Why does not work equalizer on wireless headphones Xiaomi: a full analysis of the problem

You bought Xiaomi wireless headphones – be it Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro or even flagship FlipBuds Pro — but faced with a frustrating problem: equalizer refuses to work, the sound remains flat, bass disappears, and all attempts to adjust frequencies through Settings → Sound doesn't work. What's the matter?

The problem with the equalizer on Xiaomi headphones is one of the most common complaints of users, and there can be a dozen reasons here: from banal errors in settings. MIUI In this article, we will look at all possible scenarios, including hidden settings, firmware conflicts, and even the features of working with different music services. You will learn how to make the equalizer work 100%, and when it is worth accepting the fact that some models simply do not support full-fledged sound tuning.

We warn you right away that some of the solutions will require manual intervention in system files or installing third-party applications. ⚠️ «For Advanced and Focus on Basic Settings.

1. Check the compatibility of your headphones with the equalizer MIUI

Not all Xiaomi wireless headphones support built-in equalizer in firmware MIUI. In fact, even among the supported models, the functionality may differ:

• 🔹 Full support for equalizer: Xiaomi Buds 3/3T Pro, FlipBuds Pro, Redmi Buds 4 Pro (only on) MIUI 13+). These models have their own sound profiles in the Mi Earphones app.
• 🔸 Partial Support: Redmi Buds 3/3 Lite, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 — The equalizer only works through third-party applications (e.g. Wavelet).
• 🔶 No support: Redmi Buds 2, Mi AirDots Basic and budget models older than 2020.The sound is customizable only hardware (through membrane replacement).

To find out exactly if your model supports the equalizer, check:

1. Open the Settings. → Connected devices → [Your headphones].
2. If there is a Sound or Equator tab, the model is supported.
3. If you don’t have a tab, try installing Mi Earphones from Google Play (for global firmware) or GetApps (for Chinese versions). MIUI).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi headphones purchased in China (versions with suffix) CN), may not display the equalizer in global firmware MIUI. They require manual installation of the Chinese version of the Mi Earphones app.

2. Conflict with music services: why Spotify and YouTube ignore settings

One of the most insidious reasons is the overriding of sound by music apps, and many services (like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music) have their own audio processing algorithms that completely block the system equalizer. MIUI. This is not a bug, but a feature: so the platforms provide “uniformity of sound” on all devices.

How to check:

• 🎵 Open the built-in Mi Music player or Google Play Music and try changing the equalizer. If it works, the problem is in the third-party app.
• 🔊 In the music service settings, look for the Sound or Equator section. For example, in Spotify, this is Settings. → Reproduction → equalizer.
• 🚫 Turn off all internal effects (e.g. Normalize volume in Spotify or Audio effects on YouTube).

If you’re using Spotify or Apple Music, there’s a radical way to do this: install a modified version of the app (like Spotify Mod). APK) with disabled equalizer restrictions, but this violates the terms of use of the service and may lead to a ban of the account.

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To quickly check if the app is to blame, play the sound through the built-in Mi Music player. If the equalizer is working, the problem is with the service, not the headphones.

3. Reset the headphone and phone settings: step-by-step instructions

Often the equalizer stops working after updating the firmware or a failure in the connection, in which case a complete reset of both the headphones and the sound stack of the phone will help.

Headphone reset:

1. Place the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually 10-15 seconds) until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Open the case cover and connect the headphones again through Settings → Bluetooth.

Resetting the phone's audio settings:

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Additional settings.
2. Click Reset the sound settings (or Restore by default).
3. Reboot the phone.

Make sure your headphones are over 50%|

Write down the current equalizer settings (take a photo)|

Disconnect the headphones from all devices (PC, tablet, etc.)|

Check the firmware version. MIUI (must be at least 12.5)-->

If the equalizer still does not work after reset, try to delete the cache of system applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Earphones and Bluetooth, click Storage → Clear the cache.
3. Do the same for the Settings app (com.android.settings).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially in China, the headphones may be reset and you may lose the Fast Pair function, so you have to manually connect them via Bluetooth menus.

4. firmware update: why the old version MIUI lock-in

Xiaomi regularly updates its audio processing algorithms, and in older versions MIUI (below 12.5) The equalizer for wireless headphones may simply be missing or not working properly. MIUI 11 Redmi Buds 3 Pro support was added only after the upgrade to 11.0.8.0.

