How to increase the volume of the speaker when calling Xiaomi: from settings to engineering menu

Why Xiaomi has a quiet sound when calling and how to fix it

Are you missing important phrases in conversation because Xiaomi's speaker is too quiet during calls? The problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones - even at maximum volume, the voice of the interlocutor is barely distinguishable, especially in noisy environments. The reasons can lie both in the software limitations of the MIUI system and in the hardware features of a particular model.

In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to increase the volume of the speaker when calling, from basic settings to hidden parameters of the engineering menu. It is important to understand that some methods require caution: improper actions in system files can lead to failures. But don’t worry — we will explain each step in detail and point out the potential risks.

Try simple solutions first: often the problem is solved by cleaning the speaker from dust or resetting the audio settings. If that doesn't help, move on to advanced methods, including editing configuration files and using the same. ADB-team.

1. Check basic sound settings in MIUI

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't in the standard settings. Xiaomi smartphones have separate volume controls for media, alarm clocks and calls. Often users accidentally turn down the volume of a call without even noticing it.

How to check:

📞 Press the volume button up during the call, and a slider that says "Call volume" should appear on the screen. Make sure it's at maximum.
🔊 Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Volume and manually adjust the level for "Calls".
🔄 If the slider is already at maximum, try resetting the sound settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the sound settings.

Note the Do Not Disturb mode (Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb). If activated, calls may automatically be muted. Also check if there are volume limits in the energy saving profile (Settings → Battery → Energy saving mode).

📊 What kind of Xiaomi model do you have?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

POCO X3/X4/X5

Mi 11/12/13

Redmi 9/10

Another model

2. Cleaning of the speaker and checking of physical damage

Often the cause of quiet sound is trivial – pollution speaker, dust, fibers from clothing or moisture can block sound waves, reducing the volume, especially for models with a lower speaker (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro).

How to clean the speaker:

🧹 Use a soft toothbrush (dry!) or compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment) to remove dust from the speaker grille.
🎵 Turn on music at maximum volume and hold the phone to your ear with the speaker – if the sound becomes clearer, the problem is pollution.
🚫 Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) - they can damage the speaker membrane.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has fallen or been exposed to moisture, a quiet sound may indicate damage to the speaker or plume, in which case only replacing the part in the service center will help. Check whether the sound (wheezing, crackling) is distorted - this is a sure sign of hardware malfunction.

It is also worth checking whether the speaker case is closing.Some protective covers (especially thick or with raised edges) can block the sound.

If the standard settings don't work, you can go to the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden section of MIUI that provides advanced audio options, including microphone gain and speaker, and be careful: the wrong settings in the engineering menu can cause sound distortion or damage to the speaker!

Instructions for entering the engineering menu:

Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
Select Hardware Testing (or Hardware Information).
Go to the Audio section (Sound).
In the test list, select LoudSpeaker Mode (or Normal Mode for Speaker).
Here you will see Level and Value, and try to increase the value by 10-20 units (e.g., from 140 to 160).

Important:

🔧 Do not increase the value by more than 20% of the standard – this can cause distortion or damage to the speaker.
🔄 After the changes, restart the phone to make the settings apply.
📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) The engineering menu can be blocked, and the method of using the ADB (described below).

Make a backup copy of the data

Write down the standard values of parameters

Do not change other settings other than sound

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

4. File editing mixer_paths.xml (advanced)

If the engineering menu does not give a result, you can manually edit the system file. mixer_paths.xml, This method requires root rights or access through the use of ADB, Be careful, too – incorrect changes can lead to failures.

Instructions:

Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (to work with ADB).
Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
Open the command line in the folder with ADB and type in: adb pull /vendor/etc/mixer_paths.xml This will copy the file to your PC.
Open up. mixer_paths.xml in a text editor (for example, Notepad)++). Find the lines with the parameters: <path name="speaker"> <ctl name="RX1 Digital Volume" value="84" /> <ctl name="RX2 Digital Volume" value="84" /> Increase the value of the 5-10 units (e.g. before the 90).
Save the file and upload it back: adb push mixer_paths.xml /vendor/etc/ adb reboot

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F4, Xiaomi 13) The file may be called differently (for example, mixer_paths_tasha.xml). Also after the update MIUI If you change the sound, you'll have to repeat the process. If you edit it, you get the standard values back!

For models with a dynamic sound system (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra), this method may not work – the manufacturer blocks manual change of parameters.

What to do if the file mixer_paths.xml absent?

On certain devices (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) the sound configuration is stored in binary files or divided into several XML. In this case, try to find files with names: - mixer_paths_*.xml (where * is a processor model, such as tasha or lahaina) - audio_effects.conf - audio_policy_configuration.xml If none of the methods worked, only the firmware of the custom core with modified sound settings remains.

5. Sound amplification applications: do they work?

There are dozens of apps on Google Play that promise to turn up the volume of the speaker, but most of them are either useless or only work with multimedia, not the sound of calls. We tested some popular tools and identified some that can really help:

Annex	Efficiency for calls	Demands a Root.	Risks.
Volume Booster	❌ No (only works with music)	❌ No.	Advertising, collecting data
SoundAssistant	✅ Yes (separate call management)	❌ No.	Can reset settings after the update
ViPER4Android	✅ Yes (with proper setup)	✅ Yes.	Complex installation, risk of distortion
Equalizer FX	❌ No. Media only)	❌ No.	The battery goes down faster.

