How to change the call melody on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 ways and solving errors

Replacing the standard ringtone with Xiaomi Redmi is a challenge faced by every second owner of the smartphone in this series. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process can be difficult due to the features of the MIUI shell, which is regularly updated and changes the location of settings. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic ways to change the tune through system settings, but also alternative methods using a file manager, third-party applications, and also consider typical errors that may cause the new ringtone to fail.

Redmi's feature is that it restricts users to the default tunes, offering only 5-7 standard options. However, this limitation is easy to circumvent if you know where and in what format to download your own audio files. It is important to consider that after the MIUI upgrade to versions 13-14, the path to the call settings may have changed - we have considered this in the instructions below.

If you've tried to change the ringtone before, but it didn't work, chances are that the problem lies in one of three things: the wrong audio file format, the lack of memory rights, or the conflict with battery optimization for the Phone app, which we'll discuss in the appropriate sections.

Method 1: Standard Replacement through MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for all Redmi models (from Redmi Note 4 to Redmi 12) and does not require additional software installation.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Call Melody (in some versions of MIUI, it may be called Call Sound).
4. In the list that opens, tap the right tune to listen to it, or click Add (+ icon) if you want to download your file.

If no Add button, your version of MIUI does not support custom ringtones downloading through this menu, in which case you can proceed to Method 2.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12.5 for global version) after selecting custom ringtone sound can be reset to standard after restarting. MIUI 13+ manually transferring the file to the system folder (see Method 4).

Method 2: Using a file manager to add custom tunes

If the built-in settings don’t allow you to add your ringtone, you can bypass this restriction by placing the audio file in a special system folder, which works on all versions of Android and MIUI, but requires a file manager with access to root directories (for example, Mi File Explorer, Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).

Instructions:

1. Download or prepare an audio file in.mp3 or.m4a format (optimum duration - up to 30 seconds).
2. Connect your phone to your PC or use the file manager on your smartphone to move the file to /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ If there is no Ringtones folder, create it manually.
3. Restart your device (it is necessary that the system scans new files).
4. Go to the sound settings (Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Call Melody) and select your file from the list.

If the file does not appear in the tone list after rebooting, check:

• 📁 The correct folder name (registrar is important: Ringtones, not ringtones).
• 🎵 File format (some versions) MIUI They don't support.ogg or.wav).
• 🔄 Try renaming the file by removing spaces and special characters (for example, my_ringtone.mp3 instead of My Ringtone #1.mp3).

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If the Ringtones folder is not created, try placing the file in the Notifications folder – sometimes MIUI scans it to find tunes.

Method 3: Ringtone Maker (Zedge, Ringtone Maker)

For those who don’t want to mess with files manually, there are specialized applications, the most popular of which are Zedge and Ringtone Maker. They not only simplify the process of replacing the ringtone, but also offer huge libraries of ready-made tunes, broken down by category (movies, games, musical hits).

How to use Zedge:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and select the Ringtones section.
3. Find your favorite track and click Set as ringtone.
4. Confirm your choice in the system window.

Advantages of this method:

• 🎶 Access thousands of free tunes without having to search for files yourself.
• 🔄 Automatic cutting of tracks to optimal length.
• 📱 Support for all Redmi models, including the new Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi K60).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Ringtone Maker) require permission to access notifications to work properly. If the ringtone is not used after installation, check if the system has blocked access to notifications for this application in the App settings. → Permits.

Method 4: Manual copying to system folder (for advanced)

This method is suitable for users who want their ringtone not to be reset after system updates or reboots, and involves copying an audio file to a secure system folder, which requires root rights or the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Instructions using ADB:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi to your computer and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) and do: adb push C:\path\to\your\ringtone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/ adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/ringtone.mp3 adb reboot Replace C:\path\to\your\ringtone.mp3 on the real path to your file.

After the reboot, your ringtone will be available on the system list and will not disappear after the updates.

• 🔧 Without root rights, this method only works until the first major update. MIUI.
• ⚠️ Misuse ADB It can cause malfunctions in the phone.

Method 5: Replace the ringtone for a specific contact

MIUI allows you to assign unique tunes to individual contacts, which is convenient if you want to know who's calling you without looking at the screen.

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
2. Click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Slip on Call Melody (or Notification Sound if you want to change the sound for SMS).
4. Select a standard tune or click Add to upload your file (if it is in the Ringtones folder).

Limitations of this method:

• 📞 Does not work for unknown numbers (only for saved contacts).
• 🔕 On some firmware, custom contact ringtones are reset after an update MIUI.

Typical errors and their solution

Even after you've done all the steps, the ringtone can still be there, and let's look at some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 Rington is not played: Check if the sound is turned off in the settings Sound and vibration → Do Not Disturb Mode. Also make sure the file is not corrupted (try playing it in any player).
• 🔄 Rington resets after reboot: This is a known mistake MIUI Solution: Move the file to the system folder (see Method 4). MIUI 13+.

There is no "Add" button in the sound settings:

Your version of MIUI does not support custom ringtones downloading via menus. Use Method 2 (file manager) or Method 3 (third-party applications).

⚠️ Note: On devices with Global ROM (sometimes blocked access to system folders due to Xiaomi's security policy.If you encounter an error "No access" when trying to copy a file to /system/media/audio/, try to use MIUI ROM China (requires unlocking of the bootloader).

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If the ringtone doesn’t change in any way, reset the Phone app settings from the Settings menu → Apps → App Management → Phone → Storage → Clear the data. This will return the standard call settings, but it won’t delete your contacts.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions