Set up headphone balance on Xiaomi: from MIUI to third-party apps

Uneven sound in the left and right earphones is a common problem faced by owners of Xiaomi headsets, whether they are wireless Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless or wired models. The reasons can be due to hardware malfunctions and software settings of the smartphone, but in 80% of cases the solution lies on the surface: it is enough to adjust the sound balance in the MIUI system or the player used.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to adjust the balance, from built-in tools to specialized applications. We will focus on the nuances for different types of headphones (TWS, wired, Bluetooth) and firmware versions. If you notice that one earphone sounds quieter than the other or is silent at all, don’t rush to carry the headset to the service: first check the settings according to our instructions.

Why is the sound balance in Xiaomi headphones lost?

Before you start setting up, it is important to understand the causes of the imbalance, and these fall into two categories: software (fixed by changing the settings) and hardware (required repair or replacement).

• 📱 Failure in MIUI: After updating the firmware or resetting the settings, the sound parameters may be lost. MIUI 14 encountered a bug when the balance automatically shifted to the left after connecting Bluetooth headphones.
• 🎧 Contamination of speakers: In Xiaomi wired headphones (such as Mi Basic or Mi Dual Driver), dust and earwax can clog the speaker's grid, muffling sound in one channel.
• 🔋 Battery grade in TWS: In wireless models (Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds) 3T) with a low charge of one earphone, its volume can be artificially reduced to save energy.
• 🔊 Equalizer settings: Active presets in applications (e.g., Bass Boost or 3D-sound) sometimes distorts the balance, amplifies one channel at the expense of another.

If the imbalance appears suddenly, first try to restart the smartphone and reset the headphone settings (for TWS: hold the button on the case of the charging case for 10-15 seconds).

Method 1: Balance adjustment through MIUI system settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. They are available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a firmware version at least MIUI 10. The instructions are relevant for models from Redmi Note 8 Pro to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound settings → Sound balance. Here you will see a slider that adjusts the ratio of left (L) and right (R) channels. By default, it is in the middle. Move it left or right to equalize the volume. In models with MIUI 12.5+, this section can be called “Audio Effects” or hidden under the item “Advanced”.

Open "Settings"

Go to "Sound and Vibration"

Select “Sound Settings” (or “Audio Effects”)

Find the Balance of Sound slider

Adjust position and test the sound-->

If the "Balance of Sound" item is not on the menu, then your model does not support this feature at the software level. In this case, use alternative methods (see the following sections). Also make sure that the headphones are connected to the smartphone before entering the settings - otherwise the option may not be active.

⚠️ Note: On some devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F3 or POCO X5 Pro) the path to balance settings is different: Settings → Additionally. → Sound lab → Stereo balance. If you can't find a partition, upgrade to the latest version.

Method 2: Balance adjustment in the Music app

The standard Mi Music player (or Music in global firmware) has a built-in equalizer with the ability to adjust the balance, which is suitable if the imbalance is only manifested when listening to music, but not during calls or videos.

Open the Music app, play any track and tap the icon. ⚙️ Settings in the upper right corner. Select the Equator → Balance: You'll find the same slider here as the system settings, but it only applies to this player, and the advantage of this method is that you can adjust the balance separately for the music without affecting other sounds (notifications, calls).

If you use third-party players (like Poweramp or AIMP), look for balance settings in the Equalizer section. In Poweramp, the path will be: Settings → Audio → Equalizer → L/R Balance. Here you can set a value with an accuracy of 1%, which is useful for fine-tuning.

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If the player doesn't have a built-in balance, try to turn on Mono mode, which duplicates audio into both headphones, which temporarily solves the imbalance problem, and you can find it in Spotify and YouTube Music.

Method 3: Using third-party applications to fine-tune

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, look for specialized applications that offer advanced features: pre-profiles, automatic balance adjustments, and even hearing tests for customization.

