How to change the sound of SMS on Xiaomi: all the ways to MIUI 14 and 15

Receive SMS messages with the usual "ding-don" or standard MIUI-On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and other POCO) You can easily swap the notification melody for anything from classic Nokia to custom ringtones, but where exactly is this setup in the latest versions hiding? MIUI 14/15? Why is it that sometimes the option is not available despite the manufacturer’s promises?

In this article, you will find 4 working ways to change the sound of SMS: from basic settings to bypassing restrictions through the engineering menu. We will also discuss why some tunes may not play, how to add your audio files and what to do if after updating MIUI settings reset. The instructions are relevant for all modern models, from Xiaomi 13T Pro to the budget Redmi Note 12.

Why the Standard Method Doesn't Work

Many users find that there is no separate item for SMS in the Sounds menu, and the reason lies in Xiaomi’s policy: since MIUI 12, the company has combined notification settings for all messengers (including standard SMS) into one section.

Other common problems:

• 🔊 No text message in the settings – this is normal for new versions MIUI, We need to find workarounds.
• 📱 In some models (for example, POCO F5) Notification sounds are tied to the subject of design.

If you’ve tried to change the sound through Settings → Sounds and vibrations and haven’t found the right item, don’t worry. Next, we’ll look at all the methods available, including the hidden ones.

Method 1: Using standard MIUI settings (for most models)

This method works on 90% of Xiaomi devices running MIUI 14/15, but requires precise follow-up instructions.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Sound and vibration.
3. Select Notifications (not to be confused with “Calls” or “Alarm clock”).
4. In the list of notification topics, find the default or standard notifications and tap it.
5. Click Sound and select any tune from the suggested ones (e.g. Bamboo, Reflection or Marimba).
6. Confirm the choice with the OK button.

⚠️ Note: If there are no suitable tunes in the list, you can add them manually.mp3 Or.ogg (up to 30 seconds long) and put it in the Ringtones or Notifications folder on the internal drive.

Download the audio file in format MP3/OGG|Cut the track to 30 seconds (for example, through an application) MP3 Cutter)|Put the file in the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones or /Notifications|Restart your phone to update your sound list-->

Method 2: Through the Messages application settings

In some firmware (e.g., Xiaomi 12S Ultra or Redmi K60), the SMS sound is customized directly in the Messages app, a method that allows you to set a unique tune only for SMS without affecting other notifications.

How to do this:

1. Open the Messages app (the envelope icon on the desktop).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Settings → Notifications.
4. Activate the Sound switch (if it is switched off).
5. Click on the Notification Sound and select the desired melody.

🔍 Note: In some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) this item may not be available. In this case, use Method 1 or Method 3.

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If the list does not contain the appropriate sounds, install a third-party SMS application (e.g. Messages by Google or Textra SMS) – there are more options for customizing notifications.

Method 3: Through the Engineering Menu (for advanced users)

If standard methods fail, you can use a hidden engineering menu (MTK Engineer Mode or Qualcomm Service Mode, depending on the processor), which is suitable for devices running MediaTek chips (for example, Redmi Note 12) or Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Xiaomi 13).

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in the engineering menu can cause malfunctions in the phone. Follow the instructions carefully and do not change other settings!

Instructions for MediaTek:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. In the menu that appears, select Hardware Testing → Audio.
3. Go to the Ring or Notification section.
4. Select Type → SMS.
5. Click Set and specify the path to your audio file (for example, /sdcard/Ringtones/my_sms.mp3).
6. Save the changes and restart the phone.

For Qualcomm Snapdragon:

1. Enter the phone app: ##4636##
2. Select Usage Statistics → Audio.
3. Find the Notification Sounds section and change the setting for SMS.

Important: Some firmware may have the engineering menu blocked, in which case use the MTK Engineering Mode app from Google Play (root rights required).

Method 4: Using third-party applications

If none of the above methods worked, third-party utilities will come to the rescue, not only allowing you to change the sound of SMS, but also offering advanced settings (for example, different tunes for different contacts).

The best applications for this task:

• 🎶 Zedge is a database of ringtones and notifications with the ability to listen to the preview. After setting the sound, you need to manually select it in the settings. MIUI.
• 🔔 Ringtone Maker – lets you crop any song from your library and save it as a notification.
• 📱 Notification Sounds – a specialized application for customizing notification sounds (including: SMS).
• 🔧 Tasker (for advanced) – Automating the change of sounds depending on the time of day or contact.

How to set custom sound through Zedge:

1. Download and install Zedge from Google Play.
2. In the app, go to the Notification Sounds section.
3. Select your favorite tune and click Set → SMS Notification.
4. Confirm your choice.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Zedge) may request access to contacts and messages.

Compatibility table with Xiaomi models

Not all methods work on all devices, and the table below shows how the methods are compatible with popular models (data is relevant for MIUI 14/15):

If your model isn’t in the table, try Method 1 or Method 4 – they work on 99% of Xiaomi devices.

What to do if the sound of the SMS does not change

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the phone persists in playing the standard signal.

• 🔇 Notifications sound is turned off altogether – check the volume slider in the Quick Settings panel.
• 📵 Do Not Disturb ** is active - turn it off in Settings → Don't disturb.

If the problem persists, try resetting the sound settings to factory:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting.
2. Select Reset sound and vibration settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS sounds on Xiaomi

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If none of these methods worked, check if your phone has global firmware with restrictions (e.g. MIUI EU without root rights), in which case only flashing to the official version or obtaining root access will help.