How to set up an equalizer on Xiaomi: a complete guide with presets and life hacks

Is the sound on your Xiaomi leaving much to be desired? Is the bass "drumbing", the voices sounding deaf and the music losing volume? Is not the problem with the speakers - 90% of bad sound is solved by the correct setting of the equalizer. POCO They are able to give a crystal sound if you know which sliders to move and which presets to choose.

But here lies the catch: standard settings MIUI They're often optimized for the average user, not your headphones or your speaker system, and what's more, they're on different Xiaomi devices, whether it's a smartphone, a Mi TV. TV Or the Mi Smart Speaker column, the equalizer menu is hidden in different sections, and in this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic settings to professional presets for music lovers, and also reveal the secrets of hidden functions that the official documentation does not say about.

If you've never set up an equalizer before, don't worry. We'll explain each setting in simple language, no technical jargon. And if you're a seasoned user, you'll find rare features here, like how to apply custom presets through an engineering menu or how to synchronize audio settings between devices through Mi Account.

Before you start, check:

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Your headphones or speakers are connected correctly (try another connector or Bluetooth device).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update the firmware to the latest version โ€“ in new versions MIUI 14/15 Additional Equalizer Options Appeared.
  • ๐ŸŽง If you use Bluetooth, turn on the codec. AAC or aptX in connection settings.
๐Ÿ“Š What Xiaomi device you are setting up?
Smartphone (Redmi/POCO/Mi)
Mi TV TV TV
Column Mi Smart Speaker
Mi True Wireless headphones
Other

Where to find an equalizer on Xiaomi: ways for all devices

The first problem that users face is that the equalizer menu is hidden in different places depending on the model and the firmware version. On smartphones, the path is one, on TVs, another, and in speakers, there is a different interface. Let's take a look at it in order.

On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 et al.) The equalizer is usually in the:

  1. Settings โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ Equator
  2. Settings โ†’ Additional settings โ†’ Multimedia. โ†’ Equalizer (on older versions) MIUI).

If you have custom firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS), the path may be different. โ†’ Sound effects.

On Mi TVs. TV (Mi TV A2, Mi TV Q2 etc.) equaliser hidden deeper:

  1. Settings (cogs) โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound settings โ†’ equalizer
  2. Or through the remote: press Menu โ†’ Settings โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound modes โ†’ Customized.

In Xiaomi speakers (such as Mi Smart Speaker or Mi Home Speaker), the setting is only available through the Mi Home app:

  1. Open Mi Home, select your column.
  2. Go to the Device Settings โ†’ Sound settings โ†’ equalizer.

If you don't find the equalizer in the sections that you're looking at, it's probably disabled by default.

  • ๐Ÿ” Check if it is hidden in the settings. โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Improvement of sound.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart the device โ€“ sometimes the menu appears after the reboot.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Install a third-party equalizer (like Wavelet or Poweramp Equalizer) from Google Play.

๐Ÿ’ก

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) The equalizer only appears when you plug in your headphones or Bluetooth devices. Try inserting your headphones into a 3.5mm connector or plugging in your wireless headsets.

Basic settings of the equalizer: what do sliders mean

Xiaomiโ€™s equalizer is usually a graphical interface with sliders that correspond to different frequency bands. But what do they mean and how do you adjust them?

Here is a transcript of the standard equalizer bands (left to right):

Frequency (Hz)What's in answer?How does sound affect you?Adjustment recommendations
60โ€“100Subbases (lowest frequencies)The depth of bass, "drumbing"Increase for electronic music, reduce for classics
100โ€“250Lower basses.Drum body, low voicesRise for hip-hop, lower for podcasts
250โ€“500Low-frequency averagesWarmth of sound, "fullness"Careful! Excessive amplification makes sound "dirty"
500-to-1kLower middle.Voices, guitars, the main "body" of musicIt is best to keep neutral (+/- 2 dB)
1k-4kUpper middleClarity, legibility of speechIncrease for podcasts, reduce for relaxation
4k-10kHigh frequenciesDetails, airiness.Rise for classics, lower for rock music
10k-16kSuper high frequenciesHissing, "sparks" in soundNormally does not require correction.

The important rule is, don't lift all sliders at once! This will cause sound distortion and overload of speakers. The best approach is to increase the 1-2 bands and slightly reduce the rest for balance.

For example, for bass music (hip-hop, EDM) You can raise 60-100 Hz. +4 dB and 100-250 Hz per +2 dB, and the rest are neutral. For vocal music (pop, rock) it is better to strengthen 1k-4k Hz per +3 dB and slightly reduce the bass.

What are decibels (dB) in an equalizer?
The decibel (dB) is the unit of volume. +3 dB means double the volume in the range, and -3 dB is a reduction of two times. Optimal range of correction: from -6 db +6 dB. Exceeding these values can lead to distortions.

Presets of equalizer for different genres

You want to get your hands on the manual setup? Here are the presets you've tried for popular scripts. Just pick your genre and apply the meanings:

๐ŸŽต Music.

  • ๐ŸŽธ Rock/Metal: +4 dB at 100-250 Hz, +3 dB at 1k-4kHz, the rest neutral. Target: powerful basses and clear guitars.
  • ๐ŸŽค Pop/Vocal: +2 db 250โ€“500 Hz, +4 db 1ceโ€“4GHz, -2 db 60โ€“100 Hz. Goal: highlight voice, reduce "dirtyยป.
  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Electronics/EDM: +6 db 60โ€“100 Hz, +2 db 4ceโ€“10to Hz, the rest on 0. Target: powerful bass and "airy" high.
  • ๐ŸŽป Classic/Jazz: +1 dB at 250-500 Hz, +3 dB at 4k-10kHz Target: Natural sound without distortion.

๐ŸŽฌ Films and videos

  • ๐ŸŽฌ Fighters/Engineers: +5 dB at 60โ€“100 Hz (explosion), +2 dB per 1k-4k Hz (dialogues).
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Dramas/Series: +3 db 1ceโ€“4GHz, -1 db 60โ€“100 Goal: clear speech without rumble bass.

๐ŸŽฎ Games

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Shooters (PUBG, COD): +4 dB per 1k-4k Hz (steps, shots), +2 dB at 250-500 Hz (ambient sounds).
  • ๐Ÿ† Sport/Racing: +3 dB at 60โ€“100 Hz (motors), +1 dB per 4k-10kHz (commentators).

Open the equalizer in the settings|Select the "User" mode (Custom)|Move the sliders according to the preset|Save as a new profile (if you have an option)|Check the sound on different tracks

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Remember, the quality of the headphones has a big impact on the results, like the cheap ones. TWS-Headphones (like Redmi Buds 3) too strong strengthening of bass will lead to distortion, and on the premium Mi True Wireless 3 you can safely experiment.

๐Ÿ’ก

Presets are just a starting point. Always adjust them to your headphones and your preferences. ANC Headphones may not be acceptable for Redmi AirDots.

Hidden Equalizer Features on Xiaomi: Engineering Menu and MIUI Labs

Few people know, but Xiaomi has hidden tools for fine-tuning the sound that are not available in the standard interface. For example, in the engineering menu you can activate an extended equalizer with a lot of bands or even adjust the hardware force of bass (on supported models).

To open the engineering menu:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter the code ##36446337##
  3. Go to the Hardware Testing โ†’ Audio section.

Here you will find:

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Headset Mode: Set up the equalizer separately for headphones.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Speaker Mode: Correction of the speaker sound.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Bass Boost: hardware bass amplification (does not work on all models).

Attention! Not all the parameters in the engineering menu are safe, for example, changing the values in Receiver Testing can cause the microphone to crash.

๐Ÿ’ก

On some smartphones (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the Dirac Audio Tuner option is available in the engineering menu, which is an advanced spatial sound system, and activating it will give you a more surround sound, especially in headphones.

Another secret section โ€” MIUI Labs, to open it up:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ The phone.
  2. Tap 5 times according to version MIUI (A message will appear saying, โ€œYouโ€™ve become a developerยป).
  3. Go back to the main settings and find a new section. โ†’ MIUI Labs.

Experimental sound functions sometimes appear here, for example:

  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Super Bass: Low frequency gain without distortion.
  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ 3D Audio: virtual environment for headphones.
What to do if the engineering menu does not open?
In some models (for example, POCO F5) The engineering menu code may vary. Try alternatives: - ##4636## (general test menu) - ##284## (speakers test) If nothing works, the manufacturer may have blocked access on your firmware.

Equalizer issues on Xiaomi: why settings donโ€™t save or work

A common complaint from users is, "I set the equalizer settings and everything resets after the reboot," or, "The sound doesn't change, although I'm moving the sliders." Here are the main reasons and solutions:

โš ๏ธ Attention! On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The equaliser only works with connected headphones, and if you tune the speakers, the changes don't apply.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Settings are reset after rebootingCache failure of the Settings or Mi Sound appClear the cache to Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management โ†’ Settings โ†’ Storage โ†’ Clear the cache
The equalizer does not affect the soundAnother sound effect is active (e.g., Dirac or Dolby Atmos)Turn off all effects in Settings โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound effects
There is no โ€œUserโ€ option in the equalizerRestriction of regional firmware or custom softwareInstall a global firmware or use a third-party equalizer (such as Wavelet)
When the bass is strengthened, distortions appear.Poor quality of speakers or headphonesReduce the gain by 60โ€“100 Hz to +3 dB and check the Bluetooth codec (AAC better SBC)

If you use Bluetooth headphones, the problem might be the connection codec. SBC (default) compresses sound very strongly, making the equalizer worse:

  1. Put the headphones on.
  2. Open Settings โ†’ Bluetooth.
  3. Slip the gear icon next to the connected device.
  4. Select the Audio Codec. โ†’ AAC or aptX (if supported).