The only app that can actually increase the volume of calls is Samsung's SoundAssistant (yes, it works on Xiaomi too), which allows you to split the volume control for multimedia, notifications and calls. Download it from APKCombo (it's removed from Google Play).

For ViPER4Android, you will need:

Install a modified version for MIUI.
Enable the driver in the application settings (Settings → Driver → Install / Update).
In the Master Equalizer section, increase the Master Gain slider by 3-5 dB.

💡

Before installation ViPER4Android Make a backup copy of the original file /system/vendor/etc/audio_effects.conf — This will help restore the sound if something goes wrong.

6. Hardware solutions: replacement of speaker or use of headphones

If software methods didn’t help, the problem could be hardware. Speakers on Xiaomi smartphones (especially the budget Redmi and POCO series) wear out over time. The average lifespan of the speaker is 2-3 years with heavy use.

Signs of a malfunction of the speaker:

🔊 The sound is distorted at high volume (wheezing, crackling).
📉 Volume plummeted after falling or getting moisture.
🔄 The speaker works normally on music, but quietly during calls (problem in spoken dynamics).

Decisions:

🔧 Replacement of speaker in service center. Cost for popular models: Redmi Note 10/11: 800–1 200 ₽ POCO X3/X4: 1 000–1 500 ₽ Xiaomi 12/13: 1 500–2 500 ₽
🎧 Use of wired headphones with a microphone (sound will be transmitted through them).
📶 Connecting a Bluetooth headset (e.g., Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds).

⚠️ Note: If you decide to replace the speaker yourself, consider: IP53 (Splash protection) after disassembly, protection may break.For Xiaomi 12S Ultra and other dual speaker flagships will require precise positioning of new parts.Unplug the battery before disassembly to avoid short circuit.

For a temporary solution, you can use an external speaker with Bluetooth or Aux support, for example, the Xiaomi Mi Portable Speaker or Redmi Soundbar portable speakers connect in seconds and give a clear sound.

7. Alternative methods: firmware and custom cores

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you might consider flashing your phone or installing a custom core, which is only suitable for power users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and can be unwarranted.

Options:

📱 Custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) often have more flexible sound settings than standard firmware. MIUI.
🔧 Modified sound cores (e.g. FrancoKernel or ElementalX) allow you to fine-tune the speaker amplification.
🔄 Modified MIUI-Firmware (e.g. from Xiaomi.eu) sometimes contain unlocked audio settings.

Instructions for the installation of the custom core:

Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a wait of 7-14 days).
Install custom Recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
Download the right kernel for your model from the XDA Developers forum.
Flush the core through the receptacles and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On models with Dynamic RAM Expansion (e.g, POCO F4 GT) Custom cores may conflict with the virtual memory function. Turn it off in settings before the firmware (Settings) → Additionally. → Memory. → Expansion of RAM).

After installing the custom core, you will be able to:

Increase gain for the conversational speaker.
Turn off the MIUI limits at maximum volume.
Set up the equalizer separately for calls.

💡

Custom firmware and cores give you maximum freedom in the audio setting, but require unlocking the bootloader and can lead to loss of warranty. Use this method only if other methods have not helped.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the volume of the speaker on Xiaomi

Can I increase the volume without root rights?

Yes, but the options are limited. You can: Use SoundAssistant to separate volume control, clear the speaker of dust, log into the engineering menu and increase the Level values. For deep changes (editing) mixer_paths.xml Or installing a custom core) root will still need.

Why is the sound so quieter after the MIUI update?

The manufacturer often makes changes to the sound policy, limiting the maximum volume to protect the speakers. To return the previous level: Try resetting the sound settings (Settings → System → Reset → Resetting the audio settings). If this did not help, roll back to the previous version of MIUI via Fastboot. Write in support of Xiaomi through the Mi Community app - sometimes they return the old settings on user requests.

How to check if the speaker is damaged?

Perform the test: Turn on the music at maximum volume — if the sound is clean, the problem is not the dynamics. During the call, switch to speaker — if the sound is louder, the speaker is defective. Connect the headphones — if the sound is normal, the problem is in the main dynamics. You can also use the Phone Doctor Plus app to diagnose hardware components.

Will there be a guarantee if I edit it? mixer_paths.xml?

Formally, editing system files is not a reason to deny warranty if you do not damage the phone. However: If the speaker burns down after the changes, the service center may refuse to repair. When updating the MIUI, the file will reset to standard values. It is better to first try methods without interfering with the system (engineering menu, SoundAssistant).

Which Xiaomi models are most likely to suffer from quiet sound?

The problem is most common on the following devices: Redmi Note 8/9/10 - weak speakers in budget models. POCO X3 NFC - a known problem with the conversational speaker after updates. Xiaomi Mi A2/A3 - restrictions due to "clean" Android. Redmi 9/9A/9C - cheap speakers with low resource. On flagships (Xiaomi 12/13, Mix 4) the problem is less common, but can occur after falls or moisture.