Setting the volume of notifications on Xiaomi: from system signals to instant messengers

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer flexible audio settings, but many users are faced with a problem: notifications are either too quiet (and easy to miss) or too loud (irritating in public places). Unlike iPhone or “pure” Android, notification volume is regulated separately from media sound and calls – and this often causes confusion.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to adjust the volume of notifications on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — From basic parameters in the audio menu to hidden features for individual applications, you will learn how to make WhatsApp or Telegram signals sound louder than system alerts, why after updating MIUI We've lost notifications, and we've lost vibrations for specific chats. MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese firmware).

Basic notification volume setting in MIUI

To start with, adjusting the overall volume level for all notifications works on all Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi 9A to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Open the Quick Settings panel with your finger down the screen, and here you'll see the volume slider -- but be careful: it adjusts the volume of media (music, video) by default -- to switch to notifications.

1. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) volume-slip.
2. In the menu that opens, select the Notification tab (on some firmwares - Sounds and vibration → Volume).
3. Move the slider to the right position. MIUI 14 also has a separate regulator for alarm clocks.

Note that if the slider is locked at a minimum level, check if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated (discussed below). Also, some models (such as the POCO F4) may need to first unlock the separate volume control in the sound settings.

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If notifications suddenly became quieter after the MIUI update, try resetting the audio settings: go to Settings → Sounds and Vibration → Resetting the audio settings. This will return factory settings without losing data.

Separate volume setting for messengers and social networks

One of the features of MIUI is the ability to assign individual sounds and volume levels to each app, which is useful if you want Viber messages to sound louder than system alerts, or Instagram to make no sounds at all.

Instructions for setting:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the right messenger (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp) and tap it.
• 🔔 Select Notifications (on some firmware - Alerts).
• 🎵 Here you can: Turn off the sound completely (Sound switch), select a melody from the standard ones or download yours (Notification Sound item), set the vibration (Vibration option). Set the priority of notifications (in) MIUI 14 Important notifications that sound even in the mode Do not disturb).

Importantly, some apps (like Facebook Messenger) have their own notification settings inside the app itself, and they will have to be set up separately, and changes to MIUI won’t affect them.

Do Not Disturb and Exceptions for Notifications

If your notifications suddenly stop sounding, it may be Do Not Disturb (DND) mode that works differently in MIUI than in standard Android: you can flexibly configure exceptions for individual contacts or applications.

To check and adjust the mode:

1. Go to Settings → Sounds and vibration → Do not disturb.
2. Make sure the mode is turned off (slider in the off position).
3. If you need to keep the mode active but allow sound for important notifications: Tap on Exceptions. Enable Notifications and select apps that may sound (e.g. Calls, Messages, WhatsApp). MIUI 14 has an option called Important Notifications, where you can specify specific chats or contacts.

Note that in Do Not Disturb mode, the vibration also turns off by default. To return it, activate the Vibration option in Do Not Disturb mode on the same menu.

Set up vibration for notifications

On Xiaomi smartphones, the notification vibration is set separately from the sound, which is convenient if you want the phone to keep sound out of the way, but vibrate when new messages are sent.

To set the vibration:

• 📲 Go to Settings. → Sounds and vibrations → Vibration.
• 🔄 Select the Notification Vibration option.
• 🎯 Here you can: Turn off the vibration completely. Select one of the preset patterns (e.g. Short, Long, Heartbeat) Create your own vibration pattern (Option Customization - not available on all models).
• 🔧 For individual applications, vibration can be adjusted in their individual parameters (see the section on messengers).

On models with amoledic screens (such as the Xiaomi 12T Pro or Redmi K50 Pro), the vibrating engine is often weaker than on devices with LCDs. If the vibration seems too weak, try choosing a Strong Vibration template or check if the speakers are clogged with dust.

Problems with notification volume after MIUI update

Many users complain that when they upgrade to MIUI 13 or 14, the volume of the notifications is reset or unpredictable, due to changes in the sound system architecture, and here are the typical problems and solutions:

If the problem persists, try clearing the Settings app cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Settings app (icon with a gear).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

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After major MIUI updates (e.g. 12 to 13) the audio settings may be reset.Always check the volume of notifications manually after the update.

Hidden sound settings through the engineering menu

For power users who want to fine-tune volume levels (like making notifications louder than the maximum value), there is a way through the engineering menu.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##36446337## (some models may require the code #4636###).
2. Select the Hardware Testing option → Audio.
3. Here you will see a list of audio profiles. Find the lines associated with notifications (usually Notification or Ring).
4. Change the Max Vol (maximum volume) values, but do not exceed 160 to avoid damaging the speakers.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu are not officially supported and may result in loss of warranty.If after editing the sound is completely lost, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

On models with stereo speakers (such as Xiaomi 11T Pro or POCO F3), you can also adjust the balance between the top and bottom speakers for notifications in the engineering menu.

Set up notifications on smart watches and fitness bracelets Xiaomi

If you use the Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch or Redmi Watch, the notification sounds are set separately from the phone.

• 📱 Install the Mi Fitness app (for Mi Band or Wear) OS (Xiaomi Watch S3).
• 🔗 Connect the watch/bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth.
• 🔔 In the app, go to the Notifications (or Alerts) section).
• 🎵 Here you can: Turn on/off the vibration on the watch. Choose which apps will duplicate notifications (e.g., only Calls and Messages). On some models (e.g., Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro), you can assign unique tunes for different types of notifications.

Note: on the Mi Band 7 and newer models, the default notification vibration is turned off to save battery. To activate it, go to Mi Fitness → Device Profile → Notifications → Vibration.

Make sure the notification volume slider is not at a minimum | Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is enabled | Set up exceptions for important applications in DND| Check the individual audio settings for messengers | Clear the Settings app cache when crashes-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting the volume of notifications