How to increase the sound when talking to Xiaomi: from settings to engineering menu

Xiaomi smartphone owners, from budget Redmis to flagship Mis, often face low volume problems during calls. The interlocutor is hard to hear, the voice disappears in noisy environments, and sometimes the sound is distorted to complete indistinct. The reasons can lie in both the software limitations of MIUI and the hardware features of a particular model. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to increase the volume during conversation, from basic settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu.

It is important to understand that the problem is not always related to a malfunction of the speaker or microphone. Often the fault is manufacturer restrictions (for example, in models for the EU), incorrect settings of sound uniformity or conflicting applications. We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and POCO F5 devices, the results are given in the comparison table below. If after all the manipulations the sound has not improved, at the end of the article you will find a checklist for the diagnosis of hardware malfunctions.

1. Basic volume settings in MIUI

Start with the obvious: check if the standard sound parameters are lost. In MIUI 14 and later, the path to settings has changed, they are now hidden deeper than in previous versions.

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Scroll down to Media Volume and Notifications.
3. Push the gear. ⚙️ top-right corner of the screen.
4. Turn on the slider Separate volume control.

Now you have a separate call regulator, so you can push it up to the maximum and check the sound, and if you don't, move on to the next step.

⚠️ Note: Some of the firmware for the European market (EEA) The maximum volume of calls is artificially lowered to 70% It's based on the actual power of the speaker. EN 50332-2 The restriction can only be circumvented through the engineering menu (see section). 4).

If the sound becomes distorted (wheezing, crackling) after the volume increases, try turning off the Voice Improvement feature in the same settings. It automatically suppresses noise, but sometimes it worsens speech intelligibility.

Disable the In-pocket mode and proximity sensor

Many users are unaware that the proximity sensor can block sound during a conversation. If it is triggered falsely (for example, because of a protective glass or case), the smartphone “thinks” that you pressed it against the ear, and turns off the main speaker, switching to a weak conversational one.

• 📱 During the call, move the phone away from the ear by 5-10 cm If the sound returns - the sensor is to blame.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Screen. → Approach sensor and turn it off.
• 🛠️ Wipe the sensor area (usually to the right of the speaker) with alcohol – dirt can interfere with its operation.

Another common cause of silent sound is "In your pocket" mode, which automatically turns the volume down when the smartphone is down or in a tight space.

Settings → Display → Mode “In your pocket” → Turn off

If the sound is better after that, but there is background noise, go back to Settings → Sound → Voice Improvement and turn on the option Echo suppression.

3. Use of "Loud Communication" mode and Bluetooth devices

If you can't hear someone at maximum volume, the temporary solution is to use the hands-free mode, which uses a main speaker that is more powerful than the speaker that's spoken, and activates with a single button during the call:

• 🔊 Click on the speaker icon in the call interface (usually in the top right corner).
• 🎧 Connect a Bluetooth headset or headphones – they often give a cleaner sound.
• 📻 If you have Xiaomi with an IR port (such as the Mi 10 or Redmi Note 9 Pro), connect external acoustics via an IR transmitter.

For continuous use of hands-free communication without manual activation:

Settings → Special features → Hearing → Always use loud communication

⚠️ Warning: Prolonged use of hands-free at maximum volume can cause speakers to overheat in budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31). If the phone body is hot, turn down the volume or switch to headphones.

If you make frequent calls in noisy places, consider buying a Bluetooth noise-cancelling headset (such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro or Redmi Buds 4 Active) that automatically amplifies the voice of the interlocutor and suppresses background noise.

4. Engineering menu: hidden volume settings

The most effective, but also the most risky method is to change parameters through the Engineering Mode, where you can manually increase the volume of the microphone and speaker, bypassing the limitations of MIUI.

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that appears, select Hardware Testing → Audio.
3. Scroll to Volume and find the parameters: Sph (microphone) is responsible for the volume of your voice for the interlocutor. Sph2 (second microphone) for noise reduction. Ring (calling) is the volume of the incoming call. Media (multimedia) does not affect conversations. Voice Call is the main parameter for increasing the volume of the interlocutor.

