How to change the ringtone on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Xiaomi smartphones based on the proprietary shell MIUI offer flexible settings of sound, but it is not always obvious where exactly the desired options are hidden. If standard tunes are tired, and you want to install your favorite song or a unique signal for important contacts - this guide will help you understand all the nuances. Unlike many Android devices, where the path to the sound settings is standard, in MIUI it can differ depending on the version of the firmware and phone model.

We will look at not only the basic way to change the ringtone through system settings, but also alternative methods, from installing third-party applications to manually adding tunes through the file manager. Particular attention will be paid to the problems that users face after updates - for example, when user sounds are lost or settings for individual contacts are reset. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14, including the latest security patches of 2026.

Standard way: changing the melody through phone settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which will be suitable for most models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Pro. The main advantage is that you do not need to install additional programs or have root rights.

To change the ringtone:

  1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
  2. Go to Sound and Vibration (some versions of MIUI may call it Sound).
  3. Slip on the item Melody of the call (or the sound of the call).
  4. In the list that opens, select one of the standard tunes or click Add (+) to download yours.

If you want to set your music as a ringtone, the system will suggest selecting a file from the device's memory. Supports.mp3,.m4a,.wav and.ogg formats. The optimal duration of the track is up to 30 seconds, otherwise the call may be cut off.

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Before selecting a custom tune, make sure the file is in the Ringtones (or Notifications for notifications) folder on the internal storage, which will speed up the search by the system.

How to Set a Personal Melody for a Specific Contact

The unique ringtones feature for individual subscribers is available in the standard Contacts app, which is convenient if you want to know who is calling right away โ€“ for example, assign a special tune to loved ones or colleagues.

Instructions for setting:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Set the ringtone (or Change the melody).
  • ๐ŸŽต In the list of available sounds tap on Add to download your file.
  • ๐Ÿ’พ Save the changes โ€“ now when calling from this subscriber will play the selected melody.

Important: if the contact is saved SIM-The card, rather than the phone's memory, may not be available for the individual ringtone function, in which case, transfer the contact to your Google account or local device memory.

๐Ÿ“Š What tune do you use for important contacts?
Standard MIUI.
Your music.
The sounds of nature
No sound (vibration only)

Problems and Errors When Changing Ringtones in MIUI

Despite the apparent simplicity, Xiaomi users often have difficulty changing tunes, and consider the most common problems and ways to solve them.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
There is no way to choose a custom tune.The file is in an unsupported folder or has an incorrect format.Transfer the file to /Internal Storage/Ringtones/ and check the extension (.mp3)
After the MIUI update, all ringtones were dropped.Resetting sound settings with major updateCustomize the tunes again or restore the backup through Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Backup
The melody is delayed or interrupted.Too large file size or poor coding qualityUse the audio editor to trim the track up to 30 seconds and convert to 128-192 kbps

An important nuance for owners of Xiaomi with dual-sim phones: settings ringtones for each SIM-The cards are set separately in the Settings section โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ The ringing melody, unless you assign a tune to the second one. SIM, It will be used by default sound.

Why is MIUI not the default Ringtones folder?
In newer versions of MIUI (starting with 13), the system folders for ringtones are hidden, so that they appear, connect the phone to your PC or use a file manager with hidden directories permissions (for example, Solid Explorer).

How to download and install ringtones from the Internet

If you don't like standard MIUI tunes and don't have your own music on hand, you can use specialized services. We recommend trusted sources to avoid viruses and low-quality files.

Top.-3 ringtone:

  • ๐ŸŽผ Zedge โ€“ the largest database of melodies and notification sounds with convenient search by genre.
  • ๐Ÿ”” Mob.org is a Russian-language resource with ringtones for Android, including exclusive sounds.
  • ๐ŸŽต Audiko โ€“ a service for creating ringtones from songs (you can cut the desired fragment online).

After downloading the file:

  1. Move it to the Ringtones folder on your phone.
  2. Open Settings โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ Call melody.
  3. A new ringtone will appear in the list - select it and save the settings.

