13 Metal Detector Settings You Should Know In 2025

Understanding metal detector settings is key to a successful treasure hunt. Knowing why and when to adjust settings can make a big difference in what you find.

Different environments and targets require specific adjustments to sensitivity, discrimination, and ground balance. By fine-tuning these settings, you can improve your chances of finding valuable items and avoid common frustrations.

In this GoldXtra guide, we will share how to use metal detector settings in the best possible way.

How To Adjust Metal Detector Settings

Here are metal detector settings that you should know about.

Discrimination
Sensitivity
Ground Balancing
Threshold settings
Target Tone Settings
Pinpointing Settings
Target ID
Battery settings
Built-in Modes
Volume Adjustments Settings
Recovery Speed
Preset Programs vs. Custom Settings
Notch Filtering

1. Discrimination Settings: Finding the Good Stuff and Avoiding Junk

Discrimination is like choosing only your favorite foods from a buffet. Just as you pick what you want to eat and leave the rest.

Discrimination settings on a metal detector help you filter out unwanted metals, making it easier to find valuable items.

Why is Discrimination Important?: Imagine you’re looking for a gold ring on a beach. Without discrimination, you’d be alerted to every soda tab, bottle cap, or any other metallic trash.

Setting Up Discrimination:

High Discrimination: This will ignore more metals, especially junk metals. It’s perfect when searching in trash-laden areas.
Low Discrimination: More metals will be detected, including potentially junk metals. This is useful when you don’t want to miss anything.

Start Low:
- Begin with a low discrimination setting to just barely filter out common iron targets like nails. This way, you won’t miss potential valuable finds while still reducing some junk.
Adjust Gradually:
- If you’re still finding too much trash, slowly increase the discrimination. Bump it up a bit and see if it helps reduce the junk without missing out on good targets.
Balance is Key:
- Remember, setting discrimination too high might cause you to miss valuable items. It’s important to find the right balance.
Adapt to Your Environment:
- Adjust your settings based on the area you’re searching. Trashy areas often need higher discrimination to cut through the junk, while cleaner areas might require lower settings to ensure you don’t miss anything valuable.
Use Notch Discrimination:
- Some metal detectors allow you to discriminate specific types of metals while accepting others. This is called notch discrimination. For example, you can set your detector to ignore pull-tabs while still picking up coins.
Visual Discrimination Indicators:
- Modern detectors often come with visual displays showing the type of metal detected. Use these indicators to make quick decisions on whether to dig or not.
Audio Discrimination:
- Some detectors use different tones for different types of metals. Familiarize yourself with these audio cues to help quickly identify valuable targets versus trash.
Practice Makes Perfect:
- Spend time practicing with different discrimination settings in various environments. Bury different metal objects in your yard and practice identifying them with your detector. This helps you understand how your machine responds to different settings and targets.
Monitor Your Finds:
- Keep track of what you’re finding. If you notice you’re missing valuable items or still picking up too much trash, adjust your settings accordingly.
Seasoned Detectorist Tips:

Experienced detectorists often recommend a slightly lower discrimination in historic or older sites, as these areas might have valuable relics made from metals you might otherwise filter out.

By tweaking your discrimination settings carefully and using these additional features, you can maximize your chances of finding great treasures while avoiding most of the trash.

2. Sensitivity Settings Or Gain settings

Basics of Sensitivity: At its core, the sensitivity of a metal detector defines its ability to detect metal objects of varying sizes and depths.
In simple terms, adjusting the sensitivity settings of metal detectors is like tuning a radio to catch your favorite station without any static or interference.

High vs. Low Sensitivity

High Sensitivity

Best For: Detecting small items like gold nuggets or deeply buried objects.
Drawback: Can also pick up more interference, making it challenging to use in areas with highly mineralized soils or lots of trash.

Low Sensitivity

Best For: Reducing distractions from surrounding interference, such as in areas with lots of trash or electrical interference.
Drawback: May not detect very small or deeply buried objects, but provides more stable and accurate signals.

Sensitivity Settings for Optimal Performance

Starting Point

Recommended Setting: Begin by setting sensitivity at 60-70% of its maximum. This strikes a balance between depth detection and minimizing false signals.

