Standard tunes on Xiaomi get boring quickly, and the ability to set your music to a call or notification in MIUI is not always obvious. Unlike iPhone or pure Android, Xiaomi firmware imposes restrictions: you can not just copy an MP3 to a folder and select it in the settings. But you can get around these restrictions — and we will show how to do this on models Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and other smartphones running MIUI 12/13/14.
The problem is that the system only offers built-in ringtones by default, and adding your files is hidden in non-obvious menus or requires additional actions. Besides, not all formats are supported: for example,.flac or.wav may not play. In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to set your tune, from simple (through standard settings) to advanced (using a file manager or ADB).
If you've tried to download MP3s on Xiaomi before and you've encountered a "File is not supported" error, don't be quick to blame the smartphone. Most often, the problem is the wrong file location or format. We've been testing instructions on the latest versions of MIUI, so all methods are relevant for 2026.
1. Method through standard MIUI settings (the simplest)
This method works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12 and later.It does not require root rights or third-party applications, but is only suitable for files in.mp3,.m4a or.ogg format with a bitrate of up to 320 kbit / s.
You'll need:
- 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with the latest version MIUI
- 🎵 Audio file lasting up to 30 seconds (for a call) or 5 seconds (for notifications)
- 📁 File Manager (e.g., standard Files or Mi File Explorer)
Step-by-step:
- Copy your audio file (for example, my_ringtone.mp3) phone-memory SD-map.
- Open the Files app and find your file.
- Click on the file and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds, then select More → Set as a ringtone.
- In the window that opens, select where to apply the melody: 🔔 Call - for incoming calls ⏰ Alarm clock for alarm clock signal 📱 Notifications for SMS and push notifications
⚠️ Note: If the "Set as ringtone" item does not appear, check the file format. MIUI It doesn't support.wav or.aac through this method.mp3 using an online converter (for example, Online-Convert).
Once installed, the melody will appear on the list of standard ringtones to find it:
- Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Call.
- Scroll down the list – your file will be in the Local Melodies section.
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager on your smartphone.
- Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ringtone/ If there is no MIUI or ringtone folder, create them manually.
- Copy your audio file into this folder. The file name must be in Latin (e.g., in the file name, custom_ringtone.mp3).
- Reboot the phone.
- After the reboot, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Call and select your file in the Local Melodies section.
For notifications, use the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/notification/For the alarm clock:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/alarm/⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Pro) folders MIUI/ringtone They may be reset after the update MIUI. To avoid losing tunes, back up your files or use the method with Zedge (described below).
What if the MIUI folder is not visible?
3.Use of the Zedge app (alternative for the lazy)
If you don't want to mess with files and folders, install Zedge, the largest database of ringtones and wallpapers, which automatically integrates with MIUI and allows you to set tunes in two clicks.
The advantages of Zedge:
- 🎶 More than 1 million free ringtones and notification sounds
- 🔄 Automatic library updates
- 📱 Support for all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models POCO
- 🎵 Ability to cut music directly in the app
How to set a tune through Zedge:
- Download Zedge from Google Play.
- Open the app and find your favorite ringtone (for example, through a search by genre or top tunes).
- Click on the melody and select Set as:
Confirm the installation – the melody will automatically appear in the MIUI settings.
If you want to use your music instead of downloading from Zedge:
- Upload your file to the app via My Sounds → Download.
- Cut the track (maximum 30 seconds for ringtone).
- Set it as a melody through the same menu.
Step-by-step:
- Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable and select File Transfer Mode.
- Copy your audio file to any folder on your phone (e.g. /sdcard/Download/).
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
- Execute the command to copy the file to the system folder of ringtones: adb shell cp /sdcard/Download/my_tone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones/ For notifications, use: adb shell cp /sdcard/Download/my_tone.mp3 /system/media/audio/notifications/
- Change the permissions to access the file: adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/audio/ringtones/my_tone.mp3
- Reboot your phone: adb reboot
- After the reboot, your tune will appear in the standard ringtone list.
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) folder /system/media/audio/ They can be protected from recording even through ADB. In this case, use the alternative command: adb push my_tone.mp3 /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone/
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If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, update the drivers via the Mi Flash Tool or reinstall Android Studio.
5. bypassing MIUI restrictions with the "Ringtone Maker" app
If your Xiaomi is not looking at yours MP3-Try the Ringtone Maker app, which allows you to do it:
- 🎵 Cut the music to the desired length
- 🔊 Convert formats to supported formats MIUI
- 📁 Save ringtones in the correct system folders
Instructions:
- Install Ringtone Maker from Google Play.
- Open the app and select Select Music – find your file in your phone’s memory.
- Cut the track (recommended length for ringtone is 20-30 seconds).
- Click Save and select: 🔔 Rington for calls 📱 The sound of the notification ⏰ Alarm clock signal
MyCustomTone
Sound and vibrations → The ringing
Important: Ringtone Maker automatically places files in the hidden /sdcard/media/audio/ folder, which MIUI recognizes as system, ensuring that the melody does not disappear after the firmware update.
Table: Supported formats and limitations of MIUI
Not all audio files are suitable for installation as a ringtone on Xiaomi, and the table below shows the formats supported and their limitations:
| Format | Support for MIUI | Max. bitrate. | Max. Length. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .mp3 | ✅ Yes. | 320 kbps | 30 seconds (rington) 5 seconds (notification) | Recommended format |
| .m4a (AAC) | ✅ Yes. | 256 kbps | 30 seconds. | It may not work on older versions of MIUI. |
| .ogg | ✅ Yes. | 500 kbps | 30 seconds. | Best quality with a small size |
| .wav | ❌ No. | — | — | Not supported by standard means |
| .flac | ❌ No. | — | — | Requires conversion to MP3 |
If your file doesn’t meet the requirements, use online converters (such as Audio-Converter) or apps like MediaConverter for Android.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after completing all the steps, the melody may not appear in the settings.
Problem 1: The file doesn't appear on the ringtones list.
- 🔹 Check that the file is in the correct folder (/MIUI/ringtone/ or /media/audio/ringtones/).
- 🔹 Rename the file in Latin (without Cyrillic and characters).
- 🔹 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Does not update the list of tunes without restarting.
Problem 2: The melody is played with distortion or is cut off.
- 🔹 Reduce the bitrate of the file to 192-256 kbit / s.
- 🔹 Cut the track to 20-30 seconds (long files may not play).
- 🔹 Check the file on another device, it may be corrupted.
Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the melody disappeared.
- 🔹 Updates MIUI Sometimes they reset user folders. Save backup files.
- 🔹 Use the folder. /sdcard/media/audio/ instead /MIUI/ — it's less likely to drop.
- 🔹 Re-copy files after updating.
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If the melody is not installed, first check the file format (only MP3/M4A/OGG), then its location, and then try alternative methods (ADB or Zedge).