How do I turn off the default equalizer on my Android?
An equalizer is an audio tool that allows you to adjust the volume levels of specific frequency ranges. This lets you customize the sound output to suit your preferences or to optimize playback for different genres of music and audio content. Android devices come with a built-in equalizer enabled by default to provide a balanced sound signature that works well for most people.
According to a recent report by Qualcomm on the state of sound, audio quality is becoming increasingly important to consumers, with 25% of people identifying high-resolution audio as a priority in 2021. As a result, having precise control over the audio experience through an equalizer is a feature many Android users now expect.
Locate the Equalizer
The first step is to open the Settings app on your Android device. You can find the Settings app in your list of installed apps, or access it quickly by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.
Once you have the Settings app open, you need to navigate to the Sound settings. On many Android devices, you can scroll down on the main Settings page until you see an option for “Sound” or “Sound & vibration.” Tap that option to open the Sound settings.
If you don’t see a Sound option on the main Settings page, look for an “Advanced” or “Additional settings” option. Tap that to open more settings, then look for and open Sound or Audio settings.
Within the Sound settings, look for an option called “Equalizer.” This may be under a section like “Sound quality and effects” or “Audio effects.” Tap the Equalizer option to open the phone’s built-in equalizer.
If you don’t see an Equalizer option anywhere in your Sound settings, your device may not have a built-in equalizer that you can adjust. You’ll need to download a third-party equalizer app instead. Just search your device’s app store for “equalizer.”
Identify the Default Equalizer
On most Android devices, the default equalizer will be active whenever you play audio, whether it’s through the stock music app, Spotify, YouTube or other apps. The default equalizer typically aims for a balanced sound profile across low, mid and high frequencies. To identify what equalizer is currently active and set as default:
Go to your device’s Settings app and select Sound or Audio. Look for options related to Audio Tuner, Equalizer or Sound profiles. There may be a dropdown to select between different presets like Normal, Pop, Rock etc. Make note of which one is currently enabled – this is your device’s default equalizer. The Normal or Balanced setting is commonly the default.
You can also open a music app like Spotify and bring up its settings. Look for an Equalizer option which will show the active profile. This should match the default set in your main Settings. The app may allow you to customize it further, but disabling app equalizers will revert back to the system default.
If you don’t see any Equalizer option in Settings or music apps, your device likely doesn’t have a built-in default equalizer enabled. You can still use a third party equalizer app to add EQ capabilities.
Turn Off the Equalizer
To turn off the default equalizer on your Android device, you’ll need to locate the equalizer settings and select the “Off” or “None” option. This disables any audio enhancements being applied by the equalizer.
On many Samsung Galaxy devices like the Note 8 or S9, you can tap on the equalizer menu in the Settings app and then select “Off” to disable it [1]. You may need to first install the Sound Assistant app from the Galaxy Store to access these settings.
For Spotify’s built-in equalizer, open the app and go to Your Library > Settings > Music Quality and tap on Equalizer. Then select “Off” to turn it off [2].
In general, look for an “Equalizer” or “Sound effects” menu in your device settings or music app settings. Tap on it, and choose the “None” or “Off” option to disable any audio enhancements and revert to the default sound.
Confirm it’s Disabled
After turning off the default equalizer, it’s important to confirm that the equalizer effects are no longer being applied to your music playback. The easiest way to check this is to play a song you’re familiar with.
Pull up your music player app on your Android device and select a track you’ve listened to many times before. As the song plays, pay close attention to the quality of the audio. Listen specifically for boosted bass, attenuated highs, and other frequency adjustments typical of an active equalizer.
If the music sounds flat, free of manipulation, and true to the original recording, then you can be certain the default Android equalizer is disabled. The song should sound natural and balanced across the frequency spectrum if no equalization is being applied.
However, if you still hear exaggerated bass or brightened treble, it means the default equalizer may not be fully turned off. Go back and double check your settings to make sure the equalizer is completely disabled.