Adjusting for Stability

Observation: As you scan, pay attention to how your metal detector behaves. If it starts giving frequent false signals or becomes noisy, it’s too sensitive.
Adjustment: Lower the sensitivity to reduce false signals, which might slightly decrease depth but improve accuracy.

Sensitivity for Different Environments

Increase Sensitivity: In clean, trash-free areas, you can increase sensitivity closer to the maximum to detect deeper objects.
Decrease Sensitivity: In areas with a lot of interference or trash, lowering sensitivity will help avoid erratic signals, making it easier to identify valuable targets.

Fine-Tuning as You Go

On-going Process: Adjusting sensitivity isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that depends on your environment and the specific conditions of the area you’re exploring.
Goal: The aim is to find the right balance where your detector can go deep enough to find valuable targets while staying stable enough to avoid false alarms.

Summary of Sensitivity Settings

Basics: Sensitivity defines your metal detector’s ability to find objects of different sizes and depths.
Why Adjust: Adjust based on the environment to ensure optimal performance.
High Sensitivity: Good for small or deep objects but may pick up more interference.
Low Sensitivity: Reduces interference, ideal for trashy areas.
Starting Point: Set at 60-70% and adjust based on detector behavior.
Ongoing Adjustment: Keep fine-tuning based on the environment and results.

3. Ground Balance Settings

Understanding the ground balance in the metal detector is important as this will help you to set this setting properly and according to the conditions.

What is Ground Balance?

A setting that helps the detector ignore unwanted signals from mineralized soil
Allows the detector to focus on actual metal targets

Why is Ground Balance Important?

Improves the detector’s performance
Reduces false alarms
Saves time by ignoring ground minerals
Helps you detect in different soil types

Types of Ground Balance:

Manual Ground Balance:
- User adjusts the settings themselves
- Common in most metal detectors
- Gives more control to experienced users
Automatic Ground Balance:
- Detector adjusts itself to soil conditions
- Uses a microprocessor to analyze soil
- Good for beginners
- Faster than manual adjustment
Tracking Ground Balance:
- Constantly adjusts as you move
- Adapts to changing soil conditions
- Might be slower in finding targets

Adjusting Ground Balance Settings

Enable the “ground balance” option on your detector
Pump the coil up and down over the ground 2-3 times
Specific steps may vary by detector model (check your manual)
Use metal-free ground when setting ground balance
Apply ground balance in multiple areas for better results
If ground balance doesn’t work, you may hear unwanted noises

Choosing the Right Ground Balance Type:

Beginners: Start with automatic ground balance
Experienced users: Manual ground balance offers more control
Consider soil conditions and your level of expertise

4. Threshold Settings

As an experienced metal detectorist, We know how important it is to set your metal detector’s threshold correctly. The threshold is like the background noise or hum that your detector makes when it’s turned on. Here’s how to set it up:

Understand the Threshold:
- The threshold is the steady, quiet sound you hear when you’re using your metal detector. It’s not the beep you get when you find something, but the constant hum that lets you know the detector is working.
Why It’s Important:
- Setting the threshold correctly helps you hear the faint signals from deep or small objects. If the threshold is set too high, you’ll hear constant noise, which can be distracting. If it’s too low, you might miss those faint signals altogether.
How to Set the Threshold:
- Start Quiet: Turn on your metal detector and find the threshold setting on your control panel.
- Adjust Slowly: Slowly turn the knob or press the button to increase the threshold. You want to set it so you can just barely hear the hum. It should be a soft, steady sound—not too loud, but not completely silent.
- Fine-Tune: Walk around with your detector and listen. If you can’t hear the threshold over the natural background noise, you may need to increase it slightly. If it’s too loud, lower it a bit.
Practice and Patience:
- It might take a little practice to find the perfect threshold setting. The goal is to have it just loud enough so you can hear any changes when your detector passes over something underground.
Adjust for Conditions:
- If you’re detecting in a noisy area, like near traffic or wind, you might need to adjust the threshold higher. In a quiet area, you can keep it lower.

Mastering the Threshold Setting:

Avoid Too High Settings: A threshold set too high can drown out valuable signals.
Listen Carefully: Set it to where it’s just audible – a faint hum or buzz. This allows you to hear both the threshold and any other potential signals.
Adjust as Needed: Different terrains or locations might require slight adjustments to the threshold.

Setting the threshold correctly helps you detect even the smallest and deepest treasures with your metal detector. It’s a simple but important step that can make a big difference in your success out in the field.

5. Adjusting Targets tone Settings

When you’re out with your metal detector, hearing different tones can tell you a lot about what’s buried underground. Adjusting the target tone settings on your detector can help you understand these signals better and decide what’s worth digging up. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Access the Tone Settings
- Turn on your metal detector and find the settings menu. Look for the option labeled “Tone Settings” or something similar.
Step 2: Choose the Number of Tones
- Most detectors let you choose how many different tones you want to hear. You can usually pick between 2, 3, or even more tones.
- 2 tones: One for valuable metals and one for less valuable metals.
- 3 tones: A low tone for iron, a mid-tone for items like pull-tabs, and a high tone for valuable metals like coins and gold.
Step 3: Adjust the Tone Pitch
- You can also change how high or low the pitch of each tone is. For example, you might want a very high-pitched tone for silver and a lower tone for junk metal. This makes it easier to recognize valuable targets.
Step 4: Test the Settings
- After adjusting the tones, test your detector on different objects. Place a coin, a piece of foil, and a nail on the ground and see how the tones sound for each. Adjust if needed until you’re comfortable with the settings.
Step 5: Save Your Settings
- Once you’re happy with the tones, save the settings so you don’t have to adjust them every time you go out detecting.

Why Adjusting Target Tones is Important:

Better Identification: Different tones help you quickly identify what type of metal is underground without having to look at the screen constantly.
Less Digging: By recognizing the tones, you can avoid digging up junk and focus on finding valuable items.

GoldXtra metal detectors make it easy to adjust target tones so you can fine-tune your detecting experience. Whether you’re looking for coins, relics, or gold, setting the right tones will help you find more of what you’re after with less effort.

6. Built-in Pinpointing setting

Many Detecting devices are equipped with this pinpointing mode/setting. This feature will help you to locate the exact location of the buried item.

Benefits of Built-in Pinpointers:
- Precision: You get a more exact location of the detected item.
- Saving Time: Instead of digging a large hole unsure of the item’s exact location, pinpointers ensure you dig right at the target, making retrieval faster.
- Conservation: By reducing unnecessary digging, you also protect the environment and terrain you’re searching in.

Maximizing the Use of Pinpointers: Once your main coil detects an item, switch to pinpoint mode.
Move the coil side-to-side and then front-to-back. The loudest signal will indicate the target’s center. This practice ensures you’re right on the mark when you begin to dig.

7. Target ID

Introduction to Target ID: Picture Target ID in metal detectors as the “first impression” your metal detector gives you about an underground object.
How Does it Work?:
- Numeric Values: Based on the metal’s conductivity, the detector assigns a number. For example, iron might display a low number while silver might show a higher one. It varies from model to model.
- Visual Indicators: Some detectors use icons or symbols, like a coin or jewelry image, to give you an idea of what might be under the soil.

Target ID is a number that appears on your metal detector’s screen whenever it detects an object. This number can tell you what type of metal is buried before you dig it up.

For instance, different metals and objects have their own unique ID numbers, helping you decide whether the target is worth digging up.

For example, valuable items like jewelry or certain coins might have higher ID numbers, while items like pull-tabs or iron nails could show lower numbers.

Getting familiar with the Target ID numbers that match the items you’re searching for can make a huge difference in your metal-detecting success.

Over time, you’ll start to recognize which numbers and sounds signal something worth digging up, helping you focus on finding the treasures you’re really after.

At GoldXtra, our metal detectors come equipped with advanced Target ID and tone features designed to make it easy for you to quickly learn and get the most out of your detecting experience.

8. Battery Settings

Why Battery Settings Matter: A metal detector without power is like a car without gas. It simply won’t function. So the battery settings of the metal detector matter.
Maximizing Battery Life:
- Brightness Levels: Dimming your detector’s screen when in bright sunlight can save battery.
- Threshold and Sensitivity: Lowering these settings when not needed can conserve power.
Battery Tips:
- Always Carry Extras: Ensure you have spare batteries or a power bank with you. You never know when you’ll need them.
- Rechargeable vs. Disposable: Consider using rechargeable batteries. They’re eco-friendly and can be cost-effective in the long run.
Regular Checks: Check the battery indicator often. It’s always best to be aware of how much detecting time you have left, so you can plan your hunt accordingly.

