Many Xiaomi smartphone owners face an obvious problem when first getting acquainted with the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS: a standard ringtone sounds to everyone incoming, regardless of who is calling and which SIM card the call is coming to. This creates confusion, especially if you have two SIM cards connected — from work and personal, or, for example, the main and roaming. Understanding how to separate sounds is critical for comfortable use of the device.
Unlike some other manufacturers, Xiaomi does not bring the control of the tunes for each SIM card to the top of the audio settings menu. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of customizing the individual sound for each SIM-cards using built-in system tools and third-party utilities.
The process may seem confusing only at first glance, but after a few steps you will have complete control over the sound alert. We will look at the nuances for different versions of firmware, working with contacts from the phone book and solving problems when the system ignores the chosen track. Get ready for a deep dive into the settings of Android based on Xiaomi.
Features of sound management in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shells have a unique setting architecture that is different from pure Android.The prioritization system here is built so that global audio settings can override local ones if you don’t put the right flags. The call melody is a parameter that is tied not so much to the device as to a specific SIM card profile.
It is important to understand that in modern software versions (MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS), energy saving algorithms can aggressively kill the processes responsible for the reproduction of non-standard ringtones if they are downloaded from third-party sources, so the first step should always be to check the access rights and permissions for the Themes or Sounds application.
⚠️ Note: If you use a different theme than the standard one, some menu items may be hidden or renamed by the theme developer.
Separating audio channels allows you to assign a loud and sharp sound to an important workline and a calm melody for personal communication, a basic productivity feature that you need to adjust immediately after buying a device to avoid missing important calls in noisy environments.
Setting up the ringtone for the first and second SIM-map
The basic method of setting up is to use the phone's standard settings menu. You don't have to be an engineer or root-rights to change the standard behavior of the system. All the necessary tools are already built into Settings → Sound and vibration.
However, just by selecting a track from the general list, you'll set it as the default for all events. To link the sound to the SIM card, you'll need to act through the default SIM card selection menu or through advanced call settings. The algorithm for actions may vary slightly depending on the Android version.
- 📱 Open the main settings menu and find the section "Sound and vibration".
- 🔊 Click on "Rington", but do not select the track immediately, and look for the switch SIM cards.
- 💾 Select the desired SIM card (SIM 1 SIM 2) from the list that appeared before the selection confirmation.
Some firmware versions have different paths: Settings → Apps → App settings → Phone → Incoming calls. Here you can fine-tune the behavior of each line. If the standard path doesn't work, try searching by settings by typing the phrase "rington sim."
Once you select a track, the system will ask you to confirm the action, make sure the tick is opposite the SIM card you want, and if you want the second SIM card to not be sounded, just ignore that step for it, leaving the standard one.
Individual sound for specific contacts
Often, users need a particular person to call with a unique sound, no matter what SIM card they are calling, and this is done through the settings of the phone book itself, which is a top priority and overrides the overall SIM card settings.
To do this, open the Contacts or Phone app, find the right subscriber, and go to their card, and you'll see an edit button or a speaker icon, and by clicking on it, you can select a file from the device's memory.
This feature is especially useful for identifying calls from close relatives or emergency services, and even if the phone is down, you can tell who is bothering you by the characteristic sound.
- 👤 Open the contact card in the phone book.
- 🎵 Find the Melody or Rington field (may be hidden under the More button").
- 📂 Select audio format from the list or specify the path to the file in memory.
Please note that for the contacts saved on SIM-This feature may not be available on the map (old storage method), and it is recommended to copy all contacts to Google account or phone memory for full functionality.
Using third-party applications for sound management
If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t seem flexible enough, Google Play offers a variety of solutions, with apps like Ringtone Manager or Music Volume EQ allowing you to create complex profiles that change on schedule or geolocation.
These tools can automatically switch tunes depending on whether you are at home or at work, but installing third-party software requires careful attention to the permissions requested.
⚠️ Warning: Sound management applications require permanent permissions to access the microphone and call state.This can lead to increased battery consumption.
One popular solution is to use macros, and you can customize the script: "If the time is 9:00 to 18:00 and the day of the week is weekday, then set the tune 'Office' on SIM 1 and 'Silence' on SIM 2."
For advanced users, applications are available that allow you to assign different vibrations and LED notifications for each SIM card separately, which is not always convenient in the stock firmware MIUI.
Table: Comparison of methods of setting melodies
To make it easier for you to navigate the way you set up, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you choose the best option depending on your goals and level of smartphone ownership.
| Method | Difficulty | Flexibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| System settings | Low. | Basic | Absent. |
| Contact setting | Low. | Tall (in people) | Absent. |
| Third-party annexes | Medium | Maximum | High. |
| Macros and scenarios | Tall. | Automatic. | Average. |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best option is to use built-in tools that ensure stable operation without having to keep the background processes.
Third-party apps should only be used if you need automation that the standard HyperOS shell cannot provide.
☑️ Checking before installing the ringtone
Problems with file formats and their solution
A common problem users face is that the system doesn't see the downloaded track or refuses to install it, most often in the file format or where it is stored. Xiaomi, like many manufacturers, has strict security rules.
The system prefers to see ringtones in the Ringtones folder in internal storage. If you downloaded music to the Download or Download folder, the phone may simply not display this file in the list of available call tunes.
Also note the bitrate and format. While Android is omnivorous, old system components of the caller may not handle high-resolution files properly (e.g., Android is omnivorous, FLAC or WAV High sampling rate, better to convert them to MP3 or M4A.
- 📁 Move the audio file to the Ringtones root folder through the file manager.
- 🔊 Check the length of the track – it should not exceed 30-40 seconds for comfortable use.
- 📉 Convert heavy formats to MP3 128-320 kbps for compatibility.
If the file is in cloud storage and not uploaded to the device, you can't choose it as a ringtone.
How to cut a track without a computer?
Resetting sound settings and eliminating errors
Sometimes it happens that after updating the firmware or resetting the settings, all the tunes fly off, and the standard Mi-remix plays again on both SIM cards. In this case, you should not panic - this is the usual behavior of the system when updating configuration files.
If the sound is lost on only one SIM card and the other one works, check if the "No Sound" mode is activated specifically for this line. In the notification curtain (control panel) you can quickly switch the SIM card modes.
In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the Phone app helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Memory → Clear. Don’t worry, contacts and call history won’t be deleted, only temporary settings files.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting audio settings, make sure your audio files have not been deleted. backing up media files will never be overkill.
If the problem is software-based and not solved by standard methods, you may need to reset completely to factory settings, but this is an extreme measure. Most often, just re-register the paths to the files in the settings menu.
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Use short track clips (up to 15 seconds) for ringtones – this saves battery life and allows you to quickly understand that the phone is ringing without waiting for the long introductory part to lose.
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The main secret of success is that the melody file should lie in the Ringtones folder of internal storage, not in the download folder or on the Internet. SD-map (if any) to ensure that the system can see it.