How to Make Xiaomi Headphones Louder: From Standard Settings to Hidden Features

You bought Xiaomi headphones -- whether wireless AirDots, wired Hybrids or gaming Black Shark -- but the sound seems too quiet? The problem is familiar to many: even at maximum volume in noisy environments, music or podcasts have to strain to hear. The reasons may lie in both the limitations of MIUI firmware and the hardware limits of the headphones themselves.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to increase volume, from basic smartphone settings to hidden engineering menu features and third-party utilities. Importantly, not all methods are equally safe. For example, exceeding volume limits through an engineering menu can damage the earphone speakers after 2-3 months of heavy use, so we separately highlighted risky ways and gave recommendations on how to minimize harm.

Let’s start with the simplest solutions – you may not even have to dig into the settings!

1. Check the basic volume settings on Xiaomi smartphone

Often the problem is not the headphones, but the phone itself. On Xiaomi (especially on models with MIUI 12-14), the volume for the headphones and speakers is adjusted separately.

• 🔊 Divide Volume Controls: When playing music, press the physical volume button → Put it on the gear on the right. → Turn on the option to Separate media and call regulators. Now the volume for headphones and speakers will be adjusted independently.
• 🎧 Check the limits MIUI: Go to Settings. → Sound. → Loudness and make sure that the Multimedia slider is raised to maximum. Some firmware also has the option to Amplify the sound in the headphones (if not, update it). MIUI).
• 🔄 Reset the sound settings: in the same Sound menu, select Reset the sound settings, which will return all parameters to the factory, which sometimes solves the problem with the "clamped" volume.

If you're still quiet after this manipulation, move on to the next step, but first make sure the problem isn't with the headphones themselves: try plugging them into another device (laptop, tablet) and checking the volume there.

2. Turn on the developer mode and increase the volume limit

MIUI has a setting that allows you to exceed the standard volume limit for headphones, and to activate it, you first need to turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer").
3. Return to the main settings, open the section Additional → For developers.
4. Find the option to turn off the absolute volume level and activate it.
5. Below is the item Safe hearing (restriction of headphone volume) - turn it off.

After this, the maximum volume of the headphones will increase by 15-20%.

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If after activating this mode, the sound began to distort (wheezing, interference), return the settings back. This means that the earphone speakers are not designed for this load.

⚠️ Attention: Turning off volume restrictions can cause hearing damage during prolonged listening. WHO recommends not exceeding 85 dB for more than 8 hours a day. With the limits off, Xiaomi can reach 100-110 dB, which is dangerous after 15-30 minutes.

3. Use the engineering menu (only for power users)

The Engineering Mode allows you to manually adjust audio settings, including amplifying output signals, a method that is risky: the wrong settings can disable your headphones or your smartphone sound card.

Instructions for most Xiaomi models (checked on Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11):

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. You will be taken to Engineer Mode. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio.
3. Choose Headset Mode (for wired headphones) or Headphone Mode (for wireless ones).
4. In the Max Vol field, change the value from 144 to 160 (no higher!). For Type, select Media.
5. Save the settings and restart the phone.

If the sound gets distorted or there's background noise, you can put it back.

• 🔧 In some models (POCO F3, Mi 10T) The engineering menu can be called MTK Engineer Mode or Qualcomm Service Menu.
• 📱 Changes to the Engineering Menu Reset After Update MIUI. We'll have to re-set it.
• 🚫 Not all models support Max Vol editing. 12/13 This parameter is often blocked.

4.Install third-party applications to amplify sound

If you don't want to take the risk with an engineering menu, try specialized utilities. They work at the software level of sound processing and are usually safer for hardware.

Before installing, check compatibility with your Xiaomi model. For example, ViPER4Android may not work on smartphones with a MediaTek processor without additional manipulation.

Check the Android version (not lower than 8.0)

Backup current sound settings

Clear the cache of the Music app

Disable other sound modifiers (if any)

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5. Update the headphone firmware (for wireless models)

If you have Xiaomi wireless headphones (e.g. AirDots Pro 2, Buds 3 Pro, FlipBuds Pro), the problem may be outdated firmware. The manufacturer regularly releases updates that fix bugs with sound. Here's how to check the relevance of the firmware:

1. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
2. Open the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earphones app (depending on the model).
3. Go to the section with information about the device.
4. If you have an update, follow the instructions on the screen. Don't turn off your headphones during the process!

For some models (for example, AirDots 3), the firmware update is possible only through a PC.

• 💻 Download the Xiaomi Flash Tool from the official website.
• 🔌 Connect the headphones to your computer in firmware mode (usually press the button on the case for 10 seconds).
• 🔄 Follow the instructions of the Update Master.

After updating, reset your headphones to factory settings: in the Mi Home app, select Reset. This will help you avoid conflicts with old parameters.

6. Check the physical condition of the headphones and connector

Sometimes the quiet sound is not caused by the settings, but by hardware problems.

• 🔍 Contamination of speakers: inspect the headphone mesh for dust or earwax. Clean with a soft brush or cotton swab (do not use sharp objects!).
• 🎵 Membrane damage: If the sound is distorted (wheezing, dips at low frequencies), it is possible that the membrane is torn. This often happens after falls or prolonged use at maximum volume.
• 🔌 Contact oxidation (for wired models): check the 3.5mm connector or USB-C You can get it cleaned with alcohol.
• 🔋 Battery discharge (for wireless): at low charge (<15%) Headphones automatically turn down the volume. 100% And check the sound again.

If Xiaomi headphones are warranty, do not disassemble them yourself - contact the service center. For models older than 1-2 years, repair can cost more than buying new ones, so assess the feasibility.

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More than 60 percent of the cases of “quiet sound” in Xiaomi headphones are associated with contamination of speakers or wear of membranes.

7.Alternative solutions: from amplifiers to replacement headphones

If none of the above methods worked, consider radical options:

• 🔊 External sound amplifier: devices like FiiO A1 or iBasso DC01 It's connected between a smartphone and headphones, amplifying the signal without distortion.
• 🎧 Replacement of headphones: If your model is older than 2-3 years, perhaps its speakers just wore out. Air3 sound louder and cleaner.
• 📱 Smartphone change: on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) If sound is important, consider Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 models.+ Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000, where hardware sound processing is better.

Before buying new equipment, test your current headphones on another device (like an iPhone or MacBook) if the sound is quiet, too, the problem is with the headphones, not your smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the volume of Xiaomi headphones