How to increase the sound of Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: the full guide

Redmi series smartphones have long proven to be reliable devices with excellent value for money, but owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro sometimes face insufficient volume of a multimedia speaker or conversational speaker. This is especially noticeable in noisy places where incoming calls can simply be skipped, or when watching videos without headphones when you have to listen to a quiet dialogue. Fortunately, the MIUI software shell provides users with a wide range of tools to fine tune the audio system.

Before resorting to radical methods like flashing or disassembling the device, it is worth trying software solutions that often allow you to squeeze additional decibels out of the speaker. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to increase the sound on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro using built-in system features, hidden engineering menus and proven third-party utilities.

It is important to understand that increasing the volume above factory limits can lead to faster wear of the dynamic head or wheezing at maximum volume. Software amplification always requires a reasonable approach. We will consider safe methods that will not harm your gadget, but will make audio playback more comfortable for perception in various operating conditions.

Basic configuration of sound profiles in MIUI

The first step to improving sound should be to carefully check the standard settings of the system. MIUI It's based on Android, but it has its own audio processing algorithms that can be set up by default to save energy or protect your hearing. → Sound and vibration and make sure the media volume slider is twisted to maximum, and check if Quiet or Do Not Disturb mode is activated, which may limit notifications.

Next, you should pay attention to the Sound Effects section. Depending on the firmware version, it can be a Dolby Atmos equalizer or a standard graphics equalizer. Activation of Dolby Atmos often automatically increases the overall volume and makes the sound more voluminous due to software processing. If you have a global version of the firmware, this functionality can be hidden or replaced by standard presets such as Pop, Rock or Jazz.

• 🎚️ Select Bright or Pop mode in the equalizer to artificially raise high frequencies, which subjectively makes the sound louder.
• 🔊 Make sure the Absolute Volume feature in the developer settings is active if you use Bluetooth headsets.
• 🎧 Check the settings of specific apps (like YouTube or Spotify) as they may have their own internal volume controller.

⚠️ Note: When Dolby Atmos is activated, the Redmi 8 Pro battery consumption may increase slightly due to the additional load on the audio processor.

You can't ignore the frequency settings. Raising the high frequencies in the equalizer creates the illusion of louder, cleaner sound, even if the physical amplitude of the membrane's vibrations hasn't changed. Experiment with 4kHz-16kHz sliders to find a balance that makes speech more legible and music more detailed.

Use of the Engineering Menu for Calibration

One of the most effective, but careful ways to do this is to access the engineering menu, which is a hidden part of the system that's designed to be used by engineers in the factory. In Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, it's accessed through a set of special code in the Phone app. Enter the combination ##6484## or ##3646633##. If the first code opens the hardware testing menu (CIT), the second one usually leads directly to the Engineering Mode.

Once you're on the menu, you'll have to go to the Hardware Testing tab, or you'll have to go straight to the Audio section, and this is where the AudioDebug or LoudSpeaker Mode subsection is located. This is where you'll find the Speaker Gain setting, which by default can have a value like 120 or 130, and you can add volume, but you need to do it very carefully.

There is a table of recommended values (Gain) for different types of speakers in smartphones based on MediaTek, which is installed in the Redmi 8 Pro:

When you change the settings, be sure to press the Set button and check the result. If the sound becomes too hoarse or an unpleasant whistle appears, immediately return the original value. The critical threshold for the built-in Redmi 8 Pro speaker is a value of 165 units, exceeding which is likely to physically rupture the speaker membrane.

Application of third-party equalizers and amplifiers

If the built-in tools aren't enough, Google Play Market apps come to the rescue. There are many programs that work on top of the system audio stream, amplifying the signal before it is sent to the DAC (Digital Analog Converter). One of the most popular and powerful tools is Volume GO or Volume Control Plus, which allows you to increase the volume to 200% and even 600% of the system maximum.

Another powerful tool is Poweramp Equalizer, which is not just an amplifier, but a professional parametric equalizer that gives you complete control of the audio path. By installing this app, you can not only raise the total volume (Pre-amp), but also adjust the frequency balance by removing the porridge at low frequencies, which often interferes with the perception of sound at maximum volume in budget smartphones.

• 📱 Install the Volume app GO for quick access to the expanded volume slider.
• 🎚️ Use Poweramp Equalizer to fine tune frequencies and prevent distortion.
• 🔊 Apps like Google’s Sound Amplifier can run in the background without ads.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party amplifiers may cause audio and video to be out of sync in some video players due to delayed audio processing.

It’s worth remembering that using third-party amplifiers requires permanent permissions to access the microphone or system audio settings, which can lead to faster battery discharge, as the processor will be constantly busy processing the audio signal in real time, and it is recommended to use such applications only when the standard volume is really not enough.

Activating hidden functions through developer settings

Deep inside the Android system, there's a developer menu that contains options that affect how the media works. To get there, you go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. After that, the "Advanced Settings" → "Developers" option will appear in the settings menu.

Here we are interested in the option to turn off the absolute volume level. By default, it can be turned off. If it is activated (or deactivated, depending on the version of Android), this will unlock the independent volume control of the phone and the connected Bluetooth device. For an embedded speaker, this can remove the software restrictions imposed by Bluetooth protocol drivers, which sometimes positively affects the main volume.

Also in this section, you should look for settings related to Bluetooth codecs (LDAC, aptX) if you plan to use external speakers or headphones. Although this does not directly affect the built-in speaker, changing the priorities of codecs can redistribute the resources of the audio subsystem, which in rare cases eliminates software conflicts that cause quiet sound.

Physical cleaning and speaker maintenance

Often the problem with quiet sound is not software, but the banal pollution. Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro has a speaker perforation that over time gets clogged with dust, pocket pile and skin fat. This creates an acoustic cork that silences the sound and reduces its volume by 30-40%.

You can't use sharp objects like needles or pins to clean, because they can easily pierce the safety net or damage the speaker membrane itself. The best solution is to use a soft toothbrush with dry bristles or duct tape (scotch), which can gently "wet" the holes, pulling the dirt out, and you can use compressed air in cans, but you need to blow at an angle, not a perpendy.

• 🧹 Carefully walk with a dry soft brush on the speaker grid in circular movements.
• 💨 Use a pear to clean the optics to blow dust out of the holes.
• 🧽 Wipe the case around the speaker with an alcohol wipe to degrease the surface (without pouring the speaker!).

If the sound became louder after cleaning, but wheezing appeared, moisture or small debris may have got inside, which now vibrates with the membrane, in which case it may be necessary to carefully open the back cover (it is plastic and is removed around the perimeter) and purge the internal volume.

Removing software failures and resetting settings

Sometimes quiet sound is a result of software failure drivers or application conflict. If previous methods did not help, it is worth trying more radical measures. First of all, reset all audio settings: go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset and select Settings Reset (this will not delete your data, but will return the system settings to factory, including sounds and vibration).

If that didn't work, the problem could be a firmware error. Check for updates in the Settings menu → About phone → System Update. Often Xiaomi releases patches that fix audio track bugs. In extreme cases, if you're a confident user, you can perform a full reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), saving all the important data beforehand.

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Wipe Data eliminates 95% of software sound problems caused by setting conflicts or malware.

Remember that after resetting, only re-install the necessary applications to eliminate the impact of heavy software on the system. Sometimes third-party widgets or themes may conflict with the system sound profiles of MIUI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)