How to increase volume on Xiaomi Redmi 8: from standard settings to hidden features

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but many users are faced with the problem of insufficient loudness of speakers. Quiet sound during calls, low volume of music or video can seriously spoil the experience of the device, the reasons for this lie in hardware limitations (small speaker size, weak amplifier) and in the software settings by default.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn up the volume on the Redmi 8, from basic Android settings to hidden engineering menu features and third-party utilities. It’s important to understand that some techniques can affect sound quality or even shorten the life of the speakers, so we’ll explain the risks in detail and give recommendations for safe use.

If you've tried to turn up the volume through standard sliders, but you don't get it, don't get upset. 90 percent of the time, you don't have to go to the service center, and you have to follow the instructions and not miss the important things.

1. Standard volume settings in Android

Before you resort to radical measures, check the basic parameters. In MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), the volume settings are divided into several independent sliders, and many users simply do not know about their existence.

To open advanced sound control:

1. Press the volume button (usually located on the side of the smartphone).
2. Touch the gear badge (⚙️) upper right corner of the pop-up window.
3. The Settings menu will open → Sound and vibration.

Here you will see individual regulators for:

• 📞 Calls – the volume of incoming calls.
• 🎵 Media - music, video, games.
• 🔔 Notifications — message signals.
• 🔊 Alarm clock – the sound of an alarm clock (often separately limited).

Note that MIUI 12/13 on Redmi 8 has a hidden option called Safe Media Volume, and if activated, the system automatically lowers the volume when using headphones.

1. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Safe Media Volume.
2. Turn off the slider or set the maximum value.

⚠️ Warning: Long-term music listening at maximum volume (especially with headphones) can lead to irreversible hearing loss. Xiaomi sets limits for a reason - they are based on WHO recommendations.

2. Engineering menu: hidden volume settings

If standard settings don't work, you can try changing the settings through the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden part of the firmware that stores low-level hardware settings, including audio amplifiers.

To open the engineering menu on Redmi 8:

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

In the Audio section, you are interested in the following parameters:

• 🔊 LoudSpeaker Mode – setting up the main speaker.
• 🎧 Headset Mode – Volume in Headphones.
• 📞 Receiver Mode – volume of the speaker (during calls).

For each regime, you can change:

• 📶 Max Vol - Maximum Volume (usually by default) 160, can be increased 200-250).
• 🔄 Current Vol - current value (not recommended to be above 80% of the maximum).

⚠️ Warning: Changes in the menu can cause sound distortion or even damage to the speakers. Do not increase the Max Vol by more than 30% of the standard value. If there is a wheezing or crackling after the changes, immediately return the settings to the factory settings.

Critical information: some Redmi 8 firmware requires a reboot after changing the parameters in the engineering menu, otherwise the settings will not be saved.

3. Apps to amplify sound: top-5 utility

If you don't want to dig into the settings or you're afraid of breaking something, you can use third-party apps that work at the software level and don't require root rights (with rare exceptions).

* ViPER4Android on Redmi 8 requires installation through Magisk (unlocked bootloader needed) This app gives the best result, but it is difficult to set up. If you are not sure about your abilities, you should choose simpler utilities.

How to use volume boosters correctly:

Set minimum gain (start with +10%)

Check the sound for distortion after each change.

Do not use boosters at the same time as the engineering menu.

Watch the temperature of the phone (speakers may overheat)

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One of the best solutions for the Redmi 8 is a combination of Equalizer FX (for equalizer) and Precise Volume (for fine tuning), which allows you to increase the volume without risking damaging the speakers.

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If the sound has become hoarse after installing the booster, try lowering the low frequencies in the equalizer – this often solves the problem.

4.Speaker Cleaning: The Physical Causes of Silent Sound

Sometimes the problem is not the settings, but the contamination of the speakers. Dust, pile or even small debris can block the sound holes, causing the volume to drop by 30-50%. On the Redmi 8, the speaker is located at the bottom of the case (near the USB-C connector), and it is especially prone to clogging.

