Changing a standard melodic but quickly annoying call is the first thing that most owners of new Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphones do. The standard shell of MIUI (or the new HyperOS) offers flexible personalization settings, but the process of installing your track is not always intuitive due to the features of the file system and the work of the system application “Themes”.
In this article, we will explore all the available ways to replace audio files, from simple installation through the settings menu to advanced methods using hidden system functions. You will learn how to assign unique music to different contacts, adjust vibration to the rhythm of the track and fix the situation if the desired file is simply not displayed in the list.
Before you start making changes, make sure that your music files are already loaded into the device memory. For the system to work properly, it is desirable that the tracks are located in the root of internal memory or in a specially created folder. MIUI/ringtone, Although modern versions of firmware can scan other directories.
Basic setting of the ringtone through the settings
The easiest and most reliable way to change the music of a call is to use a built-in audio settings menu, which does not require third-party software installation and works consistently on all firmware versions. The system may not see files if they are in folders with a deep nesting level or have a file file. DRM-defense.
To start, go to the Settings menu and select Sound and Vibration. In the list that opens, look for the Phone Call section. Clicking on it will take you to the Melody Selection menu, where the defaults are Xiaomi standard tracks and several preset songs.
To put your music, scroll down the list and select All Melodies or Select Melodies on the device. A file manager will open, which will prompt you to select a source. If you can't see your track, it's possible that the system only scans certain folders.
It's important to note that when you select a local file, the system can suggest that you crop it. The Editor feature allows you to select a fragment up to 30 seconds long that will play when you call in, which is useful if the song starts with a long introduction.
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System editor of melodies allows you to create the perfect cropping without loss of quality and installation of unnecessary applications.
Using the “Themes” application for extended selection
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Themes app is a central element of personalization, allowing you not only to change icons and wallpapers, but also to download entire packages of sounds created by the community, which is especially true if you want a unique sound design, not just a single track.
Open the Themes app on your desktop. In the bottom navigation bar, switch to the Sounds (or Audio) tab, and here you can see a catalog of call melodies, notifications and alarm clocks, broken down into categories: popular, new, effects and musical genres.
When you find the right track, press the download button. After downloading, click Apply. The advantage of this method is that the sounds are optimized for the smartphone speakers and often have perfect volume and duration.
⚠️ Note: Themes app may require a Mi Account login and a stable Internet connection to download content. In some regions (e.g. Europe), the directory may be restricted.
If you don't like the standard directory, the Themes app has an import feature. When you're in the sound section, click on the profile icon or menu (three dots) and select Import. The system will prompt you to select an audio file from the device's memory, then add it to your collection and let you install it as the main ringtone.
Secret codes for the speaker test
Install your MP3 files through a file manager
Often, users have a problem: they downloaded music, but they don't have it in the call settings, because of the strict folder structure in Android. MP3-The file is guaranteed to appear in the list of available tunes, it must be placed in the system directory.
Open the standard Files app. Go to the internal storage. You need to find or create a folder called MIUI, and inside it is a ringtone folder. The full path will look like /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/.
Copy your music files into this folder. After that, restart your smartphone or just wait a few minutes for the system's media scanner to index the new files. Now, when you select a call, your tracks will be displayed on the general list on a par with the standard ones.
☑️ Checklist for file preparation
An alternative way to do notifications and alarms is to create notification and alarm folders inside the MIUI directory, and by creating this structure, you automatically sort the sounds by destination, making navigation in the settings menu much easier.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete or rename standard files in system folders unless you are sure of their purpose, which can lead to the disappearance of interface sounds or errors in the system operation.
Customization of individual melodies for contacts
One of the most useful features is the ability to assign unique music to a particular one, so you can know who's calling without taking your phone out of your pocket, and you can do that directly through the Contacts app or Phone.
Open a contact list, find the person you want, and click on their name. From the menu that opens, select Set up a tune (or Rington), and then the algorithm is similar to setting up a general call: select the source and the track.
It is important that you use it. SIM-card for calls, the system can ask which SIM card (SIM 1 SIM (2) the rule applies. This is convenient for separating personal and work contacts.
| Type of sound | Where to set up | Features |
|---|---|---|
| General call | Settings → Sound | Available on all unknown numbers |
| Contact | Contact card | Priority over general call |
| Notifications | Settings → Sound | Separate settings for messengers (sometimes) |
| Alarm clock | Annex Clock | Requires file selection when creating an alarm clock |
For contact groups (such as Family or Work) in a standard Xiaomi call, the functionality is limited. Usually, the melody is assigned individually to each entry in the phone book. However, if contacts are synchronized with Google, the changes can be applied with a slight delay.
How to set music to alarm and notifications
The alarm clock melody is what the day starts with, so it has to be loud and rhythmic enough. Unlike the bell, the alarm clock settings are stored in a separate Watch app.
Run the Watch app, go to the Alarm tab. Click on an existing alarm clock or create a new one. In the settings, find Melody. Here you can select a track from the standard set or click Add a tune to select a file from memory.
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Use a gradual increase in volume for the alarm clock. In the sound settings, turn on the "Loud up" option to avoid waking up from a sharp rumble.
For system notifications (SMS, mail, system events), the path is through Settings → Sound and vibration → Notifications. Here you can also select a file from the device. Note that some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) have their own audio settings inside their menus, which overlap the system ones.
To change the sound in the messenger, go to its settings, select Notifications, and find the Notification Sound. The mechanism for selecting the file will be the same - through the system player.
Problem Solving: If the music is not played or played
Despite the simplicity of the process, users sometimes encounter errors.The problem is that the file is in memory, but it is not in the selection list. Often this is due to the file format. Xiaomi (like many Android smartphones) works best with MP3 and M4R formats.
If the file is in FLAC or WAV format, the system can ignore it as a ringtone.Convert the track to MP3 with a bitrate of 128 or 320 kbit / s. Also check if the file is copyrighted (DRM), as is the case with tracks from streaming services when listening offline.
Another reason is a crowded media cache. Try clearing the cache of the Media Service or Media Storage app through the Apps menu → All Apps → Show system processes.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the custom theme sounds are completely gone, return the standard theme in the application "Themes» → Profile → My subjects. → Classic.
In rare cases, resetting audio settings helps. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset, but remember that a full reset will delete all data. To begin, try simply restarting the device in Safe Mode to eliminate third-party application conflict.