How to change a call to Xiaomi: from system tunes to your tracks

Changing the standard melody is the first thing that many owners of new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones start with. Standard sounds preset by the manufacturer often seem too loud, sharp or just boring with time. Fortunately, the MIUI operating system and the newer HyperOS provide the user with ample opportunities for personalization of sound design.

The process of installing a new ringtone can vary depending on the shell version and regional firmware, in some cases it is enough to select a track from the list, in others it is necessary to move files to certain memory folders. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to replace the call sound, including installing your own. mp3-Files, customization of individual tunes for specific subscribers and solving common problems.

Understanding the structure of the file system and the sound settings will allow you to make your device as comfortable as possible, and you will learn not only to change the melody, but also to manage sound profiles, creating a unique atmosphere for different situations, whether it is work, meeting with friends or night time.

Basic setting of the system ringtone

The easiest way to change the sound for all incoming calls is to use the standard settings menu, which doesn't require special files, and works on all current firmware versions. You need to go to Settings, then select Sound and Vibration, and that's where the basic audio settings are.

In the menu that opens, find the Rington line. When you click on it, the system will offer a list of available tunes. You can listen to each of them just by tapping the title. If you like one of the standard options, just click OK or Apply.

⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have an "Download Online" button on this menu.Using this feature requires authorization to your Mi Account and may not be available in your region due to server restrictions.

However, most users want to set their music. To do this, the same Sound and Vibration menu often has the option to select a local ringtone or a + button at the top right of the tune list. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the file manager, where you can select any audio file stored in your smartphone memory.

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If you don’t see the local file selection button in the ringtones menu, try first running any music track through the standard Music player, and then go to the sound settings – the system can “capture” the context.

Install your melody through the file manager

The most reliable method, which works on almost all Xiaomi models, including the budget Redmi series and the flagship Mi, involves manually copying the file to the desired directory.

First, download the desired mp3-You can either send it to your phone or transfer it from your computer. Then open the Explorer app (or any other file manager, like Total Commander), and you need to find the folder where the file was saved, usually Download or Music.

Then there's the important step of moving the file. Copy or move your audio file to the root folder of internal memory called MIUI, and inside it create or find the ringtone folder. The full path will look like this: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/. If there's no MIUI or ringtone folder, create them manually, observing the letter register.

• 📂 Open the Explorer and find the downloaded track.
• 📋 Click "Copy" or "Move" on the selected file.
• 📁 Go to the root of internal memory and open the folder. MIUI.
• 🎵 Place the file in the ringtone folder (for calling) or notification (for SMS).

After you do this, go back to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Rington. Your file should appear in the general list of available tunes, often at the bottom or in the Locals section. Now it can be activated as the main call sound.

Individual settings for contacts and SIM-map

Modern smartphones allow you to flexibly manage the soundtrack, you can assign a unique tune to an important caller to learn about his call without looking at the screen, or set different sounds for different types of calls. SIM-cards if you have two of them.

To assign a custom ringtone to a specific contact, open the Contacts or Phone app. Find the right person in the list and go to their page. Click Change button (usually a pencil icon). In the menu that opens, scroll down to Melody or Rington and select the desired track from the list.

For dual-sim device owners, setting different sounds for each card is important, and the Sound and Vibration menu often has separate Rington (SIM 1) and Rington (SIM 2) items, which helps you instantly understand which line the call is coming to, which is especially convenient when dividing personal and work numbers.

⚠️ Note: If you change the ringtone for a contact and it keeps ringing with a standard tune, check if the contact is saved twice in different accounts (for example, in Google and in the phone memory.

Also worth mentioning is the possibility of creating a schedule of sound profiles. In the section Sound and vibration, find the item "Silent mode on schedule" or "Schedule on and off" and you can set up automatic changes in sound modes, such as turning on silent mode at night and returning sound in the morning.

Setting the alarm sound and notifications

Although the topic of this article is about calls, the way alarms and notifications are set is similar, but it has its own peculiarities, and many users confuse these settings, so it is important to clearly understand the difference between the ringtone of a call and the sound of system events.

To set the alarm clock, open the Watch app. Click on an existing alarm clock or create a new alarm clock. The alarm settings will have Sound. By clicking on it, you can select a track from presets or add your own by clicking on the + or Local icon. Unlike the call ringtone, you can choose a track for the alarm clock that plays continuously until you stop it.

Notification sounds (SMS, messengers) are customized either globally in the Sound and Vibration menu → Notification Sound, or individually in the settings of each application. For example, Telegram or WhatsApp have their own sound settings that override the system.

Below is a table showing the differences in customization paths for different types of audio signals on Xiaomi devices:

Using the right folders for different types of sounds helps the system index files faster and display them correctly in the appropriate settings menu, which is especially true for older models with a small amount of RAM.

Using the theme of design to change the sound

Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers a unique way to change ringtones through the theme store. Many themes include not only icons and wallpaper, but also a set of sounds: ringtones, SMS, locks and even keyboard sounds.

If you want to use this method, open the Themes app, and you can search for "sound," "ringtone," or just browse categories, and if you find a theme you like, you don't have to use it in its entirety. You can often download only the audio package.

Go to the theme profile (clicking on it) and see what components are available. If there's a Sound or Ringtone section, you can only use it, and it's a great way to get high-quality, professional sounds that blend harmoniously with each other without disrupting the visual style of your interface.

However, be careful when downloading themes from unverified sources or third-party stores, as they may contain ads or work incorrectly with your version of Android.The official Xiaomi theme store checks the content, but there are also topics with intrusive advertising when unlocked.

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The theme store is not just about visuals, but you can find ready-made, optimized audio packages that you can't create on your own without audio editing skills.

The Solution: Why the Melody Doesn't Work

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after all the manipulations the phone continues to ring with a standard horn, or the chosen melody does not appear in the list.

The first and most common reason is the file format. Android natively supports mp3, ogg, wav. If you're trying to install a file in format m4r (Apple standard) or protected DRM-A file from a streaming service, the system simply won't see it or refuses to play it. mp3 before installation.

The second reason is access rights: newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) have tightened file system access rules, so if you use a third-party file manager, make sure you give it permission to access all files, without which it can copy the file to a sandbox instead of a real MIUI folder.

• 🔊 Check the volume level: it is possible that the melody is standing, but the volume of the call is twisted to zero.
• 🚫 Do Not Disturb: Make sure it is not activated as it blocks calls.
• 📂 The path to the file: check that the file is in the MIUI/ringtone, It's not just the root of memory.
• 📀 Format: Make sure the file is not corrupted and playable in the music player.

Also worth mentioning are the bugs of a particular firmware version, sometimes after updating MIUI, the ringtones list can "fly" in which case it helps to clear the cache of the Themes app or reset the sound settings to factory values through the settings recovery menu.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your audio settings to factory values, all your custom assignments (for contacts and groups) will be deleted. Use this feature only if other methods have not helped.

If none of these methods worked, try restarting the device. In rare cases, Android media service doesn't update the database of media files immediately after copying a new track, and restarting fixes this problem.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions