How to change calls on Xiaomi: from standard tunes to custom ringtones

Why setting up calls on Xiaomi is more important than it seems

The sound of a call is the first thing your interlocutor hears when calling Xiaomi. But for the smartphone owner, it's not just a signal, it's a tool for personalization, security, and even psychological comfort. For example, a sharp factory tune can annoy in a quiet environment, and an unrecognizable ringtone can make you miss an important call in a noisy place. In this article, we'll look at all the ways to change calls, from basic MIUI settings to install custom sounds through the file system.

Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) run on the MIUI shell, which offers flexible sound settings, but not always obvious. For example, MIUI 14 introduced Adaptive Sounds, which automatically adjusts volume depending on ambient noise — but it needs to be turned on first. And in older versions (MIUI 12) to change the tune, you had to go through 4 menus.

We will focus on the problems that users face: why new ringtones do not appear on the list, how to return factory sounds after a reset, or why the call is quieter than in the settings, these nuances are often missed even in official instructions.

Method 1: Change the call through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for most models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, etc.) unless custom firmware is installed.

1. Open the “Settings” (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select the Call Melody (or Call Sound in MIUI 13+).
4. Scroll down the list – all available factory tunes are displayed here, grouped by category (Classic, MIUI, Downloaded).
5. Click on your favorite sound to listen, then confirm the choice with the OK button.

V MIUI 14 Added the option Recommended - here the system offers melodies based on your preferences (analyzed frequently used sounds in other applications). 2-3 Weeks of active smartphone use.

Make sure the volume is not at a minimum (slider at the top of the screen)

Check if the "Do Not Disturb" mode is activated.

Turn off Bluetooth headphones (they can block playback through the speaker)

Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in older versions, the list of tunes is shorter)-->

Limitation: You can't add your own sounds to the standard menu, just choose from preset ones. To download custom ringtones, read the following section.

Method 2: Installation of custom ringing melodies

If you're tired of factory sounds, you can download your own. Xiaomi supports.mp3,.m4a and.ogg formats, but there are nuances with duration and bitrate.

• 🎵 Duration: 15-30 seconds (MIUI clipping files longer than 40 seconds).
• 📏 Size: up to 5MB (otherwise, the sound may not load).
• 🔊 Bitrate: 128-192 kbit / s (at 320 kbit / s, distortions are possible).
• 📁 Folder: Files should be in the /MIUI/ringtone/ or /Ringtones/.

Instructions for addition:

1. Download your favorite sound to your phone (for example, from zedge.net or mob.org).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer).
3. Move the file to /MIUI/ringtone/ (create it if not) and /Ringtones/ (recognized by all Android devices) is the alternative.
4. Reboot your phone (required! MIUI scans folders when you start).
5. Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call Melody – your sound will appear in the Downloads section.

💡

If the sound doesn't appear on the list, check its format with the MediaInfo app (available in Play Market). MIUI doesn't support variable bitrate (VBR) files.

Important: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T), the /MIUI/ringtone/ folder is hidden. To see it, turn on the hidden files in the file manager settings.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If manual downloading seems complicated, you can use specialized software that automates the process and offers libraries of ready-made ringtones.

How to work with Zedge:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Select Ringtones from the menu.
3. Find your favorite sound (you can filter by genre: Pop, Classical, Funny).
4. Press Download, then Set as ringtone.
5. Select Phone ringtone (call) or Notification (notification).

Standard settings of MIUI

Uploading your files to a folder

The Appendix (Zedge et al.)

I don't change factory sounds.-->

Warning: Some apps (like Ringtone Maker) ask for permission to access files and microphones.Do not grant it if you download APKs from unverified sources - this can lead to data leakage.

Solving the Problem: Why New Calls Are Not Working

A frequent complaint of Xiaomi users is that added sounds are not displayed in the list or are reproduced with distortion.

⚠️ Warning: If the ringtone is quieter after the ringtone change, check the settings for additional sound parameters in the ringtone. MIUI. Quiet Call mode can be enabled here, which limits the volume for certain contacts.

• 🔍 No sound appears in the list: The file is in the wrong folder (should be) /MIUI/ringtone/ or /Ringtones/). Wrong format (MIUI The phone does not support.wav and.aac. The phone does not restart after adding a file.
• 🔊 The call is played with interference: Too high bitrate (convert to 192 kbps via Audacity). File corrupted (jump it). 3D-sound in settings (turn off in Sounds and vibrations) → Audio effects).
• 📵 Call not audible in headphones: Check Bluetooth settings: Settings → Connected devices → Headphone settings → Media sound. Update the firmware of the headphones (relevant for Xiaomi AirDots).

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the sound settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting.
2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action – all user sounds will remain, but the factory volume and vibration settings will return.

Personalization: Different calls for different contacts

MIUI allows you to assign unique tunes to individual contacts -- useful to distinguish calls from family, colleagues or spammers.

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Select the contact you want and click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call (or Call Sound).
4. Select the sound from the list (you can use custom ones added earlier).
5. Save the changes.

For contact groups (e.g., “Work” or “Friends”):

1. In the Contacts app, go to the Group tab.
2. Select a group and press Control.
3. Assign a common melody to all the band members.

1. Whether the contact is kept in the phone book (not on the phone) SIM-map).

2. whether the "Vibration Only" mode is on for this contact (check in his card).-->

On models with duals SIM-Xiaomi 13 Lite, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) You can make different calls for each SIM:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose. SIM-map, SIM 1).
3. Press the ringtone and assign a unique sound.

Additional settings: vibration, volume and adaptive sounds

MIUI offers advanced options for fine-tuning calls, such as:

• 📳 Set up vibration: C Sounds and vibrations → When you call, choose a pattern (such as a Heartbeat or Double Bang). For custom vibration, use the Vibration Patterns app.
• 🔊 Adaptive Volume: Turn on Adaptive Sounds in Sounds and Vibration → The system will automatically increase the volume in noisy places (powered by Xiaomi) 12/13 series MIUI 13+).
• 🎛️ Call equalizer: In Sounds and Vibration → Audio effects adjust the frequencies to make the sound clearer, useful if the bell sounds deaf or hissing.

Hidden feature: on Xiaomi with stereo speakers (Xiaomi 11T Pro, Redmi K50) you can enable Sound Separation so that the call plays simultaneously through the top and bottom speakers.

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Stereo Dynamics option and turn it on.

1. Settings → Applications → Application Management.

2.Look for Mi Sound Enhancer and click Clear Cache.

3.Reboot the phone.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi calls