SMS Sound Customization on Xiaomi: From Standard Melodies to Custom Ringtones

Getting notifications about new messages with unique audio is not only convenient, but also functional. On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI, setting up the sound for SMS may seem simple, but many users have questions: where to find the right settings, how to set your melody or why the notifications of Suddenly stopped playing. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to configure the audible alerts for messages, from basic to advanced.

The MIUI feature is that the settings interface can vary depending on the firmware version and device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the path to sound parameters will be slightly different than on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We will take these nuances into account and provide universal instructions that are relevant to most modern devices of the brand, and you will learn how to avoid typical errors - for example, when the sound is reset after an update or does not work in messengers.

Where to find SMS audio settings in MIUI

The basic path to notification options for messages is hidden in the Messages (or SMS) app menu, but many users mistakenly search for these settings in the general section Sounds and vibrations – there you can change only system melodies, but not link them to a specific type of notification.

To open the menu you want:

1. Launch the Messages app (an envelope icon).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the Settings item.
4. Go to the Notifications section.
5. Click on the Notification Sound.

In this section, you will see a list of available system tunes, and here you can turn on or off the vibration when receiving SMS. Please note: if you have a third-party messenger installed (for example, Google Messages), the path to settings may be different, we will discuss this below.

How to change the sound of SMS to a standard melody

If you're having ringtones built into the system, it's only a minute before you change the sound. In the Notification Sound section (see previous section), you'll see a list of tunes sorted by category: Default, MIUI, Classic, and others. To listen to the tune, just tap it by its name.

Some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T) offer an extended set of sounds, including tunes from previous versions of MIUI. If the desired ringtone is not on the list, try:

• 🔍 Scroll down the list – sometimes new tunes are added to the end.
• 🔄 Update firmware: in MIUI 14 new sound themes appeared.
• 🎵 Set a theme from the theme (some themes change and notification sounds).

After selecting a tune, be sure to press OK or Save (depending on the MIUI version). On some devices, the changes only apply after you reboot the Messages app - close it through the latest app menu and reopen it.

⚠️ Note: If the sound of the SMS has not changed after the change of the melody, check if the system has set Do Not Disturb or No Sound mode.

Installation of custom sound for SMS

System tunes get boring quickly, and many users want to set their own unique sound for notifications. In MIUI, you can do this in two ways: through the built-in file manager or through third-party applications. Let's look at both.

Method 1: File Manager through File Manager

1. Download an audio file (.mp3,.wav,.ogg formats) and save it to your phone’s memory, with an optimal duration of 3-5 seconds.
2. Open the Files app and find the downloaded file.
3. Slip on the file and in the menu that appears, select Use as a ringtone → Notification sound.
4. Confirm the choice - the file will appear in the list of available tunes in the SMS settings.

Method 2: Through the Zedge app or analogues

If you need high quality ready-made ringtones, install the Zedge app from Google Play:

• 📱 Open Zedge and go to the Notifications section.
• 🔎 Find the sound you like and click Download.
• 📲 After download, tap on the button Set and select Notification Sound.
• 🔗 Return to SMS settings and select a new sound from the list.

Cut audio file to 5 seconds |Save MP3 or WAV|Put file in Ringtones or Notifications|Put file in Ringtones or Notifications|Put volume (at least 80% of maximum)

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If your sound doesn’t appear in the list, make sure the file:

• 📁 It is in the Ringtones or Notifications folder (create it manually if it is not available).
• 🎵 It has a supported format and duration up to 30 seconds (optimally up to 10 seconds).
• 🔊 Not protected by copyright (some files may be blocked by the system).

Why SMS Sound Doesn't Work: Typical Problems and Solutions

Sometimes, once you set up the notifications, they stop playing, which may be due to system limitations, application errors, or conflicts with other services, and let's look at the most common causes and ways to address them.

If the problem persists, try the following steps:

1. Clear the Messages app cache in Settings → Applications → Messages → Memory.
2. Check if third-party apps are installed to block notifications (like Clean Master or Battery Saver).
3. Update the Messages app via Google Play (if it is updated separately from the firmware).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) SMS sound may conflict with notifications from Google Messages if both apps are active. In this case, select one SMS application by default in the settings.

Customizing the sound for different SIM-map

If your Xiaomi smartphone supports two SIM-You can assign different notification sounds to each of these cards, which is convenient if you have one. SIM It's used for work, and it's used for private messages, to customize customized tunes:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Go to Settings. → Notifications.
3. Slip on the Notification Sound for SIM 1 or SIM 2 (depending on the model).
4. Choose a tune for each SIM-map.

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), this option may be hidden.

• 📌 Make sure that in the settings SIM-maps (Settings) → SIM-Maps and mobile networks: both cards are active.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the option appears after the reboot.
• 📱 Update the firmware: in MIUI 14 Improved Dual-SIM Support.

If you use Google Messages instead of the standard app, customizing sounds for different SIMs may not be available, in which case we recommend going back to the native Messages app from Xiaomi.

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To quickly distinguish SMS from different SIM-Not only do you have different sounds, but you also have unique vibration patterns. → Sounds and vibrations → Notification vibration

Features of audio settings in Google Messages

Many Xiaomi users prefer Google Messages over the standard one, and it has its own nuances in setting notification sounds to change the tune for SMS:

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
3. Select Notification Settings.
4. Go to General or Notification Sound (depending on the version of the app).
5. Select a tune from the list or add your file.

In Google Messages, you can also configure:

• 🔔 Notification categories (e.g., individual sounds for normal and important messages).
• 📵 Exceptions: Turning off the sound for specific contacts.
• 🔄 Sync with other devices (if you use a Google account).

However, there are limitations:

• ❌ There are no separate settings for different SIM-map.
• ❌ Castomic sounds may not be played if the file is stored on the SD-map.
• ❌ Some system sounds MIUI may not appear on the list.

Additional tricks: vibration, LED-indicator

Sound isn't the only way to alert you to new SMS, but you can set up vibrations, lights, even pop-up notifications in MIUI, and let's take a closer look at these options.

1. Vibration.

To adjust the vibration pattern for SMS:

1. Open Settings → Sounds and vibration → Notification vibration.
2. Select Messages from the list of applications.
3. Set up the intensity and rhythm of the vibration (pre-set patterns or custom patterns are available).

Light indication (LED)

On devices with LED-indicator (for example, Xiaomi 11T or POCO F3), you can turn on the flashing when receiving SMS:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Light indication.
2. Activate the slider Enable.
3. Select the color for notifications from the Messages app.

3. Pop-up notifications

To make SMS appear on top of other applications:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management.
2. Find the messages in the list and tap it.
3. Enable the option of pop-up notifications.

Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) have Smart Notifications, which analyzes the content of SMS and offers quick actions (e.g. copying the confirmation code) to activate it:

1. Open Settings → Memory and Digital Well-Being → Smart Notifications
2. Turn on the slider for the Messages app.

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The light display setting works only on hardware LED devices. On models without an indicator (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite), this option will be absent from the menu.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound of SMS on Xiaomi