The Xiaomi Mi A1, part of the Android One program, has long been a benchmark for pure Android experience, but over time, owners often face the challenge of reducing the volume of the speaker, which may be due to software constraints, clogging of the acoustic grid, or individual features of the user's hearing, when the interlocutor in the handset becomes difficult to hear, it causes discomfort and makes you look for ways to solve the problem.
In this article, we'll take a look at all the techniques available to get the most out of your device's acoustic system. We'll look at the standard settings, hidden engineering codes, physical cleaning and software modifications. It's important to understand that a conversational speaker has its physical limits, but often the sound can be made much clearer and louder without loss of quality.
Before we go to radical measures, we need to do a basic diagnostic. Sometimes the problem lies not in the smartphone itself, but in external factors that are easily eliminated. Xiaomi Mi A1 has a high-quality, but not the most powerful speaker in its class, so the right setup is crucial here.
Basic diagnostics and physical cleaning
The first step should always be to check the physical condition of the device. Over the years, dust, pile and skin fat inevitably enter the speakers' holes. These pollutants create a dense plug that silences the sound and reduces the volume of the sound by 30-40%. Visually, the grid may appear clean, but serious blockages are often visible under the magnifying glass.
Use a soft toothbrush or dry antistatic brush to clean, and it is strictly forbidden to use sharp objects such as needles or pins, as they can easily damage the speaker membrane under the mesh, and it is also not recommended to pour the holes with alcohol or water if you have no experience in electronics repair.
⚠️ Attention: Using compressed air from high-pressure canisters can damage the internal components or speaker membrane.
After mechanical cleaning, check to see if there's a protective film or glass on top of the screen that covers the speaker's slot. Some of the protective glass is not accurate and covers part of the sound channel, which is critical for the Mi A1. Take the film off and check for the difference in volume.
Set up equalizer and sound profiles
The Android operating system installed on the Xiaomi Mi A1 provides the basic tools for customizing the sound. While the standard equalizer is often media-focused, it can also affect the frequencies of the conversational speaker. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound settings (the path may differ depending on the firmware version).
In the sound effects menu, try to switch the equalizer profiles. Pop, Rock, or Bright often raises the medium to high frequencies where the human voice is located. Standard mode Normal can cut those frequencies, making the speaker's speech less legible, especially in noisy places.
Note the Dolby Atmos feature if available in your version of the software. While it is more commonly used for video, the right setup can improve stereo separation and overall volume output. However, for regular phone calls over a cellular network, this feature may not be active, only working in applications.
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Use headphones with a microphone for calls in noisy places - this will relieve the speaker and improve the audibility of the interlocutor.
Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration
The most efficient way to turn up the volume is to work with the engineering menu. This is a hidden partition of the system, designed to test hardware components. On the Xiaomi Mi A1, it can be accessed through a standard phone dialer. Enter the code ##3646633## or ##4636##. If the codes do not work, you may need to install the Engineering Mode MTK application, since the smartphone runs on a Qualcomm processor, but the codes may vary.
Once you're on the menu, you'll find the audio section, which is usually the Hardware Testing → Audio tab, and you'll see a list of scripts (Scenarios) like Normal Mode (normal mode), Headset Mode (headsets) and Loud Speaker Mode (loud speaker). Normal Mode is the one we're interested in for a normal conversation.
Inside the section, select the Speech or Mic sound type. You'll see level sliders (Gain). Increasing Gain Level 0-6 will add volume. Be careful: too high can lead to wheezing, distortion or even failure of the speaker. It's recommended to increase the values gradually, by 5-10 units, and immediately check the result with a call.
☑️ Setting up the engineering menu
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the values in the partitions, the value of which you do not know (for example, Sidetone or Digital Gain for other modes.
Comparison of volume-increasing methods
There are several approaches to silent sound, and each has its own benefits and risks. Below is a table to help you choose the best method for your situation. It is important to keep in mind that software methods are safer than physical interventions.
| Method | Efficiency | Risk of damage | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical cleaning | High (if clogged) | Low. | Low. |
| Engineering menu | Very high. | Medium (with inept use) | Medium |
| Third-party annexes | Medium | Low. | Low. |
| Replacement of the speaker | Maximum | High (for a beginner) | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the most balanced solution is a combination of cleaning and tuning through an engineering menu. Replacing the speaker only makes sense if the wheezing is caused by physical wear of the membrane, not software constraints.
Using third-party amplifiers (Volume Booster) is temporary and often requires Root rights. Without superuser rights, such programs only software emulate volume increases, which can lead to lower sound quality.
Third-party applications and Root rights
If standard tools are not enough, you can turn to specialized software. Apps like Volume Booster GOODEV or Super Volume Booster allow you to exceed the system limitations of Android. However, on the Xiaomi Mi A1, their effectiveness is limited by the architecture of the Snapdragon 625 processor.
Root rights are often required to deeply modify the audio tract, and obtaining superuser rights unlocks access to the system files of the sound configuration (mixer_paths.xml). Changing these files allows you to reconfigure the gain levels at the kernel level of the system.
Risks of obtaining Root rights
Modifying system files is the way for power users. One syntax error XML-The file can cause the phone to stop making any sounds, including system notifications. Always back up the original file before making changes.
Hardware problems and replacement of the speaker
If the software and cleaning methods didn't work, and the sound became quiet, hoarse or gone, the problem is probably the hardware. The speaker is a consumable. Over time, the magnetic system weakens, and the coil can burn out or deform.
On the Mi A1, the speaker is located in the upper end and integrated into the plume or soldered to the board (depending on the board revision), which will require disassembly of the body, neat disconnection of the plumes and the use of soldering equipment if the module is not removable.
When buying a new speaker, pay attention to resistance (usually 8 or 16 Ohms) and overall dimensions. Installing a speaker with other characteristics can lead to overloading of the audio codec and quiet sound. Original parts provide the best match with the acoustic cameras of the case.
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If after cleaning and adjusting the engineering menu, the sound remains hoarse or intermittent, this is a sure sign of a physical malfunction of the speaker that requires replacement.