How to increase volume on Xiaomi Mi 9: from basic settings to hidden features

Xiaomi Mi 9

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can increase volume, from standard Android settings to engineering menus and third-party apps, and it's important to understand that some methods can affect sound quality or even device warranty, so we'll not only give you instructions, but we'll also give you honest warnings about the consequences.

If you're looking for a way to make sound louder without risk, start with the first three sections. For experienced users who are ready to experiment, the fourth and fifth sections will work, and if the speaker is the problem, don't miss the last section on hardware malfunction diagnosis.

1. Basic volume settings in MIUI

Before you resort to radical measures, check the obvious parameters. There are several places in MIUI where you can adjust the volume separately for different scenarios.

Open the Quick Settings panel with your finger down the screen, and here you'll see a volume slider -- but it only controls media sound (music, video). To adjust the volume for calls and notifications, tap the gear icon next to the slider, and a menu with three regulators will open.

• 🔔 Call – the volume of incoming calls;
• 📢 Media – sound in applications (YouTube, Spotify, etc.);
• 🔔 Notifications – Message and alarm clock signals.

Note that in MIUI 12/13/14, the maximum volume can be limited by EU regulations (if your smartphone is designed for the European market), in which case the slider will simply not set the volume above the safe threshold, and you can only circumvent this limit through an engineering menu or root access (more on this below).

Another nuance is adaptive sound, which in some versions of the firmware turns on automatically and lowers the volume depending on the ambient noise.

Settings → Sound and vibration → Adaptive sound

and deactivate the option.

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If the volume dropped after the MIUI update, try resetting the sound settings to factory. To do this, in the Settings → Sound and vibration menu, find the item "Reset Sound settings" (may be hidden under "Advanced").

2. Equalizer and sound effects setup

The Xiaomi Mi 9 has a system equalizer that can artificially amplify certain frequencies to make the sound subjectively louder, but the wrong settings can distort the sound or even damage the speakers with prolonged use.

To open the equaliser:

1. Run any audio app (such as Mi Music or YouTube Music).
2. During playback, tap the icon of the sound settings (usually it is a speaker icon or uniform stripes).
3. Choose the Equalizer or Sound Effects.

For maximum volume, try the following presets:

• 🎵 Rock – enhances the medium and high frequencies, makes the sound “piercing";
• 🎤 Voice - raises the volume of vocals (useful for podcasts);
• 🔊 Basses – amplifies low frequencies, but can lead to wheezing at maximum volume.

If you need to adjust the sound more precisely, select Custom Mode and manually lift the sliders 100 Hz (bass) and 10 kHz (high frequencies). Don't lift all sliders at once, which creates distortion and puts a strain on the speakers.

3. Third-party applications for sound amplification

If you don't have enough system settings, you can use Google Play apps, which work on two principles:

1. Software amplification – increase the volume due to algorithms (may worsen the quality);
2. Bypassing system constraints – changing the parameters of the sound mixer (requires root or ADB).

Among the verified applications:

• 🔊 Volume Booster GOODEV — Simple booster with presets for different scenarios;
• 🎛️ Equalizer FX — Advanced equalizer with bass enhancement function;
• 🛠️ ViPER4Android — powerful tool for fine-tuning sound (requires root or Magisk).

Example of settings Volume Booster GOODEV:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Select the type of amplifier: Media, Call or Notifications.
3. Move the slider 120-150 percent (higher is the risk of distortion).
4. Activate the Start option when you start the system if you want constant amplification.

⚠️ Attention: Apps like ViPER4Android They require modification of system files, and their installation may result in loss of warranty or soft-brick (cyclic reboot) of the device. TWRP Mi Cloud.

Make a backup of data | Check the Android version (should be supported) | Download the correct driver version | Disable MIUI Optimization in the developer settings | Install Magisk (if root is required)

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4. Engineering menu: hidden volume settings

The Xiaomi Mi 9, like other smartphones on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, has a hidden engineering menu (EngineerMode) where you can manually adjust audio settings.This method does not require root, but careless changes can damage the speakers.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or #4636## for the alternative menu).
3. Choose Hardware Testing → Audio.

