How to make an individual call to contact Xiaomi: 5 working methods

Why Xiaomi can’t assign a tune to a contact and how to fix it

Are you tired of confusing incoming calls because all contacts have the same tune? Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) have a built-in feature for assigning unique ringtones, but many users find that it either doesn't work or is hidden in non-obvious menus. The problem often lies in the features of the MIUI shell: in some versions of the firmware, the option is moved to another location or requires additional permissions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to make a personalized call to a contact, from standard MIUI tools to third-party workarounds. We will focus on common errors that don’t apply the melody (for example, resetting after an update or conflicting with the design topic). If you are using Xiaomi 12/13/14 or older models on Android 10+, the instructions below will fit with minor differences in the interface.

Before you proceed to setup, make sure that:

• 📱 Contact saved in the phone book (not in the phone book) SIM-Google card or account without syncing).
• 🔊 The selected ringtone is in the folder /Ringtones/ or /Notifications/ memory.
• 🔄 The latest version is installed on the smartphone MIUI (Check in the settings → The phone. → Updating the system).

Method 1: Standard configuration through the Contacts app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette), but depending on the version of MIUI, the path to the option may differ. Consider the current algorithm for modern Xiaomi smartphones (2022-2026 release).

Open the Contacts app and follow the following steps:

1. Find the right contact in the list and tap it.
2. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Edit».
3. Scroll down to the “Call” block (or “Melody” in older versions).
4. Slip on the current tune (usually “Default”) and select a new ringtone from the list.
5. Save the changes with the “Ready” or “Save” button.

If the "Call" item is not in the edit menu, then your version of MIUI uses an alternative path.

• 🔄 Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Call and select contact there.
• 📱 Keep your finger in contact in the list until the context menu appears with the option “Appoint a tune».

Synchronize contacts with your Mi Account|Download the right tunes to the Ringtones folder|Check permissions for the "Contact" application"|Reboot your phone when crashing-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X3 Pro or Redmi Note 11 after upgrading to MIUI 14, option disappears. In this case, use Method 3 (through "Themes") or Method 4 (third-party applications).

Method 2: Assigning a call through the “Settings” of the phone

If editing a contact doesn't work, try changing the melody through system settings, which works more stable because it doesn't depend on the version of the Contacts app.

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Select “Call” (or “Call Melody”).
3. At the top of the screen, tap the Contacts tab (if any).
4. Find the right contact in the list and assign him a unique tune.

If you don't have the Contact tab, your firmware doesn't support this functionality.

• 🔧 Use Method 3 (through the “Themes”) to MIUI 12–14.
• 📲 Install a third-party application from Method 4.

💡

If the list does not contain the desired melody, copy it to the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ The file manager must have the file format.mp3 or.m4a.

Method 3: Use of design themes (for MIUI 12–14)

The MIUI shell allows you to assign unique sounds through "Themes," a little-known but working method for modern smartphones.

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the “Sounds” (or “Melodies”) section.
3. Select the Contacts tab (if any).
4. Find the right contact and assign him a melody from the suggested ones or download your own.

If there is no “Contact” tab, try:

• 🔄 Update the Themes app via Google Play.
• 📥 Install a third-party theme with support for customization of sounds (for example, “Mi Sound” in the theme store).

In MIUI 14, on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite), the option only appears after installing an additional sound package through the Themes. If the melody does not apply, check if the settings are reset after the reboot - this is a firmware bug that is fixed by rolling back to factory settings (see Method 5).

Method 4: Third-party applications for flexible settings

If the built-in methods don't work, install one of the specialized applications. MIUI And they allow you to assign not only melodies, but also vibrations, LED-Indication and even voice notifications:

• 🎵 Zedge - The Ringtones Library + contact-office.
• 🔔 Ringo – supports Xiaomi, allows you to put different sounds for calls and messages.
• 📱 Contact Ringtones – a minimalist solution with integration into system contacts.

Instructions for Ringo (recommended for MIUI):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to contacts and storage.
3. Select the contact from the list and tap “Appoint a call”.
4. Download your tune or select from the library.
5. Save and check if the sound will work on the test call.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Zedge can conflict with system sounds MIUI. If the melody is not played after installation, disable the battery optimization for the application in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Optimizing the battery.

💡

Third-party apps are the only reliable way for MIUI 14 users to use POCO/Xiaomi, where the standard settings don’t work.

Method 5: Reset the sound settings (if nothing helps)

If the tunes don't apply or are dropped, the problem may be in the corrupted system files, in which case resetting the sound settings to the factory will help, and it won't delete your data, but it will return all the sounds to the standard.

How to reset:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the “Reset Sound Settings” option and confirm the action.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Reassign the tunes through any of the above methods.
• 🔊 Check if the settings are saved after the reboot.

If the problem persists, the cause may be:

• 🛠️ Damaged firmware (solution: reflash your phone via Mi Flash Tool).
• 📵 Conflict with another application (check out recently installed programs).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after setting up correctly, Xiaomi users face typical problems.

Another common situation is that the melody works for messages, but not for calls (or vice versa), because in MIUI, notifications and calls are set separately, to synchronize sounds:

1. Open Settings → Notifications → Applications.
2. Select “Phone” (or “Contacts”).
3. Set the same tune for “Calls” and “Notifications.”

FAQ: Answers to popular questions