How to Increase the Volume of a Call on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their value for money, but even flagship models sometimes have problems with the sound of incoming calls. In noisy urban environments or on a street with heavy traffic, standard settings often are not enough to hear the caller. Users begin to look for ways to increase the volume of calls to the shaomi, so as not to miss important business or personal conversations.

The problem with silent speakers can be caused by software limitations of regional firmware versions, physical contamination of the speaker grid, or incorrect equalizer settings. Fortunately, the MIUI operating system and its newer version of HyperOS provide a sufficiently deep toolkit for fine-tuning the audio stream. In this article, we will discuss all possible methods for amplifying sound, from basic switches in the menu to advanced engineering codes.

Basic sound settings in the MIUI interface

The first thing to start diagnosing and setting up is the standard audio control menu. Many users inadvertently lower the ringtone volume by adjusting media files and forget to return the slider back. To work properly, you need to go to Settings and select Sound and Vibration, and it's important to check if the call volume slider is set to a minimum.

Note the "Close up in your pocket" feature, which if activated, will gradually amplify the signal if you don't pick up the phone when you receive a call. This can be helpful, but sometimes interferes if the phone is on the table and not in the bag. It's also worth checking the vibration settings, as in some scenarios it can interrupt the beep or create a false sensation of a loud call.

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Use a physical volume button during an incoming call to instantly amplify the sound even if the screen is locked.

An important element is the choice of melody. Some standard tracks preinstalled in the system have a low amplitude and compressed dynamic range. Replacing the melody with a sharper and louder composition can solve the problem without technical intervention. It is recommended to use tracks in MP3 or M4A format with a high bit rate for better playback quality.

Use of the extended menu of sound settings

There's an extra menu hidden in the MIUI shell that allows you to control the individual channels of sound in more detail, so to get there, you press the volume button, and then click on the gear icon or the arrow that appears under the slider, and you can see the media division, the alarm clock, the bell, and the notifications, and make sure that the call slider is twisted to the maximum.

The Monophone Sound setting deserves special attention, and enabling this option can significantly increase the perceived volume, since the entire audio stream is sent to one channel, excluding stereo separation, which is often poorly implemented on budget models, but it is worth considering that the quality of music playback in headphones can be affected.

Also in this section, there is often a "Sound Improvement" or "Mi Sound Enhancer" switch, which is primarily aimed at headphones, but in some models it also affects the external speaker by adding artificial frequencies. Experiment with this option, as its impact depends on the specific hardware platform of your device.

Set up the equalizer to enhance frequencies

The built-in equalizer is a powerful tool that is often ignored, and it's in the way of Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality and Effects (or Mi Sound Enhancer). Standard presets like Pop or Rock may not have the desired effect, so it's better to create your own configuration. The goal is to raise the medium and high frequencies, where the main spectrum of the human voice is usually located.

When manually adjusting the equalizer, it is recommended to smoothly raise the sliders in the range from 1 kHz to 4 kHz. It is these frequencies that are responsible for speech intelligibility. Excessive bass amplification (below 200 Hz) can lead to wheezing and rattling of the speaker, which will only worsen the perception of the call.

⚠️ Attention: A sharp increase in all sliders of the equalizer to the maximum can lead to overloading of the amplifier and distortion.

Some users prefer to use third-party equalizer apps from the Google Play store if the built-in facilities seem limited. However, system settings usually take priority and work more stable, without using battery power in the background. Xiaomi's built-in algorithms are better optimized for the specific dynamics of the models used.

Handheld mode and additional speakers

Many modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with stereo speakers, where the role of the second channel is performed by a conversational speaker. In the audio settings, you can often find the option “Two-Hand Use Mode” or similar, which activates both speakers when playing media.

If you talk on speakerphones often, make sure that the special features settings do not turn off the amplification of sound, and it is also worth checking whether the upper end of the smartphone is closed with a cover or protective glass that can block the output hole of the speaker, even a slight shift of the protective film can reduce the volume by 30-40%.

An interesting solution is to use the real-time Augmentation feature, and on some firmware versions, when you hold your phone to your ear while you're ringing, the system automatically adjusts the frequency response for better audibility, and make sure that the proximity sensor is working properly and not covered with dirt.

Engineering menu and hidden settings

For advanced users who are not afraid to get into system settings, there is an engineering menu that can be accessed by typing a special code in the “caller” code. For MediaTek processors, the code ##3646633# is often used, and for Qualcomm – ##6484## or ##4636#. The interface may vary depending on the model and version of Android.

You can find the Hardware Testing or Audio tab on the menu that opens, and you can find the LoudSpeaker Mode and Receiver Mode settings, Volume or Gain allows you to programmatically increase the maximum signal gain, but there is a risk that setting too high a value can cause the speaker to fail.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters in the engineering menu can lead to irreversible changes in the performance of the audio track!

When you change the settings, be sure to press the Set or Save button to apply the settings. Rebooting the device is usually not required, but is desirable to fix the result. If the sound has become hoarse or disappeared altogether, you need to return the values to the factory parameters (usually the Default button).

Third-party applications for sound amplification

If the system is not enough, the Google Play apps come to the rescue, with the leaders in this category being Volume Booster GOODEV, Super Volume Booster and JetAudio, which work as a software amplifier, bypassing the standard operating system limits of maximum decibels.

The principle of their work is to digitally amplify the audio stream before it is sent to the DAC (digital-to-analog converter), which allows you to exceed the standard volume limit, but has consequences, first of all, this is an increased battery consumption and the possible appearance of digital distortion (clipping) at maximum values.

When using these utilities, it is important not to set the gain above 20-30%. Exceeding this threshold is almost guaranteed to lead to distortion and can physically damage the speaker membrane due to excessive oscillation amplitude. Use these tools with caution and only in extreme cases.

Hardware causes and cleaning of speakers

Often the problem with silent bells is not software, but pollution, and the speaker grid gets clogged with dust, pocket pile and skin fat over time, and it creates an acoustic plug that silences the sound, and regular cleaning can bring the device back to its original volume without any adjustments.

For cleaning, it is best to use a soft toothbrush with dry bristles or a special sticky tape (cleaning gel). It is not recommended to use sharp objects such as needles or pins, as they easily damage the speaker membrane or puncture the moisture membrane. You can also use compressed air, but from very close distance and short "pushki".

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Regular preventive cleaning of the speaker mesh every 2-3 months prevents volume reduction and prolongs the service life of audiocomponents.

If the cleaning didn't work, and you hear a crackling or wheezing in the dynamics, even at medium volume, there might be physical wear and tear or peeling off of the membrane, and then the software methods are powerless, and you'll need to replace the speaker at the service center, which is an inexpensive procedure that will completely restore the acoustic performance of the smartphone.

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