How to increase the volume of headphones on Xiaomi Redmi 9: The complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones have gained popularity due to their excellent price-performance ratio, but many users often face limited maximum volume when connecting wired or wireless headsets. Android’s regular settings in the MIUI shell sometimes artificially limit the output level in order to protect the hearing of users and speakers, which leads to quiet music playback or indistinct speech in messengers.

There are many software and hardware ways to get around these limitations, but it’s important to understand that the safety of your ears and equipment should be a priority. In this article, we’ll look at proven methods to amplify audio streams, ranging from basic system settings to advanced engineering menus.

Before we start taking drastic measures, we need to rule out the trivial physical causes of quiet sound, and often the problem lies not in the software, but in the contamination of the speaker grid or the use of poor-quality adapters that extinguish the signal before they hit the headphones.

Basic sound and equalizer settings in MIUI

The first step for any Redmi 9 owner should be to thoroughly check the standard audio settings, as many of the default features can be disabled or configured incorrectly. MIUI shell offers a built-in equalizer that allows you not only to adjust the frequencies, but also to select preset profiles that significantly affect the final volume.

Go to the Settings menu, then select Sound and Vibration. Here you are interested in Sound Quality and Effects (or just Sound Effects). In this menu, activate the Mi Sound Enhancer switch, which optimizes audio output depending on the type of headphones you have connected.

• 🎧 Select the type of headphones from the list (e.g., "Earbursers-in-ears" or "Earbursers with noise cancellation") for automatic calibration.
• 🎚️ In the Equalizer section, try presets Bright or Pop, which often increase volume in medium and high frequencies.
• 🔊 Make sure that the “Absolute Volume” function in the developer menu is active if standard adjustment is not enough.

⚠️ Note: When using an equalizer, do not raise preamp sliders above 0 dB as this will cause digital distortion and wheezing, especially on bass tracks.

It’s also worth checking the settings of the particular app you’re listening to music through. Some players have their own independent volume controls that can be set to a minimum, overlapping system settings.

Using an engineering menu to calibrate audio

For more experienced users of Xiaomi Redmi 9, a hidden section of the engineering menu is available, allowing you to directly control the levels (amplification) of audio channels. This method is the most effective, but requires caution, since changing the wrong parameters can lead to distortion of the sound or the need to reset settings.

To get into the menu, open the Phone app and type the combination ##3646633##. If the code doesn't work, your firmware version may require you to use the MTK Engineering Mode app from Google Play. In the interface that opens, go to the Hardware Testing tab, then select Audio.

Inside the Audio menu, you will see several modes of operation: Normal Mode (normal mode), Headset Mode (headset mode) and Headset_LoudSpeaker Mode. We're interested in the headset mode, because it's the one that outputs sound through the connector. 3.5 mm or Bluetooth adapter.

Choose a device type (like Headset) and a volume level (Level). Usually the levels are numbered from 0 to 6, where 0 is the minimum volume and 6 is the maximum volume. You need to find a Digital Gain or PGA Gain setting and zoom in neatly. The standard value is often 100-120, you can raise it to 140-150, but no more.

After making changes, be sure to press the Set button to save the settings, otherwise after the reboot everything will return to factory values. Changing the parameters in the "Speech" section can cause the interlocutor to hear you too loud or with distortions, so only change the parameters of "Media" or "Ring".

Third-party sound amplifiers

If you think the engineering menu is too complicated or risky, a great solution is specialized applications from the Google Play Store, specifically designed to enhance audio flow on Android, which run on top of system settings and can significantly increase signal level.

One of the most popular and effective solutions is the Precise Volume or Volume Control Plus app, which allows you to create your own volume profiles in 1% increments, as opposed to the standard 15-30 steps of Android, which allows you to fine-tune the sound to a specific headphone model.

• 📱 Volume Booster GOODEV: Simple application with one gain slider, allowing you to raise the volume to 60% above the system norm.
• 🎚️ Equalizer FX: Combines equalizer and volume booster, supporting sound virtualization.
• 🔊 Bass Booster: Specializes in low frequencies, which visually and physically increases perceived volume.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party boosters at maximum power can overload and damage headphone speakers, especially if they are inexpensive or have a small membrane diameter.

Another powerful option is Poweramp Equalizer, which requires permission to access special features, but provides a professional tool for real-time audio processing. Enable the "Direct Volume Control" option in your settings to bypass Android system limitations.

Activation of absolute volume mode

There's a feature in the Android operating system that synchronizes the volume of a smartphone and a connected Bluetooth device or an external sound card. Sometimes this feature doesn't work properly, and Redmi 9 doesn't take full advantage of the connected headset's full potential, the limited signal.

To activate this feature, go to the developer menu. If it is hidden, go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version. After the message "You became a developer" appears, go back to the main settings menu.

Go to the path Additional → For developers. In the list of options, find Disable absolute volume. Here's the logic of the switch: if it's off, absolute volume is on, and vice versa. Try changing the state of this switch and rebooting the phone.

This setting is especially relevant for wireless headphones, where volume control is often out of sync. Once the function is turned on (or off), check if the maximum volume has changed when you connect the device.

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If after changing the developer’s settings, the sound is completely gone, just turn off and turn on Bluetooth again or reconnect the wired headphones so that the system re-initiates the handshake with the device.

Removing physical problems and pollution

Physical factors should not be discounted, especially if your Xiaomi Redmi 9 has been in use for more than a year.The 3.5mm (mini-jack) connector is a magnet for dust, pile and oxides that create resistance and prevent contacts from closing completely.

Visually inspect the jack hole in good light. If you see compressed dust on the bottom, carefully remove it using a wooden toothpick or plastic toothpick. Metal needles are not recommended, as you can accidentally close contacts or damage internal contacts.

The problem can also be in the headphone plug itself, wipe it with an alcohol napkin or a cotton swab slightly soaked in isopropyl alcohol, and oxidized contact is a common cause of a quiet sound or background.

• 🧹 Blow the connector with compressed air from a can of electronics cleaning.
• 🔌 Try inserting the plug before clicking and moving it slightly; if the sound appears and disappears, the problem is contact.
• 🧪 Use a special spray to clean contacts (Contact Cleaner), if you have at hand.

Comparison of volume-raising techniques

The best way to increase volume depends on your technical skills and goals. Below is a comparison table that will help you determine the method.

For most Redmi 9 users, the combination of an equalizer and one of the booster apps will be enough for a comfortable listening experience. The engineering menu should only be used in extreme cases when the software methods do not produce the desired result.

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The most secure and stable result is given by the combination: setting the MIUI equalizer + the Precise Volume app + cleaning the connector.