How to maximize the volume of AirPods on Xiaomi smartphone: all working ways

You bought AirPods, connected them to Xiaomi, but the sound is too quiet even at maximum volume? The problem is familiar to many users - despite the high cost of Apple headphones, their compatibility with Android devices (including Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones) often leaves much to be desired. Not only are the Bluetooth codec limitations to blame, but the program volume limits embedded in MIUI firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to turn up the volume of AirPods on Xiaomi, from standard settings to hidden engineering menus and third-party utilities. Importantly, some methods require root rights or install additional software, so read the warnings carefully before you act. Also note that excessive volume increases can lead to audio distortion or damage to the earphone speakers.

Why AirPods are quietly playing on Xiaomi: 3 main reasons

Before you get to the settings, it’s worth understanding why AirPods sound quieter on Xiaomi than on iPhone.

• 🔊 Limitations of Bluetooth codecs: Xiaomi uses default AAC or SBC, Apple Lossless (only available on Apple devices) reduces dynamic range and maximum volume.
• 📱 Programme limits MIUI: Xiaomi firmware artificially lowers the volume for Bluetooth devices to protect the user’s hearing (European standards) EN 50332).
• ⚙️ Unoptimized uniformity settings: By default MIUI activates the Dynamic Range function, which smooths out volume peaks.

Interestingly, the problem is more common on the 1st generation AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro models, AirPods 3 and Pro 2 owners are less likely to complain of quiet sound due to improved drivers, and MIUI version is also affected: MIUI 14 and newer volume limits are tighter than MIUI 12.

⚠️ Note: If you use the AirPods Max, the problem may be with the Transparency Mode mode - it automatically lowers the volume when external noises are detected.

Method 1: Increase volume through MIUI settings

To start with, the safest method is to use standard MIUI tools, which do not require super-user rights and is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models.

Steps:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Slip on Volume (or Volume Control on newer versions of MIUI).
3. At the top of the screen, select Media (or Multimedia).
4. Connect AirPods and move the volume slider to the stop to the right.
5. Activate the option to turn off the safe volume level (if available).

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global) may not have a "Secure Layer Disable" option, in which case try an alternative path:

Settings → Special features → Hearing → Turn off volume limit

The effect of this method is moderate — the volume will increase by 10-15%, but you should not expect radical changes, but it is completely safe and does not require additional manipulation.

Connect AirPods to Xiaomi

Check the charge level of the headphones (minimum 30%)

Disable other Bluetooth devices

Reboot your smartphone-->

Method 2: Engineering Menu (MTK/Qualcomm)

If standard settings didn’t work, you can turn to the engineering menu, a hidden firmware section that stores low-level audio settings, which works on most Xiaomi smartphones, but requires caution: improper changes can lead to crashes.

Instructions for Qualcomm processors (most flagships Xiaomi):

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. Select Hardware Testing → Audio → Headset Mode.
3. Find the Max Vol or Volume Step settings and increase the values by 5-10 units (do not exceed 160!).
4. Save the changes and restart the device.

For smartphones on MediaTek (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro):

##4636## → Audio → Volume

You can increase the Media, Ring and Voice Call values to 15 (maximum).

⚠️ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu are not saved after resetting (MIUI China: Access to menus may be blocked.

Qualcomm Snapdragon

MediaTek Helio/Dimensity

Other (specify in the comments)-->

Method 3: Using applications to amplify sound

If MIUI's software constraints don't allow you to turn up the volume, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular utilities and selected the two most effective ones:

Instructions for Volume Booster GOODEV:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Connect AirPods and select the Bluetooth tab.
3. Move the Media Volume slider to 150 percent (maximum).
4. Activate the Boost Effect option.

ViPER4Android is a more powerful tool, but requires root rights and additional drivers, and its advantage is the ability to customize the equalizer and bass amplifier, which is especially true for AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation.

💡

Before installing ViPER4Android, back up the data – the application may conflict with system sound drivers.

Method 4: Change the Bluetooth codec to aptX or LDAC

Xiaomi uses SBC or AAC codecs by default to transmit audio over Bluetooth, which compresses audio, causing loss of volume and quality, and the solution is to force the switch to more advanced codecs like aptX or LDAC.

How to do this:

1. Install the Developer Options Enabler app (if you don’t already have Developer Mode enabled).
2. Activate the developer mode by pressing 7 times the Build Number in Settings → About the phone.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find Bluetooth Audio Codec and select aptX HD or LDAC (if supported by your smartphone).
5. Reconnect the AirPods.

Important: AirPods do not officially support aptX or LDAC, but some users report successful connection via aptX on Xiaomi with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processors. If the codecs do not appear in the list, then your device does not support them.

Method 5: Equalizer adjustment to enhance low and high frequencies

Sometimes the problem is not the overall volume, but the wrong frequency balance. For example, if there is too much bass in a track, the medium and high frequencies will sink, giving the impression of a quiet sound, the solution is to adjust the equalizer manually.

MIUI has a built-in equalizer:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Equator.
2. Choose Preset Customny.
3. Increase the sliders by 100 Hz (bass) and 10 kHz (high frequencies) by 3-5 dB.
4. Reduce the frequencies of 1–3 kHz by 2 dB to reduce the “dirty” in the middle range.

For more precise customization, use the Wavelet app (free on Google Play).

• 🎛️ Create custom presets for specific genres of music.
• 🔊 Activate the volume amplifier (up to) +6 dB).
• 🎧 Customize virtual environments to improve spatial sound.

Example of settings for AirPods Pro:

Basses (+4 dB by 60 Hz)




Medium (-2 dB per 1-2 kHz)




High (+3 dB at 8-12 kHz)

💡

The equalizer setting gives you up to 20 percent volume gain, but can distort the sound at maximum volume.

Method 6: Update MIUI firmware and reset Bluetooth settings

Sometimes the quiet volume problem of AirPods is due to software bugs in MIUI. For example, MIUI 13.0.4-13.0.6 had a well-known bug that caused Bluetooth devices to reset their volume after rebooting, so the solution is to update the firmware or reset the settings.

How to update MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
3. After the update, reset Bluetooth settings: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⋮ → Reset the settings

If the update didn’t work, try clearing the Bluetooth cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Bluetooth in the list of system applications.
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. Reboot your smartphone and connect the AirPods again.

⚠️ Note: Some smartphones (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi) K50) After resetting Bluetooth, support may be lost AAC. In this case, manually select the codec. SBC developer-setting.

Method 7: Hardware checks (if nothing worked)

If all software methods have been tried, but AirPods still sound quiet, the problem may be in the hardware.

• 🔋 Headphone charge: At a charge level below 20%, AirPods automatically turn the volume down. Charge them to 100% and check the sound.
• 🧲 Contamination of speakers: Dust and earwax can block sound channels. Clean the speaker grid with a soft brush or compressed air.
• 🔄 Reset AirPods: Press the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes yellow.
• 📡 Interference from other devices: Wi-Fi routers at 2.4 GHz can interfere with Bluetooth. Switch the router to 5 GHz or turn it off during the test.

If the volume is low after all the checks, the AirPods themselves may be faulty.

1. Connect the headphones to your iPhone or MacBook.
2. Turn the track on at maximum volume.
3. Compare the sound to another device (e.g. EarPods).

If the sound is quiet on Apple devices, please contact the service center.

• 🔊 Wear of speakers (typical for AirPods 1st generation after 2-3 years of use).
• 🔋 Battery malfunction (earphones go into energy saving mode).
• 📱 Damage to Bluetooth module in case.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the volume of AirPods on Xiaomi