Top.-3 applications for adjusting the headphone balance:

• 🎛️ Equalizer FX: Free equalizer with balance support L/R, Presets for different genres of music and low latency.Works on Xiaomi without root rights.
• 🔊 Wavelet: App with Auto function EQ, It automatically adjusts the balance based on the headphone model, supports Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 4 and other popular models.
• 🎧 SoundAssistant: A utility from Samsung, but compatible with MIUI. Allows you to adjust the balance separately for each connected device (headphones, speakers, dynamics).

To set up the balance using Equalizer FX:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the media files.
3. Go to the Balance tab.
4. Move the slider left/right while testing the sound.
5. Save the profile for current headphones.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, ViPER4Android) They require root access to work properly. On Xiaomi smartphones with a locked bootloader, installing them can cause system failures. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Method 4: Balance adjustment for wireless headphones (TWS)

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones (like the Redmi Buds 4 Active or Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro) have their own balance settings that can conflict with the system’s. If one earphone sounds quieter, check first:

1. Battery Charging: In models with ANC (active noise cancellation), the volume in one earphone can automatically decrease when the discharge is below 20% to save energy.
2. Headphone firmware: Outdated software often causes imbalance. Update your firmware through the Mi Earphones app (available on Google Play).
3. Connection mode: In Bluetooth settings (Settings) → Bluetooth → ⚙️ Next to the headphones, select Audio Codec: AAC instead SBC — This improves channel synchronization.

For models that support Mi Earphones (e.g. Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro):

1. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
2. Open the Mi Earphones app.
3. Go to the sound settings. → Balance.
4. Adjust the slider and save the settings.

If the app doesn't see headphones, try:

• 🔄 Reset headphones (hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Earphones app.
• 🔗 Connect headphones in mode Allow access to contacts and calls (at the first pairing).

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For TWS-Xiaomi headphones first update the firmware through Mi Earphones, and then adjust the balance. In 60% of cases, the imbalance disappears after updating the headset software.

Method 5: Hardware check and cleaning of headphones

If the software methods didn't work, the imbalance could be caused by physical malfunctions.

• 🔍 Contamination of speakers: Check the headphone mesh for dust or earwax. Use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol to clean (don't overdo it - don't press the membrane!).
• 🔌 Cable damage (for wired models): Bend the cord at the base of the plug and headphones — if the sound appears / disappears, the cable is damaged. Try blowing the 3.5 mm connector with compressed air.
• 🔋 Battery balance (for the purpose of TWS): If one earphone discharges faster than the other, its volume may fall. Try to completely discharge and charge both earphones 2-3 times in a row.

To diagnose hardware problems:

1. Connect your headphones to another device (laptop, tablet), and if the imbalance persists, the headset is a problem.
2. Try other headphones with your smartphone. If they work properly, your Xiaomi is faulty.
3. For TWS, switch your headphones (right to left ear and vice versa). If the quiet channel stays on the same side, it's the headset's fault, if it switches, the smartphone settings.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning or tests, the imbalance remains, and headphones are guaranteed, contact the Xiaomi service center. Self-repair (for example, soldering of a cable) deprives of warranties. In Moscow and the regions, official SCs operate at addresses from the site mi.com/ru/support.

Method 6: Resetting the sound settings to factory

If all previous methods failed, return the sound settings to factory values, which will help to eliminate software failures.

1. Open Settings → System and device → Resetting settings.
2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (or Resetting All Settings if the first item is not available).
3. Confirm action. The smartphone will reboot.
4. After turning on, reconnect the headphones and check the balance.

If there is no reset, use a full reset, but first:

• Create a backup of data (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
• Remember or take pictures of the current equalizer and balance settings.
• Make sure that the smartphone has enough charge (at least 50%).

After discharge:

• Do not restore settings from backup – this can return the problem.
• Reset the balance according to the instructions in this article.
• Update your firmware to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).

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If the imbalance has returned after the reset, the problem is more hardware. Try to test the headphones on another smartphone (preferably not Xiaomi, for example, on the iPhone or Samsung).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphone balance