How to Really Increase the Volume of Speaker on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 often face the problem of quiet sound during calls – the speaker (aka auditory or upper) works at the lowest volume even at maximum settings. The reasons lie in the hardware limitations of the model, the features of the MIUI firmware, and sometimes in the contamination of the speaker. In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to increase the volume, from basic to advanced, taking into account the risks of each method.

It's important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 has one overhead speaker for conversations (monophone sound), while the bottom one has multimedia (stereo with top in some modes). It's the top speaker that's most criticized for low volume. We won't be offering the "magic" apps from the Play Market -- most of them either don't work or degrade sound quality, instead focusing on system settings, engineering menus and hardware checks.

1. Check basic sound settings in MIUI

Before you tamper with system files, make sure the problem isn’t in the trivial settings. Xiaomi often hides key options in non-obvious menus.

Open Settings → Sound and vibration and do the following:

  • 🔊 Call volume and notifications: move the slider to maximum. Notice that it regulates the melodies, not the volume of the conversation.
  • 📞 Volume during the call: in the same menu tap on Additional settings → Loudness in the headphones (yes, it affects the speaker too!).
  • 🚫 Do not disturb: check if Quiet mode is activated or only alarm clock in the settings Do not disturb.
  • 🔄 Resetting sound settings: at the bottom of the Sound and Vibration menu, select Resetting settings - this will return factory settings.

If the volume has not changed after these manipulations, move to the next step. On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12.5+ firmware, the hidden option “Amprovement of Sound” can work, its activation is described in the section about the engineering menu.

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2. Cleaning dynamics from dust and debris

One of the most common causes of silent sound is speaker pollution. On the Redmi Note 8, the top speaker is located in a thin slit above the screen where dust, hair, and even sweat easily enter (when talking in the heat), which over time forms a dense layer that physically silences the sound.

How to clean the speaker without breaking the phone:

  • 🧹 Soft brush: use a clean toothbrush with soft bristles. Carefully run the speaker along the slits without pressing.
  • 💨 Compressed air cylinder: direct short pulses of air at an angle of 45° Hold the balloon vertically to avoid fluid intrusion.
  • 🎵 Clog test: Call your phone and put it to your ear – if the sound became clearer after cleaning, the problem was the pollution.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) - they can damage the speaker membrane. Also avoid wet wipes: liquid that gets inside will disable the speaker.

If the sound is quiet after cleaning, the problem is software constraints or hardware malfunctions, and the engineering menu will help.

3. Engineering menu: hidden volume settings

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (codenamed ginkgo) has a hidden engineering menu where you can manually adjust the volume levels for each type of sound.This method requires caution - incorrect values can lead to distortion of the sound or damage to the speaker.

Instructions for entry and setting:

  1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##3646633###
  2. Select Hardware Testing → Audio → Normal Mode.
  3. In the list, find items: Sph (Speech) - volume of the speaker. Sph2 - alternative channel (on Redmi Note 8 is usually inactive). Ring - volume of the call.

Sph

  • Level 0: 80–90
  • Level 1: 100–110
  • Level 6: 140-150 (maximum 160, but risk of distortion!)
  • Press Set, then restart the phone.

The effect is that the volume of the speaker will increase by 15-20%, but be prepared for possible side effects:

  • 🔊 The appearance of background noise in dynamics.
  • 📉 Decrease in sound quality at maximum volume (wheezing).
  • 🔄 Need to re-edit after firmware update.

💡

Before editing mixer_paths.xml Check the file for strings for your model. 8 The sound parameters can be stored in mixer_paths_tasha.xml (for the Snapdragon processor 665).

5. Checking for hardware malfunctions

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be a physical breakdown of the speaker or the contacts on the motherboard.

Symptoms of speaker breakdown:

  • 🔇 Total lack of sound (even at minimum volume).
  • 🎵 There is a sound, but it is very distorted (wheezing, crackling).
  • 🔊 The volume changes on its own during a conversation.
  • 💥 The sound appears only after hitting the phone body.