How to Reset Sound Settings on Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Return Factory Sound

Sound problems on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones are one of the most common complaints users have, such as volume dropping to a minimum, speaker distortion, headphones missing, and the most common ones are not hardware malfunctions, but software settings that are lost, especially after MIUI updates or third-party audio apps are installed.

In this article, we'll look at 5 proven ways to reset audio settings, from simply restarting the audio system to fully returning to factory settings, how to return normal sound without losing data, what settings affect playback, and what to do if the reset didn't work, and a unique method of restoring sound through an engineering menu that is not written about in the official instructions.

Why the sound settings on Xiaomi are confused

Before you reset, it’s important to understand the cause of the problem. On Xiaomi devices, audio crashes are usually caused by:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI — New firmware versions often reset custom equator settings or sound effects.
• 📱 Application conflicts - programs like ViPER4Android, Dolby Atmos or Equalizer FX Can "break" system audio settings.
• 🎧 Incorrect headphone connection – if you used a Bluetooth headset with non-standard codecs (for example, LDAC or HD).
• 🛠️ Errors in the cache of the audio system – temporary files accumulate and lead to the sound driver freezes.
• 🔊 Hardware restrictions on budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO C31) Weak speakers cannot physically reproduce low frequencies.

Fun fact: on Xiaomi forums, users often complain about loss of sound after connecting to a car radio recorder via Bluetooth, which is because the system stores the last used sound profile (for example, A2DP for music or HFP for calls) and does not switch back.

Method 1: Soft reset of sound system (without data loss)

This is the safest method, which helps 70% of the time, and it clears the cache of audio services and restarts the audio driver without affecting user files.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find Media Storage in the list and select it.
4. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
5. Go back and find the Bluetooth Audio Service – clear its cache as well.
6. Reset the device.

After the restart, check the sound. If the problem persists, try the extra step:

Why does it work? Xiaomi's audio system caches playback settings to speed up the work. Sometimes that cache gets corrupted -- for example, if you sharply pull your headphones out while playing music. Cleanup forces system recreate the cache from scratch.

Method 2: Resetting the equalizer settings and sound effects

MIUI has an integrated equalizer and audio effects that can conflict with each other, and resetting them often solves problems with distorted sound or too quiet playback.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality.
2. Tap Reset audio settings (in some versions of MIUI this item is called Reset by default).
3. Confirm the action.
4. If there is no such item, manually return the sliders of the equator to the neutral position (all at 0 dB).

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party audio applications (like Wavelet or Poweramp Equalizer), their settings will not be reset through the system menu.

Method 3: Reset via engineering menu (for advanced)

This method is suitable if the first two methods did not work. The engineering menu allows you to directly control the audio chip of the device, but requires caution - wrong actions can worsen the sound.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##36446337## (some models run ##4636##, then select Phone Information → Select Mode → Engineering Mode).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.
3. Select Normal Mode (not Headset Mode if you don’t have a connected headphone!).
4. Press Volume and check that all volume levels (media, calls, alarms) are set to 100%.
5. Return to Audio and select Restore Default.
6. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you understand their meanings! For example, changing the Impedance values for headphones can damage the speakers.

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If the sound is quieter after resetting through the engineering menu, check the Loudness settings in the same menu. Sometimes they are reset to the minimum values.

Method 4: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If nothing works, the last option is to reset to factory settings, which will delete all user data, so back up first.

How to reset:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Settings Reset.
3. Check Clear all data (not just settings!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔍 Check the sound before data recovery – if the problem persists, the iron is to blame.
• 📲 Install apps one by one and test the sound after each installation.
• 🔄 Do not restore settings from backup – they may contain broken settings.

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A complete reset only helps if the problem is software, and if there's no sound, the speaker, the audio chip, or the headphone jack is faulty.

Method 5: Manual recovery of audio files (for root)

If you have root rights, you can manually replace system audio files with original ones, which is relevant if the sound is lost after a failed update or experimentation with custom firmware.

What to do:

1. Download the original firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website.
2. Unclose the firmware file and find the /system/media/audio folder.
3. With Root Explorer or Mixplorer, copy files from this folder to the appropriate directory on your phone (with a replacement).
4. Set the correct access rights: chmod 644 /system/media/audio/*
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect replacement of system files can lead to bootloop.If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact the service center.

What to do if the reset does not help

If the sound hasn't recovered after all the manipulations, it's probably hardware.

• 🔊 Speakers -- hold your phone to your ear while you're playing music. If you hear a quiet crackle but no sound, the speaker is faulty.
• 🎧 Headphone jack -- put the headphones in and move the plug a little bit. If the sound comes up/disappears, the contact problem is.
• 📶 antenna Bluetooth/Wi-Fi — If the sound is lost only through wireless channels, it is possible to damage the antenna module.
• 🛠️ Audio chip – if no sound source (speakers, headphones, Bluetooth) works, Qualcomm chip is likely to burn WCD or Realtek ALC.

To diagnose hardware problems, use test codes:

• ##6484## - microphone test and speaker
• #64663## - Checking hardware modules (including audio)
• #284## is a Bluetooth test.

If the phone is warranty - bring to the service center Xiaomi. If not - repair speaker will cost 800-2000 rubles, replacement of audio chip - 3000-6000 rubles (depending on the model).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's sound reset