Playing familiar songs and listening critically is the best way to verify your Android device’s audio playback is free of unwanted equalization effects after turning the default equalizer off.
Consider Alternatives
While disabling the default equalizer can help reduce audio processing effects, there are benefits to using a custom equalizer as well. A properly tuned equalizer allows you to adjust the audio to suit your preferences and compensate for any frequency response issues with your particular headphones or speakers. Some key benefits of using an equalizer include:
Boosting bass – Many headphones and smaller speakers lack deep bass response. An equalizer lets you amplify lower frequencies for a more robust sound.
Treble boost – Boosting treble can help make details in the high end more audible.
Midrange clarity – Careful midrange EQ adjustments can help instruments and vocals sound clearer.
Room correction – If your listening room has acoustic issues causing muffled or boomy sound, EQ can help mitigate these problems.
Hearing compensation – As we age, many people lose hearing sensitivity in the high frequencies. A treble boost can help counteract this hearing loss.
With a graphic EQ, parametric EQ, or other advanced equalizer, you can sculpt the sound more precisely to your liking rather than just disabling EQ entirely. This allows you to preserve audio quality while tuning the sound character.
Reset to Default
If you want to return to the default equalizer settings on your Android device, you can restore them through your phone’s Settings menu. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap on “Sound & vibration” or “Sound” depending on your Android version (cite: Change volume, sound, & vibrate settings – Android Help).
3. Tap on “Sound quality and effects.”
4. Tap on “Equalizer.”
5. Tap on the 3 dot menu icon in the top right corner.
6. Select “Reset to default” from the menu.
This will reset the equalizer back to the default settings that came with your Android device. You should now hear audio as it was originally tuned by the manufacturer.
If you need to enable the default equalizer again for any reason in the future, following these steps will overwrite any custom equalizer settings and restore the defaults.
Troubleshooting
If you are still seeing the equalizer after disabling it, there are a few things you can try:
Check that the equalizer is actually turned off in your device’s sound settings. Sometimes toggling the setting off and back on can help.
Close and reopen any music apps to make sure they are detecting the disabled equalizer. Restarting your phone can also force apps to refresh their audio settings.
Check if you have any audio apps that override system settings and enable their own equalizer. Look in the app’s settings for an option to disable its equalizer.
Try uninstalling recent app updates that may have changed audio settings. You can also uninstall audio apps entirely to remove any that force an equalizer.
As a last resort, you can reset app preferences by going to Settings > Apps > Reset App Preferences. This will reset all apps back to their default settings.
If you still can’t disable the equalizer, your Android version or device manufacturer may not allow it. You’ll need to use a third party app like [Equalizer FX](
Equalizer Apps
There are many great equalizer apps available on the Google Play Store that can provide more customizable audio controls. According to reviews on Reddit and Android Authority, some of the highest rated options include:
Wavelet – This auto-tuning app analyzes your headphones and customizes the EQ specifically for them. Many users praise its simple interface and excellent audio quality.
Poweramp – With extensive equalization options, presets, and support for playlists, Poweramp is considered one of the most fully-featured EQ apps. It does have a small price tag.
Equalizer FX – For a free option, Equalizer FX provides 5 band equalization, bass boost, and presets for different genres. It has customizable widgets too.
These apps provide much more flexibility than the basic Android equalizer. With powerful audio adjustment capabilities, EQ presets, and systemwide or per-app control, they are great alternatives to try out.
Conclusion
In summary, turning off the default equalizer on Android devices is easy once you know where to look. By navigating to the Sound settings and locating the option for Equalizer, you can disable the default profile. This will remove any pre-configured audio adjustments applied across the system.
As an alternative, consider using a third party equalizer app to customize the sound to your liking without affecting system-wide audio. You can also reset to defaults if you want to revert any changes made. Optimizing the audio quality on your Android device can make a big difference to your listening experience.