File in MP3 or M4A| format

Duration not exceeding 30 seconds |

Volume normalized (not quieter -16 dB)|

The file is in the Ringtones folder.-->

Using third-party applications to manage sound

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can install specialized utilities that offer advanced features like ringtone playlists, audio profile schedules, and even creating tunes from voice recordings.

The best applications for working with sounds on Xiaomi:

  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Ringtone Maker โ€“ allows you to crop tracks and convert them into a suitable format.
  • ๐Ÿ”” Zedge (app) โ€“ synchronizes with the site of the same name, there is a ringtone editor.
  • ๐ŸŽต MP3 Cutter and Ringtone Maker is a simple tool for creating tunes from a music library.

Warning: Some apps ask permissions to access contacts and calls. Before installing, check for reviews on Google Play and permissions in the application manifest. For example, Ringtone Maker does not require access to SMS, unlike questionable utilities.

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Third-party applications may conflict with MIUI system settings. If the ringtone doesn't change after installation, clear the Settings app cache through Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.

Resetting sound settings to factory parameters

If something goes wrong after experimenting with sounds, like missing user tunes or losing vibration settings, you can get it back to its original state. It doesn't affect personal data, but it will reset all the individual ringtones and sound profiles.

How to reset your settings:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Resetting settings.
  2. Select Resetting Sound Settings (or Resetting All Settings if the first item is not available).
  3. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot and the sound parameters will return to the factory.

โš ๏ธ Note: on some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5) Resetting the sound settings also resets the Dolby Atmos and equalizer settings, and after the procedure, you have to reset them.

If the reset didn't work, check if Do Not Disturb mode or Sound Profiles are activated in the settings, sometimes overriding the standard ringtone.

Additional tips for working with sounds in MIUI

To make the use of ringtones on Xiaomi as convenient as possible, use these life hacks:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Automatic change of tunes: in the Zedge application you can configure the rotation of ringtones on a schedule (for example, an alarm clock for weekdays and weekends).
  • ๐ŸŽง Sound testing: before saving a new melody, listen to it through headphones - it is easier to assess the quality.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Cloud Sync: If you use Mi Account, enable backup of audio settings in Settings โ†’ Xiaomi account โ†’ Cloud. โ†’ Backup.

For Xiaomi owners with stereo speakers (such as Xiaomi 13T Pro or Redmi K60), it is important to consider that custom ringtones may sound different than standard ones. This is due to optimizing system sounds for the device's acoustics. To avoid distortion, use files with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz.

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If you need to quickly turn off the sound of the call without changing the melody, hold the volume button until the Vibration or No Sound icon appears.

FAQ: Frequent questions about ringtones on Xiaomi

Can I set a ringtone longer than 30 seconds?
Technically, yes, but MIUI will cut it to 30 seconds when playing, and if you want a long tune, break it apart and set it as multiple ringtones for a single contact (via third-party apps like Ringtone Scheduler).
Why did all my ringtones disappear after the MIUI update?
This is a known problem in major updates (e.g. MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), which resets the paths to user files. Solution: transfer the tunes back to the Ringtones folder and assign them again. If the folder is gone, create it manually.
How do you make the ringing melody gradually grow?
MIUI doesn't have a built-in smooth ringtone volume enhancement, but you can use the Volume Ramp Ringtone app, which emulates this effect, and note that it consumes an extra battery because of the background work.
Can you assign different tunes for the first and second? SIM-map?
Yes, this feature is available in the Settings section. โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ The ringing melody. SIM-You can use a card at the top of the screen and assign a unique ringtone to it. SIM active, when the incoming call will play the melody of the card to which the call is received.
Why does my custom tune sound quieter than standard?
This is due to the normalization of volume in MIUI. System ringtones are optimized for maximum loudness of speakers. To amplify your track, process it in an audio editor (for example, Audacity), increasing the volume to -3 dB and applying compression.