In the Audio menu, you are interested in the following options:

When you change the settings, press Set and restart your smartphone. If the sound gets worse (wheezing or crackling), return the values to the standard ones.

⚠️ Note: Max Vol above 160 can physically damage the speaker. In Xiaomi service centers, such cases are not considered warranty. If you hear even a slight distortion, immediately lower the value.

5 Modification of system files (for advanced)

If you're willing to take risks, you can change the system files that control volume, a method that requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights (or temporary root through Magisk).

The main files that can be modified:

• 📄 /system/vendor/build.prop — There are volume limits for different regions;
• 🔊 /system/etc/mixer_paths.xml — contains the parameters of the sound mixer;
• 🎚️ /system/etc/audio_platform_info.xml — audio-platform configuration.

Example of editing mixer_paths.xml:

1. With Root Explorer or MT Manager, find the file on the way up.
2. Make a backup copy of it (copy it elsewhere).
3. Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: <path name="speaker"> <ctl name="RX1 Digital Volume" value="84" /> </path>
4. Change the value="84" to the value="120" (not higher!).
5. Save the file, set rights to 644 and restart the smartphone.

To change build.prop, add a line to the end of the file:

ro.audio.speaker.max_volume=120


ro.audio.headset.max_volume=100

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop ( looped boot).If the smartphone does not turn on after the changes, try resetting the settings via Fastboot command: fastboot erase userdata This will delete all user data, but restore the functionality.

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Changing system files gives you the maximum volume gain, but it requires technical skills, and if you're not sure what you're doing, use third-party apps or engineering menus.

Hardware problems: when software methods do not help

If you've tried all the ways, but the sound is still quiet, the problem may be the hardware. Here are the most common malfunctions of the Xiaomi Mi 9:

🔍 Signs of hardware problems:

• 🔇 The sound is quiet even at maximum volume in headphones;
• 🔊 One of the speakers does not work (in Mi 9 there are two of them: top and bottom);
• 🎵 There was a wheezing or crackling during reproduction;
• 💧 The sound disappears after moisture hits (even if the phone doesn't sink).

🛠️ What you can do on your own:

1. Clean speakers. Use a soft brush or compressed air (a balloon) to remove dust from the grille. Don't use needles or toothpicks, they can damage the membrane.
2. Check the headphones, put the headphones on, and if they're loud, the problem is with the speakers on the smartphone.
3. Reset. Sometimes software failures mimic hardware problems. Reset through Settings → About phone → Reset.

If nothing worked, contact the service center.Average cost of repairing speakers on Xiaomi Mi 9 in 2026:

Before visiting the service, check whether the warranty period has expired. Even if the warranty has expired, in official Xiaomi service centers, repairs can be cheaper than those of artisanal craftsmen.

7. Alternative solutions: external speakers and accessories

If you can't turn up the volume programmatically, consider external devices, which is especially true for those who often watch videos or listen to music in noisy places.

🎧 The best accessories for Xiaomi Mi 9:

• 🔊 Portable Bluetooth speakers (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker or X-rays) JBL Go 3. Connect in seconds and make a powerful sound;
• 🎧 Headphones with active noise cancellation (Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 or Sony) WH-1000XM4). Allows you to listen to music at a comfortable volume even in the subway;

If you use your smartphone to listen to music often, look for USB-C headphones with an amplifier (like the 1MORE Triple Driver) that are powered directly from your phone and produce a cleaner sound than Bluetooth headsets.

An external microphone (such as Boya BY-M1) that connects via USB-C or 3.5 mm connector (with adapter) is suitable for calls in noisy places.

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External accessories not only solve the problem of quiet sound, but also prolong the life of the built-in speakers Xiaomi Mi 9, reducing their load.

FAQ: Frequent questions about volume on Xiaomi Mi 9