How to change the melody of a call on Xiaomi: a complete guide

Changing a standard, often annoying or too quiet ringtone is one of the first tasks that a new smartphone owner solves. In Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, this process may not seem obvious due to the features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. Standard settings often hide the necessary options, and the file protection system sometimes blocks the selection of an arbitrary track from memory.

But personalizing audio is not just a matter of aesthetics, it's a functional necessity. When you hear a unique sound, you'll know who's calling you without even taking your phone out of your pocket. In this article, we'll go into detail about how you can set up tunes, from replacing the system's sound to creating customized profiles for each subscriber in your phone book.

We will look at standard system tools, the use of specialized tagging applications, and how to circumvent restrictions through the computer, and will also touch on the nuances of working with audio file formats and volume settings, which are often ignored by users but are critical for the correct operation of notifications.

Standard method of replacement through system settings

The most obvious way to change the ringtone is through the settings menu, but the MIUI interface has its own specifics. You don't have to look for a separate "Sounds" section on the main settings screen, because the logic of the settings grouping is different here. First of all, open the Settings app and find the Sound and Vibration section.

In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of available system tunes, broken down into categories. The default "All" tab is active, where you have tracks preset by the manufacturer. To select one of them, just click on the name of the song. The system automatically plays the preview, and you can evaluate how well the sound is heard in the dynamics.

If the standard set doesn't work for you, look at the top of the screen, often with a Download Online button or a plus icon that allows access to the MIUI cloud storage, but this method requires an internet connection and, in some regions, authorization to your Mi Account.

• 🎵 Open the settings and go to the section "Sound and vibration».
• 📞 Click on the "Phone Call" option to select a shared ringtone.
• 🔊 Use volume sliders to check the sound level before saving.
• ✅ Confirm your choice by touching the tick or going back.

It's important to note that newer versions of HyperOS may have slightly different interfaces, but the logic remains the same. If you don't see the right option, try searching by settings by typing in "melody" or "rington" -- the fastest way to get to the right submenu without manually wandering through items.

How to play music from MP3 files

Installing your own track from your phone’s memory is a challenge that most users who want to unify a device face. Unlike standard Android smartphones, Xiaomi often requires additional steps because of the strict file system security policy.

To start with, make sure the audiophile is in the correct format.The system works best with MP3, M4A or WAV formats. If you have a file in FLAC or OGG format, it can also be used, but compatibility is not guaranteed 100%.It is recommended to place the file in the root folder or in a specially created Ringtones directory, although modern versions of the system are able to scan the entire memory.

⚠️ Note: If the system makes an error when selecting a file from memory or simply does not allow you to click OK, this means that the file does not have the correct ones. ID3-Tags or is in a secure folder, in which case you need to use a third-party tag editor or move the file to the system folder through the computer.

The algorithm for actions through settings is as follows: in the menu Sound and vibration, select Phone Call. In the list that opens, scroll down to the button with the plus symbol «+» Or you can say, "Select a melody from files." You can see a file manager where you want to find your track.

Once you select a file, it automatically adds to the list of available ringtones and becomes active. If the sound is too quiet, go back to the main sound menu and adjust the Call Volume slider. Note that the media volume and the call volume are different parameters, and you need to change the latter.

Using the Themes app to download ringtones

The official MIUI Content Store offers a huge selection of not only visuals but also audio packages.It’s a convenient way to find quality, professionally processed sounds that are optimized for Xiaomi’s smartphone speakers.This storage is accessed through the standard Theme app, which is preinstalled on each device.

Inside the app, go to the Sounds tab or search. You can search by genre, popularity or specific track names. Many sounds are available for free, but some of the content requires payment in local currency or subscriptions. The advantage of this method is that the files are already in the correct format and will not cause system errors during installation.

Once you upload your favorite sound, it's automatically applied or saved to your profile, and you can create whole sets where the same visual style is accompanied by a unique sound design, which is especially true for users who like to change the look of their gadget often.

• 🎨 Launch the “Themes” app on your desktop.
• 🔍 Go to the “Sounds” section or enter a query in search.
• ⬇️ Press the download button next to your favorite track.
• ⚙️ Apply sound through the theme control menu or in sound settings.

Note that the audio catalog may vary depending on the region specified in the phone settings. If you can’t find a popular track, try temporarily changing the region in your Mi Account settings to India or Russia, where the content library is often the most extensive.

Individual Melodies for Specific Contacts

One of the most useful features is the ability to assign a unique ringtone to a specific person, which allows you to know who is calling without taking the phone out of your bag or pocket, and you can do this in two main ways: through the Contacts app or through the Phone.

The first option is to open the Contacts app, find the right subscriber, and click on their name. From the menu that opens, select Default or Melody. The system will suggest you select a track from the system or from the device's memory. After selecting the contact name, a note icon will appear next to the contact name, confirming the successful configuration.

The second option might be more convenient if you want to quickly change your settings during or immediately after a conversation. Open a call log, click on the information icon (i) next to the subscriber number. The contact details menu will also have a melody selection item. The logic of the action completely repeats the first way.

Individual settings apply strictly to the phone number recorded in the device’s memory.

Adjusting the sounds for SIM-maps and messengers

Owners of two-symbol smartphones often face the need to distinguish calls from different numbers. At Xiaomi, this is solved at the system level. SIM-You can assign one card a strict office horn, and the other card a fun tune for personal calls.

For instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, the settings are inside the apps themselves. The global setting of the sound of a call in Android does not affect VoIP calls. You need to go to the settings of a particular instant messenger, find the Notifications section and then select Notification Sound or Call Sound.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI Aggressive power saving system can block the sound of an incoming call from the messenger if the application was downloaded from memory.

For WhatsApp, the path usually looks like this: Settings → Notifications → Notification Sound. For Telegram: Settings → Notifications and Sounds → Sound. Note that incoming voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp often use separate audio settings other than text messages.

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To make the sound of a WhatsApp call heard even in the “Do Not Disturb” mode, add contacts of loved ones to the favorites list in WhatsApp itself or configure exceptions in the “Do Not Disturb” system mode through your smartphone settings.

Problem Solving: Why the sound doesn't change or sound is not heard

Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users often face problems, the most common of which is the phone is silent, although the melody is set. First of all, check whether the silent mode or the Do Not Disturb mode is on. Also make sure that the call volume slider (not media!) is twisted to a sufficient level.

The second common problem is that the file is not selected. As mentioned earlier, it is often associated with tags. Files downloaded from questionable sources can be corrupted or have non-standard encoding. Try converting the track to a standard 128 kbps MP3 using online converters or applications on PC.

The third problem is resetting after rebooting, which can happen if the melody file has been deleted or moved. Make sure the file is in the phone's permanent memory, not on the removable one. SD-a card that may have disabled, or in the browser cache folder that is periodically cleared.

• 🔇 Check active sound profiles and "Do Not Disturb" modes».
• 📁 Make sure that the melody file was not accidentally deleted by the file manager.
• 🔄 Restart the device after installing a new ringtone to apply the changes.
• 🎚️ Divide the volume settings for the call, alarm and media in the sound menu.

If nothing works, try clearing the Topic or Sound cache through the application management menu. Sometimes a system bug prevents new settings from being used correctly, and a cache reset solves the problem.

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If standard methods don’t work, use a third-party application like Zedge or Super Ringtones, which have their own permissions to manage system sounds and bypass file system limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)