Where Xiaomi stores ringtones: system folders, custom ringtones and solving disappearance problems

Have you ever tried to find a folder with ringtones on your Xiaomi, but instead found that the system ringtones seem to dissolve in the depths of MIUI? Or after updating the firmware, your favorite tunes suddenly disappeared, and only standard sounds remained in the settings? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones - and it is associated not with a bug, but with the peculiarities of the architecture of the Xiaomi file system.

Unlike “pure” Android, where ringtones are usually located in /system/media/audio/ringtones, in MIUI, the path to system tunes can change depending on the firmware version. Moreover, user sounds often “hide” in non-obvious folders, and after resetting or updating MIUI, they can simply move to backup directories without notifying the user. In this guide, we will not only show you where to look for tunes on your Xiaomi, but also explain how to prevent their disappearance, add their own ringtones and even recover lost sounds.

1.Where are the system ringtones of a call on Xiaomi stored

System ringtones in MIUI are scattered across multiple folders, and their location depends on the firmware version.

• 📁 /system/media/audio/ringtones — Classic Android folder, but on newer versions MIUI (12+) It may be empty or contain only basic melodies.
• 📁 /miui/ringtones — Here you can find Xiaomi branded sounds (for example, Mi Mix or Redmi Note tunes).
• 📁 /product/media/audio/ringtones — is relevant for devices with a split system partition (for example, POCO F3 Xiaomi 11T).
• 📁 /vendor/overlay/miui/ringtones — A hidden folder with alternative sounds that may not appear in the settings.

To see these directories, you’ll need a root file manager (like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) or a command via ADB:

adb shell ls /system/media/audio/ringtones

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete or edit files in system folders without backup.This can cause the sound subsystem to crash, especially on devices with Dynamic Partitions (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro).

2.Where user call melodies are saved

If you have added your own ringtones through settings or downloaded them from the Internet, they must be in one of the following folders:

If you don’t see your tunes in the call settings, the files are in Ringtones, try the following:

Restart the device (sometimes the media scanner doesn’t update the database right away)

Check the file format – only.mp3,.m4a,.ogg,.wav are supported.

Remove the.nomedia file from the ringtones folder (if any)

Update your media base through Settings → Memory → Update media files

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💡 Useful tip: If you downloaded the ringtone through the browser, it could be saved in the /Download instead /Ringtones. Move the file manually — MIUI Does not scan the download folder for new tunes.

3.Why the tunes disappear after the MIUI update

One of the most common problems is that user ringtones are lost after a firmware update, and there are three main reasons for this:

1. Reverse folder: On some devices (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro), old ringtones are automatically moved to /MIUI/backup/ringtones.

⚠️ Note: If you use theme MIUI If you want to install ringtones, they can disappear after you reset them to the standard ones. /data/system/theme/ and are not duplicated in user folders.

To recover the lost tunes:

1. Check the /MIUI/backup/ringtones folder – if there are files, transfer them back to /Ringtones.
2. Use it. ADB For forced media scanning: adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/
3. Install a third-party ringtone management app (such as Zedge or Ringtone Maker) that will create a new entry in the media base.

💡

After updating MIUI, always check the /MIUI/backup/ringtones folder – there may be your old tunes that the system “hidden” during the update.

4.How to Add Your Call Melodies to Xiaomi

There are three official ways to add a custom ringtone to Xiaomi, and one is a “secret” one for advanced users.

Method 1: Through sound settings

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody.
2. Click Add Ringtones (or Locals if you have one).
3. Select a file from the device’s memory (it is automatically copied to /Ringtones).

Method 2: Through the File Manager

Simply copy the audio file (.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format) to /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones folder.

Method 3: Through the "Themes" app

In MIUI, you can install ringtones from a collection of themes:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the Sounds section.
3. Select your favorite tune and click Apply.

⚠️ Note: The sounds set through the themes may disappear after changing the theme or resetting. /Ringtones!

The Secret Way: Through ADB (for system tunes)

If you want to replace the standard MIUI ringtone with your own, you can use ADB (root rights required):

adb push your rington.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/your rington.mp3




adb shell reboot

5 How to make a ringtone from any song

If you want to use a snippet of your favorite song as a ringtone, you'll need to clip the audio file.

Method 1: Through the Music app (Mi Music)

1. Open the song in a standard Mi-Player.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Cut.
3. Specify the beginning and end of the fragment (maximum 30 seconds for ringtone).
4. Save the file to the Ringtones folder.

Method 2: Through Ringtone Maker

Install the Ringtone Maker app from Google Play:

• 🎵 Select a song from the device memory.
• 📏 Cut the fragment (recommended duration - 15-25 seconds).
• 💾 Save as the ringtone (the file will automatically enter the ringtone). /Ringtones).

💡 Use clear-beginning fragments (such as the chorus) to make the ringtone sound better. Avoid quiet introductions - the first 1-2 seconds should be well heard.

6. Solving the problems with the ringing melodies

If your ringtones don’t work or behave strangely (such as playing late or breaking off), check the following points:

If the problem persists, try resetting the sound settings to standard:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (not a full reset!).
3. After the reboot, reassign your tunes.

7. Alternative ways to control ringtones

If standard methods do not suit you, you can use third-party tools to flexibly tune tune tune tune tunes:

• 🎶 Zedge – the largest database of ringtones and notifications with the ability to pre-listen.
• 🔊 Ringtone Scheduler – allows you to assign different tunes to different times of the day.
• 📱 Tasker – for advanced users: you can create rules for changing ringtones depending on the location, profile or connected Wi-Fi network.
• 🔧 MiXplorer (with root) – gives access to system folders to replace standard sounds.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Zedge can request storage and microphone access. Check permissions on Google Play before installing - some "free" programs install additional tunes through ads.

If you use Tasker to automatically change ringtones, here is an example of a simple profile:

Profile: "Work"


Condition: Wi-Fi = Office WiFi OR Time = 9:00-18:00




Task:




1 Audio → Call melody → Select file: /Ringtones/work_tone.mp3




2.Audio → Loudness of the call → 70%

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi call melodies