How to check and update:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, install it. Chinese firmware may require manual installation through Recovery.
3. After the update, reset your headphone settings (see Section 3).

If the update doesn’t help, check the regional version of the firmware:

• 🌍 Global: Supports most headphone models, but may be behind in updates.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese: often gets new features first, but requires manual installation of Mi Earphones.
• 🇪🇺 European (EEA): It may block some of the settings because of GDPR.

If your firmware is outdated, but the update via About Phone is not available, you can try manual installation:

1. Download the latest firmware for your model from en.miui.com.
2. Rename the file to update.zip and place it in the root of the phone’s memory.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points (menu) → Select an update file.

5 Third-party equalizer applications: when MIUI fails

If the built-in equalizer refuses to work or its functionality is too limited, third-party apps come to the rescue.

• 🎛️ Wavelet (from developers) Viper4Android) — supportive LDAC, AAC It has a built-in auto equalizer on the model of headphones.
• 🔊 Poweramp Equalizer – works with most music services, but requires a ROOT full control.
• 🎧 Equalizer FX — Free and simple, but can conflict with MIUI new-fixed.

How to set up Wavelet (recommended option):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Enable System-wide Equalizer (requires permission to access sound).
3. Choose a profile for your headphones (like Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) or create your own.
4. In Audio Modifications, turn off Absolute Volume (this will solve the problem with quiet sound).

Poweramp Equalizer will require:

1. Activate ROOT-Access (unless the phone is rooted, the app will only work inside the Poweramp).
2. In the settings, select Output → Audio Track Effect.
3. Disable Direct Volume Control to avoid conflicts with MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: Apps like Viper4Android newer MIUI 13/14 They can cause sound to freeze or the equalizer to be completely inoperable. If artifacts appear after installation, delete the app and clear the Bluetooth cache.

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Side equalizers may conflict with built-in effects MIUI. Before using them, disable all system sound settings in Settings → Sound. → Sound effects.

6. Hardware Limitations: When the Equalizer Cannot Help

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the software, but with the hardware. Xiaomi’s cheap headphones (like the Redmi Buds 2 or Mi AirDots Youth) are physically unable to play low or high frequencies because of:

• 🔊 Small speakers (membrane size less than 10 mm).
• 🎛️ Lack of support for aptX codecs or LDAC (used only SBC/AAC).
• 🔋 Weak amplifier in headphones (lack of power to handle the equalizer).

How to check hardware limitations:

1. See the specifications of your model on the site mi.com (Specs section).
2. If the list of supported codecs only SBC and AAC — The equalizer will work worse than on models with aptX or LDAC.
3. Try listening to low-frequency test tracks (like the 40 Hz sine wave on YouTube) if there are almost no basses, the speakers are physically unable to play them.

If your headphones fall into this category, the equalizer, if it works, will have minimal effect.

• 🔧 Replacement of membranes (for models with removable speakers, for example, Xiaomi Hybrid Pro).
• 🎧 Buy headphones with support for aptX Adaptive (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro).
• 🔊 Using an external DAC/amplifier (e.g. Xiaomi) USB-C Audio Adapter).

7. Hidden settings MIUI: How to turn on the equalizer through the engineering menu

For advanced users: if standard methods do not help, you can try to activate the equalizer through the engineering menu or ADB-This is the way it works on most firmware. MIUI 12-14, but requires caution.

Method 1: Engineering Menu (MTK)

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##36446337## (for MediaTek processors).
2. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio → Headset Mode.
3. Activate Equalizer and select a profile.

Method 2: ADB-commands (for all processors)

Connect your phone to your PC, turn on Debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB) and execute commands:

adb shell settings put global audio_effects_enabled 1


adb shell settings put global headset_eq_enabled 1

Method 3: Edit build.prop (requires) ROOT)

Open the file. /system/build.prop In any text editor (such as Root Explorer) and add lines:

persist.audio.fluence.speaker=false


persist.audio.fluence.voicecall=false




persist.audio.fluence.voicerec=false




persist.audio.fluence.headset=true

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of build.prop can lead to bootloop (cyclic phone reboot!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the equalizer on Xiaomi headphones