How to put a unique ringtone in touch with Xiaomi: all the ways

Are you tired of confusing calls from different people because everyone has the same tune? Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) have a built-in function for assigning individual ringtones to specific contacts - but not all users know how to use it correctly.This feature works on all versions of MIUI firmware (12 to 14+), but the ways of setting up can vary depending on the phone model and shell version.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all current versions of MIUI, including hidden nuances (such as why sometimes a assigned tune doesn’t work), and we will also explore alternative methods, from using third-party apps to manually editing system files for advanced users. And at the end, you will find a unique life hack: how to assign different ringtones for work and personal contacts automatically, so that you never miss an important call.

Why don’t Xiaomi’s custom ringtones work out of the box?

Many Xiaomi owners are facing a problem: there is no Rington option in the contact settings, although other Android smartphones do, because MIUI by default hides this feature in the standard Contacts app.

• 🔹 UI Optimization: Xiaomi simplifies menus by removing rarely used options.
• 🔹 Branded services conflict: some features are duplicated in the Mi Sound Recorder app.
• 🔹 Regional restrictions: in firmware for some countries (for example, India) the option is available immediately.

However, this does not mean that the feature is completely missing. It just needs to be unlocked in one of the ways described below, while on a POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14, the path to settings may be different from the Xiaomi 11T with MIUI 12.5, which we will also discuss.

Method 1: Assigning a ringtone through the standard Contacts app (MIUI 13/14)

Since MIUI 13, the developers have returned the ability to assign customized tunes right in the contact card, but hidden it deeper.

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Find the right contact and tap it to open the card.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) → select Edit.
4. Scroll down to the default block and tap on Rington (if there is no item, see hidden settings).
5. Select a tune from the suggested ones or click Add to upload your file (.mp3,.m4a,.ogg formats).
6. Save the changes with the Ready button.

Important: If your file is not listed, check if it is in the Ringtones folder in internal memory. MIUI scans only the standard directories:

/storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/


/storage/emulated/0/Notifications/




/storage/emulated/0/Alarms/

Method 2: Use the Phone application (for MIUI 12 and below)

On older firmware versions (e.g. MIUI 12.5 on the Redmi Note 10 Pro), you can only assign a ringtone through the Phone app.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to the Contacts tab (bottom of the screen).
3. Find the contact you want and hold it with your finger for 2 seconds → select Edit.
4. Scroll down to the section Sounds and vibrations → tap Rington.
5. Select a tune from the list or upload yours (button + in the upper right corner).

If the ringtone doesn't work after saving it, check:

• 🔊 Loudness of the call in Settings → Sounds and vibrations.
• 📵 Do Not Disturb (can block individual settings).
• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Resets appointments after updates.

Method 3: Third-party applications for flexible settings

If standard methods don’t work or you need advanced features (e.g. different ringtones for your phone) SIM-Maps, use third-party utilities. Best options for Xiaomi:

Instructions for Contact Ringtones:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to Contacts and Warehouse.
3. Select contact → press Set Ringtone → specify the file.
4. Activate the Override System Ringtone option in the application settings.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Zedge) may conflict with energy saving modes MIUI. After installation, add them to the “AutoStart” list (Settings) → Battery → Auto-run, otherwise the ringtones will reset.

Method 4: Manual editing of system files (for advanced)

If you're willing to work with ADB or file system, you can assign ringtones through database editing, which requires root rights or debugging access!

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number → return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Install. ADB The command is: adb shell content query. --uri content://com.android.contacts/data --where "mimetype_id=5 AND raw_contact_id=(SELECT _id FROM raw_contacts WHERE display_name='Name Contact' Replace the name Contact with a real name (e.g., Mommy).
3. Find the line with the data1 — This is the current ringtone. To change it, use: adb shell content update. --uri content://com.android.contacts/data --where "mimetype_id=5 AND raw_contact_id=..." --bind data1:s:"file:///storage/emulated/0/Ringtones/melody.mp3"

Warning: Incorrect ADB commands can result in loss of contacts.Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Google → Backup.

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If you don’t have root rights but want to try ADB, use MiXplorer with the SQLite plugin, which allows you to edit the contact database without full access to the system.

Problem Solving: Why the Ringtones Are Not Working?

Frequent reasons why a melody is not played:

If the problem persists, try resetting the phone app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone. → Warehouse → Drop it.
3. Reset the device.

Lifehack: automatic assignment of ringtones in groups

Unique feature for Xiaomi: you can assign different ringtones to entire contact groups (e.g., Work, Family, Friends) using the Google Contacts app and IFTTT service.

1. Create groups in Google Contacts (on your phone or via the web version).
2. Install IFTTT and create an applet according to the template: IF [Call from Contact from the Work Group] THEN [Install the ringtone "office.mp3"]
3. Activate the applet and give access to contacts/phone.

Now, when a call from a colleague will play one tune, and from a friend - another, without manual assignment for each contact!

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Service IFTTT It allows you to automate not only ringtones, but also SMS-notifications, vibrations, and even phone responses (e.g., sending cars)-SMS, if you're busy).

FAQ: Frequent questions about ringtones on Xiaomi