How to increase the volume in headphones on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: all ways from simple to advanced

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is a popular smartphone with powerful hardware, but many users face the problem of quiet sound in headphones. Even at maximum volume, music or video can sound muted, especially when compared to other devices, the reasons are rooted in the limitations of MIUI firmware, hardware limits or incorrect settings.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to increase the volume of headphones on the Redmi Note 9 Pro — from basic settings to working with engineering menus and third-party utilities. It’s important to understand that some methods can affect sound quality or even device security, so we’ll explain the risks in detail and give recommendations for minimizing them.

If you're using wired or wireless headphones, but the sound doesn't seem loud enough, don't blame the manufacturer. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved software-based, without having to change the hardware, and let's start with the simplest and safest methods.

1. Check basic volume settings and headphones

Before you resort to radical measures, make sure that the problem is not the banal settings or malfunction of the headphones themselves. There are several places on the Redmi Note 9 Pro where you can adjust the volume, and not everyone knows about them.

First, check the physical volume on the smartphone itself. Press the volume button and make sure the slider has reached its maximum. MIUI has separate regulators for media, calls and alarms — sometimes they get confused. Also pay attention to Settings → Sound and vibration → Volume, where you can fine-tune the balance.

Second, test the headphones on another device. If the sound is quiet there too, a problem with the headphones (possibly damaged cable or speakers). If the sound on another smartphone is louder, it's the settings of the Redmi Note 9 Pro. It's not superfluous to clean the 3.5 mm jack (if you use wired headphones) of dust or oxidation - this can also affect the volume.

• 🔊 Check the volume slider on your smartphone (maximum position).
• 🎧 Test your headphones on another device.
• 🧹 Clean the 3.5mm connector of dust (use a toothpick or compressed air).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it resets the time limits of sound.

⚠️ Note: If you use Bluetooth headphones, make sure they are connected in mode AAC or aptX, not SBC), Because the latter compresses sound and can turn it down. → Connected devices → Headphone settings → Sound quality.

2. Equalizer and sound effects setup in MIUI

MIUI It has a built-in equalizer and sound presets that can both improve and worsen the perception of volume, such as activating the Bassboost mode or 3D-So the sound sometimes artificially lowers the overall volume to avoid distortion.

Open the Music app (or any other place where sound is played) then:

1. Put it on the icon. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
2. Select the Equalizer.
3. Try Rock, Pop or Custom Presets – they often give a clearer sound without losing volume.
4. Turn off Bassboost and Virtualization if they are active – these effects can eat up the volume.

Also in Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality you can turn on the option to Improve Mi. This mode optimizes the sound for specific headphones, but sometimes it works incorrectly – if the volume dropped after activation, turn it off.

3.Use of the Engineering Menu to Remove Restrictions

If standard settings don’t work, you can try to turn up the volume through the Engineering Mode, which removes the software restrictions set by Xiaomi to protect speakers and headphones. Note that incorrect settings in the engineering menu can lead to audio distortion or damage to equipment.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or #4636## for the alternative menu).
3. Go to the Hardware Testing → Audio section.
4. Select Headset Mode (for wired headphones) or Speaker Mode (for speakers).
5. In the Max Vol field, increase the value from 150 to 160-170 (don’t bet more than 180!).
6. Save the settings and restart the smartphone.

After this manipulation, the volume should increase by 10-20%.

• 🔇 Values above 180 may cause distortion or damage to headphones.
• 🔄 Changes are reset after firmware update.
• 🎛️ In some versions MIUI Engineering menu is blocked - in this case, you will need to unlock the bootloader.

⚠️ Warning: If you have wheezing or distortion after a change in the engineering menu, immediately return the values to the standard. Prolonged listening to distorted sound can damage the speakers of headphones or smartphones.

4. Third-party applications for sound amplification

If you don't want to go through the settings or the engineering menu, you can use specialized applications that work like amplifiers, increasing volume through software processing.-3 Checked utility for Redmi Note 9 Pro:

1. Volume Booster GOODEV is a simple app with a volume control up to 200%. Supports separate settings for headphones, speakers and Bluetooth. Minus: can slightly distort the sound at maximum values. Download to Google Play
2. Equalizer FX is a powerful equalizer with presets and manual tuning, not only to turn up the volume, but also to improve the sound quality. Works with most players. Download to Google Play
3. ViPER4Android FX — It's a professional audio processor with Viper Audio, requires drivers to be installed through Magisk, but it gives you the best result. XDA

Before installing any sound amplifiers:

• 📱 Check compatibility with your version MIUI (Some applications do not work on the latest firmware).
• 🔊 Test volume gradually – a sharp increase can damage headphones.
• 🛡️ Make sure the app does not request suspicious permissions (e.g. access to the app). SMS or contact).

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If the sound is hoarse after installing the amplifier, try reducing the amplification level by 10-15% or turning off the bass boost in the app settings.

5. Update firmware and reset sound settings

Sometimes the problem with quiet sound in headphones is due to bugs in the firmware. Xiaomi regularly releases updates where it fixes similar errors. MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, install it and restart the smartphone.

If the update didn’t help, try resetting the sound settings to factory:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Music app (or another where sound is played).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reset the device.

It’s also worth checking if your phone has power-saving modes installed. These can limit performance, including the sound subsystem. Turn them off in Settings → Battery & Performance → Battery Mode (select High Performance).

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware sound in the headphones disappeared completely, perhaps lost the audio drivers. MIUI or reset to factory settings (with loss of data!).

6. Hardware causes of silent sound and their elimination

If the software methods fail, the problem may lie in the hardware, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔌 Damaged 3.5mm connector: If the contacts are oxidized or bent, the sound will be quiet or intermittent. The solution is to clean the connector with alcohol or replace it in the service center.
• 🔋 Weak battery: With a low charge (less than 15%), the smartphone can automatically turn down the volume. charge the phone or replace the battery.
• 🎛️ Sound chip malfunction: If the sound is quiet in all applications and speakers, the audio codec may have failed.
• 🔊 Poor headphone assembly: Cheap headphones often have low sensitivity (e.g., low-end headphones, 90 dB/mW instead of standard 105-110 dB/mW. The solution is to buy headphones with higher impedance.

To check if the 3.5mm connector is to blame, plug the headphones in through a USB-C adapter (if your model supports Type-C audio output). If the sound gets louder, the connector is the problem. If not, it's the settings or the sound chip.

7.Alternative methods: from root rights to firmware replacement

If none of these things work, there are radical measures that require technical skills and can take away your warranty, but give you maximum control over sound.

Method 1: Getting root rights and editing mixer_paths.xml

File. mixer_paths.xml It contains volume settings for all audio devices:

1. Get root rights (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
3. Cross the path. /system/vendor/etc/mixer_paths.xml.
4. Find the rows with the headphone and increase the RX1 Digital Volume and RX2 Digital Volume values by 10-20 units.
5. Save the file and restart the smartphone.

Method 2: Installation of custom firmware

Some custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) do not have strict volume limits, but installing them requires:

• Unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock).
• TWRP installations.
• Backup of data (all data will be erased!)

Method 3: Using an external DAC

If you want really high-quality and loud sound, connect an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) via USB-C. For example, Xiaomi USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter or more advanced models like iFi Audio Hip-DAC. This will bypass the built-in limitations of the smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Editing system files or installing custom firmware can cause a device to break down, only if you are confident in your actions and are prepared for the risks!

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Before any manipulation of firmware or system files, be sure to back up your data via Mi Cloud or locally on your PC.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions