How to increase the volume of the speaker on Xiaomi Mi 8: from standard settings to engineering menu

Why the Xiaomi Mi 8 speaker is quieter and what to do about it

Owners of Xiaomi Mi 8 often face the problem of insufficient volume speaker — especially when listening to music, watching videos or while calling. The reasons can vary from dusty grilles to software limitations MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all working ways to increase the volume, including hidden settings and safe modifications.

It's important to understand that the physical limitations of the speaker cannot be avoided without risking the device, but in most cases the problem lies in the software: the manufacturer artificially lowers the volume to protect the speakers or comply with EU standards. We will show how to return the power to the sound without harming the Mi 8.

Start with the simplest methods and gradually move on to the advanced ones, from equalizer adjustment to engineering menus. If you are not sure about your technical skills, skip the sections with ADB and Fastboot — the first 4 ways do not require root rights.

1. Checking the physical condition of the speaker

Before digging into the settings, make sure the problem isn't with the hardware. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the speaker is located at the bottom of the case - that's where dust and debris accumulate.

• 🔍 Check the speaker grille for contamination. Use a flashlight to look inside.
• 🧹 Clean the holes with a soft brush or compressed air (a canister for engineering!
• 🔊 Check the sound at maximum volume - if the wheezing and distortions are gone, the problem was in the clog.

If the sound hasn't improved after cleaning, go to software methods. But remember: on Xiaomi Mi 8, there is often a defect in soldered speakers contacts - if the sound is intermittent or disappears when you press the case, this is an excuse to contact the service.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to disassemble the smartphone yourself to clean the speaker - on the Mi 8 it is easy to damage the plume of the fingerprint scanner, which passes nearby.

2. Equalizer and MIUI sound effects setup

MIUI stock firmware offers built-in audio enhancement tools that many users ignore. Open Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound quality and experiment with presets:

• 🎵 "Bass – amplifies low frequencies, but can create a “walling” effect at high volume.
• 🎶 "Rock – Raises the middle frequencies, making vocals clearer.
• 🔊 "Loudness – Increases the overall amplitude, but watch for distortions.
• ⚙️ "Custom" - manual adjustment of equalizer bands (recommended to raise 60 Hz and 1 kHz).

Also activate the option "Adaptive Sound" in the same menu - it automatically adjusts the volume to the surrounding noise. For music, turn on "Minimize Sound Loss" (available on MIUI 12+).

3.Use of third-party applications to amplify sound

If built-in tools aren't enough, installing specialized apps can give you a volume increase of up to 30%.The best options for the Xiaomi Mi 8 are:

• 🔊 Volume Booster GOODEV — A simple booster with pre-profiles for music, videos and calls.
• 🎛️ Equalizer FX — Advanced equalizer with support for user presets and distortion limiter.
• 🚀 ViPER4Android — The most powerful tool, but requires installation through Magisk (root users only).

To install ViPER4Android on Mi 8, do:

1. Install. APK-file XDA.
2. Install the driver via Magisk Module (look for "ViPER4Android Driver").
3. In the application settings, select the “Xiaomi” profile and activate “Extra Loud”.

Make a data backup |Install Magisk| Download the latest version of ViPER|Disable MIUI Optimizations|Reboot phone-->

⚠️ Note: When using sound boosters on Xiaomi Mi 8 speaker can overheat. Watch the body temperature - if the bottom part gets hot, reduce the volume.

4. Editing the configuration file mixer_paths.xml

This method requires an unlocked bootloader and access to root, but it gives you maximum volume gain without third-party applications. mixer_paths.xml It contains volume limits set by Xiaomi.

Instructions for Mi 8:

1. Install Root Explorer or a similar file manager.
2. Cross the path. /vendor/etc/mixer_paths.xml And make a copy of the file.
3. Open the original in the text editor and find the lines: <path name="speaker"> <ctl name="RX1 Digital Volume" value="84"/> <ctl name="RX2 Digital Volume" value="84"/>
4. Change the value of 84 to 90 (no higher!).
5. Save the file, set the rights to 644, and restart the phone.

After the changes, the volume will increase by 15-20%, but be careful: values above 90 can damage the speaker on the Xiaomi Mi 8 due to excess rated power.

5. Engineering menu and hidden sound settings

On the Xiaomi Mi 8, there is an engineering menu where you can more accurately adjust the sound parameters.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or #4636## → Phone Information → Select Speaker Test).
3. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio → LoudSpeaker Mode.

Here you will see the current volume levels for different scenarios:

- Media (music, video)

- Ring (calls)

- Voice (voice calls)

Maximum values for the Mi 8:

- Media: 150 (stock - 120)

- Ring: 130 (stock - 100)

- Voice: 110 (stock - 90)

Increase your scores gradually by testing the sound after each change, and if you have wheezing, reduce it by 5-10 units.

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Before you leave the engineering menu, write down the stock values on paper, and if the sound is gone after the change, return the original parameters.

6. Update firmware and reset sound settings

Sometimes the low volume problem is due to firmware bugs. On Xiaomi Mi 8, this is true for MIUI versions below 12.5. Check the current version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

If your version is older than 6 months:

1. Download the latest stable firmware from the official website (select the "Global" region).
2. Flash your phone through Settings → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
3. After the update, reset the sound settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Reset application settings → Select Media.

Also check if there are energy saving profiles that limit the performance of the sound system. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance Mode and select High.

7. Hardware modifications (for experienced users)

If the software methods did not help, there are two options for hardware changes:

• 🔧 Replacement of the speaker with an analogue with better characteristics (for example, the speaker from Mi 9 is compatible with the connector, but more powerful by 20%).
• 🔊 Installation of an external amplifier (e.g. a chip) TI TPA6130 It requires soldering skills.

To replace the speaker on Xiaomi Mi 8 will need:

New speaker (article: 1804000006 for the original or 1804000012 for the reinforced).

- Plastic blade to open the body.

- Dryer for softening of glue (temperature not higher than 80 ° C).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the back cover (on the Mi 8 it is glued - use a hair dryer).

2. disconnect the battery plume to avoid short circuit.

3. Carefully unseal the contacts of the old speaker and install a new one.

4. Check the sound before final assembly.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi 8 speaker soldered to the motherboard - with careless dismantling, you can tear off the tracks. SMD-Components, trust the service.

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Any hardware modifications to the Xiaomi Mi 8 sound system will result in a loss of warranty. Start with software methods, which solve the problem 80 percent of the time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about volume on Xiaomi Mi 8