How to increase hearing in Xiaomi phone: from settings to engineering menu

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become less sound-producing? Music is quiet and the interlocutor in the handset is barely audible? Low volume is one of the most common problems among smartphone owners of this brand. The reasons can vary from trivial settings to hardware malfunctions. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to increase hearing in a Xiaomi phone, from standard features to hidden features of the engineering menu.

It's important to understand that not all methods are equally safe. Some changes can overload speakers or even cancel warranties. So we'll explain in detail which ones should be used first and which ones should be used only as a last resort. If you're not sure about your skills, you better go to the service center. But in 80% of cases, you can solve the problem yourself - and we'll show you how to do it.

1. Checking basic sound settings

Before you dig deeper, make sure that the problem is not the basic settings. Often users accidentally change the parameters of the sound without even knowing it.

  • πŸ”Š Volume level: Press the physical volume button and make sure the slider is at maximum. on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3) There are separate regulators for multimedia, calls and alarm clocks.
  • 🎡 Do Not Disturb Mode: Go to Settings β†’ Sound and vibration β†’ Don't disturb and check if this mode is activated, it can block notifications and reduce the volume of calls.
  • πŸ“± Sound Profile: In the same audio settings, select a General or Outdoor profile – these usually have maximum volume.

If the sound is still quiet after this manipulation, then move on to the next step, and it's also worth checking if there are apps on the phone that can control the sound (such as Equalizer FX or Volume Booster), which sometimes reset after an update.

πŸ“Š What kind of Xiaomi model do you have?
Redmi Note 10/11/12
POCO X3/X4/X5
Mi 11/12/13
Redmi 9/9A/9C
Another model

Cleaning of speakers and connectors

One of the most common causes of hearing loss is contamination of speakers or headphone jacks, and dust, pile from pockets, or even small debris can physically block the sound.

  1. Take a flashlight and inspect the speaker grille (usually located at the bottom of the phone) and if you see debris, it should be carefully removed.
  2. Use a soft brush (for example, for drawing) or a toothpick with cotton wool soaked in alcohol. Do not use metal objects - they can damage the speaker membrane!
  3. A 3.5 mm connector, if any, would be a cotton swab, slightly soaked in isopropyl alcohol, and then rotating the contacts.

If you use wireless headphones, check them on another device. Sometimes the problem lies in the accessories themselves, not in the phone. Also, make sure that Bluetooth settings do not activate Low Sound Quality (this can happen automatically when the signal is weak).

⚠️ Warning: Never use compressed air (cylinders) to clean Xiaomi speakers! a strong flow can damage the membrane or drive debris deeper.

3.Use of uniform equalizer

Xiaomi phones have a default system equalizer that can artificially turn down the volume at certain frequencies, and its settings should be checked and adjusted if necessary:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Sound and vibration β†’ Equator.
  2. Choose a preset called "Customer" or "Rock" - these usually amplify medium and high frequencies.
  3. Manually lift the sliders 100 Hz to 1 kHz (that's the range of the human voice). Don't increase the frequencies too high, it can cause distortion.

If your Xiaomi model doesn’t have an integrated equalizer (like the Redmi 9A), install a third-party app like Equalizer & Bass Booster or Wavelet, which allows you to fine-tune the sound and even increase volume through software processing, but remember that such applications can increase the load on the processor and reduce battery life.

Turn off all effects (3D-sound, virtualization)

Install preset "Rock" or "User"

Lifting sliders 100-500 Hz for voice

Save your settings as a new profile-->

Activation of the Hearing Aids (MHA) Mode

Few people know, but Xiaomi’s Android 10+ phones have a hidden Mobile Hearing Aid (MHA) feature originally designed for people with hearing impairments that can significantly increase the volume of sound, but has side effects:

  1. Activate Settings β†’ Special features β†’ Hearing β†’ Mode for hearing aids.
  2. Turn on the switch and select the type of device "Over-the-board" (usually gives the greatest amplification).
  3. In the "Sound settings" section, move the Reinforcement slider to the maximum.

This mode only works with wired headphones or via Bluetooth (for Bluetooth 5.0+ models). The sound will get louder, but background noise or distortion may appear. Also note that MHA does not work with the phone's speakers - only through external devices.

⚠️ Attention: Long-term use MHA-The maximum-amplification mode can damage your headphones or even your hearing, and we recommend turning it on only when necessary.

5. Change of parameters in the engineering menu

If standard methods don't work, you can try to turn up the volume through the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden section where you store low-level settings on your device. Be careful, the wrong changes can cause crashes!

