How to change the melody to SMS in Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Receiving SMS messages on Xiaomi Redmi is accompanied by a standard audio signal, which over time can get bored or simply do not match your preferences. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways to personalize notifications, from built-in MIUI tools to the use of third-party applications. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the melody for SMS, including nuances for different versions of the shell and smartphone models.

It’s important to understand that the process may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14) and the specific Redmi model (such as the Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9 or Redmi K50).We’ll take these features into account and provide universal solutions that work on most devices, and you’ll learn how to install custom tunes from MP3 or AAC files if the standard options don’t suit you.

Method 1: Change the melody through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for all Redmi models on MIUI 12/13/14 and does not require any additional applications.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
Go to the Sound and Vibration section (some versions may call it Sound).
Select the default notification or notification sound.
In the list of applications, find Messages (SMS icon) and tap it.
Click on Sound and select one of the suggested tunes in the Standards section.

If you don't have the right tune on the list, you can add your own.

📁 Place the audio file (format.mp3,.m4a or.ogg) to the Ringtones or Notifications folder on the device’s internal memory.
🔄 Return to the audio selection menu and update the list – your file should appear in the Locals section.

Check the file format (MP3/AAC)

Make sure the duration does not exceed 30 seconds.

Rename the file in Latin without spaces

Place the file in the Notifications folder-->

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with MIUI 14 The path to settings may be different. If the Message item is not in the application list, try selecting the default Notification Sound - this will change the tune for all notifications, including SMS.

Method 2: Use of the Messages application

In some versions of MIUI, the SMS audio setting is directly in the Message app itself, which works on the Redmi Note 11, Redmi 10 and other redesigned models.

Open the Messages app (the envelope icon).
Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
Go to the Notifications section.
Click on the Notification Sound and select the tune from the list.

If you don’t have one in your app, you can adjust the audio through system-wide settings (see Method 1). Also note that MIUI 14 may have a different Messages application interface, look for the Notification Settings section in the menu.

MIUI 12

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

I don't know.-->

MIUI version	The path to SMS settings	Features
MIUI 12	Settings → Sounds → Notifications → Messages	Support for custom tunes through the Notifications folder
MIUI 13	Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound of notifications → Messages	Systemic melodies with vibration effects added
MIUI 14	Messages → Settings → Notifications → Sound	Simplified interface, but fewer options for customization

Method 3: Installation of third-party applications for sounds

If you don't like standard tunes, you can use third-party apps from Google Play.

🎵 Zedge – a database of ringtones and notifications with the ability to pre-listen.
🔔 Ringtone Maker – allows you to cut songs and create unique melodies.
📱 Notification Sounds – a special application for notification sounds.

How to set a custom tune through Zedge:

Download and install Zedge from Google Play.
Open the app and select Notification Sounds.
Find your favorite tune and click Set.
In the list of applications, select Messages.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Ringtone Maker) require permission to access files and notifications. MIUI There may be conflicts with the sound system settings.

💡

If the sound of the SMS has not changed after installing the third-party tune, restart the smartphone. Sometimes MIUI resets the notification settings after the system update.

Method 4: Using a file manager for manual installation

For power users, there's a method of manually installing tunes through a file manager, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires care.

The melody file is.mp3,.m4a or.ogg (maximum 30 seconds).
File Manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)

Instructions:

Connect your smartphone to your PC or download the melody directly to the device.
Open the file manager and go to the Internal Storage folder.
Create a Notifications folder (if not), or use existing Ringtones.
Put your audio file in this folder.
Go to the sound settings (see Method 1) and select your file in the Locals section.

If the Notifications folder doesn’t appear in the sound list, try:

🔄 Reset the device.
📂 Move the file to the folder MIUI/ringtone (hidden folder, you may need to enable the display of hidden files).

Why aren’t all files displayed in the audio settings?

System system MIUI Scan only files with supported extensions (.mp3,.m4a,.ogg) and duration up to 30 Also, the file name should not contain special characters (for example, #, %) or spaces. If the file does not appear, rename it in Latin (for example, sms_tone.mp3).

Method 5: Configure with ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., custom firmware), you can change the sound of SMS via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
🎵 Audio file in.ogg format (recommended format for system sounds).

Instructions:

Connect Redmi to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

(Make sure the device is determined.)

Copy your file into the system folder:

adb push your file.ogg /sdcard/


adb shell




su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/your file.ogg /system/media/audio/notifications/




chmod 644 /system/media/audio/notifications/your file.ogg




mount -o ro,remount /system




exit

Reboot your smartphone. Now your sound should appear in the system settings.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This method is recommended only for advanced users. On devices with a blocked bootloader, su commands will not work without root rights.

💡

Changing system files via ADB can disrupt the MIUI shell. Before experimenting, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

Problem Solving: Why does the SMS melody not change?

Sometimes even after you've done all the steps, the sound of the text remains the same, and we'll look at the reasons and ways to fix them.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The melody doesn't change.	Application cache Messages not updated	Go to Settings → Applications → Messages → Storage → Clear the cache
The file does not appear in the list	Inappropriate format or duration	Convert the file to.mp3 (max. 30 seconds) via Audacity or online converter
The sound is reset after rebooting	Conflict with MIUI optimization	Disable Auto-Optimization for the Messages in Settings application → Battery → Battery Optimization
No Messages in the Sound Settings	MIUI update changes location	Use Method 2 (Settings within the Messages app)

If the problem persists, try:

🔄 Reboot the device – sometimes it resets temporary errors.
📲 Update the Messages app via Google Play (if available).
🛠️ Reset the sound settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the sound settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS sound tuning

Can I set different tunes for different contacts?

The standard Messages app from Xiaomi does not have this feature, but you can use third-party messengers (like Google Messages) that support individual notifications for contacts, and the alternative is apps like SMS Ringtones from Google Play.

Why did all the notification sounds drop after the MIUI update?

This is standard MIUI behavior on major updates (e.g., version 13 to version 14) and resets user audio settings to standard. To avoid this, back up your Notifications folder with your tunes before upgrading.

How to get back the standard SMS sound if I accidentally changed it?

Go to the sound settings (Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → Notifications → Messages) and select Default or MIUI in the tone list. If there is no such item, reset the sound settings through Settings → System → Reset settings.

Can I use music from Spotify or YouTube as a text message?

Directly, no, because these services use secure audio streams. However, you can: Download a track through third-party services (e.g. YTMP3) in.mp3 format. Cut it to 30 seconds using Audacity or Ringtone Maker. Place the file in the Notifications folder and select it in the settings. Note that using protected content may violate the terms of service.

Why is Redmi Note 12 not capable of changing the sound of SMS?

On some new models (such as the Redmi Note 12 or Redmi K60), Xiaomi has simplified the MIUI 14 interface by removing the individual settings for SMS. In this case: Use the default notification settings (Settings → Sound → Default notifications Sound). Install a third-party SMS application (such as Google Messages) where there are flexible audio settings.