Are you tired of the quiet sound in your headphones on Xiaomi? Even at maximum volume, the music sounds muffled, and in noisy environments you have to strain your hearing? The problem isn't always with the headphones themselves — often the restrictions are in the firmware of your smartphone. Manufacturers artificially lower the maximum volume level to protect users from hearing damage and overloading the speakers. But what if you really need a more powerful sound?
In this article, we will discuss how to increase the volume of headphones on Xiaomi through the engineering menu, a hidden settings section available on all smartphones of the brand. You will learn step-by-step instructions for different models, possible risks and alternative ways to amplify the sound. Importantly, changing the factory settings can lead to damage to the headphones or deterioration of sound quality, so all the actions you perform at your own risk.
Why Xiaomi Headphones Sound Silent: The Main Reasons
Before you get into the engineering menu, it’s worth figuring out why the volume of headphones on your Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi leaves much to be desired.
- 🔊 Programmatic limitations MIUI. Firmware artificially reduces the maximum volume level to protect hearing (especially important for models with a high volume). EU-firmware).
- 🎧 Low resistance headphones: Cheap models with impedance below 16 ohms often sound quieter than headphones with resistance of 32 ohms.
- 🔋 Energy saving: Some Xiaomi smartphones automatically lower the volume when the battery is low.
- 🛠️ 3.5mm connector contaminated (if any) Dust or contact oxidation can impair signal transmission.
If the problem is not with the headphones (check them on another device) but with the settings of the smartphone, the engineering menu will help remove the restrictions, but remember, raising the volume above safe values can lead to distortion of the sound or damage to the speakers.
How to log into the engineering menu on Xiaomi: 3 working ways
The Engineering Menu (or Engineer Mode) is a hidden settings section where you can change hardware and firmware settings, and access to it depends on the MIUI version and the smartphone model.
Method 1: Through code #4636##
The easiest method for most Xiaomi models is:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636###.
- In the menu that appears, select Hardware Testing → Audio.
If this code doesn’t work, try alternative combinations:
- #36446337## (for older versions of MIUI)
- #6484## (Equipment Test)
Method 2: Using the Testing app (for MIUI 12+)
On new firmware versions, the engineering menu can be hidden behind the Testing app:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Click 5-7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
- Go back to the main settings menu and find a new section for developers.
- Activate the option Testing mode.
- The application menu will have a Testing icon – open it and select Audio.
Method 3: Through ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods do not work, you can use them. ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer:
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.TestingSettingsAfter completing the command, a testing menu will open where you need to select Audio.
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If the engineering menu doesn't open, try temporarily disabling Google Play Protection in the security settings.Some versions of MIUI block access to hidden partitions due to security policies.
Step-by-step instructions: how to increase the volume of headphones
When you are on the engineering menu, follow this instruction. Attention: changes are applied immediately and do not require rebooting, but may cause distortion of the sound!
Check the current volume at the maximum level
Connect the headphones to the smartphone
Close all applications that produce sound
Make a backup copy of the settings (optional)-->
Step 1: Choosing the type of headphones
In the Audio Engineering menu, select the type of connected headphones:
- Headset - for wired headphones with a 3.5 mm connector.
- Headset (Type-C) – for headphones with USB-C (on models without an audio jack).
- Bluetooth Headset – for wireless headphones (adjustment may not work).
Step 2: Adjusting the volume levels
You'll see a few sliders or numerical values on the Headset menu.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended maximum | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Volume | 100–120 | 140–150 | Media volume (music, video) |
| Voice Call Volume | 80–90 | 110–120 | Loudness during calls |
| Ring Volume | 70–85 | 100–110 | Loudness of the call |
| Sip Volume | 60–75 | 90–100 | Volume of VoIP calls |
Do not increase the value above 150 – this can lead to clipping (distortion of sound) or damage to the headphones. After changing the settings, press Set or Apply to save the settings.
What's a clipping?
Step 3: Verification and adjustment
After the changes have been applied:
- Turn on any song and check the sound at different volume levels.
- If there are wheezing or distortion, reduce the values by 10-20 units.
- Repeat the test with other headphones (if any) to ensure sound stability.
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Changes to the engineering menu are not reset after a reboot, but can be lost after a MIUI update. It is recommended to write down the original parameters values to return them if necessary.
Risks and possible problems after volume increase
Turning up the volume through the engineering menu is not an official function, but a hack that can have consequences.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) exceeding Media Volume = 150 can cause automatic audio shutdown after 5-10 minutes due to protection against overheating of the audio chip.
- 🔇 Sound distortion. High values, wheezing, especially on bass.
- 🔥 On some models (Mi 11 Ultra, Black Shark) long-term playback at high volume leads to overheating.
- 🎧 Headphone damage: Cheap models with thin membranes can fail.
- 🔄 Reset settings after update MIUI Menu parameters are reset.
If the sound gets worse after the change, return it to the factory.
- Return to the engineering menu (#4636###).
- Select Audio → Headset.
- Press Restore Default or manually set the values 100-120.
Alternative ways to increase volume without an engineering menu
If you don’t want to take risks, there are safer ways to amplify the sound:
- 🎛️ equalizer MIUI. In sound settings (Settings) → Sound. → Equator: Choose Preset Bass or Rock – this will increase the volume of low frequencies.
- 🔊 Amplifiers. Try Volume Booster or Equalizer. FX (They're available on Google Play. They work on top of the system settings.
- 🔋 Power saving shutdown. In Settings → Battery turn off Energy Saving mode – it can limit volume.
- 🎧 Amplifier headphones: models with impedance of 32 ohms and higher (for example, Sony) MDR-7506) Sounds louder on Xiaomi.
If you use Bluetooth headphones, try changing the codecs in your connection settings (Settings → Bluetooth → Sound settings). AptX or LDAC codecs give a cleaner and louder sound than a standard SBC.
Xiaomi models that work best
Not all Xiaomi smartphones have a flexible volume setting, but here are the models where the method is best:
| Model | Processor | Max: The Safe Value of Media Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | 145 | Stable work, without overheating |
| POCO X3 Pro | Snapdragon 860 | 150 | Possible distortions at max volume |
| Mi 11 Lite | Snapdragon 732G | 135 | It works better with wired headphones. |
| Black Shark 4 | Snapdragon 870 | 160 | High risk of overheating with prolonged use |
| Redmi 9A | Helio G25 | 120 | Weak audio chip – it is not recommended to turn up the volume |
On smartphones with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi 9, POCO M3), the engineering menu may not allow you to change the volume of the headphones.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many users make the same mistakes when trying to turn up the volume, and here are the most common ones:
⚠️ Warning: If the sound is completely gone after the changes to the engineering menu, check if the Audio Mode settings are lost.
- ❌ The values are too high.Installation of Media Volume = 200+ It causes a total distortion of sound. Optimal range is 130-150.
- ❌ Change all settings at once. Don't touch the Mic Volume or Speaker Volume -- it's the microphone settings and the speaker, not the headphones.
- ❌ Ignore the test. Always check the sound after changes! Some earbuds may not be able to withstand the high load.
- ❌ Update MIUI No backup. After the update, the firmware settings are reset. Write down the values or take a screenshot.
If the sound is worse after the manipulation and you can't get back to the factory settings, try resetting the sound settings through Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting the sound settings. This will return all parameters to default without losing data.