Voice Call

150

160

255

Save the changes and restart the phone.

For models with a Qualcomm processor (most Xiaomi) an alternative path to the engineering menu:

##36446337##

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect settings in the engineering menu can damage the speaker or microphone. If there is constant background noise following the changes, reset the settings to factory settings by entering: ##4636## → Restore Defaults

If the engineering menu is not available (e.g., on EU firmware), use the MTK Engineering Mode app (for Mediatek) or Qualcomm Engineer Mode (for Snapdragon).

5. Third-party applications for sound amplification

If you don't want to go through the settings, try specialized utilities that work on top of the system and amplify the sound software.

• 🔊 Volume Booster - increases volume by 20-30% without root. MIUI 12–14.
• 🎛️ Precise Volume – allows you to fine-tune the volume for each type of sound (calls, multimedia, alarm clock).
• 🛠️ SoundAssistant (from Samsung, but runs on Xiaomi) – adds separate regulators for left/right speaker.
• 🚀 ViPER4Android — Advanced equalizer, requires Magisk and root rights.

Install one of the applications (for example, Volume Booster) and follow the instructions:

Download and install APK from [official website](https://volume-booster.en.uptodown.com/android)

Launch the application and give permission to change the sound

Move Call Volume slider 80-90%

Reboot your phone to apply changes-->

For ViPER4Android, you will need additional configuration:

1. Install Magisk and get root rights.
2. Download the ViPER4Android FX and the ViPER4Android Driver.
3. In the application settings, turn on Master Limiter and set Gain to +3 dB.
4. Activate your Voice Clarity profile for calls.

If the sound has become intermittent after installing the application, turn off hardware acceleration of sound in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additional → For developers → Disable audio effects).

6. Checking for hardware malfunctions

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be hardware.

• 🔍 Contaminated speaker: Light a flashlight into the speaker's grille. Do you see dust or fibers? Clean carefully with a soft brush.
• 💧 Moisture got in: If the phone fell into the water, even briefly, the oxidation of the contacts could have worsened the sound. Check the moisture indicator (usually under the tray) SIM-map).
• 🔌 Bad plume contact: If the sound is lost when you press the body, the speaker plume may have moved away.
• 🎤 Faulty microphone: Ask the person to rate the quality of your voice. If they hear you quietly or with interference, the microphone is the problem.

For a quick check of the speaker enter in the engineering menu:

##0673## or #0289##

This will trigger an audio test, and if the sound in the test is clear and loud, and when the calls are quiet, the problem is programmatic.

⚠️ Warning: If you suspect a hardware malfunction, don't try to disassemble the phone yourself - Xiaomi uses adhesive plumes that are easily damaged: mi.com/service).

The cost of repairing the speaker in Xiaomi:

• Redmi (budget models): 1,200–1,800 ₽.
• POCO (middle segment: 1,500–2,500 ₽.
• Mi (flagships): 2,000–4,000 ₽.

7. Alternative methods: VoIP and flashing

If you’ve exhausted all options but still don’t like the sound, consider radical methods:

• 📞 Switching to VoIP: Use WhatsApp, Telegram or Google Meet for calls, which often deliver cleaner sound through compression by audio codecs (like Opus).
• 🔄 Firmware change: Xiaomi.EU or Pixel Experience firmwares have no volume limits for the EU. note that this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take away warranty.
• 🔧 Replacement speaker: In the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the newer speaker is combined with a vibrator, which will cost 2,000 to 3,000 times to replace. ₽.

For flashing, follow the official instructions from Xiaomi:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock (https://en.miui.com/unlock/)


2. Install TWRP Recovery




3.Sweeten custom firmware (we recommend Xiaomi.EU for stability)

If you decide to flash it, back up through Mi Cloud or Titanium Backup, and when you change the firmware, all the data will be erased.

💡

Flashing removes volume restrictions, but voids warranty. Use this method only if other methods have not worked.

FAQ: Frequent Sound Questions on Xiaomi

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If you make frequent calls in noisy places, turn on the voice enhancement option in noisy settings (Settings → Sound → Voice calls) to activate an additional noise-cancellation microphone.