How to increase the volume of notifications on Xiaomi: full instructions

Many Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone users are faced with a device in their pocket or in their bag, and miss important messages because of this. Standard volume is often lacking, especially in noisy places or when using noise cancellation with a headset. The problem lies not only in the physical speakers, but also in the software limitations of the Android operating system and the shell MIUI or HyperOS.

There are several levels of sound adjustment: system, multimedia and separately for notifications. Often users change the overall volume, forgetting that each type of event has its own slider. To solve the problem of silent alerts, you need to approach the settings comprehensively, affecting both the standard menu and hidden engineering parameters.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to amplify the sound available, and we’ll look at customizing individual applications, using an engineering menu to calibrate speakers, and installing third-party utilities that can bypass software limits.

Basic notification volume setting in MIUI

The first thing to start with is to check the standard audio settings. In the MIUI shell, audio stream management is divided into several categories. Oftentimes, the Multimedia slider is twisted to the maximum, and Notifications remain at the minimum. To access the settings, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration.

So here you'll see a few sliders. We're interested in the call and alert section. Make sure the Change with Call switch is active if you want the alert volume to be dependent on the call level. But for maximum effect, you'd better untie those settings and configure them independently.

• 🔊 Click on the gear next to the notification slider to open the extended menu.
• 🔔 Separately set the volume for the alarm clock if it sounds too quiet.
• 📵 Check if Do Not Disturb mode is on, which can block the sound.

You should also look at the "Close up in your pocket" feature, which is active, and if it's active, it'll try to amplify the sound of the call and notifications when the proximity sensor is closed, and you can find it by Settings → Sound and vibration → Volume up in your pocket. This is a useful feature, but it doesn't work equally well with all speakers.

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Use different tunes for different contacts. In the contact settings, you can set a customized, louder tune for important callers to accurately hear their call.

Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration

For more advanced users who are not afraid to go into the system settings, there is an engineering menu, which is a hidden part of the system, designed for testing equipment, where you can adjust the sensitivity of the microphone and, more importantly for us, the maximum volume of the speakers. Be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable operation of the device.

To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484## or #3646633##. If the code doesn't work, your version of MIUI may be blocking access and you'll need to install a special shortcut application. From the menu, select the Hardware Testing tab, then Audio → Audio Debugging.

In this section, you'll find a list of usage scenarios (like Normal Mode or Headset Mode). Select Normal for the main speaker. Find Max Vol (maximum volume). The default value is often 135 or 150. It can be increased to 200, but you need to do it with caution.

⚠️ Warning: Exceeding 200 on the engineering menu can cause the speaker to wheez or physically fail.

When you change the settings, be sure to press the Set button to save the settings. Reboot the device will fix the changes. If the sound becomes distorted (wheezing at maximum volume), return the values to the factory.

Set up separate channels of application sound

Modern versions of Android (starting with 8.0 and up in MIUI) have a notification channel system that allows you to adjust the volume and behavior of the sound for each particular application separately, for example, messages from instant messengers can sound quieter than SMS from the bank.

To access these settings, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Select the app you want from the list. Inside you will see Categories or Notification Types. Click on a specific type (e.g., Messages) and you will be taken to a detailed menu.

Not only can you change the tune, you can also prioritize it. Select "Important" or "Urgent" so that the notification can interrupt the "Do Not Disturb" mode and sound louder. Also check if the volume slider in that particular menu is at a minimum position.

Special attention should be paid to the audio settings for Telegram and WhatsApp. Inside the apps in the Notifications section, there are also their own audio settings. Make sure that there are no quiet standard sounds, but the system volume of notifications is at maximum.

Comparison of sound and equalizer modes

Xiaomi's system offers several audio profiles that affect the final volume. Standard settings can be conservative to protect the user's hearing and speaker. However, in the Advanced Sound Settings section, you can find correction tools.

The Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound quality and effects (the path may vary depending on the model) are available to preset equalizer. Rock, Pop or Jazz modes often have higher peaks at the medium frequencies where the human voice lies, making notifications more legible.

Below is a table comparing the effect of different settings on volume:

Using an equalizer is a safe way to make sound brighter without damaging the hardware. Experiment with 1kHz-4kHz sliders by lifting them up a little bit, which will add to the sound of the alerts of sharpness.

Third-party applications for sound amplification

If there is not enough system tools, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and they work as software amplifiers to increase the digital (gain) audio stream, popular solutions are the Volume Booster GOODEV or Super Volume Booster.

The principle of their work is simple: they intercept the audio stream before sending it to the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and amplify the signal. However, this method has a downside: excessive amplification of the digital signal leads to digital distortions — cod and wheezing.

• 📈 Set the reinforcement no more. 20-30% maximally.
• 🔋 Remember that the constant operation of the amplifier increases battery consumption.
• 📱 Make sure the application has the necessary permissions in the system.

⚠️ Warning: Long-term use of third-party boosters at maximum power can cause the audio chip to overheat and accelerate wear on the speaker.

Some applications require special permissions through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to work at the system level. If you are not familiar with USB debugging, it is better to limit the applications that work in user mode.

Physical Causes of Silent Sound and Their Solutions

Physical factors can't be ruled out, too. During the grid, the speaker gets clogged with dust, pocket pile and skin fat, and this creates an acoustic plug that silences the sound even when the software volume is twisted to maximum.

Use a soft toothbrush or a special sticky tape (gel cleaner) to clean. Walk carefully on the speaker grid. Do not use sharp objects such as needles or pins, as they are easy to pierce the speaker membrane. You can also use isopropyl alcohol by applying a couple of drops on the brush (not on the phone itself!).

Another reason could be a case: Some tight silicone or leather cases overlap the speaker's output or redirect the sound to the side opposite the ear. Take off the case and see if the volume changes. If so, pick up a more appropriate accessory.

If the speaker starts wheezing or the sound is completely gone after moisture hits, try using the "Push Water" feature that is available in some cleaner applications, or simply dry the device in a warm (not hot!) place with silica gel.

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Regular cleaning of the speaker grid is the easiest and safest way to return the factory volume without interfering with the system settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)