How to change the sound of notifications in WhatsApp on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways

Notifications on WhatsApp are accompanied by a standard sound signal, which over time can become boring or simply do not fit your style. On Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines), the process of changing the melody has its nuances due to the features of the MIUI shell. Unlike “pure” Android, additional steps may be required here – especially if you use proprietary applications like Security or Cleaner, which sometimes block notifications.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change the sound of notifications in WhatsApp on Xiaomi devices: from basic settings inside the messenger to manually adding custom tunes through the file system. You will also learn why new sounds are sometimes not used immediately and how to correct common errors, such as when notifications arrive without sound. MIUI 14 and newer – their interface is markedly different from previous versions.

If you've tried to change the tune before, but it didn't work, check out: maybe the problem isn't with WhatsApp settings, but with the global settings of Android or Xiaomi's power optimization. We'll go through each scenario in detail.

Why the standard methods may not work on Xiaomi

MIUI is known for aggressively managing background processes and notifications, and even if you set up WhatsApp sound correctly, it may not play because of:

• 🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI Default limits application activity in the background, including sound playback.
• 🛡️ Notification Blocking: Security app can automatically turn off sounds for “unimportant” notifications.
• 🔊 Conflict of sound profiles: in MIUI There are separate settings for notification sounds, alarms and media – they can overlap WhatsApp settings.
• 📱 Versions MIUI: in older versions (up to) MIUI 12) the path to the sound settings was different from the actual one.

For example, on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 13, users often find that after changing the tune in WhatsApp, the sound is reset to the standard after a few days, which is due to the automatic resetting of the application settings by the system, and to avoid this problem, you will have to turn off optimization for the messenger manually.

Another nuance is permissions for notifications: In Android 13 and later (and Xiaomi already releases smartphones with this version out of the box), applications require explicit permission to output notifications with sound, without it, the melody will simply not play, even if it is selected in the settings.

Method 1: Change the sound directly in WhatsApp settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in messenger options, which is suitable for most Xiaomi models, but only works with standard system sounds.

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Notifications.
2. Select the notification type (such as Messages or Group Chats).
3. Click on the Notification Sound.
4. In the list of available tunes, select your favorite. Standard sounds. MIUI usually begin with a prefix Mi_ (for example, Mi_Notification).
5. Save the changes with the OK button.

If you don't have the right tune, you can add your own, which we'll explain in the next section, and note that some models (like the POCO X5 Pro) may need to restart the app after selecting the sound to make the changes take effect.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later in the list of sounds may not have system tunes if they were removed through the Cleaner app. To return them, go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Notification sounds and click Reset to standard.

Method 2: Adding custom notification sounds

If you don't like standard tunes, you can upload your own sounds.

• 🎵 Audio file format.mp3,.ogg or.wav (preferably no longer than 5 seconds).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., embedded Files or Solid Explorer).
• 🔧 Access to system folders (on some firmware) MIUI Permission to modify system files is required).

Instructions for adding custom sound:

1. Download or create an audio file (you can use services like Zedge or Notification Sounds).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC or use the file manager to move the file to /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/ If there is no Ringtones folder, create it manually.
3. Restart the device (it is imperative that the system updates the list of available sounds).
4. Go to WhatsApp notification settings (as in Method 1) and select your file from the list.

On Xiaomi Mi 11 and other flagships with MIUI 12.5+, an additional step may be required: after adding the file, you need to clear the cache of the Media Storage application (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Media Storage → Storage → Clear the cache).

Method 3: Configure through MIUI system parameters

Sometimes the sound of WhatsApp notifications depends on the global settings of MIUI, for example, if the system is enabled with Do Not Disturb or Concentration is activated, the notifications may come without sound.

1. Do Not Disturb Mode: Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb and make sure the mode is turned off or set to skip notifications from WhatsApp.
2. Battery Optimization: Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management, find WhatsApp and select Without Limits.
3. Notification permissions: On Android 13+, go to Settings → Apps → App management → WhatsApp → Notifications and turn on the Sound option.
4. Sound Profile: MIUI has separate profiles for notification, call and media sounds. Make sure that Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Profile is in Normal or Outdoor mode (Silent Notifications may not sound).

On the Xiaomi POCO F4 and other models with MIUI for POCO, there is an optional Game Turbo option that can block notifications during games. If you notice that the sounds have disappeared after the game is launched, check the Game Turbo settings in the notification bar.

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If the sound never came after all the manipulations, try temporarily disabling the Security app (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Security → Disable).

Features for different versions of MIUI

The interface and location of the MIUI audio settings changed with each major version, and the key differences for the popular shell versions are as follows:

On the Xiaomi Mi A3 (which ran on a pure Android One) and other devices without MIUI, the notifications’ sound change process is identical to standard Android. However, after the transition to MIUI 12.5 (which happened to many models through updates), the logic has changed, and now you need to take into account the nuances of the shell.

Important for MIUI 14: If you use Super Wallpapers, it can automatically change the audio theme, including notifications. To turn it off, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Super Wallpaper → Sound Settings and deactivate Dynamic Sounds.

Problem Solving: The sound doesn’t change or disappears

If, after all the manipulations, the sound of WhatsApp notifications still doesn’t work, check the following points:

• 🔕 Volume Check: Make sure the notification volume slider is not at zero (adjusted by volume buttons in the main screen).
• 🔄 Resetting: On WhatsApp go to Settings → Notifications → Reset the settings.
• 📱 Application conflict: Some ad-blocking apps (like AdGuard) can filter notifications. Try temporarily disabling them.
• 🔧 ADB-For experienced users, you can manually give WhatsApp permission to play audio through ADB: adb shell pm grant com.whatsapp android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, users are confronted with a bug when, after upgrading to MIUI 14, notification sounds are reset to standard every few days.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → WhatsApp.
2. Click More → Permissions → Additional → Change system settings and turn on the switch.
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: If you use WhatsApp Business, the audio settings may be different from the standard version of the messenger. Specifically, WhatsApp Business does not have a separate option for the sounds of notifications about new orders - they are tied to the general message settings.

Additional features: vibration and light notifications

In addition to sound, WhatsApp on Xiaomi can be configured:

• 📳 Vibration: In the messenger notification settings, select Vibration → Create your own vibration. MIUI 13+ Predefined patterns are available (e.g., Long-short).
• 💡 Light Notifications: Include in Settings → Notifications and status bar → Notification indicator. AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) can be adjusted to the color of flashing.
• 🔔 Exceptions for important chats: Open chat on WhatsApp, click on the name of the interlocutor → Castomy notifications → Set a unique sound and vibration.

Nana POCO F5 and other devices with IR-You can even set up the flashing of an infrared LED with a blaster when you send new messages. POCO IR Remote and in its settings, enable Notifications via IR port.

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If you want notifications from a particular person to always sound louder than others, use the Important Notifications feature in MIUI: Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Important Notifications → Add WhatsApp to the list and set priority.

FAQ: Frequent questions about WhatsApp notification sounds on Xiaomi