How to turn on the absolute volume level on Xiaomi: a detailed guide with and without ADB

If you've ever connected a Xiaomi smartphone to a speaker or headphones via Bluetooth and noticed that the volume on the device and the audio sources is controlled separately, you've encountered a relative volume limit. This feature, which is built into Android by default, divides volume control between the phone and the connected device, which often leads to inconveniences. For example, at maximum volume on the headphones, the sound still remains quiet because the main regulator is in the smartphone.

Absolute Volume solves this problem by synchronizing volume scales on both devices. But in MIUI, this option is turned off by default, and here comes the difficulty. In this article, we will discuss three officially supported ways to activate absolute volume on Xiaomi (including Redmi and POCO models), and also warn against common errors that can lead to malfunctions in the Bluetooth module.

What is the absolute volume level and why is it needed?

Android has two volume control modes for Bluetooth devices:

• 🔄 Relative level – the smartphone and the headphones/column have separate volume controls, and when the level changes on one device, the second automatically adjusts, but does not sync fully.
• 🔊 Absolute level: The volume scales on the smartphone and connected device are the same, and the volume change on one device instantly affects the other.

Why Xiaomi is turning this feature off by default? The reasons are compatibility and security.

• ⚠️ Not all Bluetooth devices correctly maintain an absolute level, which can lead to distortions of sound or sudden volume spikes.
• 🛡️ Smartphone manufacturers are looking to protect users from accidental damage to speakers (for example, when the volume is sharply increased to a maximum).
• 🔧 In some firmware MIUI The absolute level may conflict with proprietary sound processing algorithms (e.g., Mi Sound Enhancer).

However, for most modern headphones (such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Sony WH-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro), the absolute level works steadily and makes it much easier to control sound. If you often listen to music via Bluetooth or use your smartphone as a sound source for speakers, activating this feature will be a noticeable improvement.

Check the current volume mode on Xiaomi

Before you turn on the absolute level, make sure it's actually off.

1. Connect Bluetooth headphones or a speaker to your smartphone.
2. Enable music or video playback.
3. Change the volume with the physical buttons on your smartphone.
4. Check if the volume on the connected device has changed synchronously or remained at the same level.

If the volume on your headphones and smartphone is independently controlled, you have a relative level on, and you can also check the status through the hidden developer settings:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Press the MIUI version 7 times to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional settings → Developer settings.
4. Scroll down to the Network section and find the Bluetooth Absolute Volume option. If the switch is off, the function is active.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14 point Absolute volume Bluetooth may not be on the developer menu. That doesn't mean the feature is unavailable, it's just been hidden to simplify the interface. ADB.

Method 1: Enable through the developer menu (without ADB)

This is the easiest method, but it doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI. If your firmware contains the Disable absolute volume, follow the instructions:

Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to MIUI)

Connect Bluetooth device

Open Developer Options

Find the item "Bluetooth volume level"

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1. Activate the developer mode as described in the previous section.
2. Connect a Bluetooth device (headphones or a speaker).
3. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Developer settings.
4. Find the Bluetooth Absolute Volume (Disable Absolute Volume) option.
5. Turn off the switch (if it was switched on).
6. Reboot your smartphone.

After restarting, reconnect the device and check the volume sync. If nothing changes:

• 🔄 Try to turn off and turn on Bluetooth again.
• 📱 Make sure that the connected device (earphones/column) also activates the absolute level (if such an option is available).
• 🔧 Check if settings are reset after rebooting (this indicates firmware limitations).

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with a MIUI 13) this item may not be available, but the function still works, in which case its status can only be changed through ADB.

Method 2: Activation through ADB (Universal Method)

If the developer menu doesn’t have the right item, or if the changes don’t persist after the reboot, you’ll need to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires connecting the smartphone to your computer.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download from Google or via Google) SDK Platform Tools).
• 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and unpack SDK Platform Tools on your computer.
2. On your smartphone, activate debugging over USB in Developer Settings.
3. Connect your phone to your computer and select File Transfer (not Charge!) mode.
4. Open the command prompt (CMD in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with the platform-tools:

cd path do folder/platform-tools

1. Enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device appears on the list, go ahead. If not, check the drivers and the cable.

1. Execute the command to include the absolute level:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_absolute_volume_enabled 1

1. Reboot your smartphone:

adb reboot

After you restart, plug in your Bluetooth device and check the volume sync. If nothing has changed, try the extra command:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_hfp_client_available_features 255

💡

If the absolute level does not work after executing commands, try first to turn off Bluetooth, then execute commands again and only then connect the device.

Method 3: Editing system files (for advanced)

This method is only suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights. It allows you to manually change the Android configuration files responsible for managing Bluetooth. Use it at your own risk - incorrect changes can lead to the inoperability of the Bluetooth module!

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Follow the path:

/system/vendor/build.prop

1. Find the line:

ro.bluetooth.a2dp.offload.cap=

1. Add the absvol parameter to the end of the line to get:

ro.bluetooth.a2dp.offload.cap=absvol

1. Save the changes and restart the smartphone.

If the build.prop file is not on the specified path, try searching for it in:

• /system/build.prop
• /vendor/build.prop

⚠️ Note: Editing system files without backup can lead to bootloop ( looped boot). TWRP ornamental.

Compatibility table of the absolute level with Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi devices are equally good at absolute volume. Below is a compatibility table for popular models. Note that the result may depend on the MIUI version and firmware.

If your model is not in the table, it doesn't mean that the absolute level isn't supported. Try activating it through the ADB or the developer menu. In most cases, the problem is not the hardware, but the software limitations of MIUI.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful absolute level activation, users face a number of challenges, including the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 Volume jumps or resets: Check if the absolute level conflicts with Xiaomi's branded features like Mi Sound Enhancer or Adaptive Sound.
• 🔊 Sound distorted at high volume: This may be due to Bluetooth codec incompatibility.Go to Settings → Bluetooth → Settings of sound and select the codec AAC or SBC instead of aptX or LDAC.
• 🔄 Settings are reset after rebooting: This indicates firmware limitations. Solution is to use ADB after each reboot or install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), where the absolute level is enabled by default.
• 📵 Bluetooth stopped working: If the Bluetooth module refuses to turn on after the changes, reset its settings: Settings → Annexes → Show all applications → Bluetooth → Warehouse → Clear the data.

💡

If the sound gets worse after the absolute level is activated (wheezing, cliffs appear), return the relative mode and check the headphones on another device, perhaps the problem is with the headphones themselves, not with the smartphone settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions