Where in Xiaomi smartphones are stored tunes and how to replace them: all the ways

Have you ever tried to find a folder with system tunes in Xiaomi, but could not find it? or wanted to install your favorite song on a call, but the phone stubbornly ignored it. MP3-This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi, POCO and Mi interface MIUI (And now HyperOS) hides the standard paths to sound files, and settings are scattered on different menus.

In this article, we will not only show where the melodies are physically stored in Xiaomi, but also tell you how to replace them, add your ringtones, adjust notifications for individual applications and even restore deleted sounds. MIUI 12–15 and HyperOS (including Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13, POCO F6).

Spoiler: The path to system tunes has changed in new firmware versions, and some features (such as editing sounds through a file manager) now require root rights.

1.Where System Melodies Are Stored in Xiaomi: Physical Pathways

Unlike Android, where audio files are in open folders, Xiaomi distributes them across several directories — some of them are accessible to the user, some are hidden.

• 📁 Customized tunes: /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ — You can put your files here (formats.mp3,.m4a,.ogg).
• 🔔 System ringtones: /system/media/audio/ringtones/ — access only through root or through ADB.
• 📱 Notification sounds: /system/media/audio/notifications/ — similarly protected from change.
• ⏰ Alarm clock tunes: /system/media/audio/alarms/ — Requires superuser rights to edit.
• 🎵 UI-sounds (keys, locking): /system/media/audio/ui/ — Change only through modified firmware.

Important: HyperOS (since Xiaomi 14) has kept the path to custom tunes the same, but system sounds can now be stored in the virtual /product/media/ partition, making it harder to edit them without root.

To see hidden folders, use a root-enabled file manager (like FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer) or connect to your phone via ADB. It’s easier for regular users to add their tunes to the Ringtones folder – they’ll automatically appear in the selection list.

2.How to Add Your Melody to a Call in Xiaomi

If you want to set a favorite song or a unique sound to a call, there are two ways: through your phone's settings or manually through your file manager. Let's look at both.

Method 1: Through settings (without a computer)

1. Place the audio file (.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format, up to 30 seconds in duration) in the Ringtones folder (create it at the root of the internal memory if it is not).
2. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody.
3. Your file will appear in the list – select it.

Limitations: Some models (e.g. Redmi 10C) don’t show files larger than 5MB or longer than 30 seconds, and cropping audio through MP3 Cutter will help.

Method 2: ADB (for system tunes)

If you need to replace a standard ringtone (for example, Mi_Tune.mp3), need ADB:

adb pull /system/media/audio/ringtones/Mi_Tune.mp3 C:\backup\


adb push C:\my_ringtone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/Mi_Tune.mp3




adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/Mi_Tune.mp3

⚠️ Note: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and can cause a system failure if the file has an inappropriate bitrate or format.

Reduce the duration to 30 seconds

Convert to MP3 format (bitrate 128-192 kbit / s)

Rename the file to Latin (without spaces)

Put it in the Ringtones folder

Reboot the phone-->

3. Set up notifications for individual applications

In MIUI/HyperOS, you can assign unique notification sounds to each instant messenger, social network, or game.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
3. Tap Notifications. → The sound of the notification.
4. Select a tune from the list or add your own (pre-putting the file in the Notifications folder).

🔹 Problem: Some applications (e.g, VK Or Instagram, they ignore the system settings and use their own sounds:

• 🛠️ Turn off the sounds in the settings of the application itself.
• 📵 Or use Automation applications (such as MacroDroid) to force audio replacement.

Tip: If the notification sound is gone after the MIUI update, reset the application settings (Settings → Apps → [app] → Storage → Clear data).

4.Where the alarm clock melodies are stored and how to change them

The alarm clock sounds in Xiaomi are stored separately from the ringtones, and by default, the system offers 5-10 tunes, but they can be expanded:

Adding your tunes

1. Create an Alarms folder at the root of your internal memory.
2. Put audio files (.mp3,.wav formats) there.
3. Open the app Clock → Alarm clock → Add / edit → Melody.

⚠️ Note: In HyperOS, the alarm clock may not show user sounds if they are longer than 1 minute.

Replacement of system sounds (requires root)

The alarm clock's system melodies lie in:

/system/media/audio/alarms/


/product/media/audio/alarms/

To replace them:

1. Copy the original files to your computer (backup!).
2. Prepare new files with the same names (e.g, Alarm_Classic.mp3).
3. Use ADB or Root Explorer to replace it.

5 Why Xiaomi doesn't see my tunes: Common mistakes

If you put a file in the Ringtones folder but it doesn’t appear in the settings, check:

Critical error: if after adding a melody, the phone stopped playing any sounds (calls, notifications), reset the sound settings:

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting sound settings →

💡

If the melody is not playing on the alarm clock, check if the phone is not worth the "Do Not Disturb" mode (Settings → Sound and vibration → Do Not Disturb). The alarm only works when the DND is turned off or with exceptions.

6. How to Recover Remote System Melodies

If you accidentally remove the standard ringtones (for example, Mi_Tune.mp3) or they disappeared after the update MIUI, There are three ways to get them back:

• 🔄 Resetting settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset all settings (does not delete files, but restores default sounds).
• 📥 Original sounds: archives with system tunes for Xiaomi can be found on forums 4PDA XDA-Developers (Search for the phone model).
• 🛠️ Reflash the phone: the last method is to install firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (deletes all data!).

🔹 For HyperOS: If the sounds are gone after the update, try clearing the Settings app cache:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Storage → Clear cache

7. Alternative methods of sound control

If standard methods don’t work, try these tools:

• 🎛️ Zedge app: free database of ringtones and notification sounds with direct installation.
• 🤖 Tasker + AutoNotification: for flexible customization of sounds by time, contacts or applications.

An example of automatic tune-change: Tasker can set the call from the boss to sound louder, and notifications from Telegram only vibration.

1. Create a profile in Tasker for the Incoming Call event.
2. Add the condition "Contact = [name]" (or number).
3. In action, select "Audio → Call Melody" and specify the file.

💡

Using third-party apps (like Zedge) is often easier than manually replacing system files, especially on non-root phones.However, they may require additional permissions and display ads.

FAQ: Frequent questions about melodies in Xiaomi