forget to customize the volume for different types of notifications, and MIUI can also adjust the following:

• 🔊 Media (music, video, games)
• 📞 Calls (incoming and outgoing)
• 🔔 Notifications (SMS, messengers, system sounds)
• 🎙️ Microphone (to improve the audibility of the interlocutor)

To access these settings, tap the volume button and tap the gear next to the slider, where you can disable the connection between the volume buttons and notifications (helpful if you often accidentally change the sound level for calls).

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If the sound is quieter after the MIUI update, try resetting the sound settings to factory. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots → Reset the application settings and select Sound Settings.

2. Engineering menu: hidden parameters of sound

If the standard settings don't work, it's time to turn to the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden part of Android where you can fine-tune hardware components, including the audio system. Importantly, the wrong changes in the engineering menu can cause speakers or microphones to malfunction. Do everything carefully and write down the original values!

To open the engineering menu on Xiaomi, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##36446337## (or #4636## for older models).
3. Choose Hardware Testing → Audio.

In this section you are interested in the following parameters:

• 🔊 LoudSpeaker Mode: Try increasing the Max Vol by 5-10 units (but not more than 20% of the original speaker volume!).
• 🎧 Headset Mode – Similar settings for headphones.
• 📞 Receiver Mode – volume of the speaker (caution: too high values can distort the voice of the interlocutor).
• 🎤 Mic Gain - microphone amplification (useful if you can't hear your calls).

After the changes, be sure to test the sound at different volume levels. If there are wheezing or distortion, return the previous values. Also note the Audio Logging item: if it is on, turn it off (it can reduce the performance of the audio system).

3. Apps to amplify sound: top-5 utility

If you don't want to dig into the settings or you're afraid of breaking something, third-party apps will come to the rescue. They run on top of system audio drivers and can dramatically increase volume without requiring root rights. We tested dozens of utilities and selected the 5 most effective for Xiaomi devices.

The easiest option for beginners is Volume Booster GOODEV. After installation, just move the slider to the maximum value and enable the Boost Media Volume option. The application works even on blocked downloaders and does not require additional permissions.

For advanced users, we recommend ViPER4Android, which allows you to not only increase the volume, but also completely adjust the sound to your preferences.

• 🎛️ Set up virtual surround sound for headphones.
• 🔇 Remove the frequency limit (cut-off) for speakers.
• 🎵 Apply presets for different genres of music (from classics to metal).
• 🔊 Turn on dynamic range compressor (makes quiet sounds louder and louder ones quieter).

Note that ViPER4Android requires installation via Magisk (for devices with unlocked bootloader) or manual placement of drivers in the system section. The XDA Developers forum has detailed instructions for specific Xiaomi models.

Make a backup of the current firmware

Install Magisk (if there is no root)

Download the latest version of V4A with XDA

Disable other sound modifiers

Reboot the device after installation

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4. Adjusting the sound through ADB: for advanced users

If you're not afraid of the command line, you can turn up the volume through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works without root, but requires connecting the phone to your computer and enabling debugging mode, and the advantage of ADB is that the changes are applied at the system level and not reset once you reboot.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and open the command line in the adb.exe folder.
4. Run the command to check the connection: adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
5. Increase the maximum volume for media (replace) 15 to the right extent, but no more 25!): adb shell settings put global media_volume_steps 15

Other useful commands for ADB:

• 🔊 Adding to the volume of calls: adb shell settings put global ring_volume_steps 10
• 🔔 Remove the Notification Limit: Adb shell settings put global notification_volume_steps 15
• 🔄 Reset all sound settings to standard: adb shell settings delete global media_volume_steps

After you apply the commands, restart your phone. If the sound gets distorted, reduce the values or return the standard settings. Also note that on some firmware, Xiaomi blocks changes through ADB, in which case only getting root rights will help.

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Changes to ADB do not require root, but only until the next reset or MIUI update.

5 Hardware Solutions: When Software Methods Don't Help

If you've tried all the ways, but the sound is still quiet, the problem may be in the hardware. Here are the most common causes and solutions.

1. Contamination of speakers. Dust and debris accumulate in the speaker's lattice, blocking the sound waves.

• 🧹 Use a soft toothbrush or brush to clean the grille.
• 💨 Blow the speaker with compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment).
• ❌ Do not use sharp objects – it can damage the membrane!

2.Damage to the speaker membrane: If the sound is wheezing or not at all, it may be deformed, in this case only a replacement speaker will help. The cost of repairs at the Xiaomi service center is from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles (depending on the model).

3. Problem with the headphone jack. If the sound is quiet only when wired headphones are connected, check:

• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts in the connector (clean with alcohol).
• 🎧 Headphone resistance (earphones with impedance above 32 ohms may sound quieter).
• 🔄 Type-C adapter → 3.5 mm (on models without headphone jack).

4. Weak microphone. If you can't hear you when you're calling, check:

• 🎤 Microphone hole (often clogged with dust).
• 🔇 Noise reduction settings in Settings → Sound. → Improving voice.
• 📱 Microphone Sensitivity in Engineering Menu (Mic Gain).

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If you talk on the phone often in noisy places, try using an external microphone (such as a noise-cancelling headset).Even low-cost models from Xiaomi or Baseus will significantly improve communication quality.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you try to turn up the volume, many users make mistakes that lead to the opposite result - the sound becomes even quieter or there are distortions.-5 Mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Too much volume increase in the engineering menu. If you set the Max Vol above 120-130, the speakers will start to wheez, and over time this can damage them. The optimal increase is no more than 10-15 units from the standard value.

2. Using multiple amplifiers at the same time. If you installed Volume Booster and ViPER4Android, they'll conflict, which will cause audio clipping or crashes. Choose one application and calibrate it.

3. Ignoring MIUI updates. In newer firmware versions, Xiaomi often fixes sound bugs. If you haven't updated in a long time, check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

4. Wrong equalizer settings: Excessive low-frequency amplification (bass) eats up volume at medium and high frequencies. Use presets or reduce bass levels to +3 dB.

5. Neglect testing. After any changes, check the sound at different volume levels and in different scenarios (music, calls, videos). If there is a distortion, return the standard settings immediately.

7. Alternative methods: Bluetooth, external speakers and not only

If none of these methods worked, consider alternative solutions that won't turn up the volume of the built-in speakers, but will give you a more powerful sound.

1. Bluetooth speakers and headphones. Modern portable speakers (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker or JBL Go 3) sound much louder than built-in speakers. Connect them via Bluetooth and set up an AAC or aptX profile for better quality.

External USB-C speakers: For models without a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5), speakers with a USB-C connection will suit. They are powered directly from the phone and produce sound up to 10 watts.

3. Headphone amplifiers. If you use wired headphones, you can plug in an external amp (e.g. FiiO A1 or Xiaomi HD Audio Amplifier). This is especially true for high-impedance headphones (from 100 ohms).

4 Software tricks: Some apps (e.g. YouTube or Spotify) have their own volume settings, you can turn on Volume Normalization in playback settings on YouTube, and you can activate Loud Play on Spotify.

5.Use of a second device: If you need to amplify the sound for calls, you can connect the phone to another smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and use it as a speakerphone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

If neither method worked, it could be a hardware problem, so if you go to a Xiaomi service center or a proven wizard, remember, sound should be not only loud, but also clean. Don't sacrifice quality for a few extra decibels!