On Mi. TV The equalizer may not work due to activated Dolby Audio mode or DTS. Turn them off in Settings. โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Sound modes.

Third-party equalizers for Xiaomi: when standard settings are not enough

If you donโ€™t like the built-in equalizer, you can install third-party apps, which offer more adjustment bands, presets, and even hardware sound processing (on supported devices).

Top.-3 equalizer for Xiaomi:

  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Wavelet (from developers) Viper4Android): 9-band equalizer with automatic headphone correction. LDAC aptX HD. Free, but there are paid presets.

To make a third-party equalizer work systemically (and not only in one application), you need to give it special permissions:

  1. Install the app.
  2. Open the Settings. โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Special access โ†’ Changes in system settings.
  3. Find your equalizer in the list and turn on the switch.
  4. Reset the device.

โš ๏ธ Attention! MIUI 14+ Some third-party equalizers may conflict with system sound effects. If distortions occur after installation, turn off the built-in equalizer in the settings.

For Mi. TV Third-party equalizers are not suitable - here you can only use the built-in settings or connect external acoustics with your own DSP (digital-processor).

How to save equalizer settings and sync them between devices

If youโ€™ve spent time perfecting the audio setup, itโ€™s logical to want to save it and migrate it to other devices. Unfortunately, Xiaomi doesnโ€™t provide a built-in tool for preset export/import, but there are workarounds.

Method 1: Manual transfer (for smartphones)

    Method 2: Synchronize with Mi Account (experimental)

    Some users report that equalizer settings are synchronized between devices via Mi Account if:

      However, this method is unstable and depends on the model.

      Method 3: Export through ADB (for advanced users)

      If you have access to ADB, You can export the sound settings from the system files:

      adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db

      This file stores all system settings, including the equalizer, but editing it manually is risky, and an error can cause the system to crash.

      For Mi. TV The only reliable way to save settings is to take a picture of the screen with a preset or write down values on paper.

      ๐Ÿ’ก

      If you reinstall your firmware frequently, save a screenshot of the equalizer to the cloud (like Google Photos or Mi Cloud) and save time when you reconfigure it.

      FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up an equalizer on Xiaomi

      ๐Ÿ”Š Why After Updating MIUI missing the equaliser?
      This is a known problem when switching to new firmware versions (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI Solutions: Check the path to the equalizer - it could have been moved to another section (see the first section of the article). โ†’ System system โ†’ Resetting settings โ†’ Reset your sound settings. If the equalizer is gone completely, install a third-party app (e.g. Wavelet).
      ๐ŸŽง How to set up the equalizer separately for Bluetooth headphones?
      On most Xiaomi devices, the equalizer applies to all output devices (speakers, headphones, Bluetooth). However, there is a workaround: Connect Bluetooth headphones. Open the equalizer and set it up under the headphones. Save the preset (if you have an option). Go back to the speakers and create a separate preset for them. MIUI 14+ In some models (such as Xiaomi) 13T) There is an option Separate settings for headphones in the equalizer menu.
      ๐Ÿ”‡ Why when you turn on the equalizer, the sound becomes quieter?
      It's normal behavior -- the equalizer redistributes volume between frequencies. When you amplify some bands, others are automatically muted to prevent distortion. Solutions: Increase the overall volume in the player or settings. Use presets with minimal changes (e.g., raise no more than a single one). +3 dB) Enable Volume Normalization in the sound settings (if available).
      ๐Ÿ“บ Can you set the equalizer to Mi? TV for external sound panel?
      Yes, but with reservations: If the sound bar is connected through HDMI ARC or optical output, equalizer Mi TV It doesn't affect it -- you have to set it up on the panel itself. If the panel is connected via Bluetooth or 3.5 mm jack, the equalizer of the TV will work. TV Q2 75โ€ฒโ€ฒ support Passthrough โ€“ in this mode, the sound is transmitted to an external device without processing.
      ๐Ÿ”„ How to reset the equalizer to factory settings?
      Methods depending on the device: Smartphone: In the equalizer menu, select Preset by default or Flat. TV: Go to Settings. โ†’ Sound. โ†’ Reset audio settings. Mi Smart Speaker Column: In the Mi Home app, click Reset audio settings in the device menu. If no reset option, manually set all sliders to 0 dB.