Xiaomi’s Mi Sound technology is a proprietary solution to improve the sound on smartphones, TVs and smart speakers of the brand. It automatically optimizes the frequency range, amplifies bass notes and adapts the sound to specific content (music, movies, games). However, many users are faced with the fact that the feature is disabled by default or hidden in the depths of the menu. In this article, we will discuss how to activate Mi Sound on different Xiaomi devices, which models support the technology, and what to do if the sound does not work after turning on.
It's important to understand that Mi Sound is not just an equalizer, but a complete solution that uses both software algorithms and the hardware capabilities of speakers. On smartphones, the technology is often integrated into MIUI firmware, and on Mi TVs it can be called Mi Sound Enhancement or Dolby Audio (depending on the model). If you don't find the option in standard settings, don't be upset - it may be hidden under a different name or require a software update.
What Xiaomi devices support Mi Sound?
Mi Sound technology is not available on all of the brand’s gadgets, but it depends on the hardware platform and firmware version, and below is a list of devices where the function works exactly (relevant to MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS):
- 📱 Smartphones: Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra, 12/12 Pro/12S Ultra, 11/11 Pro/11 Ultra, Mix 4, Redmi K60 Pro, POCO F5 Pro.
- 📺 TVs: Mi TV Q2 75", Mi TV P1 65"/55", Mi TV A2 43" (Dolby Audio support).
- 🔊 Smart speakers: Mi Smart Speaker, Mi AI Speaker (Mi Sound Mode only).
On budget models (such as the Redmi Note 12 or POCO M5), instead of a full Mi Sound, there can be a simplified equalizer or Smart PA technology to increase volume. To check for support, go to Settings → Sound and look for items mentioning Mi, Dolby or Enhancement.
If your model is not listed, it doesn’t mean Mi Sound can’t be included on it, but in some cases, it is activated after updating the firmware or installing a custom recave (for example, via TWRP), but such manipulations require experience and can be insecure.
How to turn Mi Sound on Xiaomi smartphones
On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12+ or HyperOS, Mi Sound technology is enabled through standard audio settings.
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
- Go to the Sound and Vibration section (or just Sound on some models).
- Find Mi Sound, Sound Effects or Sound Quality.
- Activate the switch next to Mi Sound Enhancement or Dolby Atmos (depending on the model).
- Select the sound profile: Music, Film or Game.
If there is no Mi Sound, try an alternative path:
- Open the Music or Video app.
- During playback, tap the Settings icon (three dots or a gear).
- Choose Sound Effects → Mi Sound.
Make sure the speakers are not contaminated |Update your firmware to the latest version |Check your headphones (turn them off) |Reboot your device-->
On smartphones with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), Mi Sound only works when external speakers or headphones are connected via Bluetooth 5.2+. This is due to the limitations of the hardware platform. If the sound is not improved, try connecting the device to external acoustics.
Mi Sound Activation on Mi TVs
On Xiaomi TVs, Mi Sound technology is often integrated with Dolby Audio or DTS-HD.
- On the remote, press the Settings button.
- Go to Sound. → Sound effects.
- Choose Mi Sound Enhancement or Dolby Audio.
- Activate Mode Mode Mode Mode, Music or Voice (for dialogues).
On the Mi TV P1 and later, you can also have a sound auto-optimization setting that automatically adjusts the frequencies to the content.
- 🔊 Are external speakers connected (on some TVs, Mi Sound only works with them).
- 📶 Is there an internet connection (some profiles require you to download additional data).
- 🔄 Is the firmware updated (older PatchWall versions may not have a feature).
What if Mi Sound is not on TV?
Set up Mi Sound through hidden menus (for advanced ones)
On some Xiaomi devices (especially on smartphones with MIUI China), Mi Sound options are hidden in the engineering menu.
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter ##3644633## (for MediaTek) or #4636## (for Snapdragon).
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu may cause sound to fail or overheat the speakers.Do not set values above 100% for Speaker Gain or Bass Boost settings.
For Mi TVs, hidden audio settings are opened via ADB:
adb shell am start -n com.android.tv.settings/.device.sound.SoundActivityThis command will open an extended audio menu where you can manually adjust the equalizer and enable Mi Sound Force Enable (forced on).
Common Problems and Their Solutions
When you turn on Mi Sound, you get a lot of problems, and here are the most common ones and the ways you can fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The sound became quieter after the Mi Sound was turned on. | Voice mode is activated (reduces low frequencies) | Switch to the Music or Film profile |
| Mi Sound option is inactive (grey) | Headphones or Bluetooth device connected | Turn off all external audio devices |
| The "Audio Effect Failed" Error | Conflict with another sound mode (e.g. ViPER4Android) | Remove third-party equalizers via Settings → Apps |
| The sound is distorted at high volume. | Highly Increased Gain in the Engineering Menu | Reset the sound settings to factory |
If the Mi Sound starts to "hritter" or interrupt after the Mi Sound is turned on, check if the speakers are overheating. On Xiaomi smartphones, stereo speakers (Xiaomi 12S Ultra, 13 Pro) can automatically turn down the volume when you are under prolonged load.
- 📉 Volume down to 80%.
- 🔄 Rebooting the device.
- 🧊 Cooling of the body (for example, removal of the cover).
💡
On eARC-enabled Mi TVs (e.g., Mi TV Q2), you need to enable HDMI-CEC in the port settings to fully work on Mi Sound.
Comparison of Mi Sound with other sound technologies
Many users have wondered: what is the Mi Sound better than a standard equalizer or technologies like Dolby Atmos?
| Technology | Advantages | Deficiencies | Support for Xiaomi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Sound | Adapts to content, low energy consumption | It doesn’t work on all models, sometimes cutting down on high frequencies. | Smartphones (flagships), TV (series P1/Q2) |
| Dolby Atmos | Volume, support. 3D-audio | Requires a license, may conflict with Mi Sound | Flagship smartphones, premium TV |
| DTS:X | More accurate spatial sound scene | High requirements for the hardware part | Only on some TVs (e.g. Mi TV Master) |
| Smart PA | Increases volume without distortion | It does not improve sound quality, only amplification. | Budget smartphones (Redmi, POCO) |
In practice, Mi Sound performs better when listening to music through smartphone speakers, while Dolby Atmos is more suitable for movies and games with headphones. On Xiaomi TVs, these technologies often work together: Mi Sound is responsible for bass and medium frequencies, and Dolby is responsible for spatial sound.
💡
If your goal is maximum volume, choose Smart PA. If sound quality is important, Mi Sound or Dolby Atmos.
How to Calibrate Mi Sound to Your Preferences
The standard Mi Sound profiles (Music, Movie, Game) are not always perfect for individual tastes. Fortunately, most Xiaomi devices can fine-tune the sound:
- Open the Settings → Sound → Mi Sound.
- Select the manual setting (or Custom).
- Adjust the equalizer sliders: 🎵 32–125 Hz – bass frequencies (for heavy music). 🎶 250–1000 Hz – medium frequencies (voice, guitars). 🎧 2000–16,000 Hz – High frequencies (purity of sound).
Keep the preset under your name.
On Mi TVs with PatchWall, Auto-Tune Sound is available:
1. Start playing the test signal (e.g. via YouTube).
2. Go to Settings → Sound → Autocalibration.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (the microphone in the remote will measure the acoustics of the room).
⚠️ Attention: When manually adjusting the equalizer, avoid extreme slider positions (especially for frequencies below 100 Hz).This can cause sound distortion or loudspeakers to overload at high volume.