9. Built-in Modes

Understanding Modes: Modes in metal detecting are like different tools in a toolbox. Just as you select a specific tool for a particular job, you choose a mode based on what you’re hoping to find.
Common Modes:
- Coin Mode: Perfect for parks or places where coins might be dropped. It’s calibrated to detect the metals commonly found in coins.
- Relic Mode: Designed for those who are in search of older artifacts, maybe in historical sites.
- Gold Mode: Optimal for areas where gold is commonly found, like near gold mines or streams.
Custom Modes: Some advanced detectors allow users to create their own modes. This is especially handy when you’re searching in an area with mixed targets or specific conditions.
Why Modes Matter: Picking the right mode can mean the difference between finding something valuable or walking past it.

They simplify the process, making it easier for both beginners and professionals.

10. Volume Adjustments Settings

Why Adjust Volume? Just as you’d adjust the volume on a television based on ambient noise, you need to adjust your detector’s volume to ensure you don’t miss any signals.
Benefits of Volume Control:
- Adapt to Environment: Noisy beaches, windy hills, or bustling parks – no matter where you are, control the volume to best suit your surroundings.
- Ear Safety: Using headphones? Ensure the volume isn’t set too high to protect your ears.
- Battery Conservation: At times, reducing the volume can marginally extend the battery life, allowing for longer hunts.
Customizing Your Experience: Modern metal detectors sometimes come with advanced volume control, letting you adjust specific tones.

This way, you can amplify signals from desired metals and lower the noise from undesirable junk.

11. Recovery Speed

Recovery speed is a setting on your metal detector that controls how quickly it can pick up on different metal objects when you’re sweeping the detector over the ground.

What is Recovery Speed?
- Recovery speed determines how fast your detector can identify a new metal target after detecting another one. A fast recovery speed is useful when there are a lot of metal objects close together, like in a park with lots of trash or near an old site with many metal relics. A slow recovery speed is better when you’re searching in areas with fewer targets, allowing you to detect deeper objects.
How to Adjust It:
- High Recovery Speed: If you’re in a place where there are a lot of metal objects close to each other, like nails or coins, you should set your recovery speed higher. This way, your detector can quickly pick up on each object, helping you to find valuable items without getting confused by trash.
- Low Recovery Speed: If you’re in an area where there aren’t many targets, you can lower the recovery speed. This allows the detector to go deeper and gives you a better chance of finding older or buried treasures.
When to Adjust It:
- In Trashy Areas: Use a high recovery speed to quickly separate good targets from junk.
- In Clean Areas: Use a low recovery speed to search deeper for hidden treasures.

By adjusting the recovery speed based on where you’re hunting, you can get better results and make sure you don’t miss anything important.

12. Preset Programs vs. Custom Settings

When using a metal detector, you’ll often have two options for how you set it up: Preset Programs and Custom Settings. Here’s what each one means and how they can help you in your treasure hunting.

Preset Programs:

What Are They?
Preset programs are pre-made settings built into your metal detector. These programs are designed by experts to work well in specific situations, like finding coins, jewelry, or relics.
When to Use Them?
If you’re new to metal detecting or want something quick and easy, preset programs are perfect. You just select the program that matches what you’re looking for, and the detector automatically adjusts everything for you.
Advantages:
- Easy to Use: Great for beginners or when you’re in a hurry.
- Reliable: Created by professionals, so they’re tested to work well.

Custom Settings:

What Are They?
Custom settings let you manually adjust your metal detector’s features to match your personal preferences or the specific conditions you’re hunting in.
When to Use Them?
Custom settings are best for experienced detectorists who want to fine-tune their detector for a particular environment or target. For example, if you know the ground is highly mineralized, you can adjust the settings to reduce false signals.
Advantages:
- Flexibility: Tailor your detector to your exact needs.
- Precision: Get better results in challenging environments or when hunting for specific items.

Which Is Better?

For Beginners:
Start with preset programs to learn the basics. They’re easy and effective.
For Advanced Users:
Once you’re comfortable, explore custom settings to get the most out of your detector. Customizing your settings allows you to tackle tougher conditions and find specific types of treasure more easily.

In summary, preset programs are like a trusted guide that makes metal detecting simple and fun, while custom settings give you the power to make your detector work exactly how you want it. Both are valuable, and choosing the right one depends on your experience level and what you’re hunting for.

13. Notch Filter Settings: What They Are and How to Use Them

When you’re out metal detecting, you might come across a lot of different objects buried underground. Some of these objects are valuable, like coins or jewelry, while others, like nails or bottle caps, are just junk. This is where the Notch Filter setting on your metal detector comes in handy.

Notch Filter is a feature that allows you to ignore or “filter out” certain types of metals that you don’t want to dig up. Here’s how it works:

How It Works: Each type of metal has its own range of Target ID numbers (the numbers that show up on your detector’s screen). The Notch Filter lets you block specific numbers or ranges of numbers, so your detector won’t alert you to those metals.

Why It’s Useful: Imagine you’re hunting in an area with a lot of trash, like old bottle caps or pull-tabs from cans. If these items are showing up as Target IDs you don’t want, you can use the Notch Filter to block them. This way, your detector won’t beep when it finds those items, and you can focus on finding the good stuff, like coins, relics, or jewelry.

How to Use It: To use the Notch Filter, you simply choose which numbers (or range of numbers) you want to ignore. For example, if you know that bottle caps usually show up with a Target ID of 20-30, you can set your Notch Filter to block out those numbers. Your detector will then skip over those targets and only alert you to other metals.

Important Tip: While the Notch Filter is really helpful, be careful not to filter out too many numbers. Sometimes valuable items can have similar Target IDs to junk, so it’s important to know what you’re filtering out.

At GoldXtra, our metal detectors make it easy to use the Notch Filter setting, so you can enjoy more productive hunts and find the treasures you’re looking for without getting frustrated by junk. Happy hunting!

Metal Detector Settings For Specific Targets

Metal Detector Settings for Gold

Finding gold with a metal detector is an exciting adventure, but getting the right settings is key to your success. Whether you’re searching for tiny gold nuggets, old gold relics, or large, deep-buried treasures, here’s how we recommend you to set up your metal detector.

1. Settings for Gold Nuggets

Gold nuggets are usually small and can be found near the surface. To find these tiny treasures, you need to make your metal detector more sensitive.

Sensitivity: Turn the sensitivity up high. This helps your detector pick up even the smallest pieces of gold. But be careful—if the sensitivity is too high, you might get false signals from the ground.
Frequency: Use a high frequency (around 18-60 kHz or above). Higher frequencies are better at detecting small objects like gold nuggets. Here you can learn more about metal detector frequencies in detail.
Ground Balance: Adjust the ground balance to match the soil conditions. If you’re in a mineralized area, you’ll want to manually set the ground balance to filter out the “noise” from the soil and focus on the gold.

2. Settings for Gold Relics

Gold relics, like old jewelry or coins, are usually a bit larger and can be found deeper than nuggets. For these, you need a balanced approach.

Sensitivity: Set the sensitivity to a medium-high level. This helps you detect deeper objects without too much interference.
Frequency: Use a medium frequency (around 12-20 kHz). This frequency is good for finding objects that are a bit larger and may be buried deeper.
Discrimination: Use discrimination to ignore junk metals like iron. You want your detector to focus on valuable metals, like gold, while ignoring items that aren’t worth digging up.

3. Settings for Large, Deep-Buried Gold Treasures

Large gold treasures buried deep in the ground require different settings because they are larger and often deeper than nuggets or relics.

Sensitivity: Lower the sensitivity a bit. Since you’re looking for big objects, you don’t need to detect tiny pieces of metal. Lower sensitivity also helps reduce false signals from the ground.
Frequency: Use a low frequency (around 1-10 kHz). Lower frequencies can penetrate deeper into the ground, making them ideal for finding large treasures.
Ground Balance: Set the ground balance carefully, especially in mineralized areas. You want to make sure the detector is ignoring the minerals in the soil and focusing on the deeper targets.