To get into the engineering menu:

1. Open the phone app.


2. Enter the code ##36446337## (for MIUI 12/13) or #4636## (for older versions).




3. Select the "Hardware Testing" tab β†’ "Audio" tab.




4. Scroll to the "Max Vol" section and increase the values for:




Media (multimedia) – up to 150-160




- "Ring" (calls) - up to 140-150




Headset (headphones) – up to 130-140




5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

After this manipulation, the volume should increase markedly, but there are risks:

  • πŸ”‡ The appearance of distortion at maximum volume.
  • πŸ”‹ Increased battery consumption due to increased load on the audio processor.
  • 🚨 Possible failure of speakers with prolonged use at limit values.
What to do if the engineering menu does not open?
If the code ##36446337## It doesn’t work, try the following options: 1. Install the app MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek-based phones) or Qualcomm Engineer Mode (for Snapdragon). 2. In some firmware MIUI In this case, only unlocking the bootloader and installing custom recovery (for example, custom recovery) will help, TWRP). 3. On new models (Xiaomi) 13/14) Access to the engineering menu can be completely disabled by the manufacturer.β€”> 6. Firmware updates and setting resets Sometimes the problem with low volume is associated with software errors in the firmware. MIUI. To rule out this factor: Check the current firmware version in Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI. If an update is available, install it through Settings. β†’ Updating the system. If the problem has occurred after the update, try to roll back to the previous version (this can be done through the update). MIUI bootloader and TWRP). If the update didn’t help, reset the sound settings: Settings β†’ System and device β†’ Resetting settings β†’ Reset the sound settings In extreme cases, you may need to completely reset the phone (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Reset settings.Be sure to back up data via Mi Cloud or Google Drive. Xiaomi Model Frequent sound problem Recommended Redmi Note 10 Pro Solution Quiet Lower Speaker Grid Cleanup + engineering menu POCO X3 NFC Distortions at max volume Reduce "Max Vol" to 140 in the Mi 11 Ultra Engineering Menu MHA-Redmi 9A Low volume calls Update firmware + resetting 7. Hardware malfunctions and service centers If none of the software methods worked, the problem is probably hardware: πŸ”Š Dynamic damage: can occur due to a fall, moisture or wear. It is easy to diagnose when playing music, wheezing or no sound is completely absent. πŸ”Œ Contact oxidation: common after moisture is injected, requires disassembly of the phone and cleaning with alcohol. πŸ“± Audio codec malfunction: The chip that handles the sound may fail, in which case the sound is either missing or severely distorted. πŸ”‹ Battery problems: when the phone is discharged, it can artificially limit the volume to save energy.If you suspect a hardware breakdown, you should contact the official Xiaomi service center. Self-repair without experience can cause even more serious damage.The average cost of replacing a speaker at Xiaomi is 800–2000 RUB, depending on the model. πŸ’‘If the phone is warranty, don't open it yourself! Any traces of disassembly will void warranty obligations. FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s sound Why after the update MIUI So, is it quieter? It's a common problem, especially when you're moving to new versions? MIUI 13/14. The manufacturer often changes its sound management policy to meet European standards (e.g., the manufacturer makes changes to the sound management policy, EN 50332, Try resetting the sound settings or rolling back to the previous firmware version via TWRP. Can you turn up the microphone volume in Xiaomi? Yes, but it requires access to the engineering menu. β†’ Mic can be increased by Mic Gain (mic boost). However, this is fraught with background noise during calls. Optimal values for most models are: Level 0: 200, Level 1: 180, Level 2: 160. Why is the sound louder in headphones than through speakers? It is normal - the phone's speakers are physically smaller and have power limitations. In addition, Xiaomi artificially lowers the volume of external speakers to protect against overload. If the difference is too noticeable, check the equalizer settings or activate the MHA mode (but remember that it only works with headphones). How to return the standard audio settings after changes in the engineering menu? In addition, you can return the default settings on the Refault menu in two ways on the Destore engineer's menu? Reset the sound settings through Settings β†’ System and device β†’ Resetting settings β†’ Reset the audio settings. If these methods don't work, it's only a complete reset of the phone. Is it safe to use apps to amplify sound? Apps like Volume Booster or Speaker Boost can temporarily turn up the volume, but they have serious drawbacks: πŸ”‹ Increased battery consumption (up to 15-20%). πŸ”Š Risk of damage to speakers during prolonged use. πŸ›‘ Possible conflicts with system processes MIUI. We recommend using them only in extreme cases and give preference to built-in settings.