How to increase the sound in Xiaomi headphones: the complete guide

The situation when new headphones sound quieter than the old, familiar to many owners of smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi. Often users are faced with the fact that even at maximum volume, the audio stream seems muted or not saturated enough. This may be due not only to the characteristics of the headset, but also to the software limitations of the operating system MIUI or HyperOS. Before blaming the hardware, it is worth conducting a comprehensive diagnostic of software settings.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes of silent sound, from the banal blocking of Bluetooth-absolute volume to deep settings through an engineering menu. Volume is a parameter that depends on a variety of factors, including the data codec and the region of use of the device. You'll learn how to activate hidden functions and use third-party software to amplify the audio signal without losing quality.

It's worth noting that the methods of solving the problem are different for wired and wireless models. If you have Bluetooth headphones, the problem may lie in dissynchronizing the volume levels of the phone and headset. For wired models with a 3.5 mm connector or through a USB-C adapter, equalizer and amplification settings are relevant. We'll look at universal ways to get the most out of your acoustic system.

Sometimes, quiet sound is a consequence of physical contamination of the speaker grid or software bugs after updating the firmware. In some cases, the system artificially limits the power output to protect the user's hearing, following EU safety standards. However, these restrictions can be circumvented if you are confident in the safety of the volume level for your hearing. Let's move on to specific steps to fix this problem.

Check basic settings and Absolute Volume function

The first thing you need to do is eliminate software conflicts between your smartphone and your connected device. There's a feature in the Android operating system that links the volume of your phone's media files to your Bluetooth headset. If that synchronization isn't working properly, your headphones can sound very quiet even when the slider is raised to the point, the most common cause of quiet sound in Xiaomi Buds wireless models or third-party headsets.

To solve the problem, go to the developer menu. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7-10 times on MIUI Version or OS Version until you notice that you have become a developer. Then go back to the main settings menu, select Additional settings → For developers. In the list that opens, find Absolute Volume.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling this feature may cause volume indicators to become out of sync.You will have to adjust the sound separately on the phone and on the headphones themselves (if they have their own buttons).

Try changing the state of the switch: if it's on, turn it off, and vice versa. After that, be sure to restart the smartphone and reconnect the headphones. Also check the settings in Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality and effects. Make sure that there are no volume-lowering modes activated, and try to switch the equalizer profile to Bright or Rock, which often adds decibels at high frequencies.

Using an engineering menu to amplify sound

A more advanced method available for many MediaTek and some Snapdragon-based devices is the use of an engineering menu, which allows you to directly control the amplification of audio channels, but be very careful: a misalignment of parameters can lead to the speaker wheezing or the complete disappearance of sound.

To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##3646633## (for MediaTek) or ##6484## (for Xiaomi testing). If the code doesn't work, your firmware version may block this access and you will need to install a special dealer application, such as MTK Engineering. From the menu, go to the Hardware Testing → Audio → Audio Debugging.

In the list that opens, select Speech or Media (for music and video). You are interested in the Level setting, where you can select the volume level (usually from 0 to 6). In the Value field (or Max Vol), you can increase the value. The standard value is often 128 or 140. Increasing to 160-180 can give a noticeable increase, but exceeding 200 is not recommended to avoid distortion.

When you make a change, press Set or Apply. Changes take effect immediately. Check the sound in your headphones. If you have wheezing, take your values back a step. Remember, the engineering menu is a tool for professionals, and randomly resetting other parameters can disrupt the microphone or the phone speaker.

Set up the equalizer and Dolby Atmos

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are often equipped with software modules for sound processing, such as Dolby Atmos or Dirac brand equalizer. Properly configured these tools can not only improve the quality, but also significantly increase the perceived volume. Often users ignore these settings, leaving the profile “Normal”, which does not always give maximum power.

Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality and Effects. If you have Dolby Atmos enabled, try switching your profile to Dynamic or Movie. These modes often have more aggressive audio compression, making quiet sections of the track louder. In the manual equalizer, lift all sliders 2-3 divisions upwards, creating a flat line above center. This will add Gain amplification across the spectrum of frequencies.

You should also pay attention to the feature "Enhanced headphone sound." In some regions, this option may be called otherwise. Activating this mode adapts the audio signature to the connected device. If you have Xiaomi or Redmi headphones, the system can automatically apply the optimal profile, which often sounds louder and richer than the standard one.

Remember that elevating the frequencies in the equalizer too much can lead to digital distortion (clipping). If you hear a crack on bass or high frequencies, turn down the sliders a little. The optimal setting is the balance between volume and purity. For most users, a 3-4 dB rise of all frequencies is a safe limit.

Third-party sound amplifiers

If the built-in tools aren't enough, Google Play Market apps come to the rescue, and they act as software amplifiers, magnifying the signal before it's sent to a DAC or Bluetooth module. The most popular and proven solutions are the Volume Booster GOODEV, Super Volume Booster, and Poweramp Equalizer.

The Volume Booster GOODEV has a minimalist interface and no advertising, which allows you to increase the volume to 60 percent above the system maximum. The principle is simple: you install a Boost slider and enjoy a louder sound. However, using such programs increases the load on the battery and can cause the device to heat up during long listening.

It’s important to understand that third-party boosters don’t work wonders. If headphone speakers can’t physically make a loud sound, the program will only add distortion. Also, on newer versions of Android (12, 13, 14), the system may restrict the operation of such applications in the background.

⚠️ Warning: Prolonged listening to high volume through amplifiers can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Use Safe Sound and take breaks.

Reset Bluetooth settings and reconnect

Sometimes the problem is not volume settings, but data protocol errors. Headphones can "remember" the low volume from the previous device and broadcast it to the new smartphone, in which case a full reset of Bluetooth connections and reconnect the device from scratch helps.

To start, reset your network settings. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Press Reset. This action will remove all stored Wi-Fi networks and associated Bluetooth devices, but often solves volume desynchronization problems. Once you reboot your phone, reset your headphones.

Also try to "forget" the device in the Bluetooth menu. Click on the gear next to the name of your headphones and select Unpair. Then put the headphones in the case, close it and press the reset button on the case (if any) or on the headphones themselves for 10-15 seconds before the indicator flashes. This will return the headset to factory settings.

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When you pair it again, turn on the music on your phone at minimum volume, plug in your headphones, and then turn up the volume, which will help the system calibrate the levels correctly.

If you TWS-True Wireless Stereo, make sure both headphones are updated to the latest firmware. Often manufacturers release updates that fix bugs with volume. Check for updates through the Xiaomi Earbuds or Mi Wear app, or in the pop-up window when you connect to your smartphone.

Physical cleaning and compatibility check

And the trivial physical causes are also there, and the sulfur, the dust and the pile can clog the mesh with the earphone speaker, lowering the volume by a little bit. 30-50%. Visually, it may not be noticeable, but acoustic resistance increases dramatically. Regular cleaning with a soft brush and isopropyl alcohol (applied to the brush, not on the headphones) works wonders.

Codec compatibility is also important. If your phone supports an aptX HD or LDAC codec and your headphones only support SBC, the sound may sound quieter because of the coding features. In the Developer Menu, you can force the codec to choose. Try switching to SBC or ACC — sometimes this gives you a volume gain due to loss of quality, but in quiet headphones this may be the only way out.

For wired headphones, check the adapter. Low-cost 3.5mm USB-C adapters often don't have their own DAC and simply transmit an analog signal, which can be weak. Using a quality adapter with a built-in DAC (Digital Analog Converter) can make a difference.

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Comprehensive approach: The combination of cleaning the grids, resetting Bluetooth settings and properly calibrating the equalizer gives a better result than simply installing an amplifier.

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