How to increase volume on Xiaomi Redmi 5: from standard settings to hidden features

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but many users face the problem of low volume speakers, especially when listening to music, watching videos or while calling. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to increase volume, from basic settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu and third-party utilities.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi 5’s volume limits are not just set by the manufacturer: too high a sound level can cause a distortion of the sound or even damage to the speakers, but if you’re willing to take a risk (or just want to improve the sound a little), our instructions will help you do it safely.

We tested all the methods on MIUI 9/10/11 firmware and ensure they work. If your smartphone is running on a newer version, some menu items may be slightly different, but the logic will remain the same.

1. Checking basic volume settings

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't the trivial settings.Redmi 5 has separate regulators for different types of sound, and sometimes users just don't notice that one is twisted to a minimum.

Open the notification bar and tap the volume button (or hold the volume button on the sidebar) and a menu with three sliders will appear:

• 🔔 Call – Volume of incoming calls and notifications.
• 🎵 Media – volume of music, video, games.
• 📞 Conversation – the volume of the voice of the interlocutor during the call.

Check each one. If the Media slider is locked in half, it could be a MIUI restriction, and then move on to the following.

⚠️ Warning: If the sound starts to "hritter" or distort after the volume increases, it is a sign that the speakers are working at their limit, in which case it is better to lower the level or use headphones.

2. disable volume restrictions in MIUI settings

Xiaomi is building a Safe Volume feature into MIUI, which automatically lowers the sound level after exceeding a certain threshold, which is designed to protect hearing, but it can be turned off.

Do the following:

1. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Find the option “Safe Volume” (or “Loud Limit” in older versions of MIUI).
3. Turn off the slider or uncheck next to this option.
4. Confirm action if the system requests a password or fingerprint.

Then check if the maximum volume level has increased. If not, move on to the next method.

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On some MIUI firmware, the Safe Volume feature is hidden. To find it, search the settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

3.Use of the engineering menu to manually adjust volume

If standard methods don't work, you can try to change the sound settings through the engineering menu, which is a hidden settings section where you can manually increase the power of the speakers, and be careful: the wrong changes can damage the hardware.

Instructions for Redmi 5:

1. Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##36446337## (this is the code to log into the engineering menu on most Xiaomi devices).
2. You will be taken to the "EngineerMode" menu. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.
3. Select LoudSpeaker Mode (or Speaker, depending on the menu version).
4. In the Value field, change the value from 140 (or 150) to 160-180. Don't put above 200 - this can damage the speaker!
5. Click Set, then go back and restart the phone.

After the reboot, check the volume. If the sound is better but there are distortions, reduce the value by 5-10 units.

⚠️ Note: Changes to the engineering menu are not saved after resetting or updating the firmware.

Battery charge > 50% | Important data saved | Current sound setting (to return if necessary) | Phone model tested (only working on Redmi 5/5A/5 Plus)

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4. Installation of third-party applications to amplify sound

If you don't want to go through the settings, you can use specialized applications that work like amplifiers, and they increase the volume through software processing.

The best apps for Redmi 5:

• 🔊 Volume Booster GOODEV — A simple booster with presets for different scenarios (music, calls, games).
• 🎛️ Equalizer & Bass Booster – not only increases volume, but also improves sound due to equalizer.
• 📱 Speaker Boost – Optimized for weak speakers of budget smartphones.

Install one of the applications (such as Volume Booster) and follow the instructions:

1. Open the app and give access to the sound settings.
2. Choose the type of sound (media, call or conversation).
3. Move the slider to the maximum value (usually up to +20%).
4. Enable the option "Amplifier" (if any).

Note that some applications require root rights to work properly, and without them, functionality may be limited.

5. Cleaning of speakers and physical damage check

Sometimes the problem is not the settings, but the contamination of the speakers. Dust, pile or even moisture can block the sound holes, causing the volume to drop. On the Redmi 5, the speaker is located at the bottom of the body (near the microUSB connector).

How to clean the speaker:

• 🧹 Use a soft brush (such as for drawing) or toothpick to gently remove dust from the holes.
• 💨 Blow the speaker with compressed air (such as a canister to clean the equipment). Do not blow with your mouth - moisture from the breath can get inside.
• 🔊 Check the sound before and after cleaning. If it doesn't improve, it's not the pollution.

If the sound has not recovered after cleaning, check:

• 🔧 Integrity speaker - listen to whether there are wheezing or crackling.
• 🔌 Connecting headphones – sometimes the phone “thinks” the headphones are connected and turns off the speaker.
• 🔄 Performance after falling – if the phone fell, the speaker’s contact could come off.

⚠️ Attention: If you hear extraneous noises (cracking, whistling) at maximum volume, this may indicate damage to the speaker membrane, in which case the amplification of sound by software methods will only aggravate the problem.

6. Update firmware and reset settings

Sometimes low volume is associated with software bugs in the firmware, especially if the problem occurred after the MIUI update.

• 🔄 Update to the latest version MIUI — Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Hard reset is a last resort if nothing works. Delete all data! Instructions: Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Delete all data.

If the volume is lower after the upgrade, there may be additional restrictions in the new version of MIUI, in which case a rollback to the previous firmware will help (but this requires unlocking the bootloader).

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Before resetting, be sure to back up your data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

7.Alternative methods: headphones, Bluetooth speakers and external amplifiers

If all methods have been tried, but the volume of the Redmi 5 speakers is still not satisfied, consider alternative options:

• 🔌 External amplifier for music lovers: you can connect Redmi 5 to an external one DAC or amplifier USB OTG.

If you need to use a built-in speaker, but the sound is too quiet, you might want to consider replacing the speaker. On Redmi 5, it's an inexpensive procedure (from 500 rubles in the service center).

Also, look at the covers and the safety glass, which can cover the sound holes, and try to remove the cover and see if the volume has changed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about volume on Xiaomi Redmi 5