How to increase the volume of your Xiaomi phone through the engineering menu: safe methods and hidden settings

Are you tired of the quiet sound on your Xiaomi while watching videos, listening to music or talking on speakerphone? Standard volume settings often limit the maximum level, leaving users looking for solutions. One of the most effective (but also risky) ways is to change parameters through an engineering menu.

In this article, we will discuss how to enter the hidden MIUI settings correctly, what parameters are responsible for the volume of speakers and headphones, and also warn against typical errors that can lead to damage to the audio system. The methods are suitable for most Redmi, Poco and Mi models (from Redmi Note 7 to Xiaomi 14), but require caution.

Important: changes in the engineering menu do not guarantee the same result on all devices. Volume depends on the hardware (quality of speakers, amplifier), the version of MIUI and even the individual features of the firmware. If you are not sure about your actions, consider alternative methods, which we will discuss at the end of this article.

📊 What Xiaomi model do you use?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

Poco X3/X4/X5

Mi 11/12/13/14

Redmi 9/9A/9C

Another model

The Engineering Menu (or Engineer Mode) is an Android service section designed to test and debug hardware components, and manufacturers including Xiaomi are hiding it from ordinary users for several reasons:

🔧 Risk of damage to equipment: Incorrect settings can disable speakers, microphone or audio chip.
📉 Violation of certification standards: exceeding the permissible volume (for example, above 85 dB) is prohibited in the EU and some other regions.
🔄 Instability: Changes in parameters can lead to sound distortion, wheezing, or complete loss of audio.

However, the engineering menu remains the only way to get around the software limitations of MIUI, and you can configure:

🔊 Volume level for Media (music, video), Ring (calls), Alarm (alarm clock).
🎧 Headphone amplifier (including Type-C and Bluetooth).
📱 Microphone sensitivity and noise cancellation.

On Xiaomi models with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco F3), the menu is called Qualcomm Service Menu, and on devices with MediaTek chips (Redmi 9A, Poco M3) – MTK Engineer Mode. Sign-in methods and available options will differ.

Before you start settings, make sure your device is not locked (no active account-linked Mi Account) and in some cases, you may need to reset your settings after changes to the engineering menu.

Method 1: Entry code (works on 90% of models)

The easiest method is to enter the service code in the Phone application:

Open the standard phone application.
Go to the keyboard tab (as for dialing).
Enter one of the codes (depending on the processor): For Qualcomm: ##4636## or ##8080## For MediaTek: ##36446337## or #54298###

After entering the code, the engineering menu will automatically open.

Method 2: Through the Testing application (for new versions of MIUI)

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi began blocking code combinations, with the alternative being the use of a hidden CIT (Factory Test) app:

Go to Settings. → The phone.
Click 5-7 times on the MIUI version until you become a developer!
Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → For developers.
Activate the USB Debugging option and Allow location simulation.
Install the Mi Test app from Google Play (unless preinstalled).
Start CIT, select Audio Test and go to advanced settings.

Step 3: Save settings and restart your phone

After the parameters change:

Click Set or Apply (depending on the menu version).
Return to the main menu and exit the engineering mode.
Restart the device so that the changes take effect.

Critical information: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T) changes in the engineering menu are reset after the MIUI update. To fix the settings, you need to turn off automatic firmware updates.

What if the sound is lost after the change?

If the speakers stopped working, try: 1. Reset the sound settings in the engineering menu (return the values to default). 2. Clear the cache of the Phone and Settings app (in the application menu). 3. Perform a reset to factory settings (if other methods did not help). 90% of the time the problem is solved by rolling back the changes.

Risks and possible problems after volume change

Turning up the volume through the engineering menu is an interference with hardware settings that can backfire, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: On devices with low power speakers (e.g. Redmi) 8A POCO C31) Exceeding Speaker Gain Value = 3 often causes physical damage to the membrane, and repairs cost 30 to 50 percent of the cost of the phone.

Problem 1: The sound has become hoarse or intermittent

This is because of clipping, which is a distortion of the signal when the maximum power of the amplifier is exceeded.

🔽 Reduce Speaker Gain to 1 or 0.
🔄 Bring Media Volume back to 120-130.
🎧 Use external speakers or headphones instead of built-in.

Overheating of the audio chip is a common problem on devices with MediaTek Helio G processors (e.g. Redmi 9, Poco M2). If the phone is heated above 45°C (check through AIDA64-type apps):

❄️ Reduce the volume by 20-30% of the maximum.
🔌 Turn off the charger while listening to music.
📴 Close background applications consuming the processor.

