Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to improve the quality of music playback. Standard audio settings may seem insufficient for music fans who want to make the most of built-in speakers or connected headphones. Fortunately, the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS hides a powerful tool for fine frequency adjustment.
Access to these features is not always obvious, as manufacturers often hide them in the back of the system menu or activate only when you connect the headset. In this article, we will detail all the ways to activate the equalizer, from standard methods to hidden engineering menus.
You will learn not only to enable the function, but also to adjust the sound profile to your music genre, we will touch on the work of Dolby Atmos technology, the features of setting up Bluetooth devices and solving common problems when the sliders of settings are inactive.
Standard path through sound settings
The easiest and safest way to get to the audio settings is through the main menu of the system. However, the path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell installed. In most cases, you need to go to Settings, then select Sound and Vibration.
Then the algorithm depends on the type of audio device you're connecting, and if you're using wired headphones or a smartphone speaker, look for Sound Quality or Mi Sound, and that's where the basic controls are.
In some versions of the firmware, the equalizer is turned off by default. You need to activate the Setting Sound or Improve Sound switch. After this switch is turned on, an equalizer button will appear, clicking on which will open the frequency chart.
- 🎧 Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration.
- 🎚️ Find the Sound Quality section or Mi Sound.
- 🔘 Activate the switch to Set up the sound.
- 📈 Press the Equator button to access the frequencies.
The equalizer interface is a set of sliders that fit different frequency bands, and by moving them up or down, you amplify the basses or make the sound sound sound more ringing, and remember to save the profile you've selected if the system suggests doing so.
Using Dolby Atmos Technology
Many of today's Xiaomi and POCO models are equipped with licensed Dolby Atmos technology, which is not just an equalizer, but a complex spatial sound system that automatically adapts frequencies to the contents. To access its finer settings, you need to know one secret.
Usually, the Dolby Atmos settings are hidden until the audio device is connected. However, there is a way to activate the extended menu. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Dolby Atmos Effects. If you only see the On/Off switch, try the next trick.
Run any audio player or video, then quickly open the audio settings. In some cases, this will unlock additional options, such as Intelligent Equalizer or profile selection (Film, Music, Game).
⚠️ Warning: Activating Dolby Atmos can significantly increase battery consumption.If you notice that the smartphone has started to run out faster, try switching to standard Mi Sound mode.
The technology is particularly effective when watching videos and games, creating a surround sound effect, while for music, many users prefer manually adjusting the classic equalizer, since Dolby automation can unnecessarily distort the original track.
Dolby's Hidden Profiles
Configure via the Mi Sound app
The Mi Sound system app, which is often bundled with a shell, can be hidden in the Tools folder, is a more advanced tool that allows you not only to move sliders, but also to calibrate the sound to a specific headphone model.
When you first run the app, you'll have to choose the type of device: earbuds, full-size headphones or speakers. After you choose the type, the system will use a basic profile that can be edited in detail.
The main advantage of Mi Sound over the standard equalizer is the ability to save user profiles. You can create a separate setting for a morning run with bright high frequencies and a separate one for an evening listening to classics with deep bass.
☑️ Customizing the perfect sound
If you don't find this app on your desktop, try searching the system. Type "Mi Sound" or "Sound" in the search box. In the new versions of HyperOS, the functionality of this application was integrated directly into the audio settings menu, eliminating the need for a separate application.
Hidden menus and engineering codes
For advanced users who do not have enough standard 5-7 equalizer bands, there are engineering menus that can be accessed through the special application "Engineering Mode" or by entering codes into the "caller." Be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable work.
One of the popular codes for accessing audio testing is ##6484##. You can find Audio or Sound on the menu that opens, and you can check each speaker separately and see the technical parameters of the current sound card.
A deeper setup is available through the Audio Debug menu, where you can change the AVS (Audio Voice Solution) settings and adjust (amplification) for different use cases, but without understanding the parameters (Gain, Volume Step), you better not get in here.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Volume | The Loudness of Media Flow | Change |
| Mic Gain | Microphone reinforcement | By default. |
| Speaker Gain | Enhancing dynamics | Careful (max +2dB) |
| Headphone Gain | Headphones reinforce | Individually |
Remember, resetting the settings in this menu returns all the values to factory. If the sound is lost after experiments, reset the audio settings or restart the device in safe mode.
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Before you make changes to the engineering menu, take a screenshot of the original values, which will allow you to quickly return everything as it was, if the sound becomes hoarse or quiet.
Third-party equalizer applications
If the built-in tools fail to achieve the desired result, Google Play apps come to the rescue, with more functionality, more bandwidth support, and more convenient presets, and Poweramp Equalizer is considered the leader in this niche.
This app runs on top of the Android system audio track, intercepting the signal before being sent to speakers or Bluetooth devices, and allows you to adjust up to 20 equalizer bands, add reverberation and compression effects.
Other popular options include Wavelet (works great with automatic headphone calibration) and Bass Booster. Installing such programs may require special permissions through the use of the app. ADB-if standard access is not sufficient.
⚠️ Warning: Simultaneous activation of Xiaomi’s system equalizer and third-party app can cause conflict, manifested in cod or no sound at all.
The use of third-party software is especially important for owners of old models or budget lines Redmi, where the manufacturer could cut the functionality of the audio subsystem in order to save money.
Solution: Equalizer doesn't work
Users often complain that equalizer sliders are gray and unresponsive to taps. The most common reason is the lack of a connected audio device. MIUI often blocks the change of settings unless detected by headphones or a Bluetooth headset.
The second reason could be the "Absolute Volume" mode in the developer settings, which transfers volume control to an entirely external device, ignoring the system settings of the smartphone's sound.
The problem may also be in the cache of the system application Sound. Clearing the data and cache of this service through the App menu → All Apps → Sound often helps to return functionality.
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If the equalizer is locked, plug in any headphones, adjust the sound, and then turn them off - in some versions of MIUI, the settings will remain for the speakers.
In rare cases, audio drivers can be flashed or the phone’s settings completely reset, but before you take drastic measures, make sure that the problem is not physical damage to the speakers or connector.