How to install video on a call to Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 working methods

Video melodies on a call turn a standard incoming call into a vibrant show — instead of a boring ringtone, an animated video, a favorite clip, or even a personalized greeting appears on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 screen — a feature that is especially popular among users who want to highlight important contacts or simply add personality to their smartphone. However, not everyone knows that setting up video calls on Redmi 9 has nuances, from format support to MIUI limitations.

In this article, we'll look at three proven ways to install video on a call -- through standard MIUI tools, through third-party apps, and even manually configured for advanced users -- and you'll also learn what video formats are supported, how to get around system constraints, and what to do if the video isn't played, and at the end, answers to frequent questions and life hacks to optimize the function.

Supported video formats for Redmi 9 calls

Before you install video on a call, it is important to make sure that your file meets the requirements of MIUI. Xiaomi system does not support all formats, and the wrong choice can lead to the fact that the video will simply not play.

• 📌 Resolution: optimal 720×1280 (vertical orientation) or 1280×720 (Higher resolution can inhibit.
• 🎞️ Format:.mp4 or.3gp. Other formats (e.g..avi or.mkv) are not supported.
• ⏱️ Duration: up to 30 seconds. Long videos will be cut automatically.
• 🔊 Audio: Must be present (even quiet) or the video will not be perceived as ringtone.

If your video doesn’t meet these parameters, you can convert it using free services like CloudConvert or apps like Video Converter (available on Google Play). Note: on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12 and above, video on a call works more stable if the bitrate is less than 2 Mbit / s – otherwise lags are possible.

⚠️ Note: Copyright-protected videos (e.g., downloaded from YouTube via third-party services) may not be played due to restrictions DRM. Use only legal sources or your own records.

Method 1: Install video via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which don't require you to install any additional applications, but only works for contacts stored in the phone book.

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
2. Click Edit (the pencil icon in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down to the Melody of the Call section and tap it.
4. In the menu that opens, select Local Melodies → Videos.
5. Find the video file you want in the list (it should be in the Ringtones or Notifications folder on internal memory).
6. Save the changes.

If the video folder is not listed, you can create it manually through any file manager (e.g. Files by Google), so that the path to the file looks like /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/your video.mp4.

Check the file format (.mp4 or.3gp)

Cut the video to 30 seconds

Add the audio track (if not)

Move the file to the Ringtones folder

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Once you set up the incoming call from the selected contact, the screen will play video instead of the standard animation. Note: the video will only start playing when the screen is unlocked - if the phone is in your pocket, you will only hear sound.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Applications

If you don’t like the standard MIUI functionality (for example, you want to assign video to all calls, not just for individual contacts), third-party apps will come to the rescue.

• 🎬 Video Ringtone Maker – allows you to crop videos, add effects and assign to any event (call, SMS, alarm-clock).
• 🔊 Zedge – a library of ready-made video ringtones with the ability to upload their files.
• 📱 Video Caller ID — Shows video not only when calling, but also displays a photo of the contact in full screen mode.

Let’s take a look at the video Ringtone Maker:

1. Install the app from Google Play and open it.
2. Select Create Video Ringtone and upload the file you want.
3. Cut the video to 30 seconds (if necessary) and add an audio track.
4. Save the result to the Ringtones folder.
5. In the phone settings (Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Call melody), select the video you created.

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If the video slows down when playing, try reducing its resolution to 480p or reducing the bitrate to 1 Mbps in the converter settings.

The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can assign different videos to different contacts, use animations or even live wallpaper, but note that some applications may require additional permissions (for example, access to contacts or storage), which affects privacy.

Method 3: Manually configure via file manager (for advanced)

This is a method that works for those who don't want to install third-party applications, but are willing to dig a little bit into the system folders. It works on all versions of MIUI, including Redmi 9 with custom firmware.

• 📁 File Manager with access to root folders (e.g. Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer) FX File Explorer).
• 🎥 Prepared video format.mp4 (see requirements above).

Instructions:

1. Copy the video file to /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/. If the folder is not available, create it.
2. Rename the file so that the name does not have spaces and special characters (for example, my_ringtone.mp4).
3. Open Settings → Sounds and vibration → Call melody.
4. In the local tune list, find your video and select it.

If the video doesn’t appear in the list, try restarting your phone or clearing the Settings app cache (Settings → Apps → App Management → Settings → Clear the cache).

This is the most reliable method, but it requires care, for example, if you accidentally delete system files from the Ringtones folder, the standard tunes may disappear, so it is recommended to make a backup copy beforehand.

Table of comparison of ways to install video on a call

As you can see from the table, the most versatile way is to use third-party apps, but it requires more action. If you need to quickly assign a video to a single contact, you'll have to do with standard settings. You'll do with manual settings for full control, but it's riskier.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you have the video set up correctly, you can still experience a crash, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 Video is not played, only sound: Check if animation is enabled in settings: Settings → Display. → Animation of system applications. If the option is disabled, no video will be shown.
• 🖼️ Video crops or slows: Most likely too high resolution or bitrate.Convert video to 720p bitrate 1–2 Mbit/s.
• 📵 Video doesn't work for some contacts: Make sure the contact is saved in the Redmi 9 phone book, not in a Google account.Synced contacts sometimes ignore local settings.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Video gone: Updates often reset user ringtones. check if the file is left in the Ringtones folder and assign it to reassign it.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (For example, 13.0.4) video on the call may conflict with the Always-on Display function. If the screen does not wake up when the video is called after setting up, turn off Always-on in the screen settings.

If none of these things worked, try resetting the sound to the standard: Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting the sound settings. This will bring all ringtones back to factory, but often solves playback problems.

Additional life hacks for video calls

To make the video look even cooler, use these tips:

• 🎨 Create personalized videos: Use apps like CapCut or InShot to add a contact name, animation, or background music to your video, for example, you can make a clip of your mom's photos to your favorite song.
• 🔋 Save battery power: Videos on a call consume more energy than a standard ringtone. To save charge, assign videos only for priority contacts, and for the rest use regular tunes.
• 📱 Test on different firmware: If you like experiments with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), note that not all of them support video on a call.

Another interesting trick is using live wallpaper as a video to make a call, so download the Live Wallpaper Maker app, create an animation, save it as a video, and then assign it to a call using one of the ways I described above.

A personal greeting from a loved one

Clip of your favorite song

Animation or meme

Beautiful landscapes/nature

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

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On Redmi 9, video on a call works more stable if the file weighs no more than 10 MB. Optimize the video before installation to avoid lags.