Changing the standard ringtone is the first step to personalizing a smartphone, allowing you to instantly recognize the incoming call amid the general noise. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often encounter features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, where the algorithms for finding audio files can differ from pure Android. If you just purchased a gadget or just decided to update the soundtrack, you will need clear instructions.
The process of installing the track depends on which sound source you want to change: a general incoming call, a message from a specific or a system alarm. In some cases, standard methods do not work due to aggressive system optimization or the lack of file system access rights in new versions of Android.
It is important to understand that file location is critical. Simply copying a song to the Downloads folder is often not enough, as the system may not index this directory as a media file repository for calls. Below we will describe in detail the correct folder structure and alternative ways to configure through system applications.
Preparation of audio file and correct folder structure
Before you start settings in the menu, you need to properly prepare the audio file. Android system, which runs on Xiaomi smartphones, has strict requirements for formats and storage paths. The most versatile and supported format is MP3, however, modern shells also work with AAC and OGG. If your track has an extension.m4a or.flac, it is better to pre-convert it to avoid playback errors.
A key thing that many users forget is to create a special directory for ringtones. If you just drop a file into the root of internal memory or into the Download folder, it may not appear in the list of available ringtones. For guaranteed results, create a folder called Ringtones (for calls), Notifications (for SMS), or Alarms (for alarm clocks) at the root of the internal drive.
⚠️ Note: Do not use Cyrillic in folder and file names if you want to avoid display problems. Names like "My Calls" may not be recognized by the system player.
Once you copy a file to the created Ringtones folder, it is recommended that you reboot the device, which will force the Android media service to re-scan the storage and add a new track to the database of available sounds. Without rebooting, the file can appear in the list only a few hours or after manually cleaning the media storage cache.
How to Create a Ringtones Folder Through File Manager
How to set the ringtone through system settings
The most reliable and standard way to change the ringtone is to use a built-in settings menu, which works on all current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS. It ensures that the selected track will apply to all incoming calls, unless there are exceptions for specific numbers.
To start, open the main settings menu of your Redmi or Xiaomi. Find a section that may be called Sound and Vibration or just Sound. Depending on the firmware region (Global, Chinese, EEA), the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item "Call Melody" or "Rington".
- 📱 Click on the "Call Melody" item in the sound menu.
- 🎵 In the list that opens, select the All Melodies or Local tab to see your files.
- 🔊 Listen to the available tracks and click on the right one to install it.
- ✅ Confirm the selection with the “Apply” button or tick in the corner of the screen.
If you don't see your file in the list, make sure it's in the Ringtones folder, not in Music. Sometimes the system only opens system sounds by default, in which case use the "+" or "Add" button, which is often at the top of the list, to manually specify the path to the file through the file manager.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Once you have set up the melody, be sure to check the sound by making a test call from another phone, which will help make sure the file is not cropped and played correctly. If the sound is quieter than usual, check the equalizer or Dolby Atmos settings in the same audio menu.
Customization of individual melodies for contacts
One of the most useful features of Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to assign unique ringtones to specific people from the phone book, which allows you to know without looking at the screen who is calling you: your boss, relative or courier, and you can do this in two main ways: through the Contacts app or through the Phone.
The first option is through the standard Contacts app. Find the number you want on the list, open the subscriber card. At the top of the screen or in the menu (three dots) there should be an option "Set a ringtone." By clicking on it, you will be taken to the standard audio selection menu, where you can select both the system track and the file you downloaded from the Ringtones folder.
The second option is if you have a third-party dialer installed or you use Google Phone. Open call history or contact card, click on the edit icon (pencil). Scroll down to the Rington field. Here you can also select a unique sound.
⚠️ Warning: If you change your phone or reset your settings, custom ringtones may fly off if contacts are not synced to Google or Mi Cloud cloud.
For contact groups (family, work) in a standard MIUI call, you can also set up a general sound, and you can create a group in the Contacts app, add people to it, and select Melody in the group settings, which is especially convenient for filtering calls during work hours or at night.
Changes in the sound of notifications, SMS and alarm clock
In addition to incoming calls, the smartphone makes sounds when receiving messages and triggering an alarm. These settings are often questionable because they are scattered across different menus. SMS and notifications from system applications (such as Messages or Explorer) are configured in the general Sound and Vibration menu.
Find Notifications or Notification Sound, and it's the same thing: you pick the source (all the tunes) and you specify the file you want. But for messengers like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Viber, the settings are inside the apps themselves. You go to Messenger Settings → Notifications → Sound, and you can select your file if it's in the right folder.
The situation is different with alarm clocks, so you can set your music to wake up.
- ⏰ Open the Clock app and go to the Alarm Watch tab».
- 🎼 Click on an existing alarm clock or create a new one.
- 🎵 Select the item "Sound" or "Melody».
- 💾 In the list that opens, switch to the tab “Local” or click «+», to select a file from memory.
For alarm clocks, it is critical that the file is in the Alarms folder or selected through the built-in watch player, otherwise, after rebooting the phone, the alarm clock may become "mute." Also make sure that the alarm clock volume in the system is not twisted to zero.
Using Themes to Install Ringtones
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Themes app is a powerful customization tool that allows you to change not only wallpaper and icons, but also system sounds, including ringtones, locks and notifications, which is convenient because it does not require manual search and copy files — everything is done in a couple of clicks.
Open the Themes app. In the bottom panel, select the Tones tab. Here's a huge catalog of free and paid ringtones, from popular hits to classic tunes. You can listen to the track directly in the app and click Download and then Apply.
The advantage of the method is that the themes often contain whole packages of sounds that harmoniously fit together, but this method has a disadvantage: many quality ringtones in the theme store are paid or require a Mi Account account with a specific region (often helps to change the region to India or Singapore in the phone settings).
| Sound source | Path in settings | File requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming challenge | Settings → Sound → Melody of the call | Ringtones folder |
| SMS/Notifications | Settings → Sound → Notifications | Notifications folder |
| Alarm clock | Annex Clock → Alarm clock → Sound. | Alarms folder |
| Contact | Contacts → Card → Rington | Any available track |
If you downloaded the whole theme, it can automatically replace all system sounds. To avoid this, read the description carefully when installing the theme and select the option “Selective Installation”, leaving only the “Wallpaper” or “Icons” box if you do not plan to change the sounds.
Problem Solving: Why the Melody Doesn't Work
Even if all instructions are followed, Xiaomi users may find themselves in a situation where the installed melody is not played, interrupted or replaced by a standard one. Most often, the problem lies in access rights or file formats. In newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), application access to the file system is limited.
Check if the background limit for the audio app is worth it, although it's rare. A more likely reason is the file format. If you downloaded a track from Telegram or WhatsApp, it could be in.opus or.ogg format, which the system rington manager doesn't see. Convert the file to MP3.
⚠️ Warning: If the ringtone resets itself after the reboot, try clearing the Themes and Sound app cache in the app settings. Also check if Do Not Disturb or Silence is enabled».
Another common problem is that the file is in the cloud and not physically uploaded to the device. Make sure the audio file is stored in the phone's internal memory, not as a link to the cloud service. Physically having the file in the Ringtones folder is the only condition that guarantees the ringtone will work after the reboot.
💡
Use quality MP3 files with a bitrate of 128-320 kbps. Too low quality (less than 64 kbps) will sound hoarse on the smartphone speaker, and high-resolution files (FLAC) may not be supported by the system caller.
If nothing works, third-party apps from the Play Market, like Zedge or Ringtone Maker, can take over audio control, have their own permissions and often ignore MIUI system limitations, forcing the right track to be installed.