Problem 3: Resets after the update

Xiaomi regularly releases updates that can reset custom engineering menu options to avoid this:

🚫 Turn off automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
📥 Install firmware only manually, pre-checking reviews on forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).
🔄 Create a backup of settings through ADB: adb backup -f audio_settings.ab com.android.settings

💡

If the engineering menu changes to make the sound quieter than it was, check the Equalizer settings in the standard Music app. Sometimes resetting custom presets solves the problem.

If you don't want to take risks, there are safer ways to turn up the volume on Xiaomi, which won't have the same effect as the engineering menu, but won't damage the hardware.

Method 1: Using Equalizer and sound effects

The standard Music app (or Mi Sound Enhancer) has a built-in equalizer:

Open the track and click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings.
Select the Equator and activate the Bass Boost Preset or Volume+.
Enable the Dolby Atmos option (if supported by your model).

Method 2: Third-party applications for sound amplification

A few verified apps from Google Play:

🔊 Volume Booster GOODEV — Increases volume by 20 to 30% without root.
🎧 Equalizer FX — headphone-tune.
📱 SoundAssistant (from Samsung, but runs on Xiaomi) – Extended Volume settings by category.

Warning: Some applications (like Volume Booster Pro) request root rights. Do not grant them - this can compromise system security.

Method 3: Configure with Developer Options

The developer menu has hidden options that affect the sound:

Activate Developer Mode (as described above).
Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
Find options: Turn off absolute volume (for Bluetooth devices) and turn up the volume of media (if any).

Method 4: Hardware solutions

If software methods don’t help, consider:

🔊 External Bluetooth speaker (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Portable Speaker).
🎧 Headphones with amplifier (models with impedance 32 ohms and higher).
📱 Replacement of the speaker in the service center (relevant for older models such as Redmi) 4X).

💡

The safest way to turn up the volume is to use external devices (earphones, speakers) or software equalizers. The engineering menu should only be used if you are prepared for the possible risks.

Xiaomi models that work best

The efficiency of changing volume through the engineering menu depends on the hardware platform and the quality of the speakers. Below is a table with models, where the method gives a noticeable result without critical side effects:

Model	Processor	Max: The Safe Value of Media Volume	Risk of overheating	Notes
Xiaomi 13/13 Pro	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	150	Low.	High-quality stereo speakers, but limited by software.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+	MediaTek Dimensity 1080	140	Medium.	Good stock in power, but warms with prolonged use.
Poco F4 GT	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1	160	Low.	Optimal for gamers - speakers withstand high load.
Redmi 10C	Snapdragon 680	110	High-pitched	Budget dynamics – the risk of distortion in Speaker Gain > 1.
Xiaomi 11T Pro	Snapdragon 888	145	Medium.	It supports Dolby Atmos, which enhances the effect.

On single-speaker models (e.g. Redmi 9A, Poco C31), the effect will be minimal. On flagships (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3), volume gains can reach 40-50%, but the risk of damage is higher due to powerful amplifiers.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)

Can I increase the volume of the microphone through the engineering menu?

Yes, there are Mic Volume and Mic Gain options in the Audio section, but raising above 5 will cause loud noises and echoes during calls, and the optimal value is 3-4.

Why did the sound become quieter after the change?

This is because you reset the audio drivers. Try: Reboot the phone; reset the engineering menu to default; clear the cache of the com.android.settings app.

Does the method work on Xiaomi with global firmware (EU/Global ROM)?

Yes, but there may be additional restrictions on global firmware, such as MIUI EU, where code ##4636## is sometimes blocked, in which case you can use ADB or Mi Test.

Can I return the standard settings if the sound gets worse?

Go to the engineering menu and manually return all values to the original (usually Media Volume = 100, Speaker Gain = 0). If you don't remember the original settings, reset to the factory settings (Settings → Additional → Recover and Reset).

Is there a risk of losing the warranty after changes to the engineering menu?

Technically, yes. If the service center finds that the audio settings have been changed software, it may cause a warranty repair to be denied, but in practice, it is difficult to prove this if you have not exceeded critical values (for example, Speaker Gain = 6).

If you're going to experiment with an engineering menu, remember: it's better to under-maintain than over-remain. Start with minimal changes (e.g. Media Volume = 110) and check the sound on different tracks. If you have wheezing or the phone is starting to warm, immediately return the settings back.