How to clean the speaker:

• 🧹 Soft brush (for example, a toothbrush with soft bristles) - gently run along the grille.
• 💨 Cylinder with compressed air - short queues (do not bring the nozzle closer than 5 cm).
• 🧲 Scotch or sticky tape - glue to the grille and sharply tear off (repeat) 2-3 once).
• 🚫 What NOT to do: Do not use needles, toothpicks or wet wipes – this can damage the speaker membrane.

If the sound has not improved after cleaning, check the speaker for mechanical damage:

1. Turn on the music at maximum volume.
2. Put your finger on the speaker grille – if you feel vibration but the sound is quiet, the problem is in the membrane (replacement is required).
3. If there is no vibration, the contact may have broken or the amplifier may have broken.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning the speaker starts to wheez or crack, immediately stop using and contact the service.This is a sign of damage to the membrane, and further operation can completely disable the speaker.

5. Update firmware and reset settings

Sometimes the quiet sound on Redmi 8 is due to software bugs in the firmware, especially for devices that have not been updated for a long time. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix sound problems, so first check:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version of MIUI is available, install it.

If the updates didn’t help, try resetting the sound settings to factory:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Resetting settings.
2. Select Reset audio settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action.

If the problem persists, maybe a full reset to factory settings will help.

Make a backup copy of the data (photos, contacts, messages)

Remember or write down passwords from accounts

Make sure your phone has enough charge (at least 50%)

Out. SIM-card and memory card (if any)

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To perform the discharge:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.

Once reset, the phone will restart, and all settings will go back to factory. Check the volume, if the problem was in the software, it should disappear.

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Updating firmware and resetting settings helps in 60% of cases where quiet sound is caused by software failures, not hardware malfunctions.

6 Root access and system modifications

If none of the previous methods worked, the last option is root rights and deep modification of the system, which gives full control over the hardware, but deprives of warranties and can lead to irreversible damage to the phone.

What can be done with root:

• 🔧 Change the sound configuration files (mixer_paths.xml) — This allows you to increase the volume at the hardware level.
• 🔊 Install custom cores with improved sound support (e.g. FrancoKernel).
• 🎛️ Use Magisk modules such as Audio Modification Library.

Instructions for unlocking the bootloader and getting root on Redmi 8:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Install a custom recavery (TWRP).
3. Please use Magisk to obtain root rights.
4. Install the module. ViPER4Android or edit mixer_paths.xml.

Example of editing mixer_paths.xml (You need a root and file manager with access to system folders):

<path name="speaker">


<ctl name="RX1 Digital Volume" value="84" />




<ctl name="RX2 Digital Volume" value="84" />




</path>

You can increase the value to 90-95, but not higher.

⚠️ Warning: improper editing of system files can lead to a "brick" (complete failure) of the phone. If you are not sure about your actions, you should consult a specialist. Also remember that after receiving root, you lose the ability to update "over the air" (OTA).

7. Alternative solutions: external speakers and accessories

If all software methods are exhausted, but the volume is still not satisfied, consider hardware solutions:

• 🔊 Portable Bluetooth speakers (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Portable Speaker) – connect in seconds and give powerful sound.
• 🎧 Headphones with amplifier - some models (for example, Sony) MDR-1AM2) have a built-in amplifier.
• 📱 Cases with built-in speakers are a rare but effective solution (for example, Satechi cases).
• 🔌 USB-C audio adapters – if the problem is in the 3.5 mm connector (on the Redmi 8 it is, but can be damaged).

If you watch videos or listen to music at home, it makes sense to purchase a multimedia dock with speakers. For example, the Xiaomi Mi TV Box S with connected speakers will give a much better sound quality than the built-in speaker of the smartphone.

For those who talk on the phone in noisy places, Bluetooth noise-cancelling headsets (such as the Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2) are a good solution, not only amplifying the sound, but also filtering out extraneous noise.

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External accessories are the safest solution to increase volume, as they do not affect the phone hardware and do not deprive you of warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about volume on Xiaomi Redmi 8