Additional Tips:

Threshold: Set the threshold to a faint hum. This will help you hear very small or deep signals better.
Search Mode: Use the “All Metal” mode if you’re in an area where gold might be mixed with other metals. This mode will detect everything, so you don’t miss out on any potential treasures.

Setting up your metal detector correctly is crucial for finding gold, whether it’s small nuggets, historic relics, or large treasures. By adjusting the sensitivity, frequency, and ground balance, you can improve your chances of finding gold.

Remember, each hunt is different, so it’s important to experiment with these settings until you find what works best for the area you’re searching in. Happy hunting!

Metal Detector Settings For Coins

When you’re out looking for coins with your metal detector, getting the right settings can make a big difference. Here’s how to set up your metal detector for the best chance of finding coins:

1. Sensitivity:

Sensitivity controls how deep your detector can search for coins.
How to Set It: Start with medium sensitivity. If you’re not finding much, you can increase it, but be careful—too high, and you might get false signals from small bits of junk.

2. Discrimination:

Discrimination helps your detector ignore trash like nails or foil and focus on coins.
How to Set It: Set your discrimination just high enough to filter out junk metals but low enough to still detect coins. Most modern detectors have preset coin modes that you can use.

3. Ground Balance:

Ground balance helps your detector ignore signals from the minerals in the soil.
How to Set It: If your detector has automatic ground balance, use it. If it’s manual, adjust it according to the ground conditions. Proper ground balance will make it easier to detect coins without interference from the soil.

4. Target ID:

Target ID shows a number on your screen that helps you identify what’s buried.
How to Set It: Pay attention to the numbers that appear when you detect something. Coins usually show up in a certain range depending on their material. Learn these numbers for the coins you’re most interested in.

5. Tones:

Your detector makes different sounds for different types of metal.
How to Set It: Coins often produce a clear, high-pitched tone. Listen carefully for these sounds and dig when you hear them.

6. Mode Selection:

Many detectors have different modes for different types of treasure hunting.
How to Set It: Use the “Coins” mode if your detector has one. This mode is preset to the best settings for finding coins.

Final Tips:

Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice with these settings, the better you’ll get at finding coins.
Start in Easy Areas: Begin your coin hunting in parks or old playgrounds where people might have dropped coins over the years.
Listen and Learn: Pay attention to the sounds and numbers your detector gives you—over time, you’ll get really good at knowing when you’ve found a coin.

With the right settings and a little practice, you’ll be finding coins in no time!

Metal Detector Settings for Beach Hunting

Sensitivity Settings For Beach:
- Lower the sensitivity slightly to reduce false signals from mineralized sand, especially near the water.
Ground Balance For Beach:
- Use automatic ground balance if available. For manual detectors, adjust the ground balance to filter out the minerals in wet sand.
Discrimination For Beach:
- Set discrimination to ignore trash like bottle caps and foil, focusing on valuable metals like coins and jewelry.
Frequency For Beach:
- Use a higher frequency for dry sand to find small items like rings. In wet sand, consider a lower frequency for better depth.
Search Mode:
- If your detector has a “Beach Mode,” use it. It’s optimized for handling the challenges of saltwater and mineralized sand.
Threshold For Beach:
- Set the threshold to a faint hum to pick up on small, faint signals that could indicate valuable items.

These settings will help you maximize your finds while minimizing distractions from unwanted signals on the beach.

Conclusion:

Metal detecting is not just about the hunt; it’s also about mastering the art of how to use metal detector settings effectively.

By gaining a deep understanding of the various settings we’ve shared, one can enhance their metal detecting experience, making it more efficient and rewarding.

Remember, every location, condition, and target type might require slight adjustments in your detector’s settings.

So we highly recommend you to, familiarize yourself with each of these mentioned aspects and be ready to adapt.

Howard rockse

Hey there, I am Howard a deeply committed individual who likes to share my knowledge and insights in this field, having spent over ten years as a metal detectorist.

My experience with GoldXtra has allowed me to provide trustworthy and informative advice to both new and experienced metal-detecting enthusiasts. I’m committed to assisting others in exploring and enjoying the world of metal detecting with the same enthusiasm and dedication that I have.

Howard Rockse
Senior Content Writer at GoldXtra